RondoNumbaNine Snitched On CDAI Saying He Was The Sole Shooter In Appeal

Defendant, Clint Massey, and his codefendant, Courtney Ealy, were convicted of murder in the shooting death of Javan Boyd. The State’s evidence showed that Boyd, a private taxi driver, was waiting for his fare when Massey and Ealy approached the taxi and shot Boyd, although there was conflicting evidence as to who did the actual shooting.

On appeal, Massey argues that (i) his counsel was ineffective for not more vigorously pursuing a defense theory that Ealy was the sole shooter; (ii) the trial court erred in allowing hearsay regarding what Massey was wearing on the night of the murder; (iii) a mistrial should have been granted because the victim’s family made an outburst during trial; and (iv) prior to trial, the court erred when it conducted a material witness hearing without notice to Massey. We decline to adjudicate Massey’s last contention since it relies on matters outside the record and is therefore inappropriate for resolution on direct review. Finding no merit in his other claims of error, we affirm.