Opinion ID: 583985
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: There must be a probability of acquittal

Text: 45 A new trial will be granted only if the newly discovered evidence would probably lead to an acquittal in the event of a retrial. United States v. Taglia, 922 F.2d at 415-16; United States v. Leibowitz, 919 F.2d 482 (7th Cir.1990), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 111 S.Ct. 1428, 113 L.Ed.2d 480 (1991). Here, however, it is highly improbable that, in the face of the substantial evidence of Mr. Kamel's guilt, the purported confessions would be believed by a second jury. 46 The communications that both of the defendants have had with government officials and private investigators since the date of the fire have been riddled with outright lies. 24 Mr. Kamel suborned perjury by Mr. Scaife before the grand jury. At the trial, Mr. Khabbas offered two alibi witnesses who testified that he was at his home when the fire started, although he apparently has now admitted that he was at the store, setting the fire, at that time. Naturally, much, if not all, of this evidence would be brought out if there were a second trial. At that second trial, Mr. Kamel would be relying for his exoneration on the hearsay report of a confession of a close relative who now stands as a convicted felon. 47 Both the timing and the nature of the alleged confessions--particularly that of Mr. Khabbas--make them of diminished reliability. Confessions given only after the confessor's conviction, and especially when proffered by relatives or friends, are engulfed in an aura of suspicion and doubt. United States v. Oliver, 683 F.2d 224, 229 (7th Cir.1982). 25 They are of limited probative value at a second trial, and hence are unlikely to lead to an acquittal. See United States v. Metz, 652 F.2d 478, 480-81 (5th Cir., Unit A 1981). [A]ttempts by one defendant to take full responsibility after trial and conviction are common and are viewed with skepticism. United States v. Benavente Gomez, 921 F.2d 378, 383 (1st Cir.1990); see also Pelegrina v. United States, 601 F.2d 18, 21 (1st Cir.1979). 48 Mr. Khabbas repeatedly and firmly denied any involvement in the crime for a period of three years. Mr. Khabbas' purported confession, coming after his conviction and shortly before sentencing, when he has relatively little to lose by accepting full responsibility for the fire, is far less credible. 26 It is likely that the jury would see the offer of the confession as nothing more than brotherly loyalty, with Mr. Khabbas taking full blame for a crime for which he, as well as his brother, has already been convicted. 27 In light of Mr. Khabbas' willingness to lie since 1988, one more lie--to try to get his brother off the hook--apparently would not make much difference to him. It boggles the mind to think that a second jury would be any less likely to convict Mr. Kamel of these crimes than was the first. Mr. Kamel's motion soundly fails the fourth requirement of Rule 33. 49 In sum, there are four requirements for the grant of a motion for a new trial, and the party seeking that new trial must satisfy all four. The grant of a new trial falls within the discretion of the trial court, and will be reversed on appeal only in very unusual circumstances. Here, Mr. Kamel has failed to satisfy at least three of the requirements. It is clear that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Mr. Kamel's motion.