Hoffman

I. Factual Background

The facts of the murder of Denise Williams have been recounted in numerous prior decisions in state and federal courts,1 and are recited only briefly here. Hoffman was employed by Richard Holmes, a drug dealer. Williams, a police informant, initiated a controlled buy with Holmes, and as a consequence, Holmes was arrested for distributing con- trolled substances. After Holmes was released on bail, Sam Longstreet and Jeff Slawson, two of Williams’s friends, went to meet with Holmes to assure him that they had nothing to do with his arrest. Holmes brokered a deal for these two friends to deliver Williams to Holmes at a camp in Idaho.

Longstreet and Slawson dropped Williams off and left her with Ron Wages, one of Holmes’s associates. Thereafter, Hoffman and Holmes went to the camp and met up with Wages and Williams. Holmes kicked Williams in the head, 1 See Hoffman v. Arave, 236 F.3d 523 (9th Cir. 2001); Hoffman v. Arave, 73 F. Supp. 2d 1192 (D. Idaho 1998); Hoffman v. Arave, 973 F. Supp. 1152 (D. Idaho 1997); Hoffman v. State, 121 P.3d 958 (Idaho 2005); State v. Hoffman, 851 P.2d 934 (Idaho 1993). HOFFMAN v. ARAVE 7337 and told Williams…