HOUSTON – The night Deputy Darren Goforth was gunned down there was an eyewitness to the shooting who not only knew Goforth but told investigators she had a romantic relationship with the deputy, according to Channel 2 sources.
A court document filed by prosecutors -- known as a Brady Disclosure -- revealed Goforth and the woman had been in the relationship for more 15 months at the time he was killed. Channel 2 is reporting on these details because they are now part of the official investigation.
"A Brady notice requires the prosecution to turn over to the defense any evidence that is not only helpful to the defense," KPRC legal analyst Brian Wice said. "But that also undermines the prosecution's case."
Sources also told Channel 2 that it was the Harris County Sheriff's Office that originally informed the district attorney's office about the relationship late Sept. 9. The document was filed the next day.
Wice said prosecutors were legally obligated to reveal the information to the attorneys of the man accused of killing Goforth.
"The Harris County District Attorney's Office recognized that if there's doubt at all about what evidence is in Brady, you turn it over," Wice said.
Wice also tells us that it's a matter of when, not if, this eyewitness will be called to the stand. Also, in order for the jury to properly assess her credibility it will be necessary to reveal the relationship in court.
