Opinion ID: 7042
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Kim Houston

Text: East contends next that his sister-in-law, Kim Houston, provided the prosecution with a statement that supported the defense's theory at trial that East's friend, Troy Robinson, actually committed the murder. To counter the defense's theory, the prosecution presented the testimony of several alibi witnesses who placed Robinson at a different location at the time of the murder. According to East, Houston saw Robinson at a time and place inconsistent with the testimony of these alibi witnesses. East maintains that Houston's statement would have allowed him to impeach the prosecution's alibi witnesses and, accordingly, the prosecution violated Brady by failing to disclose the statement. East's argument is unpersuasive. According to an affidavit submitted by the state, Houston informed the prosecution that she saw Robinson on the day after the murder. Houston's statement to the prosecution did not, therefore, undermine the testimony of the prosecution's alibi witnesses. The prosecution is not obliged to disclose impeachment evidence unless the evidence is favorable to an accused. Bagley, 473 U.S. at 676. We therefore conclude that 16 East's Brady claim involving Houston must fail.