ID: in the heat of battle

In a post-conviction hearing, subpoenaed Kootenai County chief public defender John Adams tells it the way it was. From the Spokesman-Review:

Convicted killer, his public defender testify - Man found guilty in ax killing wants new trial

Gerald Barcella... convicted ax-murderer took the stand Wednesday... detailing the reasons he believes he is entitled to a new trial. Barcella claimed, among other things, that his attorneys didn't do a good enough job defending him in his 1997 trial.

Kootenai County Chief Public Defender John Adams was... called as a witness by Chief Deputy Prosecutor Marty Raap. Raap said Adams was subpoenaed to respond to Barcella's claims that Adams didn't consider his wishes in defending the case, including arguing Barcella had diminished capacity.

Adams testified that his memory of the case – one of hundreds he's handled in the past 25 years – was hazy. He said he couldn't recall his discussions with Barcella in the months leading up to the trial. He couldn't recall Barcella asking to take the stand in his own defense.

When Raap asked Adams if he felt he made any errors in the case, Adams said he did – one being that he didn't win an acquittal. "I'm sure I made many, many errors," Adams said. "We all do in the heat of battle. I'm sure I did mess things up for Gerry's defense."

Adams said the state provides few resources for public defenders and noted that he was handling about 150 cases while representing Barcella in the death penalty case...