State Of Louisiana v. Torrance Verdin

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 2025 KW 0827
VERSUS

TORRANCE VERDIN FEBRUARY 20, 2026
In Re: Torrance Verdin, applying for supervisory writs, 32nd

Judicial District Court, Parish of Terrebonne, No. 20-
FELY-809862.

BEFORE: MILLER, EDWARDS, AND FIELDS, Jd.
WRIT DENIED.

BDE
WEF

Miller, J., dissents. The appeal of this matter was affirmed
over the withering dissent of Judge Welch, who was critical of a
conviction in the absence of any direct evidence that the defendant
possessed an intent to kill, or was the shooter, or was in the
vehicle that carried the shooter. See State v. Verdin, 2022-1178
(La. App. 18* Cir. 9/7/23), 2023 WL 5767592, *19-22 (unpublished)
(Welch, J. dissenting). Under these circumstances, where trial
error was properly raised and identified by the applicant, such
errors become more impactful, and hence, in my view, increase the
probability that, but for the errors, the result of the proceeding
would have been different. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.
668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). I also recognize the
trial court’s unique position to provide context within this
framework ~- which would aid in our review. Thus, I respectfully
dissent and I would order the trial court to provide reasons for
its ruling pursuant to La. Code Crim. P. art. 930.1.

/ COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

vue 4 OKino

Prey CLERK OF COURT
FOR THE COURT