People v. Díaz Nieves
People v. Díaz Nieves
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
Celio .Díaz Nieves was charged in the District Court of San Juan with the crime of burglary in the first degree. After a jury trial, he was found guilty and sentenced to eight years’ imijrisonment in the penitentiary. In this appeal lie assigns the following errors: 1st, that the court admitted the confession of the defendant without it being, previously proved by the prosecuting attorney that the same had been obtained voluntarily; 2d, that the record stenographer failed to take down the instructions given by the court to the jury; and, 3rd, that the verdict rendered is against (he weight of the evidence.
The confession of the defendant, signed by him, contains the following warning given by the district attorney:-
“Celio, you aro being charged, jointly with Rafael Rivera, with having broken and entered the Montanez Bar on the night of July 23, 1943. As a defendant, you may or you may not testify; if you testify you do it voluntarily, and your testimony may be used against you. Without any promise, threats, or offer whatsoever, do you'wish to testify voluntarily?”
The defendant answered affirmatively and continued his confession of having entered into the Montanez Bar during the night of July 23, 1943. The prosecuting attorney’s stenographer also testified in rebuttal, without any objection on the part of the defense, that the defendant gave his testimony voluntarily and that he asked to be taken before the court in order to plead guilty.
Neither the first
The judgment appealed from must he affirmed.
Cf. People v. Lebrón, 61 P.R.R. 634.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.