Opinion ID: 2063439
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: should a new trial have been granted because of later evidence of the possible contamination of specimens examined by fbi agent coston?

Text: During the trial of Thomas Firth, cross-examination disclosed notations on certain worksheets. These notations indicated that particles of glass from known sources had been poorly packaged and spilled out of their containers onto some of the exhibits. When questioned about this contamination, Dr. Coston stated that whenever there appeared to be a possibility of contamination of a sample, that sample would not be examined and was kept from the other exhibits that were examined. Doctor Coston stated during the course of the Firth trial, If there is any slightest possibility of contamination of the evidence by the known source of glass, no examinations were made at all. The defendant contends that the trial justice committed error in denying his motion for new trial based upon the possibility of contamination of evidence at the Bishop trial as a result of Dr. Coston's testimony and notes in the Firth trial. No transcript of testimony in support of the motion for new trial has been furnished. However, the decision of the trial justice filed November 2, 1979, has been appended to defendant's brief. This decision unequivocally states as a finding of fact that no contaminated evidence was used against the defendant. This finding is dispositive of the issue. It is well established that the prosecution has a constitutional duty to disclose to defendant any evidence which might be favorable to the accused on either the issue of guilt or punishment. United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 106, 96 S.Ct. 2392, 2399, 49 L.Ed.2d 342, 351 (1976); Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150, 154, 92 S.Ct. 763, 766, 31 L.Ed.2d 104, 108 (1972); Giles v. Maryland, 386 U.S. 66, 73-74, 87 S.Ct. 793, 797, 17 L.Ed.2d 737, 744 (1967); Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 1196-97, 10 L.Ed.2d 215, 218 (1963). The Supreme Court pointed out, however, in United States v. Agurs, supra , that a failure of the prosecution to provide information will not give rise to a defendant's right to a new trial unless the omitted evidence creates a reasonable doubt that did not otherwise exist. Only under those circumstances would constitutional error have been committed. Moreover, the alleged omission must be evaluated in the context of the entire record. United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. at 112-14, 96 S.Ct. at 2401-02, 49 L.Ed.2d at 354-55. In the case at bar, as in Agurs, the trial justice found that no reasonable doubt in light of the entire record could have been predicated upon the possibility of contamination of evidentiary samples which were not examined and which were not used against defendant in any way. The trial court also found that the state did not have actual knowledge of the possibility of contamination and further, that this possibility did not relate to any of the evidence actually submitted. Moreover, the court determined that the possibility of contamination in respect to samples which were not examined and used in evidence was so remote and irrelevant to the evidence submitted that the FBI had no obligation to report this to the Warwick police or to the attorney for the state. The trial justice concluded by finding that there was no suppression of evidence deliberate, inadvertent or otherwise which would be favorable or exculpatory to the defendant   . This finding was amply supported by the full record of both the Bishop and the Firth trials. Therefore, it could scarcely be contended that the finding of the trial justice was clearly wrong. Consequently, no action or omission by the state deprived defendant of a fair trial as guaranteed by the due-process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.