Opinion ID: 2310175
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Father Hargrove's testimony

Text: During his cross-examination of Father Hargrove, Jones' counsel asked whether Hargrove had heard anything from the police or the prosecutor about Williams' role in the crime. The answer, which was given in writing at the bench (out of the hearing of the jury) and is reproduced in the record, was that Hargrove knew Williams was cooperating with the police. The trial court ruled that the answer was inadmissible because it did not go to the issue of Williams' identity as the second gunman. Taylor now contends that his counsel was ineffective for failing to point out that Hargrove's answer showed he had information that Williams was not the other gunman. But that was not what Hargrove's answer showed. Although Hargrove was aware that Williams was cooperating with the government, there was nothing in his answer to indicate an awareness that Williams either was or was not the second gunman. The answer was therefore irrelevant, and Taylor's counsel was not ineffective for failing to pursue it.