Opinion ID: 1215322
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: April hearing

Text: In April 1984, a hearing was held on defendant's pretrial motions. (See ante, fn. 7.) The prosecutor reiterated that he felt Hanson's representation of defendant presented the possibility of a conflict of interest based on Hanson's representation of Plankington in connection with the federal civil suit, Hanson's role in obtaining defendant's confession to the arson, and the possibility that Hanson himself might be a witness about defendant's arson confession. [10] Hanson responded that evidence of defendant's confession should be barred, because defendant had been granted immunity in connection with his testimony. Hanson also noted another potential conflict, in that he had represented defendant's sister in a prior matter, in which Ronnie Westmoreland (then defendant's sister's husband, and a witness against defendant in the Junghanses' murder trial) had been a codefendant. Hanson stated, however, that he did not believe his prior representation of defendant's sister would affect his ability to cross-examine Westmoreland. The court then advised defendant that he had a right to counsel free of any potential conflict of interest and that such counsel would be appointed for him if he so desired. Defendant stated he wanted Hanson to represent him.