Santiago v. O'Brien, 09-1186

Habeas petition in cocaine trafficking conviction

Santiago v. O'Brien, 09-1186, concerned a challenge to the district court's denial of defendant's request for habeas relief from his cocaine trafficking conviction claiming that his Sixth Amendment right to present a defense was violated.  In affirming, the court held that defendant has failed to show that the state court decision, excluding hearsay testimony of defendant's friend's claim that the drugs belonged to the friend and not defendant, was contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law as determined by the Supreme Court.

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• Read the First Circuit's Full Decision in Santiago v. O'Brien, 09-1186