Court of Criminal Appeals hears challenge to eyewitness ID and disclosure in State v. Amir Spears

A three-judge panel of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals heard oral argument in State of Tennessee v. Amir Spears, where the defendant challenges his convictions for homicide and related offenses on several grounds, chief among them a claim that the state failed to disclose the circumstances surrounding a crucial eyewitness identification.

Appellant Joshua Hedrick told the court that Deontre Woods initially told police he had ‘‘less than 10 seconds’’ to view the rifleman and at the hospital said, ‘‘I can't help you.’’ Hedrick said Woods later conducted social-media searches, provided the name Amir Spears to investigators and then identified Spears in a photo lineup. Hedrick argued the post‑event social‑media research and the attendant circumstances were Brady material that should have been produced to the defense before trial and…