Opinion ID: 2541392
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Griffin was prejudiced

Text: Griffin has established prejudice. The present state of the evidence in this case shows that there are at least five substantial post-trial developments that raise serious doubts regarding the factual accuracy of Griffin's conviction. First, if the State had disclosed Smith's possession of the sharpened screwdriver, Griffin's alternative perpetrator theory would have been bolstered significantly. That evidence places Smith at the scene of the crime and establishes that he was the only inmate present in the prison yard who was found to be in possession of a weapon shortly after Bausley was stabbed. Additionally, as noted above, the evidence is consistent with the testimony of inmate Rogers, who testified that the inmate who ran around the gymnasium immediately after murder was not Griffin. Second, Curtis recanted his trial testimony in which he stated that Griffin stabbed Bausley. Curtis testified that he did not witness the Bausley stabbing. He also testified that Franks confessed to the murder. Curtis testified that he implicated Griffin to obtain a transfer to another prison. Third, Franks confessed to murdering Bausley during the course of Griffin's Rule 29.15 proceeding for post-conviction relief. He also testified that, in addition to himself and Jackson, Smith was the third perpetrator. Franks' admission is consistent with Curtis' deposition testimony and with the screwdriver evidence the State failed to disclose. Fourth, at the hearing on Griffin's habeas petition, inmate Michael Garrett testified that he and Mozee were in the law library when Bausley was stabbed. This contradicts Mozee's deposition testimony in which he stated that he witnessed Griffin stabbing Bausley. Finally, Jackson, who also was charged with Bausley's murder but acquitted, testified at the habeas hearing that Griffin was not involved with the murder and was not in the prison yard when Bausley was killed. Instead, Jackson testified that Smith, Franks and Bausley were arguing and that both Franks and Smith produced weapons immediately before Bausley was stabbed. There is no physical evidence connecting Griffin to the weapon found in the gymnasium. There is no physical evidence demonstrating any contact between Griffin and Bausley. Instead, Griffin's continued incarceration for Bausley's murder is premised on the recanted testimony of inmate Curtis and the impeached testimony of deceased inmate Mozee. Overlaying the entire case is the revelation that the State failed to disclose evidence that tended to implicate Smith, impeach Curtis and Mozee, and bolster the trial testimony of inmate Rogers, who maintained that the inmate fleeing the crime scene was not Griffin. In light of these circumstances, Griffin's conviction is no longer worthy of confidence. See Engel, 304 S.W.3d at 129. Because Griffin has shown that the nondisclosure of the Smith evidence was prejudicial for Brady purposes, he has also established the prejudice necessary to overcome the procedural bar to granting him habeas relief. Accordingly, Griffin's conviction for the murder of James Bausley is vacated.