     A recantation is the renunciation or formal and public withdrawal of a prior statement of a witness

     It  isn’t  a  ground  for  granting  a  new  trial  because  it  makes  a mockery of the court and would place the investigation of truth at the  mercy  of  unscrupulous  witnesses.    Moreover,  retractions  are easy  to  extort  out  of  witnesses.    In  contrast,  their  previous statements are made under oath, in the presence of a judge, and with  the  opportunity  to  cross-examine.    Therefore,  the  original testimony should be given more credence.

     However,  the  exception  to  this  rule  is  when  aside  from  the testimony of the retracting witness, there is no other evidence to support the conviction of the accused.  In this case, the retraction by the sole witness creates a doubt in the mind of the judge as to the guilt of the accused.  A new trial may be granted.  But if there is  other  evidence  independent  of  the  retracted  testimony,  there can be no new trial.