Opinion ID: 1288147
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Failure to Present Testimony Showing Raymond Graham Agreed to Testify Against Terrell Only After Having His Parole Denied

Text: Raymond Graham testified that, before the murder, Terrell invited him to participate in the robbery and murder of a man for whom his mother worked and from whom he had stolen checks. Graham testified that he refused Terrell's offer because he was unwilling to participate in a murder. Graham further testified that, after the murder, Terrell admitted to killing the man and dragging his body to the back yard. Graham admitted that he agreed to testify for the State in exchange for the prosecutor's agreeing to write a letter to the Board of Pardons and Paroles but stated that he had been made no other promises. On cross-examination, trial counsel elicited further testimony from Graham admitting that he had only come forward with an offer to testify eight years after the fact, that he had admitted to the defense investigator that he was only agreeing to testify because he wanted to obtain parole, and that he had informed the trial court outside of the jury's presence that he would not testify without obtaining a deal from the State. Trial counsel also brought out the fact that the statement Graham claimed that Terrell had made incorrectly identified the location of the victim's gunshot wounds as being in the back of the head or in the ear. Terrell argues that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to also elicit, in addition to this testimony, an admission from Graham that he had already been denied parole one time. In light of the clear testimony showing that Graham was highly motivated to obtain assistance in seeking parole, trial counsel's failure to ask this one additional question did not prejudice Terrell.