F ORP UB L I C AT I ON UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS FOR T HE NI NTH CI RC UI T THOM AS PAUL W ES T, P et i t i on er , v. C HA R L E S L . R YA N, R e s p o n d e n t. N o. 11- 71987 ORDER

B efo re: K L E IN F E L D , W A R D L A W , an d C A L L A H A N , C i rcu i tJu d g es.

T hom a s P aul W e s tappl i e s t o thi s c ourtf orauthor i z a t i on t o f

i l e as e c ond or s u c c e s s iv e p e titio n f

o raw r it o f

h ab e a s c o rp u s in th e D is tr ic t o f A r iz o n a . See 28 U . S . C . § 2244( b) ( 3) . W e de ny hi s appl i c a t i on. B AC KG RO UN D W estw as co n v i ct ed o f fi rst -d eg ree felon y m u rd er, seco n d d eg ree b u rg l ary, a nd the f ti n M ar c h 1988. I n ouropi ni on de ny i ng hi s f i r s tf e de r a l habe a s pe t i t i on, w e s e t o u t th e f

a c ts s u rr o u n d in g th e m u r d e ra n d tr ia l: W e s t m o v e d to A r iz o n af r o m I llin o is in J u n e 1 9 8 7 . W h ile liv in g in T u c s o n w ith af

a m ilyf r ie n d , h e m e t D o n a ld B o rtle ( “B o rtle ” ) . B o rtle h a d v a r io u s ite m s f

o rs a le in h is h o m e , in c lu d in g a s s o rte d e le c tr o n ic



# FI LED JU L 18 2011 M OLLY C. DW Y ER, CLERK U . S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS2

equi pm entand v i deot apes of po pu l arm ov i es . W es t ’ s f ri end w ant ed to b u y s o m e th in g s f

r o m B o rtle , a n d W e s t a c c o m p a n ie d h e rto h is h o u s e . A b o u t tw o w e e k s la te rin m id - J u ly1 9 8 7 , W e s t b r o k e in to B o rtle ’s h o m e , b e a t h im s e v e r e lyab o u t th e h e a d , a n d b o u n d h is lim b s . H e l eftB o rt l e t o d i e, st eal i n g h i s car an d v ari o u s o th er i t em s, in c lu d in g s e v e r a l p ie c e s o f e le c tr o n ic e q u ip m e n t. W e s ttr a n s p o rt e d th e s t o l e n g o o d s t o th e d e s e rtw h e r e h e h i d th e m, and then d rove t o G l endal e w here som e of hi s f ri ends l i ved. A ft er re tri evi ng the go od s f

rom T ucson w i th an acquai nt ance , W es tre turned to G le n d a le a n d s p e n t ac o u p le o f d a y s w ith h is f

r ie n d s . F N1 He m a de s e ve r a l a l l us i ons t o be a t i ng up a nd r obbi ng “ s om e guy , ” but e x p r e s s e d n o r e m o r s e ab o u t it. W e s t th e n ab s c o n d e d to I llin o is w ith m u ch o f th e s to len p ro p er ty. S o o n th er ea fter , o n e o f W es t’ s ac qu ai nt ance s c on t ac t ed the P i m a C ou nty S heri ff’ s O ff i ce , and an in v e s tig a tio n le d o f

f ic e r s to B o rtle ’s h o m e w h e r e th e yd is c o v e r e d h is de a d a nd de c a y i ng body . H i s ha nds a nd f e e tw e r e bound w i th a va c uum c l e a ne rc or d a nd l a m p w i r e , a nd he ha d e xt e ns i ve f r a c tur e s on the ri gh tsi de of hi s f

ac e. T he fr ac tures w er e s o sever e thathi s har d pal l ethad d et ac hed from hi s s ku l l . T he coroner es t i m at ed thathe had b le d to d e a th w ith in f

o rty - f iv e m in u te s to a n h o u ra f te rth e b e a tin g . F N1 . T he r e c or d s how s tha tW e s tw a s buy i ng a nd t a ki ng l a r ge a m o u n ts o f

d ru g s a r o u n d th e tim e o f th e m u r d e ra n d im m e d ia te ly the r e a f t e r . D e f e ns e c ouns e l s uc c e s s f

ul l ye xc l ude d thi s e vi de nc e f r om tr i a l buti ntr oduc e d i tdur i ng s e nt e nc i ng t o e s t abl i s h the e xt e nta nd ef fe ct s of W es t ' s s ub st ance abuse. W es tw as arre st ed i n Il l i no i s w hen the car i n w hi ch he w as ri di ng w as s t oppe d f ors pe e di ng, a nd the of

f i c e rdi s c ove r e d he w a s w a nt e d f or m ur de ri n A r i z ona . A s e a r c h of the c a rr e ve a l e d s e ve r a l pi e c e s of el ec troni c e qu i pm entand o ther i t em s s t ol en fr om B ort l e’ s hom e.3

W e s t v . R y an , 6 0 8 F .3 d 4 7 7 , 4 8 0 ( 9 th C ir . 2 0 1 0 ) . W e a ls o s e t o u t th e f a c ts surr ou nd i ng W es t ’ s s ent enci ng . B ec ause W es tchal l enges hi s s ent ence , ra ther than h is c o n v ic tio n , th o s e f

a c ts a r e im p o rta n t h e r e a s w e ll: T he pr os e c ut i on s oughtthe de a th pe na l ty , c i t i ng the f ol l ow i ng aggravat i ng fa ct ors: (1) the m urder w as com m i tt ed for pecuni ary ga i n; ( 2) the m ur de rw a s c om m i tt e d i n a n e s pe c i a l l yc rue l a nd he i nous m a nne r ; a nd ( 3) W e s tha d apr i orc onvi c t i on f orac r i m e of v io le n c e ( a1 9 8 1 m a n s lau g h te rc o n v ic tio n ) . F N2 F N2 . T he r e c or d c ont a i ns c onf l i c t i ng i nf

orm a t i on a s t o w he the rthe conv i ct i on w as for vol un t ary or i nv ol un t ary m ansl augh t er . A tthe i ni t i al se nt enci ng hear i ng on M ay4, 19 88 , W es t ’ s c ou nsel a r gue d tha tac onvi c t i on f orf e l ony m ur de rpr e c l ude d i m pos i t i on of th e d ea th p en alty. D aw ley[ , W es t’ s c o u n se l, ] i n d icated th at, as “a m a tte ro f s tr a te g y ,” h e a n d [ c o - c o u n s e l] F io r illo c h o s e to r e lys o le ly o n th is “le g a l a r g u m e n t” a n d n o t to p r e s e n t m itig a tio n w itn e s s e s . D a w l e y s a i d tha tthe y ha d l ooke d f orm i t i ga t i ng f

a c t or s , e xpl a i ni ng th a t W e s t h a d b e e n “e x a m in e d ” f r o m “am e n ta l h e a lth s ta n dp o in t,” buttha the a nd F i or i l l o ha d de t e rm i ne d tha tthe e vi de nc e “ w a s not w o rth b r in g in g ” to th e c o u rt. T h e ju d g e d is a g r e e d w ith th e d e f e n s e ’s le g a l th e o ryth a t th e d e a th pe na l ty c oul d notbe i m pos e d f oraf e l ony m ur de rc onvi c t i on a nd a s k e d W e s t if

th e r e w a s a n y th in g h e w is h e d to s a yp r io rto s e n te n c in g . W e s t in d ic a te d th a t th e r e w e r e alo t o f p e o p le w h o w o u ld t es t i fythathe w as no ta “ w i cked m ad m an, ” butthathe di d n otfe el l i ke “ dr a ggi ng the m i n” be c aus e he f e l tthe c ourtha d a l r e a dym a de up i t s m i nd . T he courtre spon ded thati tw ou l d con si der any such e v id e n c e a n d w o u ld d e la y s e n te n c in g s o th a t W e s t c o u ld p r e s e n t it. W e s t a g r e e d , a n d th e c o u rt r e s c h e d u le d th e h e a r in g f o rJ u n e 6 . O n M ay11 , D aw l eysoug htand o bt ai ned ano ther c on t i nu ance , d e l a y i n g th e s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i n g u n t i l A u g u s t1 . D u r i n g th e i n t e r i m,4

d e f e n s e c o u n s e l s e n t tw o in v e s tig a to r s to I llin o is a n d O k la h o m ato i nt e rvi e w thi rt e e n w i tne s s e s aboutW e s t ’ s c hi l dhood, drug a ddi c t i on, a n d th e c ir c u m s ta n c e s s u rr o u n d in g th e e a r lie r1 9 8 1 h o m ic id e . C ou nsel al so re t ai ned a subst ance abuse e xp ert , T erryH i ckey ( “ H i c ke y ” ) , w ho i nt e rvi e w e d W e s t , W e s t ’ s m othe r , hi s br othe r , a nd L uA nn S t . A ubi n ( W e s t ' s gi r l f r i e nd a tthe t i m e of

the 1981 h o m ic id e ) . H ic k e y r e v ie w e d th e tr a n s c r ip ts o f th e in te rv ie w s w ith W est ' s fam i l y an d fri en d s, as w el l as W est ’ s Il l i n o i s p ri so n reco rd s, hi s m edi ca l re cords, and D r. A l l ender’ s neuropsyc ho l og i ca l e va l ua t i on. M eanw hi l e, the prob at i on offi ce subm i tt ed an am ended p re se nt ence re po rt(“ P S R ”) , w hi ch desc ri bed p osi t i ve l ett er s f rom W es t ’ s f

ather, gr a ndm othe r , m a t e rna l aunt , a nd af a m i l yf r i e nd. T he l e tt e rf

r om W e s t ’ s f a the rs t a t e d tha tW e s tw a s w e l l - l i ke d a nd tha tdrugs a nd al coho l w er e “ the bo tt om l i ne t o al l of [hi s] prob l em s. ” O ther l ett er s opi ne d tha tW e s tne e de d drug tr e a tm e nta nd tha the w a s agood pe r s on w he n he w a s notus i ng drugs . T he P S R t ook not e of the num e r ous i nt e rvi e w s c onduc t e d bythe de f e ns e i nve s t i ga t or s a nd a dvi s e d the c ourtt o c ons i de rtha tW e s t ’ s a c t i ons m a yha ve be e n the r e s u lt o f c h r o n ic a n d a c u te d ru g ab u s e , w h ic h m a yh a v e r e d u c e d h is abi l i ty t o app re ci at e the w rong ful ness of hi s a ct i on s. Ital so op i ned tha tW e s t ’ s a c t i ons m a y ha ve r e s ul t e d f r om a n uns t abl e a nd abus i ve h o m e e n v ir o n m e n t. I n i t s pr e - he a r i ng s e nt e nc i ng br i e f , the de f e ns e a r gue d tha tW e s t( 1) had an em ot i on al l y depri ved chi l dh oo d, (2) s uffe re d from subst ance ab u s e , w h ic h d im in is h e d h is c ap a c ityto c o n f o rm h is c o n d u c t to s oc i a l a nd l e ga l norm s , ( 3) c oul d be r e habi l i t a t e d, ( 4) di d noti nt e nd t o k i l l B ort l e, (5) c ou l d n otl egal l y be putt o d ea th for fe l on y m urder, a n d ( 6 ) h a d a c te d in s e lf - d e f e n s e a n d d e f

e n s e o f a n o th e rin c onne c t i on w i th hi s 1981 hom i c i de c onvi c t i on. A tthe A ug ust1 sent enci ng hear i ng , H i ckeyand fi ve l ayw i tness es t es t i fi ed on W es t ’ s behal f. T he defens e a l so subm i tt ed new spaper ar ti cles ab o u t th e 1 9 8 1 h o m icid e, h o sp it al re co rd s f ro m W es t’ s drug- r e l a t e d hos pi t a l i z a t i ons i n 1983 a nd 1986, ar ap s he e tf r om the5

D epartm entof Just i ce , and transcr i pt s of i nt ervi ew s w i th thi rt ee n w itn e s s e s w h o d is c u s s e d th e e x te n t o f W e s t’s s u b s ta n c e ab u s e , h is em ot i on al l y depri ved chi l dh oo d, and/ or the ci rc um st ance s s u rr o u n d in g th e 1 9 8 1 h o m ic id e . F N3 F N3 . L uA nn S t . A ubi n a nd M i ke R i c hm ond, both of w hom w i tne s s e d the 1981 hom i c i de , t e s t i f i e d tha tthe vi c t i m w a s avi ol e nt drug deal erw ho had b ee n t errori zi ng peop l e a ta party and w as p a rtic ip a tin g in a n a tta c ko n S t. A u b in w h e n W e s t s h o t h im . A lth o u g h S t. A u b in te s tif ie d a t th e s e n te n c in g h e a r in g th a t th e v ic tim ha d pul l e d agun on W e s t , s he di d notof f e rs uc h t e s t i m ony dur i ng the m a n s lau g h te rtr ia l, a n d R ic h m o n d p r o v id e d ac o n tr a rya c c o u n t. A c c or di ng t o R i c hm ond, w he n W e s tpoi nt e d agun a tthe vi c t i m , the vi c t i m t aunt e d hi m by s a y i ng he “ di dn' tha ve the ba l l s ” t o pul l the tr i g g e r . W e s tth e n s h o th i m. H i ck ey t est i fi ed th atW estcam e fro m a ch em i cal l y d ep en d en tfam i l y, th a t W e s t’s c h e m ic a l d e p e n d e n c yb e g a n a t a g e te n , a n d th a t it s i gni f i c a nt l y i m pa i r e d hi s j udgm e nt . H e t e s t i f i e d tha ta ddi c t s c a nnot re as on no rm al l y and thatthey m ake i ncre as i ng l y bad deci si on s a s th ei r ad d i ct i o n p ro g resses. H e t est i fi ed th atex trem e ad d i ct i o n s cau se “ cogn i t i ve i m pai rm ent [s ] ” s i m i l art o b ra i n d am age. W i th regard t o W es t ’ s f am i l y, H i ckeyt es t i fi ed thatW es t ’ s f ather w as a n a lc o h o lic a n d th a t W e s t w itn e s s e d p h y s ic a l v io le n c e in th e f a m ily fr om an earl y a ge. H i ckeyno t ed thatW es t ’ s f ather w i thd re w af fe ct i on and ref

used t o cal l the chi l dren by thei r nam es , ca l l i ng them “ p o th e a d n u m b e ro n e ” a n d “ p o th e a d n u m b e rtwo . ” On cr oss- exam i nat i on , H i ckeyadm i tt ed thatW es t ’ s progn osi s w as po or, not i ng tha tW e s tha d dr oppe d outof tr e a tm e ntpr ogr a m s i n 1983 a nd 19 86 , bu texpl ai ni ng thati ti s notun com m on for a dd i ct s t o fai l such p ro g ram s o n th ei r fi rstatt em p t s. A tthe c l os e of

e vi de nc e , W e s tm a de al e ngthys t a t e m e nti n w hi c h he de ni e d a ny r e s pons i bi l i ty f orthe c r i m e . T he s e nt e nc i ng c ourtf ound three aggravat i ng ci rc um st ance s: (1) thatW es tprevi ou sl y c om m i tt ed a fel o n y i n v o l v i n g th e u se o f v i o l en ce u p o n an o th er, (2 ) th atW est6

c om m i tt e d the pr e s e ntof f e ns e i n e xpe c t a t i on of

pe c uni a ryga i n, a nd ( 3) tha tW e s tc om m i tt e d the pr e s e nt o f f e n s e i n a n e s p e c i a l l yc ru e l a n d h e i n o u s m a n n e r , i n th a t , A, th e [ v i c t i m] w a s h o g t i e d , b o u n d a n d b e a t e n r e p e a t e d l y ; B, de a th w a s noti m m e di a t e , the de c e a s e d w a s l e f tdy i ng a nd i n a pos i t i on unabl e t o s e e k a s s i s t anc e ; a nd C , tha tthe de f e nda nt kne w orha d r e a s on t o know tha tthe de c e a s e d w a s dy i ng or h ad su ffered seri o u s p h ysi cal i n j u ri es. T he c ourtf

ound W e s t ’ s e m ot i ona l l yde pr i ve d c hi l dhood a nd s u b s ta n c e ab u s e p r o b le m to b e m itig a tin g , b u t n o t s u f f ic ie n tlys o a s to outw e i gh the a ggr a va t i ng f a c t or s . I ts e nt e nc e d W e s tt o de a th. I d. a t 4 8 1 - 8 2 . W e s t ’ s c o n v i c t i o n w a s a f f i rme d o n d i r e c tr e v i e w b yth e A r i z o n aSu p r e me C o u rt o n S e p te m b e r3 0 , 1 9 9 3 . S ta te v. W est , 862 P . 2d 192 ( A r i z . 1993) . T he S upr e m e C ourtde ni e d cert i o ra rio n A p r il 2 5 , 1 9 9 4 . W e s t v . A r i z ona , 5 1 1 U . S. 1063 ( 1994) . O n M a r c h 26, 1996, W e s tf i l e d hi s f i r s tpe t i t i on f

orpos t - c onvi c t i on r e l i e f i n s t a t e c ourt , r a i s i ng num e r ous c l a i m s i nc l udi ng i ne f f e c t i ve a s s i s t a nc e of c ouns e l f ornotpr e s e nt i ng s uf

f i c i e ntm i t i ga t i on e vi de nc e a ts e nt e nc i ng. T he s u p e r i o rc o u rtd e n i e d th e p e t i t i o n w i th o u tah e a r i n g , a n d th e A r i z o n aSu p r e me C o u rt s u m m a r ilyd e n ie d th e p e titio n . O n M a y 6 , 1 9 9 8 , W e s t f ile d atim e lyp e titio n f

o raw r it o f

h ab e a s c o rp u s in th e D istrict o f A rizo n a. O n N o v em b er9 , 2 0 0 7 , th e d istrict co u rt d en ied W es t’ s th ir d a m e n d e d h ab e a s p e titio n . W est v. Sch ri ro , N o 9 8 - 2 1 8 2 0 0 7 W L 4 2 4 0 8 5 9 .7

T he courtdeni ed W es t ’ s m ot i on t o rec on si der on D ec em ber 11, 20 07 . W e deni ed h is ap p e a l in ap u b lis h e d d e c is io n o n J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 1 0 . W e s t v . R y an , 6 0 8 F .3 d 4 7 7 . T he S upr e m e C ourtde ni e d cert i o ra rio n F e b ru a ry2 2 , 2 0 1 1 . W e s t v . R y an , 1 3 1 S. C t. 1 4 7 3 ( 2 0 1 1 ) . F ol l ow i ng the habe a s appe a l s , A r i z onam ove d f oraw a rr a ntof

e xe c ut i on, w hi c h w a s i s s ue d by the A r i z onaS upr e m e C ourton M a y24, 2011. T he w a rr a nt setth e ex ecu t i o n fo r Ju l y 1 9 , 2 0 1 1 . In o p p o si n g th e w arran to f ex ecu t i o n , W est f ile d as u c c e s s iv e p e titio n f o rp o s t- c o n v ic tio n r e lie f in th e A r iz o n aS u p e r io rC o u rt, w h ic h th a t c o u rt d e n ie d o n J u n e 2 9 , 2 0 1 1 . T h e A r iz o n aS u p r e m e C o u rt s u m m a r ily de ni e d r e vi e w on Jul y 13, 2011, a nd W e s tf i l e d ape t i t i on f

oraw r i tof

c e rt i or a r i on J ul y 15, 2011. T ha tpe t i t i on i s c urr e nt l ype ndi ng. W e s tf i l e d the i ns t a nt ap p lic a tio n p u r s u a n t to 2 8 U .S .C . § 2 2 4 4 ( b ) ( 3 ) , s e e k in g p e rm is s io n f r o m th e N in th C i r c ui tt o f

i l e as e c ond ors uc c e s s i ve pe t i t i on f oraw r i tof

habe a s c orpus i n the D i s tr i c tof

A r i z ona , on J ul y 15, 2011. DI S CUS S I ON I . W e s t R ai s e d T h e C l ai m of I n e f f e c t i ve A s s i s t an c e i n a P r i or P e t i t i on T h e f ir s t s te p in o u rc o n s id e r a tio n o f W e s t’s ap p lic a tio n r e q u ir e s u s to

“ de t e rm i ne w he the ra‘ c l a i m pr e s e nt e d i n as e c ond ors uc c e s s i ve habe a s c orpus appl i ca t i on ’ w as al so ‘ pres ent ed i n a pri or appl i ca t i on . ’ ” G onz alezv . Cr os by , 5458

U . S . 52 4, 53 0 (20 05 ). If i thas, “ the cl ai m m ustbe di sm i ss ed. ” I d. Th e Su p r e me C ou rthas c l ar i fi ed thatthe t erm “ cl ai m ” m eans “ an as se rt ed fe dera l basi s f or re l i ef fr om a s t at e c ou rt ' s j ud gm entof conv i ct i on . ” I d. W e s ta l l e ge s tha thi s c l a i m s ha ve no tbeen pres ent ed i n a previ ou s pet i t i on , bu t , atl ea stas t o h i s f i rs tcl ai m , w e are n o t c o n v in c e d . I n hi s pr opos e d s e c ond ors uc c e s s i ve pe t i t i on, W e s tm a ke s tw o c l a i m s : ( 1) th a t s e n te n c in g c o u n s e l r e n d e r e d in e f f e c tiv e a s s is ta n c e b e c au s e th e yf a ile d to a de qua t e l y i nve s t i ga t e hi s ba c kgr ound a nd i ntr oduc e e vi de nc e tha tw oul d ha ve in v a lid a te d a ll th r e e s ta tu to ry a g g r a v a tin g f a c to r s f o u n d b yth e s e n te n c in g c o u rt; and (2) thathi s r ec entdi agno se s of post -traum at i c s tre ss di sorder(“ P T S D ”) re nd er ed hi m i nel i gi bl e f or the death p enal ty bec ause i ti nv al i dat es al l three a ggr a va t i ng f

a c t or s . W hi l e the P T S D i s ane w w r i nkl e , w e ha ve s e e n a tl e a s tthe fi rs tof these cl ai m s bef ore. S peci fi ca l l y, i n cl ai m A 8 o f hi s pre vi ou s habea s pe t i t i on, W e s tc ont e nde d tha thi s c ouns e l w e r e i ne f f e c t i ve a ts e nt e nc i ng by f a i l i ng t o i nve s t i ga t e a nd pr e s e ntm i t i ga t i on e vi de nc e of W e s t ’ s i m pa i r e d m e nt a l he a l th, h e a d in ju r ie s , c h ild h o o d ab u s e , im m a tu r ity , s u b s ta n c e ab u s e , a n d f a ilu r e to c om pl e t e drug r e habi l i t a t i on. W hi l e the c urr e ntpr opos e d pe t i t i on f oc us e s on the ef fe ctthe evi dence of hi s c hi l dh oo d abu se w ou l d h ave on the aggravat i ng fa ct ors ra th erth an th e m it ig atin g ef fe ct, th is is tw o sid es o f th e s am e c o in . W es t’ s9

c om pl a i nti s tha tc ouns e l s houl d ha ve di s c ove r e d the truth abouthi s c hi l dhood a nd the ef fe cti thad o n h i s dec i si on t o m urder M r. B ort l e. T he c urr e ntc l a i m a dds nothi ng ne w e xc e ptthe c ont e nt i on tha tthe i n v e s t i g a t i o n wo u l d h a v e r e v e a l e d h i s P T S D. Ho we v e r , e v e n th a ti s n o ttru l yn e w, because W es tar gu ed the sa m e thi ng t o thi s c ou rti n h i s app ea l of the pri or habeas d e n ia l. I n f

a c t, W e s t a r g u e d h is P T S D w a rr a n te d r e lie f in s e v e n d if

f e r e n t p la c e s in h is o p e n in g b r ie f

o f th e f ir s t h ab e a s ap p e a l a n d th r e e p la c e s in h is r e p lyb r ie f . B ec ause W es t ’ s f

i rs tcl ai m re gardi ng i neff ec t i ve as si st ance of se nt enci ng coun se l w a s r a is e d in ap r io rh ab e a s p e titio n , it m u s t b e d is m is s e d . 2 8 U .S .C . § 2 2 4 4 ( b ) ( 1 ) . I I . R e q u i r e m e n t s F or F i l i n g S e c on d or S u c c e s s i ve P e t i t i on E v en i f W est ’ s cl ai m s are d i st i n cten o u g h fro m th o se rai sed i n h i s fi rst pe t i t i on s o tha tw e m a y c ons i de rthe m , w e m us tdi s m i s s hi s appl i c a t i on unl e s s he m e e t s A nt i t e rr or i s m a nd E f f e c t i ve D e a th P e na l tyA c t ’ s ( A E D P A ) s tr i nge nt s t a nda r ds . 28 U . S . C . § 2244( b) ( 2) ( B ) . “ P e rm i tt i ng as t a t e pr i s one rt o f i l e as e c ond ors uc c e s s i ve f

e de r a l habe a s c orpus pe t i t i on i s notthe ge ne r a l rul e , i ti s the e xc e pt i on, a nd a n e xc e pt i on tha tm a ybe i nvoke d onl yw he n the de m a ndi ng st andard setby C on gres s i s m et . ” B i b le v. Sch ri ro , ___ F . 3d ___, 2011 W L 25 47 61 7, *3 (9th C i r. June 28 , 20 11 ). B ec ause W es ti s notcl ai m i ng thata new10

rul e of c on st i tut i on al l aw supp ort s hi s c l ai m , thi s dem andi ng st andard requi re s that w e d i sm i ss h i s ap p l i cat i o n u n l ess (i ) the fa ctual predi ca t e f or the cl ai m coul d n othave been di sc ov er ed pr e vi ous l y thr ough the e xe r c i s e of due di l i ge nc e ; a nd ( i i ) the f a c t s unde r l y i ng the c l a i m , i f pr ove n a nd vi e w e d i n l i ghtof the e vi de nc e a s aw hol e , w oul d be s uf f i c i e ntt o e s t abl i s h byc l e a ra nd c o n v in c in g e v id e n c e th a t, b u t f o rc o n s titu tio n a l e rr o r , n o r e a s o n ab le f a c t f i nde rw oul d ha ve f

ound the appl i c a ntgui l tyof the unde r l y i ng o f f e n s e . 2 8 U .S .C . § 2 2 4 4 ( b ) ( 2 ) ( B ) . W h ile W e s t m u s t s a tis f yb o th r e q u ir e m e n ts to p r e v a il in h is ap p lic a tio n , h e c a n n o t s a tis f ye ith e r . A . The Ev i de nc e C o ul d H a v e Be e n D i s c o v e r e d Pr e v i o us l y W estm u stfi rstd em o n strat e th atth e ev i d en ce h e n o w p resen t s i s n ew l yd is c o v e r e d , i . e. , i t“ co u l d n o th av e b een d i sco v ered p rev i o u sl y th ro u g h th e ex erci se of du e di l i gence. ” I

d. W esto ffers tw o p i eces o f ev i d en ce h e d eem s n ew l ydi s c ove r e d. F i r s t , W e s ta s s e rt s tha the s uf f e r e d phy s i c a l a nd e m ot i ona l abus e f r om h is f a m ilya n d h e w a s s e x u a llym o le s te d b yth r e e d if f e r e n t m e n d u r in g h is c hi l dhood. T hi s i nf

orm a t i on w a s notbr oughtouta ttr i a l ori n m i t i ga t i on dur i ng s e nt e nc i ng. S e c ond, W e s tw a s di a gnos e d a f t e rthe tr i a l a nd s e nt e nc i ng a s s uf f e r i ng f r om P T S D . H i s m e di c a l e xpe rt s opi ne tha tW e s tw a s s uf f e r i ng f r om P T S D a tthe tim e h e m u r d e r e d B o rtle .W es tw as eval uat ed by tw o n europsyc ho l og i st s, D r. A l l ender and D r. 1 D an iel O v erb ec k , i n th e f all o f 1 9 8 7 . T h er e is n o re co rd o f D r. O v erb ec k ’s e v a lu a tio n , s o it is u n k n o w n w h a t W e s t d id o rd id n o t d is c lo s e to h im . See W es t v. R y an , 608 F . 3d a t480- 81. E ve n i f he ha d di s c l os e d the purport e d s e xua l abus e by the pri es t , i ti s e nt i re l y possi bl e thata s tra t egi c c ho i ce w as m ade nott o p ursue a r e l a t e d mi t i g a t i o n c l a i m. 11

1 . F a m i l y a n d S ex u a lA b u se W estcan n o td em o n strat e th atth e ev i d en ce o f p h ysi cal an d em o t i o n al ab u se by hi s f am i l y or s exual m ol es t at i on i s new l y- di sc ov er ed because i tcoul d h ave been d is c o v e r e d b e f

o r e tr ia l th r o u g h th e e x e r c is e o f d u e d ilig e n c e . I n f

a c t, W e s t k n e w it a l l a l ong, a nd i ti s undi s put e d tha thi s c ouns e l kne w of a tl e a s ts om e of

the a l l e ga t i ons of

s e xua l abus e i n 1996. U nde rthe f a c t s of thi s c a s e , thi s w a s not ne w l y - di s c ove r e d i nf

orm a t i on w hi c h c oul d notha ve be e n di s c ove r e d thr ough the e x e r c is e o f

d u e d ilig e n c e . Se e Kin gv . T r u jillo , 6 3 8 F .3 d 7 2 6 , 7 3 0 ( 9 th C ir . 2 0 1 1 ) . W es tno w cont ends thathi s f am i l y l i fe du ri ng hi s c hi l dh oo d w as m uch w o r s e th a n h e h a d p r e v io u s lya d m itte d . P r io rto tr ia l, W e s t d is c u s s e d h is f a m ily l i fe w i th D r. A l l ender, a c ou rt -app oi nt ed psyc ho l og i st , i n 1 98 7. D r. A l l ender 1 r e p o rt e d o n th e i n t e rv i e w: Mr . We s tc h a r a c t e r i z e s h i s g r o wi n g u p y e a r s a s p r o b l e m a t i c . He st at es th ath i s fath er l o v ed h i m a g reatd eal an d w o u l d g eth i m al m o st anythi ng he w ant ed. A ft erhi s f ather’ s w ork schedul e c hang ed how e ve r , hi s ol de rbr othe rw a s l e f tw i th the r e s pons i bi l i tyof ge tt i ng hi m off t o schoo l . H e s t at es thathi s brother w ho i s f i ve ye ar s ol der w a s th e p e r s o n w h o s ta rte d g e ttin g h im in v o lv e d w ith d ru g s .12

I n 2 0 1 0 , h o w e v e r , W e s t r e p o rte d am u c h d if f e r e n t r e la tio n s h ip w ith h is p a r e n ts in i nt ervi ew s w i th D r. S m i th, a c l i ni ca l psyc ho l og i stre fe rr ed by the A ri zona F eder al P ub l i c D ef

ender:

“ I w a s m ovi ng a r ound c ons t a nt l y . M ym om w oul d dum p m e on a n yb o d y–n e ig h b o r s , m y g r a n d m a , a n yr e la tiv e th a t w o u ld ta k e m e . I even st ay ed w i th m y f

ri ends’ pare nt s. A tho m e, m y m om and d ad a r g u e d a ll th e tim e . T h e y h a d v ic io u s p h y s ic a l f ig h ts . I ju s t w a n te d to e s c ap e it –w a n te d it to s to p , b u t th e yf o u g h t o v e re v e ry th in g . I w o u ld geti n b etw ee n t o tryt o st op m y dad fr om hu rt i ng m y m om and then h e w o u ldh itm e. H e h itu s o v eran d o v er . B lo o d ied m y b ro th er ’s no se , bl oo di ed and b rui se d m y m om . I w ou l d g etso sc ar ed thatthey w o u ld k ill o n e a n o th e rth a t I w o u ld ju s t s c r e a m a t th e m . O n e tim e , I go tso sc ar ed I pi ss ed m ys el f. ” M r. W es tshar ed thathe had n o rea l r e la tio n s h ip w ith h is f

a th e r . H e e x p la in e d th a t “M yd a d w a s b a s ic a lly ab s e n te x c e p tw h e n h e w a s t e rr o r i z i n g u s . H e n e v e rs p e n ta n yt i me w ith u s a s af

a m ily , p la y in g b a ll w ith m yb r o th e ra n d m e o ra n y th in g . A l l h e ev er d i d w as cal l m e an d m y b ro th er assh o l es, d u m b sh i t s, w orthl e s s m othe rf

uc ke r s . T he ne i ghbor s c a l l e d the pol i c e ove ra nd ove ra ga i n, buts i nc e da d w a s af i r e m a n the pol i c e s i m pl yl ooke d the other w ay . N o charges w er e e ver pre ss ed, even w hen m y m om w as c l e a r l y b e a t e n . M y mo m w o u l d g e ti n th e c a ra n d l e a v e a n d th e n my da d w oul d do the s a m e thi ng, l e a vi ng m e a nd m ybr othe rhom e a l one for day s a ta t i m e. T hati s w hati tw as l i ke grow i ng up i n m y hou se – af u c k in g n ig h tm ar e .” T he onl y e xpl a na t i on f

orthe s t a rk di f

f e r e nc e i n s t or i e s i s i n D r . A l l e nde r ’ s M a y7, 2 0 1 1 le tte r : W he n a s ke d s pe c i f

i c a l l y w hyhe ha d t ol d m e he ha d agood r e la tio n s h ip w ith h is f

a th e rb a c kin 1 9 8 7 h e e x p la in e d th a t h is re l at i on shi p w i th h i s f

ather w as l i ke fi re and i ce . T hathi s f ather w o u ld b u y h im lo ts o f

th in g s lik e ag o c a rt, am in i b ik e , ap in b a ll m a c hi ne w he n he w a s be i ng ni c e , butthe n ha d the othe rs i de of be i ng13

ab u s iv e p h y s ic a llya n d e m o tio n a lly . H e a ls o d e s c r ib e d b e in g in ab it o f as tu p o rf

r o m th e p s y c h i a tr i c me d i c a t i o n s h e w a s o n d u r i n g th e t i me [ D r . A l l e n d e r ] w a s e v a l u a t i n g h i m. T h ere i s n o q u est i o n th at , t o th e ex t en tW estco n t en d s h i s ab u si v e h o m e l i fe i s a m i t i gat i ng fa ct or, W es tkn ew abou thi s hom e l i fe and the al l eged fami l y abu se at tr ia l a n d a t s e n te n c in g . T h e r e is n o le g itim a te r e a s o n f o rh is f a ilu r e to d is c lo s e it before thi s l at e dat e. D r. A l l ender’ s M ay7, 20 11 l ett eral so desc ri bes W es t ’ s f ai l ure t o report se xu al abuse: W h en ask ed w h y h e n ev er t o l d p eo p l e ab o u th i s ab u se M r. W est m ent i on ed re as on s oft en re po rt ed by vi ct i m s i ncl ud i ng , “ I w as a s h a m e d , I th o u g h t it w a s m yf au lt,” “n o o n e w a n te d to h e a rab o u t it,” a nd “ I tr i e d t o bl oc k i tout . ” W he n a s ke d w hyhe ha d notbr ought these thi ng s up t o m e i n 1 98 7 h e s ai d thathi s a tt orney had sugg es t ed t o hi m tha the s houl d onl y a ns w e rque s t i ons tha tI a s ke d a nd not vo l un t ee r any other i nform at i on , es peci al l y abo utthe al l eged cri m e. R e ga r dl e s s , W e s tw a s a ta l l t i m e s a w a r e of the thr e e i ns t a nc e s of

s e xua l abus e he now r a i s e s . N ot abl y , he doe s nota r gue tha thi s c ouns e l w a s i ne f f e c t i ve f orf a i l i ng t o i nqui r e abouts e xua l abus e . R a the r , he c om pl a i ns onl ytha tc ouns e l w a s not succ es sf ul i n d i sc ov er i ng w hatW es tal re ady knew and n otgett i ng the courtt o p ay f o ry e t a n o th e rm e n ta l h e a lth e x p e rt. E ven i f c ou nsel had b ee n succe ss ful i n sec uri ng fund i ng for ano ther m ent al h e a lth e x p e rt, it is p u r e s p e c u la tio n th a t th e in f o rm a tio n ab o u t h is ab u s e w o u ld14

ha ve c om e out . T he m e nt a l he a l th de f e ns e e f f ort s a tthe t i m e w e r e notf oc us e d on W e s t’s b a c k g r o u n d , b u t r a th e ro n w h e th e rh e h a d a n o r g a n ic b r a in in ju ry . A c c or di ngl y , i ti s by no m e a ns c l e a rtha tthe m e nt a l he a l th e xpe rt , i f appoi nt e d, w o u ld h a v e a d d r e s s e d th e p s y c h o lo g ic a l c o n s e q u e n c e s o f W e s t’s s e x u a l ab u s e . W e s ta c know l e dge s tha thi s pos t - c onvi c t i on r e l i e f c ouns e l w a s a w a r e of

one of the chi l dh oo d sexual abuse a l l egat i on s a s e ar l y a s 199 6. W hi l e W es ti dent i fi es se vera l r e que s t s f

orf undi ng f orde f e ns e i nve s t i ga t i ons tha tw e r e de ni e d i n 1996 a nd 1997, the e vi de nc e s how s tha tc ouns e l di l i ge nt l ypur s ue d m i t i ga t i on e vi de nc e ba s e d on o r g a n ic b r a in in

ju ry a n d s u b s ta n c e ab u s e , b u t s e x u a l ab u s e w a s a t b e s t p e r ip h e r a l. S im ila r ly , a f

te rth e F e d e r a l P u b lic D e f e n d e rto o ko v e rW e s t’s r e p r e s e n ta tio n in Jan u ary 2 0 0 8 , i to b t ai n ed a co u rto rd er t o h av e W estev al u at ed b y a ne ur ops y c hol ogi s t , w ho r e port e d i n A ugus t2008 tha tW e s tde s c r i be d c hi l dhood s e x u a l ab u s e b y th e te a c h e ra n d th e p r ie s t. W h ile th a t r e p o rt w a s f ile d in th is c o u rt, W e s t d id n o t r a is e a n y a r g u m e n ts b a s e d o n th e s e x u a l ab u s e is s u e a t a n yp o in t in th a t f ir s t f e d e r a l h ab e a s p r o c e e d in g . T o the ext entW es tcont ends hi s f i rs tpo st -c on vi ct i on re l i ef coun se l w as i ne f f e c t i ve f ornotdi s c ove r i ng the s e xua l abus e i n 1997 a nd f ornotobt a i ni ng f u n d in g to in v e s tig a te , th e f a c ts d o n o t s u p p o rt h is c la im . W e s t’s f ir s t p o s tconv i ct i on re l i ef

coun se l , C ar l a R yan, expl ai ned i n h erm ot i on for afund ed m ent al15

h eal th ex p ert , th atW est“ ap p aren t l y w as sex u al l y ab u sed , o n n u m ero u s o ccasi o n s, by at e a c he r . T he r e f

or e , am e nt a l he a l th e xpe rti s a l s o ne e de d t o e xpl a i n how the fa m i l y e nv i ronm entand the se xu al abuse a ff ec t ed P et i t i on er ’ s e m ot i on al d e v e lo p m e n t.” T h e c o u rt d e n ie d th is r e q u e s t, b u t d id s o w ith o u t p r e ju d ic e to b r in g in g th e m o tio n a g a in w ith a d d itio n a l e v id e n c e . T h u s , W e s t h a d a m p le i ncent i ve atthe t i m e t o m ore f ul l y di sc l ose hi s bac kg roun d and hi st ory of s exual abus e . H e m i ghtha ve s a t i s f i e d the di l i ge nc e r e qui r e m e nti f he ha d done s o the n, buthe c hos e nott o. W e s t ’ s pr i m a ry a r gum e ntr e ga r di ng di l i ge nc e i s tha tw e ha ve a l r e a dyf ound he w a s di l i ge nt , c i t i ng W e s t v . R y an , 608 F . 3d a t484- 85. W e s tm i s r e a ds ourpr i or op i ni on . W e hel d thatW es t ’ s pri or coun se l had b ee n d i l i genti n see ki ng an e vi de nt i a ry he a r i ng r e ga r di ng he rne e d f orf undi ng f oram e nt a l he a l th e xpe rta nd i nve s t i ga t or . W e di d nothol d tha tW e s tha d be e n di l i ge nti n di s c l os i ng i n fo rm at i o n ab o u th i s ch i l d h o o d ; h e cl earl y w as n o t . If w e w ere t o ru l e th atW est h ad b een d i l i g en ti n p u rsu i n g an d d ev el o p i n g ev i d en ce o f sex u al ab u se an d ab u se by f a m i l y m e m be r s by f

a i l i ng t o di s c l os e the i nf orm a t i on, e ve n t o hi s c ouns e l , f or tw e n tyy e a r s , w e w o u ld b e c r e a tin g as tr o n g in c e n tiv e f o rc ap ita l d e f

e n d a n ts to w i thhol d the s tr onge s tm i t i ga t i on e vi de nc e unt i l the e ve of e xe c ut i on. W e a r e not prepare d t o cre at e thati ncent i ve.T here w as evi dence thati nd i ca t ed F r. B urke, on e of W es t ’ s a cc used 2 ab u s e r s , h a d p r e v io u s lys e x u a llyab u s e d b o y s in th e a r e aa r o u n d th e s a m e tim e . H ow e ve r , thi s doe s notc onc l us i ve l yc orr obor a t e W e s t ’ s c l a i m tha tF r . B urke abus e d h im . M or e i m port a nt l y , how e ve r , ne i the re xpe rti ndi c a t e d the yw oul d not h a v e b e lie v e d W e s t ab s e n t th is c o rr o b o r a tio n , a n d a t th e tim e th e yr e a c h e d th e ir d i ag n o ses th ere w as n o co rro b o rat i o n o f th e o th er tw o accu sed ab u sers. 16 2 . PTSD T he s t a t e c ourtc onc l ude d tha ta l though W e s t ’ s di a gnos i s of P T S D ha d not b e e n m a d e a t th e tim e o f tr ia l, W e s t w a s n o t d ilig e n t in o b ta in in g th e d ia g n o s is . W e a g r e e . D r . A lle n d e ra n d D r . S m ith b a s e d th e ird ia g n o s e s o n c o n v e r s a tio n s w ith W es tre gardi ng i nform at i on kn ow n b y hi m atthe t i m e of tri al . T here w as no new i nform at i on thatl ed t o the di agno se s; the on l y new turn o f e vent s i s thatW es thas n o w c h o s e n to d is c lo s e th a t h e is th e v ic tim o f s e x u a l ab u s e , w h ic h ap p a r e n tly r e s u lte d in h is P T S D . W e s t a r g u e s th a t h is a lle g a tio n s o f s e x u a l ab u s e w e r e o n ly corr ob orat ed w i thi n the pastfe w w ee ks. T hi s proves t oo m uch, because D r. Al l e n d e ra n d Dr . S m i th b o th d i a g n o s e d P T S D b ef o re the al l egat i on s of s exual abuse w er e c orrobo ra t ed. M oreover, D r. A l l ender fi rs ti nd i ca t ed thathe suspec t ed 2 P T S D i n hi s 2008 l e tt e rba s e d onl yon the phy s i c a l a nd e m ot i ona l abus e i n the W e s t h o u s e h o ldg r o w in g u p w ith n o in d ic a tio n th a t W e s t h a db e e n s e x u a lly abused. T hu s, there i s no l egi t i m at e r ea son w hy the di agno si s w ou l d n othave been m a de i n 1987, ora tl e a s tby A ugus t1, 1988, i f W e s tha d di s c l os e d the i nf orm a t i on17

h e h a d a v a ilab le to h im . See Stat e v . Je nsen , 735 P . 2d 781, 784 ( A r i z . 1987) (r ec og ni zi ng P T S D as a di agno st i c m ent al di sorderi n 1 98 3). T h e e v id e n c e o f

f a m ilya n d s e x u a l ab u s e is n o t n e w lyd is c o v e r e d . W h ile W e s t ’ s P T S D di a gnos i s w a s notm a de unt i l w e l l a f t e rthe tr i a l a nd s e nt e nc i ng, W e s t a t a ll tim e s p o s s e s s e d th e in f o rm a tio n th a t f

o rm s th e b a s is o f

th e d ia g n o s is . H a d W e s tbe e n f

orthc om i ng w i th the e ve nt s of hi s c hi l dhood i n 1987, the r e i s no r e a s on t o thi nk tha tthe di a gnos i s w oul d notha ve be e n m a de . W e s tc a nnot w i thh ol d the i nform at i on he cl ai m s i s c ri t i ca l m i t i gat i ng evi dence and then com pl ai n w hen i ti s notconsi dere d. W es tchose nott o revealthe i nform at i on at tr i a l a nd s e nt e nc i ng, a nd m a de a tl e a s tapa rt i a l di s c l os ur e i n hi s pos t - c onvi c t i on p r o c e e d in g s in 1 9 9 7 . H e c a n n o t n o w c la im th a t th e in f o rm a tio n h e c h o s e to wi th h o l d f

o ro v e r2 0 y e a r s i s n e w. B . T h e A ct u alIn n ocen ce R eq u i re m en t E ve n i f the e vi de nc e w e r e a c c e pt e d a s ne w l y - di s c ove r e d, w e m us ts t i l l de ny W e s t ’ s appl i c a t i on unl e s s i t“ w oul d be s uf f i c i e ntt o e s t abl i s h byc l e a ra nd c o n v i n c i n g e v i d e n c e th a t. . . n o r e a s o n ab l e f a c t f i n d e rw o u l d h a v e f

o u n d [ h i m] gu i l ty of the un derl yi ng offe nse. ” B ib le , 2011 W L 2547617 a t*3 ( quot i ng 28 U . S . C . § 2244( b) ( 2) ( B ) ( i i ) ) . H e r e , W e s tc ha l l e nge s onl yhi s de a th s e nt e nc e , a nd n o t h is c o n v ic tio n . W h e n a“c ap ita l d e f e n d a n t c h a lle n g e s h is d e a th s e n te n c e in18

p a rtic u la r , h e m u s t s h o w b y ‘c le a ra n d c o n v in c in g e v id e n c e ’ th a t n o r e a s o n ab le j uror w ou l d h ave f

ou nd hi m el i gi bl e f

or the death p enal ty i n l i gh tof the new evi dence. ” Calde r on v . T hom ps on , 523 U . S . 538, 559- 60 ( 1998) ( quot i ng Sa w ye r v. W hi t ley , 505 U . S . 333, 348 ( 1992) ) . T hus , W e s tha s the bur de n of s how i ng, by c le a ra n d c o n v in c in g e v id e n c e , th a t n o r e a s o n ab le s e n te n c in g ju d g e a w a r e o f h is f a m ilya n d s e x u a l ab u s e a n d r e s u ltin g P T S D w o u ld h a v e s e n te n c e d h im to d e a th . T h e s ta te tr ia l c o u rt f

o u n d th r e e a g g r a v a tin g c ir c u m s ta n c e s in th e p e n a lty pha s e : ( 1) pr i orc onvi c t i on of avi ol e ntc r i m e i n I l l i noi s ; ( 2) m ur de rc om m i tt e d f or pe c uni a ry ga i n; and ( 3) m ur de rc om m i tt e d i n a n e s pe c i a l l yc rue l a nd he i nous ma n n e r . W e s tc o n t e n d s e a c h o f th e s e f i n d i n g s i s c o mp l e t e l yn e g a t e d b yth e PTSD di a gnos i s a nd, ha d the s e nt e nc i ng c ourtknow n of hi s P T S D , i tw oul d notha ve be e n abl e t o s e nt e nc e hi m t o de a th.

1. P ri or C on vi ct i on of V i ol en t C ri m e – 19 81 M an sl au gh te r W e s tc ont e nds tha tha d the I l l i noi s j udge i n 1981 know n W e s ts uf f e r e d f r om P T S D , he w oul d notha ve c onvi c t e d hi m , a nd the r e f or e the pr i orI l l i noi s c onvi c t i on shou l d n othave been consi dere d b y the A ri zona court . T he S up re m e C ou rthas h e ld “th a t o n c e as ta te c o n v ic tio n is n o lo n g e ro p e n to d ir e c t o rc o lla te r a l a tta c kin i t s ow n ri gh tbecause the defendantfa i l ed t o p ursue tho se re m edi es w hi l e they w e r e a va i l abl e ( orbe c aus e the de f e nda ntdi d s o uns uc c e s s f ul l y ) , the c onvi c t i onBo th D r . Smi th a n d D r . A l l e n d e ro p i n e th a tW e s tw a s s u f f e r i n g PTSD 3 i n 1987. N e i the rs t a t e s tha the s uf f e r e d P T S D pr i ort o 1987 i n ge ne r a l , or sp eci fi cal l y i n 1 9 8 1 atth e t i m e h e sh o tan d k i l l ed B i l l y O l d h am ata p arty (b ecau se a n o th e rg ir l w a s b e a tin g u p h is g ir lf r ie n d ) . 19 m aybe re garded as concl usi vel y val i d. ” L a cka w a n a Cn t y. D ist. A t to rn ey v. C o ss , 532 U . S . 394, 403 ( 2001) . T he C ourtnot e d apos s i bl e e xc e pt i on t o thi s rul e i n a c a s e w he r e , “ a f

t e rthe t i m e f

ordi r e c torc ol l a t e r a l r e vi e w ha s e xpi r e d, ade f e nda nt m a y obt a i n com

pel l i ngev i dence thathe i s a ctual l y i nn ocentof the cr i m e f or w hi ch he w a s c onvi c t e d, a nd w hi ch he could n otha ve un cove re d i n a t i m el y m an ner . ” I

d. a t 4 0 5 ( e m p h a s is a d d e d ) . W es thas notpres ent ed “ com pel l i ng evi dence” of a ctual i nn ocence. In s upportof

thi s a r gum e nt , he s ubm i tt e d al e tt e rf r om the I l l i noi s j udge ( uns w orn, b u t d e c la r e d to b e “tru e to th e b e s t o f [ th e ju d g e ’s ] in f

o rm a tio n a n d b e lie f

” ) in w h i ch , 3 0 years after th e fact , th e j u d g e st at es “ I m ay w el l h av e acq u i tt ed M r. W est a ttha tbe nc h tr i a l ha d I know n tha the s uf f e r e d f r om P T S D a tthe t i m e of the shoo t i ng . ” T hi s e vi de nc e i s i ns uf

f i c i e ntt o m e e tthe “ c om pe l l i ng e vi de nc e ” s t a nda r d f or atl ea sttw o rea sons. F i rs t , there i s no evi dence es t abl i shi ng thatW es tsuff er ed f r o m P T S D a t th e tim e o f th e 1 9 8 1 s h o o tin g . S e c o n d , th e e v id e n c e o n w h ic h th is 3 a r g u m e n t r e s ts , th e p h y s ic a l a n d e m o tio n a l ab u s e a n ds e x u a l ab u s e , w a s k n o w n to20

W e s t s in c e 1 9 8 1 . E v e n if P T S D w a s n o t ar e c o g n iz e d d ia g n o s is in 1 9 8 1 , it w a s in 1 9 8 3 . See Stat e v . Je nsen , 73 5 P . 2d at78 4 (no t i ng thatthe “ A m er i can m ent al h e a lth c o m m u n ity ” r e c o g n iz e d P T S D a s ad ia g n o s tic m e n ta l d is o r d e rin 1 9 8 3 ) . W estfai l ed t o co n t estth e co n v i ct i o n fo r 3 0 years. M os ti m port a nt l y , how e ve r , i s the r e qui r e m e nttha t“ the c ha l l e nge d pr i or c onvi c t i on m us tha ve a dve r s e l y a f f e c t e d the s e nt e nc e tha ti s the s ubj e c tof the habeas pet i t i on . ” C o ss , 532 U . S . a t406. W e s tc a nnots how tha thi s pr i or m a n s lau g h te rc o n v ic tio n h a d th e r e q u is ite a d v e r s e a f f e c t o n h is c u rr e n t s e n te n c e . In af fi rm i ng W es t ’ s dea th sent ence , the A ri zona S up re m e C ou rtac ce pt ed “ the tri al j ud ge’ s f i nd i ng thatthe ci rc um st ance s of def endant ’ s pre vi ou s m ansl augh t er c onvi c t i on w e r e notm i t i ga t i ng, ” butnone the l e s s s t a t e d tha t“ w e be l i e ve thi s t o be an approp ri at e dea th p enal ty c as e e ven i f i tbe as sum ed thatthe Il l i no i s vol un t ary m ansl augh t erconv i ct i on w as no tprop er l y proved. ” S ta te v. W est , 862 P . 2d 192, 21 1, 21 2 n . 4 (A ri z. 19 93 ).

2 . M u r d e r C o m m it t e d f o r P e c u n ia r y G a in T he m er e s ho w i ng thata m urder occurr ed du ri ng the com m i ss i on of a r obbe ry i s nots uf

f i c i e ntt o e s t abl i s h tha tthe m ur de rw a s c om m i tt e d w i th the e x p e c ta tio n o f

p e c u n ia ry g a in . W

o ra t zeck v. Stew a rt , 97 F . 3d 32 9, 33 4 (9th C i r. 1 9 9 6 ). “ T o est ab l i sh th e p ecu n i ary g ai n ag g rav at i n g ci rcu m st an ce, th e st at e m u st21

pr ove tha tthe e xpe c t a t i on of pe c uni a ryga i n w a s am ot i ve , c aus e , ori m pe tus f or the m urder and no tm er el y are sul tof the m urder. ” State v . P r as e r t phong , 76 P . 3d 438, 440 ( A r i z . 2003) ( i nt e rna l quot a t i on a nd a l t e r a t i on om i tt e d) . W e s tc ont e nds th a t th e m u r d e rw a s c o m m itte d d u e to a n e x a g g e r a te d s ta rtle r e s p o n s e a ttr ib u tab le t o h i s P T S D , and w as no thi ng m ore than a ki l l i ng du ri ng a “ robb ery gon e bad. ” T h e c ir c u m s ta n c e s s u rr o u n d in g B o rtle ’s m u r d e rd o n o t s u p p o rt th e a r g u m e n t. W esti n t en d ed t o st eal B o rt l e’ s p ro p erty. W esth ad b een t o B o rt l e’ s h o u se s hort l y be f

or e the m ur de ra nd c a r e f ul l ye xa m i ne d the e xt e ns i ve a m ountof e l e c tr oni c s e qui pm e ntB ort l e ha d f ors a l e . M or e ove r , W e s tr a n outof c oc a i ne on th e d a y o f

th e m u r d e ra n d d id n o t h a v e e n o u g h m o n e yto b u ym o r e . W h e n B o rtle i nt e rrupt e d hi m , W e s ts a va ge l y be a tB ort l e , hogt i e d hi m s tuc k hi m i n ac l os e t , a nd le f t h im to d ie . A n d th e n W e s t c o n tin u e d to d o w h a t h e c a m e f o r–h e s to le B o rtle’s elec tro n ic eq u ip m en t an d th en sto le h is ca r to ca rry it aw ay . W es t’ s alleg ed P T S D m ay h elp ex p lain w h y W es t w as m o ti v ated to stea l B o rtle’s prop erty, bu ti tdo es no thi ng t o u nd erm i ne the fi nd i ng the m urder w as com m i tt ed f orpe c uni a ry ga i n. W e s tof f e r s no othe re xpl a na t i on f orthe s a va ge ne s s of

the beat i ng he i nfl i ct ed up on B ort l e or hog tyi ng hi m and l ea vi ng hi m i n the cl oset o th e rth a n to a llo w h im to c o m p le te th e r o b b e ry .

3 . Es pe c i a l l y C r ue la nd H e i no us M a nne r o f K i l l i ng22

W e s t c o n te n d s th a t b e c au s e h e w a s s u f f e r in g f r o m P T S D , n o r e a s o n ab le f a c tf in d e rc o u ld h a v e f

o u n d th e m a n n e rin w h ic h h e k ille d B o rtle w a s e s p e c ia lly c ru e l o rh e in o u s . W h ile W e s t o f f e r s c o n c lu s o rys ta te m e n ts th a t aP T S D d ia g n o s is w o u ld d e f

e a t th e f a c to r s u s e d to e s tab lis h h e in o u s n e s s , h e d o e s n o t a c tu a llye x p la in how P T S D a f

f e c t s a ny of

the f a c t or s tha tthe c ourtw e i ghe d t o e s t abl i s h tha tthe m a nne ri n w hi c h he m ur de r e d B ort l e w a s e s pe c i a l l yc rue l a nd he i nous . R a the r , he p ri m ari l y arg u es th atth e ev i d en ce w as i n su ffi ci en tt o est ab l i sh th e fact o rs. W est s u b m its th a t a n e x a g g e r a te d s ta rtle r e s p o n s e s te m m in g f r o m h is P T S D e x p la in s h is r e a c t i on. H ow e ve r , w hi l e as t a rt l e r e s pons e m i ghte xpl a i n a n i ni t i a l , vi ol e nt r e a c tio n , it d o e s n o th in g to e x p la in w h yW e s t to o kf u rth e ra f f irm a tiv e a c tio n s to ho gt i e B ort l e, t o m ov e hi m i nt o a cl osetw here he l ef thi m t o d i e, or w hy, af

t erthat s a v a g e o u tb u r s t, h e w e n t o n to s te a l B o rtle ’s p o s s e s s io n s a n d h is c a r . M o r e o v e r , it d o es n o th i n g t o u n d ercu tth e ev i d en ce o f h i s b eh av i o r aft er th e m u rd er. L i sa M urray t es t i fi ed thatshe overhear d W es tt el l R i char d W oj ahn thatW es thad “ beat th e fu cko u to f th i s o l d m an an d th ro w n h i m i n a cl o set ” i n T u cso n . W h en L i sa c o n f r o n te d h im , W e s t to ld h e r“n o t to w o rryab o u t it” a n d th a t s h e “w o u ld h a v e to l i ve w i th i t . ” H e a l s o br a gge d t o othe r s aboutge tt i ng c ut s a nd brui s e s on hi s ha nd fr om beat i ng up “ the ol d m an he ri pp ed off. ” S ta te v. W est , 8 6 2 P .2 d a t 2 0 8 . T a ke n t oge the rw i th the e vi de nc e of the c ol d- bl oode d a nd m e thodi c a l na tur e of the23

c r i m e i t s e l f

, thi s s e ve r e l y unde r c ut s W e s t ’ s a r gum e nttha tthi s a ggr a va t i ng f a c t or w ou l d h ave been negat ed by evi dence thathe com m i tt ed the cr i m e i n the m i dstof a st art l e r es po nse. W es t ’ s argum entthathe i s a ctual l y i nn ocentof the death p enal ty und er T is on v . A r i

z ona , 48 1 U . S . 13 7, 15 7-58 (198 7), fa i l s bec ause hi s c ruel , ca l cul at ed c o n d u c ti n h o g ty i n g B o rt l e a n d ab a n d o n i n g h i m t o d i e f o l l o wi n g th e b e a t i n g s h o ws

“ the re ckl es s di sr egar d for hu m an l i fe i m pl i ci ti n k no w i ng l y e ng agi ng i n cri m i nal a c tiv itie s k n o w n to c a rry ag r a v e r is ko f d e a th [ a n d ] r e p r e s e n ts ah ig h lyc u lp ab le m ent al st at e, a m ent al st at e thatm aybe t aken i nt o acc ou nti n m aki ng a c api t al s e nt e nc i ng j udgm e ntw he n tha tc onduc tc aus e s i t s na tur a l , though a l s o not i nevi t abl e, l ethal re sul t . ” I d. ; s e e a ls o L a n dr ig a n v . T r u jillo , 623 F . 3d 1253, 1257- 58 ( 9th C i r . 2010) . W e s t ’ s r e l i a nc e on the tr i a l t e s t i m ony of the pr os e c ut i on p ath o l o g i stsu g g est i n g th atB o rt l e m ay h av e b een ren d ered u n co n sci o u s b y th e fi rst bl ow do es no tadvance the T is on cl ai m . E ven i f the P T S D st art l e r es po nse theory w e r e a c c e p te d , a n d e v e n if B o rtle h a d b e e n r e n d e r e d u n c o n s c io u s r ig h t a w a y , it w o u l d n o to v e r c o me W e s t ’ s s u b s e q u e n tb e h a v i o ro f b i n d i n g th e b l o o d yv i c t i m, throw i ng hi m i n a cl oset , and l ea vi ng hi m t o d i e w hi l e l at erbo as t i ng abou tw hat happe ne d.24

W e s th a s n o ts h o w n th a taPTSD d i a g n o s i s w o u l d h a v e c h a n g e d th e o u t c o me o f a n y o f th e th r e e a g g r a v a tin g f

a c to r s f o u n d b yth e s e n te n c in g c o u rt. A t b e s t, it w o u ld h a v e s u p p o rte d th e m itig a tin g f a c to rth e c o u rt f

o u n d –h is f

a m ilylif e . H ow e ve r , he ha s nots a t i s f i e d hi s bur de n of

s how i ng, byc l e a rand c onvi nc i ng e vi de nc e , tha ts tr e ngthe ni ng thi s one m i t i ga t i ng f a c t orw oul d ha ve m a nda t e d a d if f e r e n t o u tc o m e . CONCL US I ON W e s tha s nots a t i s f

i e d hi s bur de n of

pr ovi ng, byc l e a ra nd c onvi nc i ng e vi de nc e , tha tthe e vi de nc e he now pr of f e r s i s ne w l y - di s c ove r e d ortha tno r e a s onabl e f

a c t f i nde rw oul d ha ve f

ound hi m e l i gi bl e f

orthe de a th pe na l tyha d he be e n a w a r e of

the e vi de nc e . A c c or di ngl y , W e s t ’ s appl i c a t i on t o f i l e as e c ond or su ccessi v e p et i t i o n fo r w ri to f h ab eas co rp u s i s D EN I ED .C o u n s e l:

F o rP e titio n e r - A p p e lla n t W e s t: J o n M . S a n d s , A r iz o n aF e d e r a l P u b lic D e f e n d e r , T i m othyM . G abr i e l s on, P aul aK . H a rm s , A s s i s t a nt A r iz o n aF e d e r a l P u b lic D e f e n d e r s , T u c s o n , A r i z ona F o rR e s p o n d e n t- A p p e lla n t R y a n : T h o m a s C . H o rn e , A tto rn e yG e n e r a l, J o n a th a n B a s s , A s s is ta n t A tto rn e yG e n e r a l, T uc s on, A r i z ona