Despite deal, murder witness doesn’t testify
COLVILLE – Spokane County prosecutors ended their first-degree murder case against Christopher H. Devlin without calling the only person they believe witnessed the killing.
Defense attorneys Mark Vovos and Roger Hunko implored Superior Court Judge Jerome Leveque to allow them to tell jurors that prosecutors Larry Steinmetz and Dale Nagy agreed to give Carl A. Hoskins a deal in exchange for testimony – that as it turns out never came.
“He’s the only guy who saw anything, supposedly,” Vovos said. “If they didn’t believe him, why would they give him the 27 months?”
Steinmetz refused to comment about why he didn’t call Hoskins as a witness in the trial against the 57-year-old Devlin, who is charged with the May 2008 slaying of 52-year-old Daniel Heily.
Read the rest of Tom Clouse's story here.
July 26: Trial opens in murder of crime witness
Feb. 3: Prosecutor's mixup takes death penalty off table
Oct. 31, 2009: County balks at case transfer
May 18, 2008: Homicide victim was Chattaroy man