NCJ Number
77653
Date Published
1967
Length
0 pages
Annotation
Part of a series of training demonstrations by practicing trial lawyers and law enforcement officers in a criminal prosecution, this film demonstrates Federal habeas corpus proceedings.
Abstract
The petitioner has been incarcerated in the State Prison of Southern Michigan following his trial on charges of robbery and murder at the Big Ten Party Store and Beverage House in Ann Arbor, Mich. The film focuses on the grounds for the petition, including the ineffective assistance of counsel and the competency of the defendant to stand trial. As evidence for the ineffective assistance, the petitioner contends that counsel failed to check on the names of certain alibi witnesses and on the background of one of the jurors who had been the victim of a mugging. Evidence for defendant incompetency is provided by the testimony of the examining psychiatrist who describes the defendant's epileptic condition and his inability to assist his counsel. After hearing the evidence, the judge dismisses the petition and the defendant is remanded to the State prison. For other films in this series, see NCJ 77644-52 and NCJ 77654-59.