Commonwealth v. LeBlanc

This case touches on the problem of admission of a codefendant’s confession under the rule of Bruton v. United States, 391 U. S. 123, and involves also a claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel.

Indictments returned by an Essex County grand jury on September 23,1970, accused David LeBlanc (hereafter called the defendant) and his cousin George Jemery of the murder of the defendant’s stepfather Robert Wheeler on July 24, 1970. The two young men were brought to trial jointly in February, 1971, the defendant being represented by retained counsel. At the close of the Commonwealth’s case,…