Opinion ID: 2639434
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Events Prior to the Reference Hearing

Text: On January 16, 1992, Joanna was granted immunity by the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office for any false testimony she may have given at petitioner's preliminary hearing and capital trial, and as to any false statements contained in a 1990 posttrial declaration. Thereafter, she recanted the part of her trial testimony in which she claimed to have seen petitioner kill Denise. Instead, she claimed she had not been an eyewitness to the murder and had made up the whole story. Darlene also testified at the reference hearing under a grant of immunity given by the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office. Like Joanna, Darlene recanted portions of her trial testimony and also stated that petitioner never confessed his involvement in the murders to her.