U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2011

United States v. Virgil Burris

United States v. Virgil Burris
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Decided October 17, 2011 · Kozinski, Paez, Collins
454 F. App'x 567

United States v. Virgil Burris

Opinion

MEMORANDUM ***

One requirement for getting a new trial based on newly discovered evidence is that “the new evidence must not be merely cumulative or impeaching.” Lindsey v. United States, 368 F.2d 633, 634 (9th Cir. 1966); see United States v. Kulczyk, 931 F.2d 542, 549 (9th Cir. 1991). Burris presents Swan’s recantation, but Swan has repudiated his recantation. “[WJhere the recantation has itself been repudiated, ... the recantation becomes merely impeaching and could be used at a new trial only for the purpose of cross examining the witness, and not as substantive evidence.” Lindsey, 368 F.2d at 636. This case does not present a rare exception where impeachment evidence alone might support a new trial, see United States v. Davis, 960 F.2d 820, 825 (9th Cir. 1992), because other witnesses corroborated aspects of Swan’s trial testimony.

AFFIRMED.

***

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9 th Cir. R. 36-3.

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