Opinion ID: 1651956
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Representation of a Codefendant to Byers

Text: Echols next argues that Price had a conflict of interests because of his representation in a civil matter of a codefendant of John Mark Byers, the stepfather of one of the murder victims. During the Rule 37 hearing, Price testified that Byers and his wife were sued along with Price's clients for taking property from a jewelry store in which Price's clients were part owners. At some point in the proceedings, Byers and his wife were dismissed from the suit. Thereafter, at a bench trial, Byers testified on behalf of Price's clients. The civil trial was completed prior to Echols's trial, and the parties were merely awaiting a decision from the circuit court. Echols contends that this situation created a conflict of interests because Byers's testimony was necessary to Price's civil client's case. Echols argues that this conflict adversely affected his defense in that Price did not aggressively question Byers about his possible involvement in the murders. The evidence does not support Echols's allegation on this point. Indeed, we are hard pressed to see any actual conflict arising from Price's connection to Byers in the civil matter. Moreover, we cannot see how any alleged conflict prejudiced his defense. The trial record reveals that the issue of Byers's possible involvement in the murders was put before the jury. See Echols I, 326 Ark. 917, 936 S.W.2d 509. Byers was called as a defense witness for the purpose of exposing prior inconsistent statements that he had made to police regarding the appearance of blood, which matched his and his son's blood-type, on a knife that he owned. Perhaps more significantly, Price cross-examined Officer Gary Gitchell about his interview with Byers and about the fact that the officer had read Byers his Miranda rights prior to interviewing him. Gitchell explained that he had considered Byers to be a possible suspect in the homicides. Echols has failed to demonstrate prejudice on this point.