Opinion ID: 2175839
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: On April 7, 1993, Mousseaux was bludgeoned to death on a Meade County road north of Rapid City, South Dakota. Three menLarry Black Bear (Black Bear), Augustine White Horse (White Horse), and Newwere with Mousseaux at the time of his death. The trio fled the state after Black Bear and White Horse deposited the body. New parted company with the others in Denver, Colorado. When White Horse and Black Bear returned to South Dakota, they were apprehended and charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping of Mousseaux. Black Bear pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter. White Horse was tried and acquitted of first-degree murder, but later pleaded guilty to accessory to first-degree manslaughter. New was not initially charged with any crime arising out of the incident. Although he admitted being present, New denied personal involvement in Mousseaux's killing. In fact, New was a key source in the investigation of White Horse. Throughout the summer of 1993, New aided law enforcement in the investigation. New fully cooperated with authorities and was given food and lodging for his services. In late summer, New moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to seek employment. Meade County Sheriff Jamie Davis (Davis) requested that New keep in touch so he could be subpoenaed to testify at the White Horse trial. New agreed and contacted Detective Robert Krebs (Krebs) of the Minneapolis Police Department upon arrival in the city. Pursuant to New's request, Krebs relayed New's whereabouts to Davis. When New spoke to Davis on the phone, he asked Davis to check on the possibility of two warrants against him in Pennington County for failure to pay a fine and comply with a DWI sentence. New indicated that if he returned to South Dakota to testify for the State, he did not want to be subject to arrest. Davis informed New that, based on his check of the records, there was no problem with the Pennington County warrants. On September 21, 1993, Krebs delivered a subpoena to New which had been sent to him by the Meade County State's Attorney. There was no hearing before a judge considering the materiality of New's testimony or potential hardship for him to return to South Dakota to testify. New returned to South Dakota, testified, and was paid mileage, food and a witness fee. On October 4, 1993, the last day of the White Horse trial, Pennington County officers arrested New on two outstanding warrants. Meade County authorities filed a complaint against New for Mousseaux's murder on the same day, which was served on him while he was incarcerated for these Pennington County warrants. On October 21, 1993, while being held in jail, New allegedly made incriminating statements about the murder to another inmate, Rodney Young (Young). Young testified that New admitted to striking Mousseaux with a ball peen hammer. New filed a pretrial motion for psychological evaluation to determine his mental competency to stand trial. Dr. Frank Buzzetta (Buzzetta), a psychologist, examined New and filed findings with the court. Buzzetta suggested New undergo further psychological testing. After considering the issue on February 15, 1994, the trial court denied this request. A jury convicted New of second-degree murder on May 2, 1994. He was acquitted of all remaining charges. New appeals his conviction.