Where the sole basis for severing an indictment is the speculative possibility that bad character evidence might be led at a joint trial, and the accused who might lead such evidence indicates no intention to do so, there is no proper basis for severance. The public interest in joint trials of co-accused — avoiding inconsistent verdicts, reducing expense, and relieving witnesses of multiple appearances — will prevail. Leave to appeal an interlocutory severance order may be granted where the hearing has not commenced and the order, once implemented, could never be corrected on appeal.
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