Hayden v. State

I respectfully dissent.

Five years after respondent’s conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, he filed an amended application for post-conviction relief. He alleged he was entitled to a new trial on the ground of after-discovered evidence. At his original trial respondent contended that SLED agents had planted him with drugs in order to discredit his upcoming testimony in federal court against Leonard Horger, a paid SLED informant. The SLED agents and police officers testified respondent’s allegations were false. However, at respondent’s post-conviction relief hearing,…