Opinion ID: 2581123
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether the recantations were newly-discovered evidence

Text: {34} In this case, the trial judge assumed that the recantations were credible when he assumed for the sake of argument that the original testimony was false. However, the trial court went on to find that the recantations were not newly-discovered evidence. In support of this finding, the trial court pointed out that (1) Case corroborated much of the false testimony of the witnesses at trial, and (2) Case's attorney was unable to produce evidence to support his alibi. Although we prefer to have the benefit of the trial court's findings regarding each factor relating to the credibility and significance prongs, our Court has not always been so disciplined. See State v. Smith, 104 N.M. 329, 333, 721 P.2d 397, 401 (1986), overruled on other grounds, Gallegos v. Citizens Ins. Agency, 108 N.M. 722, 731, 779 P.2d 99, 108 (1989) (the trial court made findings on each of the six criteria relating to a motion for a new trial, but the Supreme Court only reached the first criterion because it was dispositive). It is likely that the trial court chose not to analyze each factor relating to the credibility prong because a finding that the recantations were not newly-discovered evidence is dispositive. See State v. Fero, 107 N.M. 369, 372, 758 P.2d 783, 786 (1988). We agree that a negative finding of any of the six factors under the significance prong is dispositive. This has been the rule in New Mexico since at least 1903. See Territory v. Claypool, 11 N.M. 568, 585, 71 P. 463, 468 (1903). However, we believe it would inform our review if trial courts, rather than presuming the credibility of the recantations, would make findings with respect to each factor relating to the credibility prong before addressing the significance prong. {35} We next analyze whether the recanted testimony was discovered after the original trial was completed. As is evident from the testimony from the original murder trial, in their initial statements to the police, Knight and Dunlap asserted that they did not know about the events leading to Mitchell's death. These statements appear qualitatively similar to the recantations made during the habeas hearing in that both the initial statements to the police and the testimony at the habeas proceeding failed to incriminate Case in Mitchell's death. However, statements to the police by Knight and Dunlap subsequent to their initial interviews did incriminate Case and were consistent with their trial testimony. The inconsistency in the statements was both alluded to during direct examination and the subject of extensive cross-examination during trial. Thus, the question is whether under these circumstances the recanted testimony constitutes newly-discovered evidence. The burden is on Case to prove that the earlier statements were qualitatively different and thus constitute newly-discovered evidence. Because of the absence of case law in New Mexico on this subject, we have looked to other jurisdictions for guidance. {36} In United States v. Earles, 983 F.Supp. 1236, 1241-43 (N.D.Iowa 1997), a key prosecution witness testified at a grand jury hearing, and then, after failing a polygraph examination, testified differently at a second grand jury hearing. The first testimony supported the defendant; the second supported the State's case. See id. The witness then refused to testify at trial, asserting his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Id. at 1243. As a result, both versions of the grand jury testimony were admitted at trial. Id. at 1253. The Court considered the second grand jury testimony to be a recantation, and the post-trial testimony that was consistent with the first grand jury testimony to be a re-recantation. Id. at 1245. In his re-recantation, the witness said that his original recantation was put together . . . from hints, suggestions, or coaching by [the prosecutor] and other law enforcement officials, and that he gave false testimony in the hope of obtaining a reduction of sentence on other charges against him . . . and because he was told by [the prosecutor] that he was considered a suspect in the [crime] and so he felt he needed to protect himself. Id. at 1243-44. Because the defendant knew about both sets of testimony, a later recantation consistent with an earlier one could not be considered newly-discovered evidence. Id. {37} In Olson v. United States, 989 F.2d 229, 230 (7th Cir.1993), the petitioner filed a writ of habeas corpus seeking a new trial based on the newly-discovered evidence of two witness recantations. The petitioner had been convicted of murder based in part on the testimony of three witnesses. Id. The details revealed by the witnesses at trial were inconsistent, but all of their stories incriminated the petitioner. Id. Approximately four or five years after the trial, two of the witnesses recanted. The Court found that the recantations were not newly-discovered evidence because the witnesses had testified inconsistently during two grand jury hearings and one petit jury hearing, and the recantations were merely an attempt to change their trial stories back to their original grand jury stories. Id. at 231. The Court also found the two recantations no more persuasive when considered together, in part because the witnesses did not provide an alibi for the petitioner or identify anyone else as the murderer. Id. at 232. {38} In United States v. Ramsey, 761 F.2d 603, 604 (10th Cir.1985), a witness testified that the defendant had hired him to burn down a store. Before the trial, the witness had told the defendant's son that the defendant was innocent. Id. Defense counsel cross-examined the witness on this inconsistency. Id. After the trial, the witness told two other people that the defendant was innocent and signed an affidavit to that effect. Id. The Court held that the recanted recantation was not newly-discovered evidence because vacillation had been before the jury in the trial. Id. The Court also held that any new testimony by the witness was not credible because the case is riddled with recantations and reassertions. Id. {39} Similarly, in this case the recantations of Knight and Dunlap are efforts to revert to the original statements they gave to the police that they did not know anything about the events leading to Mitchell's death. Case was aware of these statements, as evidenced by cross-examination of each witness at trial. The defense strategy during the murder trial was that the witnesses were pressured by the police; they were scared of the police; and therefore they conformed their testimony in such a way as to incriminate Case and others. With respect to Dunlap, the defense's additional theory was that Dunlap conformed his testimony to avoid prosecution. The jury heard the evidence and heard arguments of counsel regarding the motives of these witnesses to recant their original statements to the police and perjure themselves during trial. Because the inconsistent statements were the subject of the original trial, a jury has already been charged with the responsibility of weighing the inconsistent statements. As stated by the Court in Ramsey, the vacillation had been before the jury in the trial. Id. The jury rejected the defense theory and found Case guilty. {40} The recantations were also cumulative. State v. Chavez is the case in New Mexico most directly on point. 116 N.M. 807, 867 P.2d 1189 (1993). The defendant in that case was initially charged with second-degree murder, among other charges. Id. at 809, 867 P.2d at 1191. The defendant's wife, who was a key witness, changed her story twice before trial, and her third story led the State to raise the homicide charge to first-degree murder. Id. at 809-10, 867 P.2d at 1191-92. Ten months after he was convicted, the defendant moved for a new trial when his wife recanted her testimony, claiming that she had lied at trial and that she was pressured to do so by the State. Id. at 813, 867 P.2d at 1195. A new trial was denied because the witness had already admitted that she had lied to the defendant, the police, and defense counsel, and thus her recantation was merely cumulative of that admission. Id. Similarly, in this case Knight and Dunlap admitted during trial that they had lied to the police and given inconsistent statements. The latest recantations of Knight and Dunlap are merely contradictory and impeaching. {41} Finally, we agree with the trial court's assessment that Case corroborated the trial testimony and note from our review of the trial transcript that other evidence corroborated the testimony as well. Both Knight and Dunlap testified about their presence at the scene and provided details consistent with Mitchell being assaulted. Autry corroborated the presence of Dunlap and Case at the scene and provided details consistent with Mitchell having her clothes forcefully removed and having been beaten, including with a blunt instrument. Despite inconsistencies in the details, each witness incriminated Case. Case himself testified about his presence and that of Knight and Dunlap. Although he attempted to minimize what had happened to Mitchell, he did confirm that Worley had struck her and had removed her shirt. {42} The forensic pathologist's findings corroborated the testimony of Dunlap and Autry that Mitchell's clothes were forcefully removed and that she had been beaten. According to the pathologist, when he received Mitchell's body, the zipper on her trousers had been pulled apart and her shirt was on inside-out. He also testified that her injuries were not consistent with a fall, but were consistent with a beating. Moreover, the pathologist testified that the vertical orientation of the abrasions on Mitchell's body were consistent with her body being dragged along the ground, which corroborates Dunlap's testimony. {43} For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the petition for writ of habeas corpus based on the recanted testimony. We conclude, consistent with the determination of the trial court, that the recanted testimony is not newly discovered. We next consider the Brady claim.