Opinion ID: 1834364
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to properly prepare defense witnesses.

Text: Ainsworth called three (3) alibi witnesses in his case in chief: (1) Albert Marshall, who testified that Handley was picking him up from work in Ocean Springs when the alleged sale was being made; (2) Albert Murphy, a resident of Tim's Motel which is located next to the Hot Spot Lounge in Gulfport, who testified that Handley was at his residence at the time of the alleged sale; and (3) Debra Lafayette, Handley's step-daughter, who testified that he was in bed at her mother's house in Ocean Springs at the time of the alleged sale. Ainsworth called two (2) witnesses in Surrebuttal: (1) Debra LaFayette, who testified that Handley never wore a beard; and (2) J.W. Langford, who testified that he had seen Handley 40 to 50 times prior to the day of the alleged sale and knew him very well. J.W. Langford, a former narcotics officer with the Harrison County Sheriff's Office who cooperated with the MBN in the sale, was the State's first witness in chief. The record contains no evidence that Ainsworth failed to meet with and/or confer with these witnesses prior to their taking the witness stand. We find that this argument has no merit. See Evans v. State, 485 So.2d 276 (Miss. 1986).