Harrington v. California

395 U.S. 250 (1969)

Purchase the Printed Copy at bsmsphd.com

Nature of the Case

To access this section all you need to do is click here and register.

Facts

Harrington (D), Bosby, Rhone, and Cooper attempted to rob a store. D was white; the other three were black. Bosby shot a clerk, and the four fled the scene. Later, Bosby and Cooper confessed that a white man was present, but they did not testify at the joint trial of the four. D confessed that he was at the store at the time of the attempted robbery and fled with the other three. Rhone testified, claiming that D was present in the store with a gun at the time. D cross-examined Rhone about his prior confession. D was convicted under the felony murder rule. D appealed, claiming that his conviction was based in part on Bosby's and Cooper's confessions and that he had no chance to cross-examine them.