Opinion ID: 2973917
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Testimony and Evidence at Trial

Text: Three witnesses testified that they saw Washington shoot and kill James Kinville on July 27, 1999, when Kinville brought Washington a radio to repay a debt. One witness also testified that Washington told him that Washington had killed Kinville. Washington testified at trial that he did not kill Kinville. Washington’s main contention on appeal is that he was unable to present evidence that one of the three eye witnesses, Robert Corcoran, was the murderer. Two of the eye witnesses, James Gidron and Corey Barkley, both of whom were thirteen at the time of the murder, spent the night at Washington’s apartment and testified to the following. They woke up in the early morning of June 27, and Washington asked the boys whether they wanted to see someone get shot. They went outside. A man later identified as Robert Corcoran was standing outside. He left and returned a few minutes later with Kinville. After Washington, Corcoran, and Kinville talked for a moment, Washington pulled a gun from his waist and pointed it at Kinville. Washington fired the gun, but the gun misfired twice. The third shot, however, caused Kinville to fall. Washington then walked up to the fallen Kinville and shot him twice in the head. Washington told Gidron that he shot Kinville because Kinville owed Washington $2500. Washington told Corcoran to take care of the body. Corcoran took the body by the legs and placed it in the bushes. The third eye witness, Robert Corcoran, testified that he purchased cocaine from Washington twice that night. On one of the occasions when Corcoran was at Washington’s residence, Washington pointed two guns at Corcoran and Dwayne Lapere’s heads. He told them that their friend Todd needed to repay his debt or that Washington would shoot them. After Washington put his gun down, Corcoran and Lapere returned to Steven Smith’s house, where Corcoran and Lapere were staying. Kinville, who was at Smith’s house, asked for something to sell. Lapere gave him a radio. They placed the radio into a gray plastic bag. Kinville asked Corcoran to accompany him across the street, and they met Washington at his driveway. Corcoran continued by testifying that Washington asked Kinville and Corcoran to go behind a nearby gate, and they did. After the gun misfired, Washington shot Kinville, and Kinville fell to the ground. Washington then placed the gun on Kinville’s head and shot the gun once. Washington ordered Corcoran to move the body, and Corcoran did so. Washington then told Corcoran to hand over his ID, and Washington told Corcoran that he knew where Corcoran lived. Corcoran then testified that he returned to Smith’s residence and told Smith that Washington had killed Kinville. Smith then went to speak with Washington. Smith later returned to his house to collect some blankets, and he took them to Washington’s residence. Corcoran testified that a car backed up near the fence at Washington’s residence. After Smith and the driver of the car returned from the backyard, Corcoran saw from across the street the trunk sink “as if something was dropped inside.” Corcoran ended his testimony by stating that he contacted the Saginaw Police Department that day. The State called Officer Donald Zinz without the jury present. Zinz testified that, when he spoke with Corcoran over the telephone, Corcoran repeated his questions to a woman. The woman, in turn, gave Corcoran answers to Zinz’ questions, and Corcoran repeated those answers back to Zinz. Corcoran, when recalled to the witness stand by the defense, denied having a woman answer Zinz’ questions. The defense was permitted to read into evidence Zinz’ prior testimony to the No. 05-1185 Washington v. Renico Page 3 contrary. The defense also called Officer Tony Eno of the Rose City Police Department and attempted to have Eno testify that Corcoran had a reputation for not being truthful. Smith corroborated the three eye witnesses’ testimony. Smith testified that Washington told him that Washington “capped” Kinville. Smith also testified that he helped dispose of the body. Smith testified that he took the police to Kinville’s body in a remote area of Gladwin County. There was also physical evidence against Washington. The police searched Washington’s residence pursuant to a valid search warrant, and they discovered, among other things, a pair of shorts, a gray shopping bag, and a pair of tennis shoes. Forensic scientist Kyle Hoskins testified that she found human blood on all of these items. Washington’s testimony was substantially different from that of the other witnesses. He testified that he did not shoot Kinville and that he did not know who did. He admitted to selling drugs to Corcoran and Smith. He testified that he took Corcoran’s ID as collateral for a debt. Washington testified that he arose early in the morning to clean his front yard and that his neighbor was also outside. He testified that the first that he learned of Kinville’s death was when neighbor Dennis Guchen, who testified earlier at trial, pointed out the body to him that was lying in the yard as the two were making casual conversation about sports and the weather. He testified that he looked across the street and saw Corcoran looking “crazy.” Washington told Guchen that Corcoran probably killed Kinville. Washington then talked with Smith, who said that he would take care of it. Washington went back to bed because he did not want anything to do with the dead body. Despite Washington’s testimony, in January 2000, a Michigan jury found Washington guilty of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. For the murder conviction, he received life imprisonment without the opportunity for parole; for the firearm conviction, he received two years of imprisonment. B. Events Concerning Specific Challenges in Washington’s Habeas Petition There were three events at trial that assume a prominent role in Washington’s habeas petition: First, Washington argues that the trial court improperly excluded evidence that witness Corcoran (the witness who moved the body) was biased. The defense sought to demonstrate that Corcoran was biased because charges against him were dismissed in a neighboring county. The charges were for being a felon in possession of a firearm, making a false report of a felony to the police, and being in possession of a firearm while under the influence of liquor. The defense argued that it was suspicious that the charges were all dismissed by an assistant prosecutor who was a retired Saginaw City police officer. The trial court held that an inquiry concerning these charges