Opinion ID: 2637042
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Staggs' testimony

Text: According to Staggs, he first encountered Robertson in the Sumner County jail, not in the El Dorado Correctional Facility (El Dorado). Staggs thought he and Robertson were in the jail together in 1994. According to Staggs, Robertson discussed Swinney's murder for several days and said he and his brother, Billy Robertson, went to Swinney's house to get drugs. According to Staggs, Robertson said they robbed Swinney because they did not have money for the drugs. Robertson claimed that his brother then hit Swinney with a hammer. Staggs testified Robertson said that he testified against the man who was ultimately convicted, but Robertson never identified Moncla by name during the conversations. Robertson's alleged version of events included Robertson hitting Swinney in the face, and his brother, Billy, hitting her in the head with a hammer. They allegedly dragged her body into the bedroom, clubbed her roughly 18 times, put a pillow over her head, took the drugs, and left. Staggs testified that 4 years later, while he was incarcerated at El Dorado, he learned through a fellow inmate that Moncla was the individual allegedly set up by Robertson. Staggs drafted a letter to two detectives and to the Chief Appellate. Attorney for Sedgwick County, in which he notified them of what he had heard from Robertson. During his time at El Dorado, Staggs was assigned to push Robertson's wheelchair in the infirmary and, thus, again met Robertson. On cross-examination, Staggs acknowledged some discrepancies between the information he originally reported and his testimony at the evidentiary hearing. He testified that in his letter to the authorities, he said Robertson was responsible for the murder, but in the affidavit provided to the public defender's office, Staggs said Robertson's brother was the one who hit Swinney in the head. Staggs denied ever having a falling out with Robertson while they were together at the Sumner County jail.