Opinion ID: 1090851
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Sources for Russell's New Version of the Facts

Text: ¶ 28. An affidavit is a sworn statement in writing made before an authorized official. Black's Law Dictionary 80 (4th ed.1968); see also Wilborn v. State, 394 So.2d 1355, 1359 (Miss.1981) (Patterson, C.J., dissenting). Russell attaches and relies on numerous statements which Russell refers to as affidavits. Many of these affidavits have not been notarized as made before any official. We will refer to those as unsworn statements. The Mississippi Uniform Post-Conviction Collateral Relief Act specifically requires affidavits of the witnesses who will testify be attached to the motion, or a showing of good cause why they cannot be obtained. See Miss.Code Ann. § 99-39-9(1)(e) (Rev. 2000). ¶ 29. The crucial part of this new version is the evidence supporting the link between Officer Cotton and the GDs plot on Russell's life. Before trial and at trial there was evidence of Russell having trouble with gangs and there was evidence of Officer Cotton's corruption, but there was no link made between the two, so that Russell could argue that he was acting in self-defense because of an attempt on his life by the GDs, facilitated by Officer Cotton. Russell now supports this link with the affidavits of former or present inmates: Brian Berryman, Eric Jones, Everett Turner, Perry Williams, Theatry Branch, and Richard Boyington.