The testimony taken as provided for in R.S. 15:258, when certified to by the officer before whom taken, shall, in case of the death or departure of the witness from the parish or other inability to attend court, be admissible before the grand jury as well as on the trial of the accused, subject to all legal objections, but shall not be admissible when the presence of the witness can be procured by subpoena; provided that whenever an accused, not in jail, shall have been duly notified to be present at the taking of said testimony and shall not attend, he shall not be allowed to set up the plea that he had been deprived of his right to be confronted with the witnesses against him.
La. R.S. § 15:259