Thompson v. State

Willie Thompson, Jr. was indicted and convicted for the murder of Freddie Lee Smith. Sentence was fifty years' imprisonment as an habitual offender. After retaining new counsel, Thompson filed a motion for new trial wherein he contends that he did not receive effective representation because trial counsel did not exercise due diligence in preparing the case for trial and in procuring the necessary witnesses for the defense.

Thompson was the only witness to testify at the hearing on the motion for new trial. His testimony revealed the following facts. Shortly after his arrest, his family hired…