Opinion ID: 1711978
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: whether the circuit court erred in failing to grant a hearing on contested material facts and in failing to reopen case in order to rebut surprised testimony offered by the state

Text: ¶ 12. At the conclusion of the second hearing Meeks asked the circuit court for additional time to find evidence to impeach the assertion that Tana did not know Charles Smith. The court denied the request, stating the Meeks should have anticipated the need for additional witnesses and entered an order denying post-conviction relief. Meeks filed two motions for reconsideration based on an affidavit by Teddy Null in which he stated he saw Tana with Smith on two occasions within a few months after Alvin Meeks was convicted. The lower court denied the motions for reconsideration stating that the court remains unconvinced of the allegations of the motions.... ¶ 13. Meeks argues that the circuit court should have held an evidentiary hearing or reopened the case to allow rebuttal testimony from Teddy Null regarding the factual issue of whether Tana Meeks knew Charles Smith. Meeks contends that Null's testimony would have been material to a contested issue; and therefore, an evidentiary hearing was required to allow this rebuttal testimonial evidence. In support of this argument, he cites Harris v. State, 578 So.2d 617 (Miss. 1991). In Harris the circuit court denied a motion for post-conviction relief, and the petitioner filed a motion for reconsideration based on an affidavit which refuted the testimony relied on by the circuit court. Id. at 619. This Court held that the circuit court erred if failing to conduct an evidentiary hearing on the affidavit supporting the motion for reconsideration. Id. at 620. However, this Court explained that its holding did not mean that an evidentiary hearing was to be ordered every time there are contradictory affidavits. Id. In order for a contested fact to require an evidentiary hearing it must be material. Id. Again in Mowdy v. State, 638 So.2d 738, 743 (Miss.1994), this Court stated that not all instances of conflicting affidavits will merit an evidentiary hearing. (citing Harris v. State, 578 So.2d at 620.) ¶ 14. The trial court has considerable discretion in determining whether to grant an evidentiary hearing or reopen a case. See Smith v. State, 646 So.2d 538, 544 (Miss.1994); Feemster v. State, 763 So.2d 198, 200 (Miss.Ct.App.2000). Meeks failed to show that the circuit court abused its discretion. Null's testimony was not material to a contested issue in the hearings. Had another hearing been held, Null's testimony would have, at most, impeached Tana's hearing testimony. Mere impeachment testimony can not form the basis for granting a new trial. See Smith v. State, 646 So.2d at 544. Therefore, the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to grant an evidentiary hearing.