Opinion ID: 1800634
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to investigate and confront prosecution witnesses

Text: ¶ 23. Hodges argues that his trial counsel should have impeached prosecution witness Anthony Betts with his guilty plea to a charge of burglary. Hodges argues that Betts's testimony that Hodges's was going to buy a gun and shoot somebody was crucial evidence as to Hodges's intent to assault. This Court found that Betts's testimony was mostly cumulative, and without it there was ample testimony to support a conviction. Hodges, 912 So.2d at 762-63. ¶ 24. In addition, Hodges now argues that his counsel was also ineffective for failure to investigate and confront Cora Johnson at trial. Hodges argues that Cora Johnson wrote to Hodges numerous times while he was incarcerated, and the letters would have shown that she at one moment stated that she loved Hodges and another stated that she had moved on to other men. Hodges further states that his niece, Lakasha Hodges, would have testified that Cora Johnson called Hodges repeatedly on the night of the shooting. While this information might have been helpful, and defense counsel should have been aware of it, its persuasive effect is questionable. However unfair or manipulative Cora Johnson might have been in their relationship, Hodges still broke into her house and killed her brother.