In Taylor v. United States (1973) 414 U.S. 17, the United States Supreme Court rejected the defendant's contention that his voluntary absence from trial could not be construed as an effective waiver of the right to be present absent a showing that he knew or had been warned he had a right to be present and the trial would continue in his absence. (Taylor v. United States, supra, 414 U.S. at p. 19.) The Supreme Court stated: "It is wholly incredible to suggest that petitioner, who was at liberty on bail, had attended the opening session of his trial, and had a duty to be present at the trial, citation, entertained any doubts about his right to be present at every stage of his trial. It seems equally incredible to us, as it did to the Court of Appeals, 'that a defendant who flees from a courtroom in the midst of a trial--where judge, jury, witnesses and lawyers are present and ready to continue--would not know that as a consequence the trial could continue in his absence.'" (Id. at p. 20.)