Opinion ID: 1796517
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether the defendant was denied a fair trial because the state interfered with defense counsel's free access to witnesses?

Text: Tina contends that she was denied a fair trial because the State advised State witnesses to have a prosecutor's representative present when they were interviewed by defense counsel. Prior to trial, Tina's Motion to Enjoin Prosecutor from Interfering with Defendant's Investigation was denied. Witnesses Roberta Leonard, and her mother, Mary, testified that a State investigator told them to contact the prosecutor's office if another attorney called, but that they were not barred from speaking to other attorneys. They stated that the investigator asked them to postpone any interviews with defense attorneys until a prosecutor could be present. Witness Leah Poteet testified that she asked if the State would send a representative to be present when defense counsel asked her questions. Mississippi case law has not addressed this question directly, but this Court has stated that trial courts should not allow arbitrary denial of a defendant's right to consult State witnesses, if they are willing to talk to the defendant's counsel. Scott v. State, 359 So.2d 1355, 1358 (Miss. 1978). This Court has upheld a trial court in requiring State's counsel to be present during a defendant's interview of a rape victim and her grandmother, where the rape victim was a minor. Cannon v. State, 190 So.2d 848, 850 (Miss. 1966). Here, however, the State suggested or advised that it would be best for a State representative to be present, while making it clear that the witnesses were free to speak to Tina's counsel. This Court recognizes that the State's refusal to allow any defense interviews with State witnesses violates due process guarantees. Gregory v. United States, 369 F.2d 185 (D.C. Cir.(1966)), cert. denied, 396 U.S. 865, 90 S.Ct. 143, 24 L.Ed.2d 119 (1969). However, in the case sub judice, the State advised these witnesses to have a State representative present at interviews; they did not refuse to allow the witnesses to speak with defense counsel. Thus, there was no reversible error in the trial court's denial of Tina's pre-trial motion regarding this matter. Accord, Nichols v. State, 624 So.2d 1325, 1327 (Ala. 1992)