Opinion ID: 1817272
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Gearns

Text: Defendant Gearns was convicted of second-degree murder. [2] An analysis of the facts offered into evidence indicates that the prosecution's case was primarily circumstantial. While there was ample circumstantial evidence tying the defendant to the victim, there was no evidence offered regarding how the victim came to be shot to death. Indeed, it seems that even a coherent prosecution theory of the crime was lacking. The evidence tended to show that the defendant and the victim became acquainted at a bar, that they left the bar together, that the victim died at the defendant's house, and that the defendant did not recall the events. [3] Defendant shared his house with his brother, Gregory Gearns. Gregory was present in the house when it was searched and may have been participating in efforts to clean it. The prosecution wanted to call Gregory Gearns as a witness, and offered him immunity from prosecution as an accessory after the fact. [4] Gregory Gearns, not surprisingly, also had counsel representing him during the proceedings. When the prosecution attempted to call Gregory Gearns, there was an extended discussion between the trial court and the attorneys, including, primarily, the attorney representing Gregory Gearns. Counsel advised the court that he believed the immunity offered was insufficient to protect his client from having his testimony used against him. Counsel therefore advised the court that the witness intended to assert his Fifth Amendment privilege. Eventually, it became clear that the prosecution would offer no further immunity and that the witness would continue to assert the privilege. The court then found the privilege to be invalid, and ordered the witness to testify or face contempt charges. Significantly, the focus of the court and the prosecution was on the potential charge of accessory after the fact, despite counsel's insistence that immunity from such a charge was not sufficient to protect the witness. [5] While these proceedings took place, appropriately, outside the presence of the jury, the witness was later called to the stand in front of the jury, apparently to assert the privilege and be held in contempt. (Counsel for the witness had argued that the court could not find the witness in contempt until he actually was placed on the stand and refused to testify.) Defendant's counsel objected to this procedure. [6] In view of this, it is readily apparent that no one actually expected that Gregory Gearns would testify. Indeed, he stated his name and address, and then refused to answer a question about with whom he resided. Following the trial court's overruling of an objection from the witness' counsel, and with the jury still present, the prosecution asked the witness whether he had received immunity. No mention whatsoever was made of the limited scope of the immunity.