Joyner v. State

Jamal Joyner was indicted for capital murder. He pleaded guilty in exchange for the State reducing the charge to the lesser-included offense of aggravated robbery and an agreement from the State that it would recommend 50 years' confinement if Joyner testified truthfully at his codefendants' trials, if he were called as a witness.

*734Joyner never testified at any codefendant's trial. The State contends that Joyner lied to the pre-trial investigator, which prevented the State from calling him as a witness.

At Joyner's sentencing, the State recommended confinement for life, and the trial court…