Supreme Court of Connecticut

Grant v. Commissioner of Correction

January 20, 2026354 Conn. 30

Summary

The court held that the petitioner was prejudiced by trial counsel’s failure to investigate and present a key witness’s cell phone records. The records would have undermined the witness’s account, contradicted related police testimony, supported the third-party culpability defense, and created a reasonable probability of a different verdict. The court reversed and ordered habeas relief, vacatur of the convictions, and a new trial.