Jonathan Gregory Hoffman will receive a new trial after...

Jonathan Gregory Hoffman will receive a new trial after the prosecutor who convinced a jury to convict him admitted in court that critical evidence had been withheld at his 1996 trial. Union County District Attorney Kenneth Honeycutt said Hoffman and his trial lawyers should have been informed about a federal immunity deal struck with the state's star witness. The trial judge had ordered Honeycutt to disclose all favors and deals with Johnell Porter, who received immunity for several federal crimes in exchange for his testimony against Hoffman. Honeycutt said neither he nor his assistant, Scott Brewer, knew of the immunity deal the witness struck with a federal prosecutor on the opening day of Hoffman's trial. Honeycutt said he learned about the immunity deal 2 years after Hoffman was put on death row. "I think due process, fairness and justice require that Mr. Hoffman be given a new trial."