Page 109 of The Devil's Advocate

‘And you were there for two weeks?’

‘Somethin’ like that.’

‘You testified the defendant confessed to murder. When did you tell law enforcement about the confession?’

‘I told the guard I wanted to speak to the sheriff.’

‘Whendid you tell the guard?’

‘I don’t know, the next mornin’, maybe?’

‘And when did you speak to the sheriff?’

‘That day.’

‘And when were you transferred back to the state penn?’

‘Couple days later.’

‘Why?’

‘I dunno, I just go where they tell me.’

‘And you didn’t make any kind of deal in exchange for your testimony here today?’

Lawson leaned forward, spoke directly into the mic, ‘No.’ Loud and clear.

‘You didn’t agree anything verbally with the DA for time off in exchange for your testimony?’

‘No.’

‘And you didn’t sign any agreement that says you will get time off your sentence in exchange for your testimony?’

‘No.’

It’s an old story. A jailhouse snitch will say anything to make a deal and get time off of their sentence, but the last thing the prosecutor wants is for a jury to think the snitch is lying. The DA wants the jury to believe the testimony has not been bought or bribed from the witness – that this is the unvarnished truth and nothing else.

There’s only one problem with that.

It’s bullshit.

There are no honest jailhouse snitches, and there never will be.

‘Just so the jury understands, you’re saying you didnotmakeanykind of deal to shorten your sentence in exchange for your testimony today?’

‘No, I did not,’ he said, almost triumphantly.

‘Why not?’ I asked.

‘Huh?’

‘Why didn’t you make a deal?’

He looked around the room, exchanging a glance with Korn. He didn’t know what to say.

‘I just didn’t,’ he said, eventually.

‘There’s nothing wrong with making a deal. It happens all the time. An inmate comes into possession of information that could help the authorities, he displays his willingness to co-operate and the district attorney cuts him a deal with the parole board. The parole board wants inmates to be fully rehabilitated before they’re released. Working with the authorities to help resolve other crimes is good evidence of the inmate starting down a path to becoming a reformed citizen. So I ask again, why didn’t you make a deal?’