State v. Love

OPINION

By the Court,

Springer, J.:

Rickey Edward Love (“Love”) was found guilty of first degree *1137murder with the use of a deadly weapon. The State’s case was based solely upon circumstantial evidence, and the key witness was a jailhouse informant. Defense counsel decided not to call any alibi witnesses on Love’s behalf, and several of those potential witnesses later testified that they were not even contacted before the trial. After an evidentiary hearing, the district court held that respondent had received ineffective assistance of counsel, based upon a totality of the circumstances,…