Opinion ID: 2150554
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Does recanting affidavit of witness require a new trial?

Text: At trial, William Ashford testified that he was a participant in this robbery, and he identified the defendant as not only the driver of the getaway van but as the mastermind of the whole scheme. Ashford has now executed affidavits recanting this testimony and swearing that he perjured himself at the time of trial. His motive for this alleged perjury is as follows: He was nineteen years of age at the time of this offense, and it was his first offense as an adult. He was first convicted in a trial separate and prior to that of the defendant. But sentencing on that conviction was withheld pending the outcome of this case at the trial level. Ashford claims now that he never knew the defendant prior to the defendant's trial. He alleges that the district attorney's office promised Ashford that if he (Ashford) would implicate the defendant at his (the defendant's) trial, then the district attorney's office would see to it that Ashford only received probation for his first adult offense. In Zillmer v. State (1968), 39 Wis. 2d 607, 616, 159 N. W. 2d 669, this court reiterated with approval the already well-established rule that a new trial may be based on an admission of perjury only if the facts in the affidavit are corroborated by other newly discovered evidence. Here the defendant is unable to point to any other newly discovered evidence which would corroborate the affidavit of William Ashford. We conclude that recanting affidavits, standing alone, are of no legal significance.