Frederick G. Diehl v. United States

265 F.2d 344, 105 U.S. App. D.C. 152, 1959 U.S. App. LEXIS 4564

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Appellant was indicted, tried and convicted for the crime of housebreaking. The complaining witness was a military attache of a foreign embassy, and another witness was a domestic servant in his household. Appellant says that they were not competent witnesses, because they were not liable to punishment for perjury under their diplomatic immunity. We think the point is not well taken. These witnesses took the oath, and moreover the diplomatic immunity from punishment for perjury can be waived by superior diplomatic officials. 1

Affirmed.

1 . 6 Wigmore, Evidence §§ 1831, 1832 (3d ed. 1940); 4 Hackworth, International Law 547 (1942); Respublica v. De Longchamps, 1784, 1 Dall. 111, 1 U.S. 111, 1 L.Ed. 59.