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Griffin v. State

Since defendant did not deny making his inculpatory statements to police, defense counsel properly challenged the officers' credibility at defendant's Jackson-Denno hearing, rather than filing a motion to suppress the statements.

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Raymond Jermal Griffin, II was convicted of felony murder in the shooting death of Raymond Slaton.1 He appeals, contending his trial counsel was ineffective in failing to request a pre-trial hearing to challenge the admissibility of his statements. Because Griffin has shown neither deficient performance nor prejudice resulting from counsel’s decision, we affirm.

1. The evidence at trial showed that Slaton and a friend, David Barlow, had been smoking crack cocaine and wanted to buy more. The two drove to Griffin’s neighborhood in Slaton’s truck to buy crack from Griffin. Slaton persuaded Barlow to approach Griffin’s house because Slaton owed Griffin money. When Barlow asked Griffin if he had any drugs, Griffin said he did not. Barlow and Slaton stayed in the neighborhood all day and attempted several times to visit a friend who lived there. In the late evening, Slaton walked to this friend’s house and left Barlow in the truck. When Slaton had not returned, Barlow went to look for him. Barlow encountered Griffin, who told him that he had seen Slaton lying in a nearby alley. Barlow found Slaton shot and lying in the alley as Griffin had described, and Barlow left to call an ambulance. Slaton died the next day. Following arrest, Griffin made several conflicting statements in which he initially denied any involvement in the crime, but ultimately admitted shooting Slaton.

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