sever

To separate, as one from another; to cut off from something; to divide. To part in any way, especially by violence, as by cutting, rending, etc.; as, to sever the head from the body. To cut or break open or apart; to divide into parts. To cut through; to disjoin. In practice, to insist upon a plea distinct from that of other codefendants. To separate the cases of multiple defendants in such a way as to allow separate trials for each or for fewer than all. Relief from prejudicial joinder. If it appears that a defendant or the government is prejudiced by a joinder of offenses or of defendants in an indictment or information or by such joinder for trial together, the court may order an election or separate trials of counts, grant a severance of defendants or provide whatever other relief justice requires. In ruling on a motion by a defendant for severance the court may order the attorney for the government to deliver to the court for inspection in camera any statements or confessions made by the defendants which the government intends to introduce in evidence at the trial. Fed.R.Crim.P. 14