State v. Gutierrez
Annotate this CaseThe issue presented here was whether the superior court must hold an evidentiary hearing when the results of a postconviction DNA testing conducted under Ariz. Rev. Stat. 13-4240 are favorable to the petitioner. A jury found Petitioner guilty of second-degree murder. Petitioner's conviction and sentence were affirmed on appeal. Petitioner later successfully petitioned the superior court for DNA testing. The test results were favorable to Defendant. Petitioner filed a petition for postconviction relief and requested an evidentiary hearing. The superior court denied postconviction relief. The Supreme Court vacated the superior court's order, holding that under section 13-4240(K), a court faced with favorable DNA test results, but no material issues of fact, must hold a non-evidentiary hearing to permit the parties to argue why the petitioner should or should not be entitled to relief as a matter of law. Remanded.
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