Opinion ID: 2973739
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Evidence presented at “due diligence” hearing

Text: Petitioner claims that the trial court erred in admitting this testimony, over objection, because the prosecution failed to establish the requisite “good faith” in attempting to locate the witnesses. In particular, Petitioner alleges that the prosecution’s efforts were “too little, too late.” The state trial court conducted a “due diligence” hearing on July 13, 1999, where Sgt. Wilson, the officer in charge of the case, summarized his efforts to locate Rory Groves, Valena Jordan, and Harold Winn.13 (JA 393-97, 436-47). Sgt. Wilson testified that he received the subpoenas on July 1, 1999 and started compiling the witness’ addresses the following day. On July 5, he went to 15030 Greenlawn, Apartment 6, looking for Ms. Jordan and Mr. Winn. He was unable to locate them, but did speak to a young lady by the name of Sandra Watkins. Ms. Watkins, who lived in Apartment 5, informed Sgt. Wilson that Jordan and Winn had moved out two weeks earlier. Sgt. Wilson then went to 1945 Monterey and spoke to an African American male by the name of James Murdock, who was also a resident of that house.14 12 JA 450-59. Although Jordan was available for cross-examination, no questions were asked on cross-examination. 13 Harold Winn was initially identified as a witness, but did not testify at the preliminary examination. 14 It is unclear whether Sgt. Wilson was referring to the house on Greenlawn or the Buena Vista residence. -18- On July 6, he went to Technicolor, which was Ms. Jordan’s last known place of employment, where he was informed that Ms. Jordan had not been employed there since March 1999. He also spoke to Patricia Williams at the Family Independence Agency, who informed him that a grant was opened for Ms. Jordan the previous month. Ms. Williams gave Sgt. Wilson an address of 3817 Monterey, a phone number, and a contact person by the name of Mrs. Crenshaw. He spoke to Mrs. Crenshaw by phone and followed up in person on July 7. Mrs. Crenshaw denied knowing Ms. Jordan. He also spoke to other individuals in the vicinity of the Monterey address, none of whom had seen Valena Jordan or Harold Winn. On July 6, Sgt. Wilson went to Petitioner’s mother’s home located at 17387 Fairport based upon reports from family members that Ms. Jordan and Mr. Winn were staying there. He spoke to Ms. Winn, who denied knowing Harold, and left the subpoenas in the mailbox. Finally, he tried contacting Ms. Jordan and Mr. Winn by telephone. With respect to Mr. Groves, Sgt. Wilson went to his grandmother’s home in Highland Park15 on July 5. He went back to that address every day until the trial started one week later, on July 12, 1999. Sgt. Wilson also went to Groves’ mother’s residence. No one was home, but he did speak to Groves’ uncle, who lived next door. Sgt. Wilson left a copy of the subpoena, as well as his business card bearing his telephone number, with Groves’ uncle, but no further contact was made. 15 This was the same address where he had previously served Jacqueline Taylor and Akeva Winn. (JA 439). -19- He checked with the utility companies for any contact information (address, telephone number, etc.), the county jail, and the morgue, to no avail. Finally, Detroit Police units surveiled Petitioner’s mother’s home on two different occasions for approximately19 total hours.