Opinion ID: 216967
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Hardy's Defense

Text: Hardy took the stand in his own defense. He testified that the house on Jones Street was a family house where various family members occasionally stayed. Hardy said he fled on the night of December 11, 2006, because he thought the officers were gangbang[ers] who came to the house with the goal of retaliating against his cousins. He also said that the crack cocaine found in the jacket was not his, and denied telling the officers the contrary. He explained he had probably taken the jacket to the dry cleaners for somebody else and just placed it under his name. He further denied knowledge of the handgun found near his shoes and wallet. He said that it likely belonged to someone else in the house at the time of the search. On cross-examination, Hardy claimed that he did not hear the officers yell Police and Search Warrant before he ran out of the house. He also told the jury that all of the Government's witnesses were liars who wanted to convict an innocent man. He acknowledged his prior convictions for felony rape, felony aggravated assault, and felony aggravated robbery. He also admitted that he had almost $600 cash in his wallet, even though he did not have a regular job. Hardy's uncle, Jacob Barrow, also testified. Barrow stated that the house in question belonged to Hardy's grandmother before she died, and that since her death, numerous family members, including Hardy, resided there at different times. On rebuttal, the Government called Investigator Vernon Kimbrough. Kimbrough testified that the officers were yelling Police as they exited the raid van. He also said that Hardy talked throughout the search and took full responsibility for the crack cocaine. Investigator Christopher Palmer, the Government's second rebuttal witness, corroborated Kimbrough's testimony. In the jury instructions, the district court reminded the jury that testimony of Hardy's prior sales of crack cocaine could only be used as evidence of Hardy's knowledge or intent to possess the drugs as well as his intent to distribute the drugs alleged in the superseding indictment. You must not consider it for any other purpose. The jury convicted Hardy on all three counts.