Opinion ID: 2975056
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Riley’s Defense

Text: At the close of the prosecution’s case-in-chief, Riley’s trial counsel did not move for a directed verdict of acquittal. Instead, Riley’s counsel called a single witness, Mary McKinney. McKinney is Ware’s mother. Riley’s counsel explained that she felt compelled to note for the record that she had advised Riley of the risks entailed in calling McKinney as a witness, but that Riley wanted to proceed anyway. McKinney testified that the day after Seaton’s death, Ware told her that Seaton had come out of the shower nude and had made a sexual pass at him. Seaton told his mother that he responded by trying to push Seaton away and then putting a sleeper hold on him when Seaton turned around. McKinney further testified that when Riley came out of the bathroom, Ware told him to get the duct tape from the table and help him subdue Seaton, which Riley did. Ware told his mother that Seaton “was a large guy.” Id. at 176. In response to a question from the prosecutor about whether Ware needed Riley’s help to incapacitate Seaton “because of Mr. Seaton’s size,” McKinney testified “[r]ight.” Id. at 177. On redirect, Riley’s counsel questioned McKinney about the written statement she gave to the police concerning what Ware told her. McKinney agreed that although she had signed off on the statement and made corrections to it, the statement did not reflect that she had told the police anything about Riley having assisted Ware in taping Seaton’s hands and feet. The parties then stipulated that McKinney’s written statement to the police did not make any mention of the assistance Riley purportedly rendered in subduing Seaton.