Murder Conviction Stands Despite State Court’s Factual Error

A murder conviction in Massachusetts was upheld by a divided First Circuit despite both the prosecution and the defense agreeing that the state’s top court committed a factual error about evidence that could’ve been used to impeach an eyewitness.

Vern Rudolph knew both the defendant, Kyle Watkins, and the victim, Paul Coombs, and testified that he saw Watkins shoot Coombs. But Watkins claimed that the state withheld a police report concerning Rudolph that could’ve been used to impeach Rudolph when he testified at trial.

The prosecution violates due process when it suppresses material evidence favorable to the defendant, the US ...