Opinion ID: 1817269
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: did disclosure of the agreement between rico and the state impermissibly affirm rico's testimony?

Text: Prior to the direct examination of Rico Cabello, the prosecutor informed the jury and the court, That the State has told Rico Cabello and his attorney ... in the event that Rico Cabello cooperates fully with the State in the investigation of the robbery and killing of Vernon Gurley and testified truthfully at any trial or hearing in this matter, and further if the evidence shows that Rico Cabello was not actually present when Vernon Gurley was robbed and killed and that his participation in this crime was relatively minor, then the State would recommend to this court that the pending case against Rico Cabello ... be remanded to the Youth Court of Alcorn County ... On cross-examination defense counsel questioned Rico regarding this agreement in order to attack his credibility. Frank, Sr. now argues the prosecutor's disclosure of the agreement signaled to the jury that the state was in effect vouching for the testimony of Rico Cabello. The Fifth Circuit addressed this issue in United States v. Martino, 648 F.2d 367 (5th Cir.1981). In it the court admitted the written plea bargain agreement between the state and the witness. Afterward counsel cross-examined the witness regarding his plea agreement. The Court of Appeals held the agreement did not constitute an impermissible affirmation or bolstering by the prosecutor of the credibility of a government witness. The statement in the plea agreement that Noriega promised to testify `truthfully' does not constitute error-laden vouching for the credibility of a government witness. 648 F.2d at 389. Likewise, we do not think the disclosure of the agreement to remand Rico's case to the Youth Court amounted to state endorsement of Rico's testimony. Moreover, defense counsel used the agreement to attack Rico's credibility on cross-examination. Thus the offer by the state and its acceptance by Rico, with its potential for truthfulness or falsehood in his testimony, was placed before the jury for their resolution. Jurors, of course, are the ultimate triers of fact and they are aided in this endeavor by the varied experiences and knowledge reposed in them which contributes to the composite wisdom of the jury selected and sworn for the resolution of factual disputes arising during the course of the trial. United States v. Martino is persuasive to us that there is no merit in this assignment of error. See also, King v. State, 363 So.2d 269 (Miss. 1978), wherein we held that an agreement between the state and one of its witnesses must be disclosed to the jury to allow that factor to be evaluated with other factors in considering the verity of the witness.