Thompson v. State
Thompson v. State
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
This appellant, twenty years old, was deaf, able to talk but poorly, and of limited. intelligence. ’ He stood mute when arraigned, and was not able to communicate intelligently with his counsel. He attempted no defense on tire trial, and was naturally convicted. His counsel, in support of his motion for a new trial, made affidavit as to his client’s condition, and asserted that since the trial he had discovered a number of witnesses who would disprove all the material parts of the state’s testimony and establish defendant’s entire innocence of the crime charged and proven. He satisfactorily accounts for his failure to produce this testimony on the trial, since his client was unable to communicate with him. In view of the unfortunate infirmities affecting this defendant, his total failure to make any defense, and the number of the witnesses and the character of the testimony which, according to the showing could be produced at another trial, we think the ends of justice demand that a new trial be granted, in order that opportunity be given defendant to establish his innocence, if he can.
Reversed and remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Nicholas Thompson v. State of Mississippi
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Criminal Law and Procedure. Physical and mental infirmities of defendant. New trial. Newly discovered evidence. Burglary. Intent to raye. Where a defendant, unable to make defense or communicate with counsel assigned to defend him because of deafness and limited intelligence, was convicted of burglary with intent to rape, he should be granted a new trial upon the discovery by counsel after the trial of evidence tending to show his innocence.