### IN THE CO URT OF CR IMINAL APPEALS OF T ENN ESSEE

AT NASHVILL E

Ass ig ne d o n B rie fs Ju ly 16, 2 01 4

JE FFREY WAYNE ROBERT SON v . STATE O F TENNESSE E

A p p e a l f r o m t h e C i r c u i t C o u r t f o r L a w r e n c e C o u n t y
N o

. 1 9 3 3 8 J i m T

. H a m i l t o n , J u d g e

N o

. M 2 0 1 3

- 0 2 0 2 3

- C C A

- R 3

- C O

- F i l e d O c t o b e r 3 0
, 2 0 1 4

T h e p etitio n er, Jef

f ery Way n e R o b ertso n , w as co n v icted in 1 9 9 8 o f f irst d eg ree p rem ed itated

m u rd er an d sen ten ced to lif e im p riso n m en t. H is co n v ictio n w as af f irm ed o n d irect ap p eal.

S tate v

. R o b ertso n , 1 3 0 S .W.3 d 8 4 2

, 8 4 4 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 2 0 0 3 ). S u b seq u en tly

, h e f iled

a p etitio n f

o r p o st-co n v ictio n r e l i e f

, o n e o f th e issu es raised b ein g th at trial co u n sel w as in ef f ectiv e f o r n o t ch allen g in g “ex p ert testim o n y ab o u t th e resu lts o f

a C o m p arativ e B u llet

L ead A n aly sis (‘C B L A ’) p erf o rm ed o n ev i d e n c e g ath ered b y law en f o rcem en t.” Jef

f rey Way n e R o b ertso n v

. S tate, N o

. M 2 0 0 7 -0 1 3 7 8 -C C A -R 3 -P C

, 2 0 0 9 WL 2 7 7 0 7 3

, at * 9 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. F eb

. 5

, 2 0 0 9 ), p erm

. ap p

. d en ied (T en n

. Ju n e 1 5

, 2 0 0 9 ). U n su ccessf u l w ith th at

arg u m en t, h e th en raised a sim ilar claim in a p etitio n f o r w rit o f erro r co ram n o b is, th e d en ial

o f w h ich is th e b asis f

o r th is ap p eal. In th at p etitio n , h e ag ain f o cu sed o n th e C B L A ev id en ce

at h is trial, p o in tin g th is tim e to th e “n ew ly d isco v e r e d e v id en ce” th at th e F B I “su sp en d ed

p erf o rm in g ‘b u llet lead an aly sis’ in 2 0 0 4 an d ceased en tirely p erf o rm in g su ch ex am in atio n s

an d p ro v id in g su ch testim o n y in 2 0 0 5 .” T h e co ram n o b is co u rt d en ied th e p eti tio n ,

co n clu d in g th at th e C B L A ev id en ce issu e h a d p rev io u sly b een arg u ed an d th e o n ly n ew ly
d isco v ered ev id en ce w as th e f act th at th e F B I w as n o lo n g er u sin g th e test. F o llo w in g o u r

rev iew o f th e reco rd , w e af

f irm th e d ism issal o f

th e p etitio n

.

T e n n

. R

. A p p

. P

. 3 A p p e a l a s o f R i g h t ; J u d g m e n t o f t h e C i r c u i t C o u r t A f f i r m e d

A LA N E

. G LE N N

, J

. , d e l i v e r e d t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e C o u r t

, i n w h i c h T H O M A S T

. W O O D A LL

, P

. J

. ,

a n d N O R M A M C G E E O G LE

, J

. , j o i n e d

.

S t a n l e y K

. P i e r c h o s k i

, P u l a s k i

, T e n n e s s e e , f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t

, J e f

f r e y W a y n e R o b e r t s o n

.

R o b e r t E

. C o o p e r , J r

. , A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l a n d R e p o r t e r ; M i c h e l l e L

. C o n s i g l i o

- Y o u n g , A s s i s t a n t A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ; M i k e B o t t o m s , D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ; a n d C h r i s t i L

. T h o m p s o n , A s s i s t a n t D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l

, f o r t h e a p p e l l e e , S t a t e o f T e n n e s s e e

.O P I N I O N

F A C T S

In th e d irect ap p eal o f th e p etitio n er’s co n v icti o n , w e set o u t th e ev id en ce in th is

m atter:

T h e v ictim

, C aro l A n n P atterso n , w as d isco v ered d ead in h er L aw ren ce C o u n ty h o m e o n T u esd ay , Ju ly 1 6

, 1 9 9 6 , a sin g le g u n sh o t w o u n d to th e f ace

as th e cau se o f d eath

. H er f o rm er b o y f

rien d

, Jef f ery Way n e R o b ertso n , w as tried an d co n v icted o f

th e m u rd er.

L eo n Jen n in g s, a co w o rk er o f th e [ p etitio n er]

, testif ied to co n v ersatio n s th at to o k p lace b etw een th e tw o ab o u t th e v ic t i m i n Ju ly o f 1 9 9 6

. T h e [ p etitio n er] talk ed ab o u t th e v ictim “q u ite a lo t” an d said h e w as af raid th at if

h e w en t to th e v i c t i m ’s h o u se an d saw h er th ere w ith so m eo n e else, “th ere

m ig h t b e a f

ig h t” an d “ h e mi g h t h u rt h er.” T h e v ictim w o u ld n o t allo w th e [ p etitio n er] to co m e to h er h o m e o n S u n d ay s o r M o n d ay s, an d th e [ p etitio n er]

to ld Jen n in g s th at h e su sp ected “m ay b e so m eb o d y

else w as co m in g o v er o n

.

. . t h o s e d ay s.” Jen n in g s su g g ested th at, if h e w ere th e [ p etitio n er]

, h e w o u ld

w atch th e v ictim ’s h o u se.

T r a v is P au l M ap les, II, testif ied th at h e w as eig h teen y ears o ld at th e tim e o f trial an d h ad k n o w n th e [ p etitio n er] f r o m t h e i r w o rk in g to g eth er at
C arso n K elly ’s b arn . H e said th at, ab o u t a m o n th af ter th e v ictim ’s d eath , h e h ad ask ed th e [ p etitio n er] “w h at h e k n ew ab o u t th e m u rd er.” T h e [ p etitio n er]
“said th at [ th e v ictim ] w as f o u n d sittin g u p w ith a b o o k in h er h an d

, an d th at
h e h eard th at sh e w as sh o t w ith a .2 2 lo n g rif le.” A d d itio n ally

, th e [ p etitio n er]
said “th at th ere w as n o f

o rced en try

, an d w h o ev er h ad d o n e it h ad to h av e g o n e

o u t th e b ack d o o r; en tered an d ex ited th e b ack d o o r. T h e d o o r f u rth erest f

ro m Waterlo o R o ad .”

O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , M ap les said h e h ad f irst to ld law en f

o rcem en t

au th o rities ab o u t th ese co n v ersatio n s w ith th e [ p etitio n er] o n ly a w eek b ef o re th e trial. H e said th at h e h ad b e e n c o n t a cted b y au th o rities an d g av e h is

statem en t as a resu lt.

S h erry S h errill, th e v ictim ’s d au g h ter, testif ied ab o u t an altercatio n th at

to o k p lace b etw een th e [ p etitio n er] an d th e v ictim o n Ju ly 1 2

, 1 9 9 6

, f o u r d ay s b ef o re h er b o d y w as d isco v ered

. T h e v ictim an d th e [ p etitio n er] w ere arg u in g

-2

-in th e d riv ew ay w h en a m an in a V o lk sw ag en d ro v e b y an d w av ed

. T h e v ictim

w av ed b ack

, w h ich p ro m p ted th e [ p etitio n er] to in q u i r e ab o u t th e d riv er’s
id en tity an d ex claim , “If

I co u ld n 't hav e y o u , n o b o d y else w o u ld .”

S p rin g M ald o n ad o , a f am ily f rien d

, also w itn es s e d th e Ju ly 1 2

co n f ro n tatio n an d testif

ied th at th e [ p etitio n er]

, w h o ap p eared to b e d ru n k

, to ld
th e v ictim “th at if h e f

o u n d o u t th at sh e w as m essin g aro u n d w ith th at g u y th at

w as d riv in g th a t V o lk sw ag en , th at h e w o u ld k ill h er.” T h en , ad d ressin g M a l d o n ad o an d h er sister, th e [ p etitio n er] said h e w o u ld k ill th em “if [ h e]
f [ o u ] n d o u t th at y o u w h o res [ w ere] try in g to g et in b etw een [ h im ] an d C aro l.”

R ich ard E d d in g s, w h o w as d atin g S h erry S h errill, also w itn essed th e [ p etitio n er] an d v ictim ’s arg u m en t o n Ju ly 1 2 an d said th at th e [ p etitio n er] w as “real u p set” an d w as “y ellin g ” an d “f u ssin g ” w ith th e v ictim

. T h e [ p etitio n er]
th en in v ited E d d in g s to “g o rid in g aro u n d w ith h im ,” an d E d d in g s related th e

co n v ersatio n th at o ccu rred :

[ H ] e ask ed m e w o u l d h im an d h er ev er h av e a ch an ce b ack

to g eth er. A n d I said

, w ell, if h e q u it h is d ri n k i n g , h e p ro b ab ly

w o u ld

.

A n d h e g o t u p set, say in g , “Well, it ain ’t m y d rin k in g w h at [ sic] cau sed u s to b reak u p .” A n d h e g o t m ad at m e, ‘cau se I said
th at. A n d h e said

, “Well, ain ’t n o b o d y g o n n a h av e h er, if I can ’t
h av e h er.”

E d d in g s t e s t i f

ied th at th e [ p etitio n er] co n f ro n ted h im an d S h erry th e

n ex t d ay at H o u ser’s G r o c e r y a n d d em an d ed th at th ey rev eal th e v ictim ’s

w h er e a b o u ts. Wh en S h erry ref u sed

, th e [ p etitio n er] g rab b ed h er arm an d
raised h is h an d as if h e w ere g o in g to h it h er an d said

, “Y o u b etter te l l me

w h ere sh e’s at.” F rig h ten ed

, S h erry relen ted an d to ld th e [ p etitio n er] th at h er

m o th er w as at th e sw im m in g h o le, to w h ich h e rep lied

, “D o es sh e h av e a b o y f r ien d d o w n th ere? ” an d “Y o u an d y o u r m o th er’s ass is g rass.” E d d in g s

an d S h erry f

o u n d th e v ictim

, in f

o rm ed h er o f th e in cid en t, an d retu rn ed h o m e. S h o rtly th ereaf

ter, th e [ p etitio n er] arriv ed an d th reaten ed to tak e th e v ictim ’s
ch ild ren aw ay an d ag ain q u estio n ed h er ab o u t w it h w h o m sh e asso ciated

. A cco rd in g to E d d in g s, “[ S ] h e to ld h im it w as h er lif

e, an d w h o sh e w as w ith
d o w n th ere w as n o n e o f n o b o d y ’s b u sin ess.” E d d in g s ad d ed th at th e [ p e t i t i o n er] g av e h im th e “u g liest lo o k ” b ecau se h e su sp ected th at th e v icti m

an d E d d in g s “h ad so m eth in g g o in g o n .” T h e [ p etitio n er] to ld E d d in g s “th at h e

-3

-b etter n o t catch [ h im ] an d h er d o in g an y th in g .”

S tep h en S h errill, th e v ictim ’s f if teen -y ear-o ld so n , testif

ied th at t h e [ p etitio n er] d ated h is m o th er f o r “ab o u t a y ear-an d -a-h alf ” an d th at h e liv ed

w ith th em f

o r “ab o u t a y ear.” H e ch aracterized h is m o th er’s relatio n sh ip w ith
th e [ p etitio n er] as b ein g “p retty g o o d ” b ef

o re it “w en t f

o r th e w o rse.”

S tep h en testif

ied th at, o n Ju ly 1 2

, th e [ p etitio n er] cam e to th e h o u se

w h ere h e arg u ed w ith th e v ictim b ef o re leav in g “in a rag e.” O n Ju ly 1 3

, h e an d
th e v ictim w ere d riv in g h o m e w h en th e [ p etitio n er] “p u lled in f ro n t o f [ th em ] ,”

an d an o th er arg u m en t en su ed in w h i c h h e d escrib ed th e [ p etitio n er] as “v ery

m ad .” D u rin g th is ro ad sid e co n f ro n tatio n , th e v ictim w av ed to a m an d riv in g

a cam o u f lag ed V o lk sw ag en “b u g ” an d rev v in g h is m o to r. T h is d isp lay cau sed
th e [ p etitio n er] to d em an d t h e d riv er’s id en tity an d state, “If I co u ld n ’t h av e

y o u , n o b o d y

else co u ld .”

O n S u n d ay , Ju ly 1 4

, th e [ p etitio n er] in v ited S tep h en to g o sw im m in g ,

an d th e tw o m et at a cem etery acco rd in g to p lan

. T h e [ p etitio n er] b eg an talk in g ab o u t th e v ictim as th ey lef t th e cem etery

, m ak in g su ch co m m en ts as “[ h ] er b u tt
is g ras s ” a n d “[ t] h at b itch w o u ld b e b etter o f f d ead .” In stead o f sw im m in g , th ey w o rk ed o n a tracto r an d th e [ p etitio n er] co n tin u o u sly ask ed S tep h en w h o th e m an d riv in g th e V o lk sw ag en w as. S tep h en ev en tu ally called h is m o th er to

p ick h im u p an d , u p o n h er arriv al, th e f o llo w in g o ccu rred :

T h ey g o t in an arg u m en t. A n d sh e said to g et in th e car. S o I g o t in th e car, an d w h en ev er I d id

, h e reach ed in an d

g rab b ed th e k ey s. S o sh e g o t o u t, real m ad

, an d said

, “L et’s g o

. We’re g o in g to w alk .”

Well, h e g r a b b e d h er b y th e arm an d tw isted it, an d sh e started cry in g

. A f

ter h e let h er g o , w e started w alk in g ag ain

, an d

h e th rew th e k ey s b ack to h er.

Wh en w e g o t b ack in th e v an , h e started g o in g – h e said

h e w as g o in g ; f

o r m e to g et in th e b ack

, so I d id

. We g o t u p th e

ro ad a little p iece an d h e k n o ck ed th e g ear sh if t in to n eu tral, an d
th ey arg u ed a little b it m o re. A n d h e ask ed w h o th e m an w as th at w as in th e V o lk sw ag en , an d sh e said th at sh e d id n ’t k n o w

. A n d h e k ep t ask in g an d ask in g , an d sh e f in ally said

, “H is n am e is R o b ert. N o w , let u s g o .”

-4

-T h e tw o retu rn ed h o m e, an d S h erry S h errill testif ied th at th e v ictim

, as sh e arriv ed

, w as “cry in g an d

. . . sh ak in g ” an d “th at sh e h ad a red m ark o n h er

arm .” S h erry testif

ied th at, in th e d ay s b ef

o re th e m u rd er, th e [ p etitio n er] w as j ealo u s, p o ssessiv e, an d “k ep t g ettin g m o re an d m o re an g ry as th e w eek h ad

w en t o n .” S tep h en also n o ticed th at th e situ atio n w as g ettin g p r o g ressiv ely

w o rse: “[ T h e p etitio n er] g o t an g ry ev ery n ig h t o f th e w eek

, j u st ab o u t, b ecau se

m o m w o n ’t tak e h im b ack

. A n d th eir arg u m en ts w o u ld g et w o rse an d w o rse. A n d S u n d ay [ th e d ay b ef o re th e d ay th e v ictim w as last seen aliv e] w as th e

w o rse [ sic] I ev er seen .”

S tep h en testif

ied th at, b e t w e en M o n d ay an d Wed n esd ay o f th e w eek
b ef o re h is m o th er w a s k illed

, h e an d o th ers h ad “sh o t all o f th e .2 2

am m u n itio n ,” all o f w h ich h ad b een m a n u f a ctu red b y Win ch ester. H e ack n o w led g ed o n cro ss-ex am in atio n th at h e h ad n o t search ed th e h o u se to see if th ere w as ad d itio n al am m u n itio n , b u t th ere w as n o n e lef t in th e d raw er w h ere it w as k ep t. O n T h u rsd ay o f th at sam e w eek

, th e [ p etitio n er] h ad co m e to th e

v ic t i m’ s h o u se “to g et .2 7 0 sh ells to g o h u n tin g th at d ay ” an d ask ed S tep h en “[ w ] h ere all th e b u llets w en t.” S tep h en to ld th e [ p etitio n er] th at “w e sh o t th em all th at w eek .” A sk ed to rev iew th e o w n er's manu al f o r a M arlin M o d el 7 0 P

“P ap o o se” sem i-au to m atic .2 2 carb in e, S tep h en r e s p o n d ed

, “T h at w as th e b reak ap art .2 2 th at h eld sev en ro u n d s th at w as th ere w h en w e sh o t all o f th e b u llets to it an d th e sin g le sh o t.” H e said th at th is rif le w as at th e h o u se w h en th ey h ad f ired all o f th e .2 2 b u llets, b u t it later w as m issin g

.

B o b b y H o u ser, th e p ro p r i eto r o f H o u ser’s G ro cery , testif ied th at th e

v ictim cam e to h is sto re o n M o n d ay , Ju ly 1 5 , at ap p ro x im ately

5 :0 0 p .m . an d

p u rch ased a M o u n tain D ew

. S h e lef t in h er car h ead in g in th e d irectio n o f h er h o m e, w h ich w as ab o u t a q u arter o f a m ile aw ay

. Wad e D u rh am testif ied th at
h e w as at H o u ser’s G ro cery aro u n d 5 :0 0 p .m

. th at d ay an d w itn essed th e v ictim

m ak e h er p u rch ase an d ch at w ith H o u ser b ef o re h ead in g h o m e. H e s aid th at
h e lef t a “m in u te o r tw o ” af

ter th e v ictim

an d arriv ed at h is h o m e, w h ich w as ab o u t a q u arter o f

a m ile aw ay , at ab o u t 5 :0 5 p .m

.

T h e [ p etitio n er’s] f

ath e r, E u g en e R o b ertso n , testif ied o n d irect

ex am in atio n th at h is h o u se w as ab o u t th ree-q u arters o f a m ile f ro m th e v ictim ’s
h o u se. A cco rd in g to h is trial testim o n y , so m etim e b etw een 5 :0 0 an d 5 :3 0 p .m

.

o n J u l y 1 5

, h e saw th e [ p etitio n er] w alk in g h o m e f ro m th e d irectio n o f t h e

v ictim ’s h o u se. H e f

u rth er testif

ied th at th e [ p etitio n er] ap p eared “co m p letely

n o rm al” an d n o t n erv o u s o r ag itated

. D u rin g red irect ex am in atio n b y th e S tate,
R o b ertso n w as ask ed to id en tif y a w ritten statem en t w h ich h e earlier h ad g iv en

-5

-to T en n essee B u reau o f In v estig atio n (“T B I”) A g en t M ik e C o x , b u t, in stead o f

sim p ly rev iew in g th e statem en t, h e p r o c e e d e d t o read it alo u d in its en tirety

w ith o u t o b

j ectio n b y th e d ef

en se. A cco rd in g to th e statem en t, R o b ertso n h ad

sat o n h is “p o rch u n til ab o u t 5 :3 0 p .m .” o n Ju ly 1 5

, an d “[ a] b o u t th at tim e, [ th e [ p etitio n er] cam e w alk in g u p to th e h o u se.” O n cro ss-ex am in atio n b y d ef en se

co u n sel, R o b ertso n clai me d h e h ad to ld A g en t C o x th at th e [ p etitio n er] h ad

co m e to th e p o rch “[ b ] etw een 5 :0 0 an d 5 :3 0 ,” as h e h ad testif ied in co u rt, b u t
h e co u ld n o t recall “ex actly w h ich .”

C arso n K elly

, th e o w n er o f K elly ’s D airy F arm , tes t i f ied th at th e [ p etitio n er]

, alth o u g h sch ed u led to w o rk

, n ev er cam e to th e d airy f arm o n M o n d ay , Ju l y 1 5

. O n cro ss-ex am in atio n , K elly said th at it w as p o ssib le th e [ p etitio n er] h ad co m e to w o rk o n t h e 3 0 0 -acre f arm , an d K elly j u st h ad n o t

seen h im

. H o w ev er, o n red irect ex am in atio n , K elly testif ied th at h e w o u ld
d aily in stru ct th e [ p etitio n er] as t o w h at w o rk sh o u ld b e d o n e an d th e [ p etitio n er] d id n o t “n o rm ally ” w o rk w ith o u t seein g h im

.

B o b b y H o u ser testif

ied th at th e [ p etitio n er] w as in h is sto re aro u n d 6 :3 0

a.m

. o n T u esd ay , Ju ly 1 6

, to p u rch ase cig arettes o n h is w ay to w o rk at K elly 's

D airy F arm . S h erry

Watso n , an em

p lo y ee o f H o u ser’s G ro cery , testif

ied th at
th e [ p etitio n er] tw ice cam e in to th e sto re later th at d ay to b u y b eer. A cco rd in g

t o h er testim o n y , th e [ p etitio n er] w as q u ieter th an u su al an d said th at h e h ad
learn ed o v er th e w eek en d o f th e v ictim ’s n ew b o y f

rien d

.

P aram ed ic L arry G lass testif ied th at h e arriv ed at th e v ictim ’s h o m e o n Ju ly 1 6 an d en tered th ro u g h th e k itch en d o o r. H e f irst o b serv ed a p ressu re

co o k er o n th e sto v e th at “w as really b o ilin g .” A f ter tu rn in g o f

f th e sto v e,

w h ich h e n o ticed w as o n h ig h

, h e d isco v ered th e v ictim o n th e co u ch w ith “a
little stu f f ed an im al b esid e h er.” S h e h ad n o “v ital sig n s.” H e th en called th e

co u n ty co ro n er an d in v estig ato rs.

H arw ell M cC lu sk y , an o f f icer w ith th e L aw r e n c e C o u n ty S h erif f ’s

D e p a r t me n t at th e tim e o f th e in v estig atio n , arriv ed at th e v ictim ’s h o u se o n Ju ly 1 6 at ab o u t 1 0 :2 0 a.m

. an d w as th e f irst m em b er o f l a w e n f

o rcem en t to
arriv e o n th e scen e. A s h e en tered th e h o u se, h e ch eck ed to see th at th e sto v e

w as o f f b ecau se h e co u ld sm ell th at s o me t h i n g h ad b een b u rn in g

. H e th en lo cate d t h e v i c t im ’s b o d y , n o ticed th at th ere w as n o w eap o n in sig h t, an d

secu red th e crim e scen e.

T B I S p ecial A g en t Way

n e Wesso n testif

ied th at h e arriv ed at th e m u rd er

-6

-scen e o n th e m o rn in g th at th e v i c tim ’s b o d y w as d isco v ered

. H e en tered th e

v ictim ’s k itch en th ro u g h th e b ack d o o r an d f irst o b serv ed a larg e p o t o f p eeled

to m ato es, a sin k f

u ll o f to m ato p eelin g s, a h alf -f u ll b o ttle o f M o u n tain D ew ,

an d a p ressu re co o k er o n th e sto v e th at w as later d eterm in ed to co n tain sev en j ars o f g reen b ean s th at h ad b een alm o st “b o i l e d d r y .” D rip p in g s f ro m th e b o ilin g h ad d ev elo p ed o n th e to p o f th e p r e s s u r e c o o k er. O n to p o f th e ref rig erato r w as a p rescrip tio n m ed icin e b o ttle w ith th e [ p etitio n er’s] n am e o n th e lab el.

A g en t Wesso n t h e n e n tered th e liv in g ro o m , w h ere h e saw th e v ictim
sittin g o n th e co u ch w ith an o p en ed b o o k at h er sid e, b lo o d ru n n in g d o w n th e sid e o f h e r f

a c e , a n em

p ty F ed eral sh ell casin g in h er lap an d u n d er h er arm ,

an d a p u rp le stu f

f ed an i ma l th at read “I lo v e y o u ” p ro p p ed o n h er sh o u ld er. Wesso n testif

ied th at sh e h ad su f

f ered a sin g le g u n sh o t w o u n d to th e f ace. H e d escrib ed th e v ictim as “[ n ] o t really in a d ef en siv e

– o r ru n n in g -ty

p e o f

p o sitio n

. Ju st sittin g th ere.” A sh o tg u n an d a N o b le .2 2 rif le w ere f o u n d in a

g u n cab in et in th e liv in g ro o m

. It w as later learn ed th at a P ap o o se .2 2 rif le w as

m issi n g f ro m th e h o u se. A lso reco v ered w ere a F ed eral sh ell casin g , w h ich

h ad d u s t o n it an d “lo o k ed lik e it h ad b een th ere a w h ile,” an d tw o d u d .2 2

ro u n d s , b o t h o f w h ich w ere o n to p o f th e g u n cab in et, an d th irteen sh ell
casin g s, all o f w h ich w ere m an u f actu red b y Win ch ester, in t h e b a ck y ard

. A g en t Wesso n ex p l a i n e d t h e resu lts o f th e in v estig atio n as to th e reco v ered
sh ell casin g s:

T h e casin g

– th e F ed eral casin g f o u n d o n to p o f th e g u n cab in et

w as co n sisten t w ith t h e casin g s th at w ere f ired f ro m th e N o b le

rif le. It w as f

ired f ro m th e N o b le rif

le, an d th e casin g in [ th e

v ictim ’s] lap w as f

ired f ro m th e sam e rif

le th at f ired th e

rem ain in g casin g s in th e b ack y ard

. T h at’s th e sin g le. T h is is
th e o n e th at w as f

ired in h er lap

.

Wesso n testif

ied th at am m

u n itio n reco v ered b y an in v estig ato r f ro m th e h o m e o f th e [ p etitio n er’s] f ath er w as sen t to th e T B I C rim e L ab f o r co m p ariso n

w ith th e slu g rem o v ed f ro m th e v ictim

. T h ese cartrid g es, w h ich w er e .2 2
calib er F ed eral am m

u n itio n , w ere o f th e “sam e ty p e o f casin g ” as th at

reco v ered u n d er th e v ictim ’s arm an d w e r e sen t b y th e T B I to th e F ed eral

B u reau o f In v estig atio n (“F B I”) C rim e L ab f o r an aly sis. A d d itio n ally

, h e sen t

to t h e T B I C rim e L ab th e N o b le .2 2 rif le f ro m th e v ictim ’s h o u se an d th e R ev elatio n .2 2 rif

le f ro m th e [ p etitio n er’s] resid en ce. S p ecial A g en t T o m m y H ef lin

, a T B I f

o ren sic scien tist, testif

ied th at h is tests sh o w ed th at n eith er th e

-7

-N o b le n o r th e R ev elatio n rif le h ad f ired th e slu g rem o v ed f

ro m th e v ictim

, b u t
it w as th e “sam e ty

p e an d d esig n ” o f b u llet th at w o u ld h av e b een h o u sed in th e .2 2 F ed eral sh ell casin g f o u n d in th e v ictim ’s lap

.

A g en t Wesso n testif

ied th at h e ex ten siv ely search ed th e area aro u n d th e

v ictim ’s h o u se to try an d lo cate th e m issin g w eap o n

. It to o k tw elv e to f if teen

m in u tes f o r h im to w alk th e d istan ce f ro m th e v i c t i m’ s h o u se to th at o f th e [ p etitio n er’s] f

ath er w h ere th e [ p etitio n er] liv ed

.

A g en t Wesso n w as ask ed o n d irect ex am in atio n w h eth er h e h ad d o n e

an y a d d itio n al in v estig atio n af ter tak in g th e statem en t f ro m T rav is P au l

M ap les, w h o s a i d h e w as to ld b y th e [ p etitio n er] th at th e v ictim “w as f o u n d
sittin g u p w ith a b o o k in h er h an d ,” th at th ere w as “n o f o rced en try ,” an d th at
th e assailan t h ad to h av e “en tered an d ex ited th e b ack d o o r.” Wesso n rep lied :

A

. A f ter receiv in g th e statem en t f r o m h im

, I rev iew ed th e

p h o to g rap h s to d eterm in e w h eth er o r n o t th e b o o k w o u ld h a v e b e en v isib le

– th e b o o k sittin g b esid e [ th e v ictim ] w o u ld b e

v isib le f ro m th e c a s e d o p en in g area. A n d also

, I d o n e so m e

su b seq u en t in terv iew s.

Q

. A ll rig h t, sir. D id y o u rev iew an y n ew sp ap er articles

co n cern in g th is case?

A . Y es, sir, I d id

.

Q

. H o w m an y in terv iew s

– h o w m an y articles d id y o u rev iew ?

A

. I d o n ’t k n o w th e ex act n u m b er o f a r t icles, b u t w ith th e h elp

o f K im M cG ee at th e D .A .’s O f f i c e , w e acq u ired all o f th e articles f r o m th e lo cal p ap ers, in clu d in g C o lu m b ia, th at w ere

p u b lish ed w ith in a f

o u r-w eek p erio d o f th is h ap p en in g , an d an y

o th er o n es th at th ey m ig h t h av e h ad d u rin g an d aro u n d th at tim e.

I n t h o s e articles

– I read each o f th o se articles, an d I
f o u n d n o in f

o r m atio n th at w o u ld in d icate to an y o n e th at th e b o o k

– w h at [ th e v ictim ] w as d o in g w h en sh e w as k illed

. T h ere is n o in f o rm atio n in th ere th at in d icated th at s h e w as read in g a b o o k w h en sh e w as k illed

. A n d th ere w as n o in f o rm atio n in
th ere in d icatin g w h ere th e assailan t w o u ld h av e en tered o r ex ited

-8

-th e resid en ce.

A n o th er T B I f

o ren sic scien tist, S p ecial A g en t R u ssell D av is, ex am in ed
th e g u n sh o t resid u e k it th at w as tak en f ro m th e [ p etitio n er] alm o st tw en ty -f o u r h o u rs af ter th e m u rd er. T h e p ro ced u re u sed w ith a g u n sh o t resid u e k it w as to

sw ab th e su s p e c t 's p alm s in o rd er to d eterm in e th e p resen ce o f an tim o n y , b ariu m , an d lead

, th e th ree elem en ts resu ltin g w h en a f irearm is d isch arg ed

. H e said th at sev eral f

acto rs co u ld sig n if

ican tly af f ect th e resu lts o f a g u n sh o t
resid u e an aly sis. In th is in stan ce, th e tw en ty -f o u r h o u rs b etw een th e sh o o tin g , th e sam p les tak en f

ro m th e [ p etitio n er]

, an d th e f acts th at th e am m

u n itio n i n v o l v ed w as .2 2 calib er an d th at th e w eap o n f ired w as a rif

le, lessen e d t h e

p o ten tial f

o r co n clu siv e testin g

. D av is ex p lain ed th at g u n sh o t resid u e is

“m icro sco p ic so o t” o n th e sk in ’s su rf ace th at d isap p ears “th e m o re y o u d o w ith

y o u r h an d s,” .2 2 calib er am m u n itio n g iv es o f

f less resid u e th an o th er ty p es o f

am m u n itio n , an d o n e's h an d s are n o t p articu larly clo se to w h ere th e resid u e is
d isch arg ed w h en f

irin g a rif le, as o p p o sed to f

irin g a h an d g u n

. H e said th at

an tim o n y an d lead

, in lev els in d icativ e o f g u n sh o t resid u e, w ere f o u n d o n th e [ p eti t i o n er’s] h an d s. T h e resu lts o f h is ex am in atio n w ere “in co n clu siv e,”
h o w ev er, b ecau se th e am o u n t o f b ariu m , alth o u g h p resen t, w as in su f f icien t to
in d icate th e p resen ce o f

g u n sh o t resid u e.

A g en t C h arles P eters, a p h y sical scien tist w ith th e F B I la b o r a t o r y in
Wash in g to n , D .C

., t e stif ied th at h e p erf

o rm s a “co m

p arativ e b u llet lead

an aly sis” to d eterm in e w h eth er a b u llet tak en f ro m a v ictim is f

r o m th e sam e

so u rce as o th er b u llets tak en f ro m a su sp ect o r a crim e scen e. H e said th at th e

m an u f actu rer o f a b u llet co u ld n o t b e d eterm in ed b y j u st an an aly sis o f th e b u llet itself

, b u t su ch a d eterm in atio n co u ld b e m ad e b y d o in g a “co m p o sitio n al

an aly sis” o n th e b u llet an d co m p arin g th at w ith a p articu lar b o x o f cartrid g es. H e ex p lain ed w h y

d if f eren t b u llets w o u ld h av e th e sam e co m p o sitio n :

B u llets f ro m th e sam e m elt o f lead w ill h av e th e sam e

co m p o sitio n

. A n d th at’s an u n iq u e co m p o sitio n

. S o b asically

,

w h at w e h av e d o n e is w e h ad a b u llet f rag m en t. We d id n ’t k n o w

w h ere it cam e f

ro m

. N o w w e can say it cam e f ro m th is o n e m elt

o f lead at F ed eral, an d w as p ro d u ced o n o r ab o u t th e d ate th at is

m ark ed o n th is b o x

.

N o w , w e’re n o t say in g th at

– in th at so u rce o f lead , a lo t

o f b u llets can b e m ad e. Y o u k n o w , j u st o n e b o x isn 't m ad e f ro m

a m elt o f lea d

. B u t o th er th in g s th at w e also k n o w ab o u t--th e

-9

-d istrib u tio n an d th e u se o f am m u n itio n

– is t h a t am m

u n itio n is
b asically b o u g h t u p

– p articu larly .2 2 ’s

– an d sh o t in ab o u t tw o

to th ree y ears af

ter th e am m

u n itio n is m an u f

actu red

. M o st o f it

h as b een sh o t u p . A n d it n o lo n g er ex ists.

S o y o u h av e th is cald ro n o f lead th at w as u sed to m ak e all

o f th ese b u llets f

ro m , w h ich ar e i n t h e ten s o f th o u san d s o f
b u llets th at co m es f

ro m o n e cald ro n o f

lead . Y o u can im ag in e, if y o u h av e th is b u ck et o f lead

, h ere, h o w m an y b u llets co u ld b e

m ad e f ro m it. B u t in a v ery sh o r t t i me , th o se are b ein g

m an u f actu red an d b ein g sh o t u p

.

A g en t P eters receiv ed a b o x co n tain in g “F ed eral, .2 2 lo n g rif le, 4 0

g rain

, lead

, ro u n d n o sed ” cartrid g es. A cc o r d i n g to th e stam p p laced b y th e

m an u f actu rer o n th e cartrid g e b o x , it h ad b een f illed “o n 6 /2 9 /1 9 8 3 at th e F ed eral p lan t in M in n eso ta.” F o llo w in g h is an aly ses, A g en t P eters d eterm in ed
th at th e slu g tak en f

ro m th e v ic t i m w as “an aly tically in d istin g u ish ab le” f ro m th e u n f ired cartrid g es tak en f

ro m th e [ p etitio n er’s] h o u se. H e ex p lain ed f u rth er th at, b y th is co n clu sio n , h e m ean t th at th e slu g rem o v ed f ro m th e v ictim ’s b o d y

an d th e u n f

ired cartrid g es all h ad co m e f ro m “o n e m elt o f lead at F ed eral, an d

w as p ro d u ced o n o r ab o u t th e d ate th at is m ark ed o n th is b o x .” A s to th e slu g

rem o v ed f

ro m th e v ictim

, h e said

, “We k n o w it o rig in ated f ro m th is so u rce an d

w e k n o w th at th e so u rce in th i s c a s e is a v ery o ld so u rce, an d th ere w o u ld n ’t
b e v ery m an y o f th ese lef t aro u n d .”

A g en t Wesso n te s t i f

i ed th at h e in terv iew ed th e [ p etitio n er] o n th e

ev en in g o f Ju ly 1 6

. T h e [ p etitio n er]

, w h o w aiv ed h is M iran d a rig h ts in w ritin g , g av e a statem en t in w h ich h e said th at h e sp en t th e n ig h t at th e v ictim ’s h o u se

o n S u n d ay , Ju ly 1 4

, an d lef t early th e n ex t m o rn in g

. T h e v ictim to ld th e [ p etitio n er] th at n ig h t an d ag ain th e n ex t m o rn in g th at sh e w an ted h im “o u t o f

h er lif e.” T h e [ p etitio n er] ack n o w led g ed th at h e k n e w o f t h e v ictim ’s
in v o lv em en t w ith a m an n am e d R o b ert w h o d ro v e a “d u n e b u g g y , o r

so m eth in g lik e th at” an d th at “h e d id n ’t lik e it, b u t h e d id n ’t h av e an y p ro b lem

w ith it.” H e d en ied th at h e ev er th reaten ed th e v i c t i m, t o u c h e d h er in an y h arm f u l w ay , o r k illed h er. F in ally

, h e ex p lain ed th at w h en h e lef t th e v ictim ’s
h o u se h e w en t to h is p aren ts’ h o u se w h ere h e “stay ed all d ay lo n g .”

T h e v icti m’s m o th er, S h eila S ch ro d er, testif ied th at sh e tau g h t h er d au g h ter h o w to can g reen b e a n s w h en sh e w as tw elv e y ears o ld

, an d h er d au g h ter w a s f

o llo w in g th e sam e d irectio n s at th e tim e o f h er last can n in g

-1 0

-s essio n

. S h e sh ip p ed th e v ictim ’s p ressu re co o k er to A g en t Wes s o n a n d

p ro v id ed h im w ith th e sam e sp ecif ic in stru ctio n s f

o r can n in g t h a t t h e v ictim

w o u ld h av e b een f

o llo w in g

. T h e actu al can n ed b ean s, w h ich w ere n o t tak en

as ev id en ce at th e crim e scen e an d h ad b een sittin g o n S ch ro d er’s b ack p o rch

f o r o v er a y ear, w ere also g iv en to Wesso n

.

A g en t Wesso n testif

ied th at, f

o llo w in g in stru ctio n s w h ich S h eila

S ch ro d er h ad g iv e n to th e v ictim as to can n in g g reen b ean s, an d u sin g th e

v ictim ’s sto v e an d p ressu re co o k er, h e lef t th e co o k er o n th e “h ig h ” settin g o n th e sto v e f

o r sev e n t e en h o u rs, th e ap p ro x im ate p erio d f ro m w h en th e v ictim

w as last seen aliv e at H o u ser’s G ro cery u n til h er b o d y w as f o u n d

. H e testif

ied
th at th e p ressu re co o k er rem ain ed in tact, an d th e j ars o f b ean s w ith in ap p eared

lik e th o se in th e co o k er w h en th e v ictim ’s b o d y w as d isco v ered

.

D r. C h arles Ha

r l a n, t he La wr e nc e Count

y Me dical E x am in er, p erf

o rm ed
th e v ictim ’s au to p sy at 4 :3 0 p .m . o n Ju ly 1 6

. A cco rd in g to h is testim o n y , th e

v ictim h ad b een d ead f

o r tw elv e to tw en ty -f

o u r h o u rs b ef

o re th e au to p sy

w as

p erf o rm ed

, p u ttin g th e v ictim ’s tim e o f d eath so m etim e a f t e r 4 : 3 0 p .m

. o n M o n d ay , Ju ly

1 5 , b u t b ef

o re 4 :3 0 a.m . th e f

o llo w in g d ay

.

F r a n c e s M a r i e R o b e r t s o n , t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ’ s ] m o t h e r , t e s t i f i e d a s t h e f

i r s t
d e f e n s e w i t n e s s t h a t t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] h a d b e e n a t h e r h o m e a s o f 6 : 0 0 p

. m

. o n
M o n d a y , J u l y 1 5

, a n d w a s a s l e e p o n h e r c o u c h a s o f a b o u t 6 : 3 0 p

. m

. t h a t

e v e n i n g

. S h e s a i d t h a t d u r i n g t h e e v e n i n g , s h e h a d g o t t e n u p t w o o r t h r e e t i m e s

a n d

, o n e a c h o c c a s i o n , h e w a s s t i l l s l e e p i n g

. I n h e r v i e w , t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] h a d

a “ p r e t t y g o o d r e l a t i o n s h i p ” w i t h t h e v i c t i m

. S h e s a i d t h a t S t e p h e n S h e r r i l l

s o m e t i m e s h a d t a k e n s o m e

. 2 2 c a r t r i d g e s f r o m t h e b o x t a k e n b y t h e T B I d u r i n g

t h e i r i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f t h e k i l l i n g

.

D u r i n g c r o s s

- e x a m i n a t i o n , M r s

. R o b e r t s o n s a i d t h a t t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] h a d

s p e n t S u n d a y n i g h t a t t h e v i c t i m ’ s h o u s e

. A s f o r w h a t t i m e h e a r r i v e d b a c k a t

h e r h o u s e o n M o n d a y , J u l y 1 5

, s h e r e p l i e d t h a t s h e “ d i d n ’ t p a y n o a t t e n t i o n [ t o ]

w h a t t i m e h e c a m e h o m e

. . . I d o n ’ t e v e r p a y n o a t t e n t i o n t o t h e c l o c k

. ” W h e n

q u e s t i o n e d w h e t h e r t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] “ s t a y e d ” a t h e r h o u s e a l l d a y o n M o n d a y ,

s h e r e p l i e d

, “ W e l l

, h e w a s i n a n d o u t

. ” S h e w a s u n a b l e t o r e c a l l w h e t h e r h e h a d

b e e n a t h e r h o u s e a t 3 : 3 0 p

. m

. o n M o n d a y , J u l y 1 5

, s a y i n g t h a t

, b e c a u s e i t w a s

s u m m e r , s h e w a s k e e p i n g e i g h t g r a n d c h i l d r e n a t h e r h o u s e t h a t d a y

. S h e a g r e e d

t h a t s h e h a d “ p r o b a b l y ” t o l d a T B I a g e n t

, a s h e r s t a t e m e n t s a i d

, t h a t “ [ m ] y s o n , J e f f e r y W a y n e R o b e r t s o n , s t a y e d a t h o m e t h a t d a y p r o b a b l y a t l e a s t ‘ t i l 3 : 3 0

P

. M

. ”

-1 1

-T h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ’ s ] b r o t h e r , G l e n n R o b e r t s o n , t e s t i f i e d t h a t

, b e c a u s e h e h a d b o r r o w e d t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ’ s ] t r u c k t o t r a n s p o r t a c o w , t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] w a s

w i t h o u t t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f r o m 4 : 3 0 p

. m

. t o 6 : 3 0 p

. m

. o n J u l y 1 5

.

L i s a L u n a , t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ’ s ] s i s t e r , t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e v i c t i m a n d t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ’ s ] f

a t h e r w o r k e d t o g e t h e r a n d

, w h e n t h e v i c t i m d i d n o t a r r i v e a t

w o r k o n J u l y 1 6

, h e t e l e p h o n e d a n d a s k e d h e r t o c h e c k o n t h e v i c t i m

. J e n n i e
W o o d w a r d

, a n o t h e r o f

t h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ’ s ] s i s t e r s , l i v e d n e x t d o o r t o t h e v i c t i m

. S o m e t i m e b e t w e e n 9 : 3 0 a n d 1 0 : 0 0 a

. m

. o n T u e s d a y , J u l y 1 6

, t h e t w o s i s t e r s

e n t e r e d t h e v i c t i m ’ s h o u s e t h r o u g h a n u n l o c k e d d o o r a f t e r t h e i r k n o c k s w e n t

u n a n s w e r e d

. T h e y f

i r s t h e a r d t h e n o i s e m a d e b y t h e p r e s s u r e c o o k e r , w h i c h

w a s b o i l i n g o n t h e s t o v e

. T h e y t h e n d i s c o v e r e d t h e v i c t i m ’ s b o d y o n t h e c o u c h

a n d i m m e d i a t e l y l e f

t a n d c a l l e d 9

- 1

- 1

. D u r i n g h e r c r o s s

- e x a m i n a t i o n , W o o d w a r d r e a d a l o u d

, w i t h o u t o b j e c t i o n b y t h e d e f

e n s e , t h e s t a t e m e n t w h i c h

s h e h a d g i v e n t o D e p u t y M c C l u s k y

. T h e d e f e n s e m a d e a n u n s u c c e s s f u l

o b j e c t i o n t o t h i s s t a t e m e n t ’ s b e i n g m a r k e d a s a n e x h i b i t a f t e r t h e w i t n e s s h a d

f i n i s h e d r e a d i n g i t

.

F o l l o w i n g t h e t e s t i m o n y o f J e n n i e W o o d w a r d

, t h e d e f e n s e r e s t e d

. T h e [ p e t i t i o n e r ] d i d n o t t e s t i f y

.

R o b ertso n , 1 3 0 S .W.3 d at 8 4 4 -5 2 (f o o tn o tes o m itted ).

We w ill rev iew th e claim s o f th e p etitio n er th at h e is en titled to a n ew trial b ecau se h e h as “n ew ly d isco v ered ev id en ce” th at th e F B I is n o lo n g er p ro v id in g C B L A testim o n y , w h ich

w as p ro v id ed b y

A g en t P eters at th e trial.

A N A L Y S IS

F o llo w in g h is u n su ccessf u l d irect ap p eal, th e p etitio n er so u g h t p o st-co n v ictio n relief
claim in g , as o n e o f th e b ases, “th at [ th e p etitio n er] receiv ed th e in ef f ectiv e assi stan ce o f

c o u n s e l b ecau se [ c] o u n sel f ailed to ch allen g e ex p ert testim o n y ab o u t th e resu lts o f a C o m p arativ e B u llet L ead A n a ly sis (‘C B L A ’) p erf o rm ed o n ev id en ce g ath ered b y law

en f o rcem en t.” Jef

f rey Way n e R o b ertso n , 2 0 0 9 WL 2 7 7 0 7 3 , at * 9

.

A t th e su b seq u en t ev id en tiary h earin g o n th e p etitio n f o r p o st-co n v ictio n relief

, trial

co u n sel ex p lain ed w h y

h e h ad n o t ch allen g ed th e C B L A ev id en ce:

C o u n sel testif

ied th at at th e tim e o f trial h e d id n o t d o u b t th e reliab ility

o f th e S tate’s C B L A an aly sis b ecau se h is research rev ealed it w as a “reliab le,

-1 2

-accep ted

, [ an d ] s c i e n tif ic w ay ” to d eterm in e sam p les’ sim ilarity

. H e ack n o w led g ed th e an aly sis h ad b een “f u lly d iscred ited ” sin ce th e tim e o f trial
b u t em p h asized h e co u ld n o t h av e f o reseen its d iscred itin g

.

Id . at * 1 1

.

O n ap p eal f

ro m th e d en ial o f p o st-co n v ictio n relief

, th i s c o u r t

, w h ile citin g recen t

cases f ro m N ew Jersey

, K en tu ck y , an d M ary lan d w h ich co n clu d ed th at C B L A testim o n y h ad
b een erro n eo u sly ad m itted d u rin g th e resp ectiv e trials, ex p lain ed w h y ad m issio n o f su ch
testim o n y d id n o t en title th e p etitio n er to a n ew trial:

S in ce th e P etitio n er’s co n v ictio n an d th e F B I’s d is c l o s u r e o f th e m islead in g

n atu re o f its ag en ts’ C B L A testim o n y , at least th ree cases h av e b een rev ersed

in sister j u risd ictio n s.

. . . .

. . . S in ce th e P etitio n er’s trial, th e F B I h as rep u d iated its ag en ts’ C B L A
testim o n y

. A s a resu lt, w e n o w k n o w th at P eters’ testim o n y ab o u t th e C B L A

an a l y s is p erf

o rm ed in th e P etitio n er’s case m ay h av e b een o v erstated an d

m isle ad in g

. D u rin g th e P etitio n er’s trial, h o w ev er, C o u n sel d id n o t h av e th e b en ef it o f th e F B I’s retractio n

. T h e f law s in P eters’ testim o n y cam e to lig h t

w e l l af ter C o u n sel w as co n f

ro n ted w ith th e d ecisio n o f w h eth er to req u e s t a j u ry -o u t h earin g

. H e d id n o t k n o w , a n d

, in o u r v iew

, co u ld n o t reaso n ab ly

h av e an ticip ated th at C B L A w o u ld b e d iscred ited

. T h ere f o re, rev iew in g C o u n sel’s d ecis i o n i n lig h t o f h is p ersp ectiv e at trial, w e co n clu d e C o u n sel

reaso n ab ly ch o se to f

o reg o a j u ry -o u t h earin g

. C o u n sel’s assistan ce w as ef f ectiv e. T h e p o s t

- c onvi c t i o n co u rt p ro p erly d eclin ed to g ran t p o st-co n v ictio n relief b ased o n C o u n sel’s ch o i c e t o n o t req u est a j u ry -o u t h earin g o n P eters’
testim o n y

.

Id . at * 1 6 -1 7

.

R ely in g o n a claim sim ilar to th at in h is p o st-co n v ictio n p etitio n , th e p etitio n er n ex t

so u g h t co ram n o b is relief

, arg u in g th at a 2 0 0 8 letter, f ro m th e F B I to th e S tate, w h ich in tu rn

p ro v id ed a co p y to trial co u n sel, th at th e F B I w as n o lo n g er p ro v id in g C B L A testim o n y w as “n ew ly d isco v ered ev id en ce,” en titlin g h im to a retrial.

T h e reco rd o n ap p eal d o es n o t co n tain a co p y o f th e letter f ro m th e F B I reg ard in g th e C B L A an aly sis in th is m atter. T h u s, f o r th e p ro ced u ral b ack g ro u n d o f th is m atter, w e w ill

-1 3

-rely u p o n th e ex p lan atio n o f t h e S tate, p ro v id ed w ith o u t o b j ectio n , at th e b eg in n in g o f th e

ev id en tiary

h earin g o n th e co ram

n o b is p etitio n :

T h is case aro se o u t o f a n in cid en t in w h ich th e v ictim

, M s. C aro l P atterso n ,

w as d isco v ered o n J u ly th e 1 6 th

, 1 9 9 6

, d eceased in h er h o m e. In v estig atio n

en su ed

. A n d o n 1 2 /9 /1 9 9 8

, th e [ p etitio n er]

, M r. Jef f ery Way n e R o b ertso n , w as

co n v icted in L aw ren ce C o u n ty C ircu it C o u rt, f irst d eg ree m

u rd er. H e receiv ed

a lif e sen ten ce. A t th e tim e o f th e trial an ex p e r t t e s t i f i e d f ro m th e F B I, an A g en t P et e r s, w ith reg ard to co m p arativ e b u llet-lead an aly sis testin g

. T h ere

w as an o b

j ectio n m ad e at trial, b y trial co u n sel, to th e p re s e n t a tio n o f th at
testim o n y . It w as o v erru led at th at tim e an d h e w as allo w ed to testif y

.

O n D ecem

b er 3 0 th o f 1 9 9 8

, a

. . . h earin g o n m o tio n f o r a n ew trial w as h eld

. T h at m o tio n w as d en ied

. A g ain

, o n e o f th e g ro u n d s raised in th e m o tio n f o r a n ew trial w as th is issu e o f th e reliab ility o f c o mp a r a tiv e b u llet-lead

an aly sis test i n g

. M o t i o n f o r a n ew trial o v erru led

. C ase g o es u p o n ap p eal.

O n A p ril 1 7 th

, 2 0 0 3

, th e ap p eal w as d en ied b y t h e T e n n essee C o u rt o f

C rim in al A p p eals. O n O cto b er 2 7 th

, 2 0 0 3

, cert w as d en ied b y th e T en n essee S u p rem e C o u rt.

O n N o v em

b er th e 3 rd

, 2 0 0 3

, th e [ p etitio n er] f iled a [ p ] ro se p etitio n f

o r

p o st-co n v ictio n relief

, ag ain

, ch allen g in g th is co m p arativ e b u llet-lead an aly sis
testin g , o n th e g ro u n d s o f in ef f ectiv e assistan ce o f

co u n sel.

In S ep tem

b er o f 2 0 0 5

, t h e F B I su sp en d ed its u se o f testin g o n th is

co mp a r ativ e b u llet-lead an aly sis testin g

. P o st-co n v ictio n h ad alread y b een h eard at th at p o in t, b u t w as p en d in g o n ap p eal.

In M ay o f 2 0 0 7

, p o st-co n v ictio n relief h earin g w as h eld b u t

. . . n o issu e

w as raised w ith reg ard to th e su sp en d ed testin g , b u t co m p arativ e b u llet

- l e a d

an aly sis w as ag ain

, as o n e o f th e su b j ects raised in th e P C R

. P o st-co n v ictio n

w as d en ied

. P o st-co n v i c t i o n relief w as d en ied o n Ju n e th e 5 th

, 2 0 0 7

. A n

ap p eal w as f

iled o n Ju n e th e 1 1 th o f

2 0 0 7

.

O n N o v em

b er 2 8

, 2 0 0 7

, w h ile th e P C R d ecisio n w as u n d er ap p eal, th e F B I p erso n co n tacted D istrict A tto rn ey G en eral M ik e B o tto m s, reg ard in g

. . . th e issu e o f co m

p arativ e b u llet-lead an aly sis testin g

. T h e letter stated th at th e F B I d isco n tin u ed th e u s e o f th is testin g in 2 0 0 5

, an d req u ested th e tran scrip t

o f A g en t P eters’ testim o n y

f o r rev iew

.

-1 4

-O n D ecem b er th e 2 1 st o f 2 0 0 7

, a tran scrip t o f o n ly A g en t P eters’
testim o n y

– n o t th e en tire trial testim o n y , b u t o n ly A g en t P e t e rs’ testim o n y f ro m th e trial w as f

o rw ard ed to th e F B I.

In M ay o f 2 0 0 8

, a letter f ro m a M elissa A n n e S m rz, w h o ’s th e actin g d irecto r o f th e lab o rato ry f o r th e F B I at th at tim e, sen t a letter b ack to G en eral

B o tto m s, o p in in g ab o u t th e im p act o f A g en t P eters’ testim o n y

at th e trial.

In Ju n e o f 2 0 0 8

, th e [ p etitio n er] f iled a [ p ] ro se p etitio n f

o r a w rit o f

erro r co ram

n o b is.

A p p aren tly

, th e S tate p ro v id ed o f co p y o f t h e M ay 2 0 0 8 letter f ro m th e F B I to th e

p etitio n er o r h is co u n sel, resu ltin g in th e f ilin g o f a co ram n o b is p etitio n

. A t th e ev id en tiary

h earin g o n th e p etitio n , D r. M arc L eb eau testif ied th at h e w as th e sen io r f o ren sic scien tist o f
th e S cien tif

ic A n aly sis S ectio n o f th e F B I L ab o rato ry

. H e said th at, i n 2 0 0 3

, b ecau se o f
ch allen g es to C B L A testim o n y , th e F B I h ad ask ed th e N atio n al A cad em y o f S cien ces “to d o

a rev iew o f th is p articu lar d iscip lin e an d m ak e reco m m en d atio n s o n [ sic] if th ere w as

an y th in g w e co u ld d o to im

p ro v e it.” H e said t h a t t h e y r e c e i v ed th e A cad em y ’s rep o rt in

2 0 0 4 an d d ecid ed to su sp en d C B L A testin g u n til all o f th e reco m m en d atio n s o f th e rep o rt h ad
b een ad d ressed

. D r. L eb eau said th at, as a resu lt o f th is rev iew

, in clu d in g th e f act th at “th e

m ed ia p ro claim ed th at [ C B L A ] w as j u n k scien ce,” su ch testin g b ecam e “alm o st a tain ted

f o ren sic d iscip lin e.” H e ad d ed th at th e A cad em y ’s rep o rt h ad n eith er said th at th e F B I sh o u ld

su sp en d su ch testin g n o r th at it w as “j u n k scien ce.” H o w ev er, in 2 0 0 5 , th e F B I d ecid ed to

en d C B L A an aly ses. In 2 0 0 7

, th e F B I w as ad v ised th at th e Wash in g to n P o st n ew sp ap er an d
th e telev isio n sh o w “6 0 M in u tes” w as g o in g to d o a series o n th e 2 0 0 5 n o tif icatio n s o f th e F B I to p ast co n trib u to rs o f C B L A sam p les. T h e F B I ag ain resp o n d ed

, as it h ad in 2 0 0 5

, th at
C B L A w as n o t j u n k scien ce an d th at it sto o d b eh in d su ch testin g

. H o w ev er, th ey d ecid ed to

rev iew all cases in w h ich C B L A testim o n y h ad b een p ro v id ed

.

D r. L eb eau said th at th e p etitio n er ’ s case w as o n e o f ap p ro x im ately f if ty w h ich th e Wash in g to n P o st h ad id en tif ied w h ere th e F B I h ad p ro v id ed C B L A testim o n y

. H e ex p lain ed
th at A g en t P eters’ t e s t i mo n y w as “f lag g ed th at as m ay b e a p ro b lem ” w h en h e said th at “it

w o u ld really tak e a lif

etim e” if a b u llet w ere b ro u g h t to h im an d h e tried to f in d an o th er o n e,

am o n g th e “b illio n s o f b u llets p ro d u ced ev ery y ear,” w h ich w as a co m p o sitio n al m atch

. H o w ev er, h e said th at A g en t P eters h ad later p ro p erly clarif ied th at statem en t, b y testif y in g :

“If I k n ew it w as F ed eral th at n arro w s it d o w n a little b it b ecau se, th en , in stead

o f an aly zin g all th e o th er am m

u n itio n o u t th ere, I co u ld co n cen trate o n F ed eral.

If I k n ew it w as F ed eral an d w as m an u f actu red o n a p articu lar d ate, I w o u ld g o

o u t search in g in ev ery

b o d y ’s h o m es, an d ev ery

th in g , f o r th at lo t n u m

b er. A n d

-1 5

-i f I f o u n d th at lo t n u m

b er o n a b o x , m ad e o n th at d ate, I co u ld f in d t h a t

co m p o sitio n .”

D r. L eb eau ex p lain ed th at, h ad A g en t P eters’ testim o n y b een rev iew e d l a t e r i n th e

m atter, th e testim o n y “p ro b ab ly w o u ld n o t h av e b een f lag g ed as an erro r.” H e co n clu d ed h is
testim o n y b y o p in in g th at C B L A w as “n o t j u n k scien ce.”

In its o rd er d en y in g th e p etitio n , th e co ram n o b is co u rt co n clu d ed :

B ased u p o n a co n sid eratio n o f th e p ro o f at th is h earin g an d th e ev id en ce

at trial, th is C o u rt f

in d s th at n o reaso n ab le b asis ex ists f o r co n clu d in g th at h ad
th e ev id en ce b een p resen ted at trial, o r in th is case, n o t p r e s e n t ed at trial, th e

resu lt o f th e p ro ceed in g s m ig h t h av e b een d if f eren t. T h e C o u rt h o ld s th at th e

p resen tatio n o f

C B L A ev id en ce w as d iscu ssed an d arg u ed at th e tim e o f trial

an d at all p ro ceed in g s sin ce th at tim e. I t i s n o t n ew ly d isco v ered

. T h e o n ly

n ew ev id en ce p resen ted is p ro o f o f a rev iew o f t e s t im o n y an d p o licy b y th e F B I

. N o erro r w as f

o u n d in th e testim o n y o f A g en t P eters, n o r is th ere a

reaso n ab le b asis to b eliev e th at th e j u ry w as m is[ led ] b y h is statem en ts. G iv en th e su b stan tial am o u n t o f o th er ev id en ce o f th e [ p etitio n er’s] g u ilt, th is C o u rt
f in d s n o b asis to g ran t [ th e] [ p ] etitio n er relief

.

A w rit o f erro r co ram n o b is is an ex trao rd in ary rem ed y b y w h ich t h e c o u rt m ay

p ro v id e relief f

ro m a j u d g m en t u n d er o n ly n arro w an d lim ited circu m stan ces. S tate v

. M ix o n , 9 8 3 S .W.2 d 6 6 1

, 6 6 6 (T en n

. 1 9 9 9 ). T en n essee C o d e A n n o tated sectio n 4 0 -2 6 -1 0 5 p ro v id es th is rem ed y

to crim in al d ef

en d an ts:

U p o n a sh o w in g b y th e d ef en d an t th at th e d ef

en d an t w as w ith o u t f

au lt

in f ailin g to p resen t certain ev id en ce at th e p ro p er tim e, a w rit o f erro r co ram

n o b is w ill lie f

o r su b seq u en tly o r n ew ly d isco v ered ev id en ce relatin g to m atters

w h ich w ere litig ated at th e trial if th e j u d g e d eterm in es th at su ch ev id en ce m ay h av e resu lted in a d if

f eren t j u d g m en t, h ad it b een p resen ted at th e trial. T h e issu e sh all b e tried b y th e co u rt w ith o u t th e in ter v e n t i o n o f a j u ry , an d if th e d ecisio n b e in f

av o r o f th e p etitio n er, th e j u d g m en t co m p lain ed o f sh all b e set
asid e an d th e d ef

en d an t sh all b e g ran ted a n ew trial in th at cau se.

T en n . C o d e A n n . § 4 0 -2 6 -1 0 5 (b ), (c) (2 0 1 2 ).

T h e d ecisio n to g ran t o r d en y a p etitio n f o r w rit o f erro r co ram n o b is b ased o n n ew ly
d isco v ered ev id en ce lies w ith in th e so u n d d iscretio n o f th e trial co u rt. S ee T en n

. C o d e A n n

. § 4 0 -2 6 -1 0 5 ; S tate v

. H art, 9 1 1 S .W.2 d 3 7 1

, 3 7 5 (T en n

. C rim

. A p p

. 1 9 9 5 ). We rev iew th is

-1 6

-issu e, th eref o re, u n d er an ab u se o f

d iscretio n stan d ard

.

A s w e w ill ex p lain

, w e ag ree w ith th e co n clu sio n s o f th e co ram

n o b is co u rt th at th e

p etitio n er’s claim m

u st f ail b o th b ecau se “n ew ly d isco v ered ” ev id en ce w as n o t p resen ted an d
th ere w as a “su b stan tial am o u n t o f o th er ev id en ce o f th e [ p etitio n er’s] g u ilt,” m ean in g th at
th ere w as n o reaso n ab le b asis to co n clu d e th at th e trial resu lt m ig h t h av e b een d if f eren t h ad
th e C B L A ev id en ce b een ex clu d ed

.

In th e d irect ap p eal af

f irm in g th e p etitio n er’s co n v ictio n , th is co u rt co n clu d ed th at th e

ev id en ce w as su f

f icien t to su stain h is co n v ictio n :

[ T ] h e p ro o f [ at tria l ] tak en in th e lig h t m o st f av o rab le to th e S tate
estab lish ed th at th e [ p etitio n er] b o th h ad th e o p p o rtu n ity to k ill th e v ictim an d

h a d mad e n u m ero u s statem en ts j u st p rio r to th e k illin g o f h is in ten t o r

w illin g n ess to d o so

. T h e v ictim w as k i l l e d d u rin g a p erio d b etw een late

M o n d ay af

tern o o n an d early T u esd ay m o rn in g

. L eo n Jen n in g s testif ied th at h e h ad su g g ested th e [ p etitio n er] w atch th e v ictim ’s h o u se to f in d o u t if sh e w as seein g an o th er m an o n S u n d ay s o r M o n d ay s, th e d ay s th e [ p etitio n er] w as n o t
allo w ed to co m e b y , th e [ p etitio n er] tellin g h im th at “[ h ] e w as af raid th at if h e

seen so m eb o d y o v er [ at th e v ictim ’s h o u se]

, h e m ig h t h u rt h er.” S h erry S h errill, th e v ictim ’s d au g h ter, testif ied th at f o u r d ay s b ef

o re th e v ictim ’s b o d y

w as d isco v ered

, th e v ictim an d th e [ p etitio n er] arg u ed ; an d

, as a m an in a V o lk sw ag en w av ed at h er m o th er, th e [ p etitio n er] said

, “If I co u ld n ’t h av e y o u ,

n o b o d y else w o u ld .” S p rin g M ald o n ad o , w h o w itn essed th e sam e arg u m en t,
testif ied th at th e [ p etitio n er]

, ref errin g to th e m an d riv in g th e V o lk sw ag en , to ld
th e v ictim if sh e w as “m essin g aro u n d w ith ” h im

, “h e w o u ld k ill h er .” T h e [ p etitio n er] to ld S p rin g M ald o n ad o an d h er sister th at h e w o u ld k il l t h e m a s

w ell “if [ h e] f

[ o u ] n d o u t th at y o u w h o res [ w ere] try in g to g et in b etw een [ h im ]

an d [ th e v ictim ] .” A f

ter th at arg u m en t, th e [ p etitio n er] b ecam e m ad at R ich ard

E d d in g s f o r say in g th at th e v ictim an d th e [ p etitio n er] b ro k e u p b ecau se o f h is
d rin k in g an d to ld E d d in g s, “Well, ain ’t n o b o d y g o n n a h av e h er, if I can ’t h av e h er.” T h e f

o llo w in g d ay , w h ich w as th e d ay b ef o re th e m u rd er, th e [ p etitio n er]

co n f ro n ted Jen n in g s an d S h erry S h errill at H o u ser’s G ro cery , g rab b in g S h errill

an d raisin g h is h an d as if to h it h er af ter sh e ref

u sed to d isclo se t h e v i c t im ’s

w h ereab o u ts at th at tim e. S tep h en S h errill, th e v ictim ’s so n , said th at, f o u r d ay s b ef o re th e v ictim ’s b o d y

w as f o u n d , th e [ p etitio n er] h ad co m e to th eir h o u se,

arg u ed w ith th e v ictim

, an d lef t “in a rag e.” T h e f

o llo w in g d ay , as S h errill w as rid in g in a car w it h t h e v ictim

, th e [ p etitio n er] p u lled h is v eh icle in f ro n t o f
th eirs an d w as “v ery m ad ,” te l l i n g t h e v ictim as a m an p assed b y d riv in g a V o lk sw ag en , th at if

h e “co u ld n ’t h av e [ th e v ictim ]

, n o b o d y else co u ld .” T h e

-1 7

-n ex t d ay , w h ich w as th e d ay b ef o re th e v ictim w as k illed

, th e [ p etitio n er] to ld

S tep h en S h errill, ref

errin g to th e v ictim

, “T h at b itch w o u ld b e b etter o f f d ead ,”

an d th e [ p etitio n er] g rab b ed th e v i c t i m, t w i stin g h er arm

. T h u s, d u rin g th e

sev eral d ay p erio d b ef

o re th e v ictim w as k illed

, th e [ p etitio n er] m ad e n u m ero u s th reaten in g statem en ts as to th e circu m stan ces u n d er w h ich h e w o u ld k ill th e

v ictim

.

T h ere w as ev id en ce o f th e [ p etitio n er’s] o p p o rtu n ity to k ill th e v ictim

. S h e w as last seen aliv e at ap p ro x im ately 5 :0 0 p .m

. o n M o n d ay , Ju ly 1 5

, 1 9 9 6

, at H o u ser’s G ro cery w h e r e s h e p u rch ased a M o u n tain D ew an d lef t alo n e in

h er car, h ead in g to w ard h er h o u se, w h ich w as ab o u t a q u arter o f a m ile aw ay

. A h alf -f u ll b o ttle o f M o u n tain D ew w as f o u n d at th e v ictim ’s h o u se at th e tim e h er b o d y w as d isco v ered

. T h e [ p etitio n er’s] f ath er testif

ied th at h is h o u se w as ab o u t th ree-q u arters o f a m i l e f r o m th at o f th e v ictim

, an d said f irst th at th e [ p etitio n er] arriv ed h o m e o n f o o t “ab o u t 5 :3 0 ” p .m

. th at d ay , b u t said later th at
h e h ad g o tten h o m e “b etw een 5 :0 0 an d 5 :3 0 ” th a t d a y

. H is statem en t to th e T B I w as th at th e [ p etitio n er] “cam e w alk in g u p to th e h o u se” ab o u t 5 :3 0 p .m

. A g en t Wesso n said th at th e [ p etitio n er’ s ] r e s i d en ce w as a tw elv e- to
f if teen -m in u te w alk f

ro m th e v ictim ’s h o m e.

R o b ertso n , 1 3 0 S .W.3 d at 8 6 3 -6 4

.

T h e ex p erim en t b y A g en t Wesso n can n in g g reen b ean s o n th e sam e sto v e an d in th e

sam e m an n er as th e v ictim sh o w ed th at h er tim e o f d eath co u ld h av e b een as th e p etitio n er

w as in th e v icin ity o f h er h o u se. F u rth er, th e p et i t i o n er’s d escrip tio n o f th e crim e scen e to
T rav is P au l M ap l e s , t h a t t h e v ictim w as sittin g u p w ith a b o o k in h er h an d

, th ere w as n o f o rced en try in to h er h o u se, an d th e assailan t en tered an d ex ited th ro u g h th e b ack d o o r, w h en

co u p led w ith th e testim o n y o f A g en t Wesso n an d th e f act th at th ese d etails h ad n o t b een

m ad e p u b lic, sh o w ed th at th e p etitio n er p o ssessed in f o rm atio n k n o w n o n l y t o l aw

en f o rcem en t o f

f icers an d th e v ictim ’s k iller.

T h e co ram n o b is co u rt d id n o t sp eci f ically ru le o n th e S tate’s claim th at th e

p etitio n er’s claim o f n ew ly d i s c o v e r e d ev id en ce w as u n tim ely

. It is n o t n ecessary f o r th is

co u rt to m ak e a d eterm in atio n in th is reg ard eith er, f o r i t is clear th at th is p etitio n p resen ts

n o th in g n ew , o th er th an th e letter f ro m th e F B I an n o u n cin g a ch an g e in its p o licy reg ard in g C B L A testim o n y

. G iv en th e stren g th o f th e ev id en ce, ev en if th e C B L A testim o n y h ad n o t
b een g iv en , th e co ram n o b is co u rt p ro p e r l y co n clu d ed th at th ere is n o reaso n ab le b asis to
b eliev e t h at th e resu lts o f th e trial m ig h t h av e b een d if f eren t. T h e reco rd su p p o rts th is
d eterm in atio n

.

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-C O N C L U S IO N

B a s e d u p o n th e f

o reg o in g au th o rities an d reaso n in g , w e af f irm th e d ism issal o f th e

p etitio n f o r w rit o f erro r co ram

n o b is.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

A L A N E

. G L E N N

, J U D G E

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