Opinion ID: 1649620
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Coercing False Testimony from James Coleman Jones.

Text: ¶ 6. Brown contends that police and the district attorney pressured Jones to say that Brown had confessed to the crimes but that his five recorded recollections contain enough discrepancies to show his testimony was fabricated. Brown argues that Jones had a motive to lie since he had been indicted and offered a plea bargain. The record reflects that the defense was fully aware of the existence of all of Coleman Jones's statements and their inconsistencies. The prosecutor noted on the record: I'm not trying to belabor the point, but there are things in these documents or statements which exculpate Mr. Brown and things which inculpate Mr. Brown, and only the jury can decide what to believe from Coleman Jones and what not to believe. The credibility of any witness, even a convicted felon, is for a jury to decide. Swington v. State, 742 So.2d 1106, 1111 (Miss.1999). In fact, Jones was cross-examined by the defense about his conflicting stories. The issue was known to the defense at the time of trial and is now procedurally barred from further review pursuant to Miss.Code Ann. § 99-39-21(1). Brown has failed to show cause for failing to raise the matter on direct appeal or demonstrate actual prejudice to the defense. The procedural bar must therefore remain in place. Cole v. State, 666 So.2d 767, 773 (Miss.1995).