Opinion ID: 1890124
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The newly discovered evidence raises a substantial doubt

Text: The State's theory at trial was that Zackary and Leo were the two men Victim referred to in his 911 call. But because no forensic evidence connected them to the crime scene, the State relied on the testimony of Zackary's two cellmates to convince the jury of Zackary's guilt. The newly discovered evidence relating to Tim's purported statements to his brother and nephew, particularly when considered with the now-confirmed DNA evidence linking Tim to the scene, raises serious doubts about the State's theory of the case. If presented to and believed by the jury, Zackary's newly discovered evidence allows him to present an alternative theory in his defense beyond his sister's testimony that he did not leave her home the night of Victim's killing. During retrial, it is likely that the newly discovered evidence will produce a different result because the jury will conclude that the two men referenced by Victim were Tim (who was married to an Eby girl and drove a light-colored vehicle) and another person, not Zackary, who contributed the unknown DNA found at the scene. [14] For these reasons, Zackary's new evidence meets the criteria of being reasonably sufficient to raise a substantial doubt in the mind of a reasonable person as to the result if he is retried. See Jennings, 34 S.W.2d at 54-55.