Document: 442 U.S. 95 99 S.Ct. 2150 60 L.Ed.2d 738 Roosevelt GREEN, Jr.v.State of GEORGIA. No. 78-5944. May 29, 1979. PER CURIAM. 1 Petitioner and Carzell Moore were indicted together for the rape murder Teresa Carol Allen. was tried separately, convicted both crimes, has been sentenced to death. See v. State, 240 Ga. 807, 243 S.E.2d 1, cert. denied, 439 903, 268, 58 249 (1978). subsequently murder, also received a capital sentence. The Supreme Court Georgia upheld conviction sentence, 242 261, (1978), petitioner sought review so much judgment as affirmed We grant motion leave proceed in forma pauperis petition certiorari vacate 2 evidence at trial tended show that abducted Allen from store where she working alone and, acting either concert or raped murdered her. After jury determined guilty second held decide whether punishment would be imposed. Ga.Code § 27-2503 At this proceeding, prove he not present when killed had participated her He attempted introduce testimony Thomas Pasby, who testified State Moore's trial. According confided him Allen, shooting twice after ordering run an errand. court refused allow introduction evidence, ruling Pasby's constituted hearsay inadmissible under 38-301 (1978).1 then argued absence direct circumstances crime, it could infer directly Allen's fact more than one bullet fired into body.2 Regardless proffered comes within Georgia's rule, facts case its exclusion violation Due Process Clause Fourteenth Amendment. excluded highly relevant critical issue phase trial, see Lockett Ohio, 438 586, 604-605, 98 2954, 2964-2965, 57 973 (1978) (plurality opinion); id., 613-616, S.Ct., 2969-2970 (opinion BLACKMUN, J.), substantial reasons existed assume reliability. made his statement spontaneously close friend. corroborating confession ample, indeed sufficient procure against interest, there no reason believe any ulterior motive making it. Perhaps most important, considered sufficiently reliable use Moore, base sentence death upon it.3 In these unique circumstances, "the rule may applied mechanistically defeat ends justice." Chambers Mississippi, 410 284, 302, 93 1038, 1049, 35 297 (1973).4 Because denied fair on punishment, is vacated remanded further proceedings inconsistent with opinion. 3 Reversed remanded. 4 Mr. Justice BRENNAN MARSHALL, adhering their view penalty all cruel unusual prohibited by Eighth Amendments, Gregg Georgia, 428 153, 227, 231, 96 2909, 2950, 2973, 49 859 (1976), without remanding proceedings. 5 REHNQUIST, dissenting. 6 today takes another step toward embalming law Amendment United States Constitution. I think impossible find justification Constitution today's ruling, take comfort only since case, perhaps example maxim "hard cases make bad law." 7 certain petitioner's sentencing ground This does not, dispute propriety ruling. Instead, marshals number ad hoc why should adopt code particular admitted, concludes "[i]n 'the justice.' " Ante, 97. 8 Nothing gives authority supersede State's because application situation what conceives disagree fails come exceptions provided rules evidence. obviously troubled same admissible separate codefendant behest State. But means demonstrates courts have evenhandedly various exceptions, deny No practicing lawyer can failed note evidentiary rules, like those every other States, are such items introduced party, but another. life, embodied throughout exceptions. being must strained beyond breaking point conclude defendants unable which they seek admit therefore dissent vacation recognizes exception declarations pecuniary penal interest. 269-272, 8-9 quoting Little Stynchcombe, 227 311, 180 541 (1971). District Attorney stated jury: "We couldn't possibly bring circumstantial we pointing did it, it's especially significant you remember Dr. Dawson said case. When first shot, medical opinion, Miss positive blood pressure shots don't know shot handed gun Green vice versa second, reasonably Ladies Gentlemen each them equally involved exceed other's part commission crime." Pet. Cert. 10. A crime admitted declarant. 38-414 (1978); 115 Ga.App. 685, 155 655 (1967). Western, Confrontation Compulsory Process: Unified Theory Evidence Criminal Cases, 91 Harv.L.Rev. 567, 592-593

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