Joyner v. State

Summary

The Supreme Court of Delaware affirmed the denial of Ramon Joyner's postconviction motion alleging ineffective assistance based on trial counsel's failure to object to a forensic nurse's testimony recounting the victim's narrative. Assuming that some portions of the narrative were inadmissible hearsay or cumulative evidence, the Court held that Joyner failed to show prejudice because the victim's testimony and substantial corroborating evidence independently supported the convictions. The Court also concluded that the jury's verdict resolved the narrative's material discrepancy in Joyner's favor.