Opinion ID: 1966978
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 28

Heading: allegations of government misconduct

Text: In this section of his motion, Nesbitt generally alleges that there was a conspiracy involving law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and the news media to convict him at all costs and that perjury and governmental misconduct so tainted his trial that he was denied his right to a fair and impartial trial. Although he makes numerous claims including destruction of evidence, withholding of exculpatory evidence, use of perjured testimony, government interference with both witnesses and his attorney-client privilege, improper use of the media by the prosecution to influence the trial, and improper closing argument, he does not characterize any of these errors as ineffective assistance of counsel, nor does he allege that he was unaware of any of these errors at the time of his direct appeal. Because these alleged errors could have been brought on direct appeal, they are now procedurally barred. See State v. Caddy, 262 Neb. 38, 628 N.W.2d 251 (2001). With respect to certain of the alleged errors in this section, however, Nesbitt alleges that relevant proceedings were not transcribed on appeal and/or that he has been denied access to relevant records and thus cannot make complete factual allegations in his motion. Specifically, in his argument relating to the improper use by the State of perjured testimony, Nesbitt asserts that the prosecutor knowingly solicited a false statement from a witness. Nesbitt further asserts that defense counsel timely objected to the statement as hearsay. The portions of the record that Nesbitt claims were not transcribed with respect to this issue are counsels' arguments in chambers on the hearsay objection. Although these arguments were not recorded, the record clearly reveals that the objection of defense counsel was sustained and that therefore no allegedly perjured testimony was admitted in this regard. We fail to see how the untranscribed arguments of counsel would help Nesbitt state a claim for the improper use of perjured testimony when the testimony in question was not received in evidence. Nesbitt also alleges that there are numerous documents and records related to his destruction-of-evidence claim that were not transcribed on direct appeal, even though requested. Because any transcription error could have been raised at the time of the direct appeal, the issue is now procedurally barred. See State v. Caddy, supra . Similarly, although Nesbitt alleges he was denied access to records relating to the improper use of the media by the prosecutor, any denial of access to such records in this postconviction motion is irrelevant because the issue of improper use of the media could have been raised on direct appeal and is now procedurally barred. Finally, although Nesbitt also alleges that the closing arguments were not transcribed, any transcription error relating to closing arguments could have been raised on direct appeal and is now procedurally barred. Moreover, we note that the bill of exceptions before us contains a transcription of both parties' closing arguments.