Opinion ID: 1701667
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Did trial court err by overruling defendant's amended motion for new trial based upon newly discovered evidence?

Text: Principles applicable to motions for new trial based upon newly discovered evidence are set out in State v. Farley, 226 N.W.2d 1, 3 (Iowa 1975) and State v. Compiano, 261 Iowa 509, 516-519, 154 N.W.2d 845, 849-851 (1967). See § 787.3(8), The Code. Trial court is vested with wide discretion in passing on such motions and its decision will be reversed only if that discretion is abused. Such motions are not favored and should be closely scrutinized and granted sparingly. Defendant must show 1) the evidence was discovered after trial and before judgment, 2) it could not have been discovered earlier in the exercise of due diligence, 3) it is material to the issue, not merely cumulative or impeaching, and 4) it would probably change the result if a new trial is granted. There was ultimately submitted with the amended motion for new trial the written statement of defendant's brother John stating he borrowed defendant's truck the night of the theft, took the Solomon scrap metal, and on the next morning persuaded defendant, for a promised payment, to pick it up from where it had been deposited and sell it. The statement indicates defendant was suspicious even before his arrest: At first Dave was a little apprehensive, but I insisted the copper was not stolen, and that it was OK to sell as it was. We observe in passing John's brotherly solicitude, demonstrated by his post-verdict confession, is not unique in our cases. See State v. Farley, 226 N.W.2d 1, 3 (Iowa 1975). But it is obvious, taking the confession at face value, defendant from the moment of his arrest had to know John was a probable source of information about the Solomon break-in. Nowhere in the motions, affidavits, nor in John's statement, is there any assertion defendant ever questioned John concerning the theft. Nor is there any showing the alleged evidence could not have been discovered before conclusion of defendant's trial. The court could have found defendant failed to show due diligence. We find no abuse of trial court's discretion in overruling the motion.