Source: https://casetext.com/case/smith-v-wainwright-3
Timestamp: 2020-02-21 22:15:42
Document Index: 577376147

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2254', '§ 2254', '§ 2254', '§ 2254', '§ 921', '§ 90', '§ 921']

Smith v. Wainwright, 741 F.2d 1248 | Casetext
Land v. Secretary, Department of Corrections
Only when a state evidentiary ruling violates federal constitutional standards may it provide the basis for…
Williams v. Turpin
A habeas petitioner is entitled to an evidentiary hearing to show cause and prejudice if he proffers specific…
Full title:DENNIS WAYNE SMITH, PETITIONER-APPELLANT, v. LOUIE L. WAINWRIGHT,…
741 F.2d 1248 (11th Cir. 1984)
holding that whimsical doubt is a valid mitigating factor
Summary of this case from Aldridge v. Dugger
August 23, 1984. Rehearing and Rehearing En Banc Denied October 31, 1984.
Smith was tried and convicted in a Florida court on one count of first degree murder in late March, 1976. After a sentencing hearing, the trial judge sentenced Smith to death. Smith appealed to the Florida Supreme Court, which affirmed his conviction in Smith v. State, 365 So.2d 704 (Fla. 1978), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 885, 100 S.Ct. 177, 62 L.Ed.2d 115 (1979). In 1981, Smith filed a motion to vacate his conviction and sentence pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850. The trial court denied this motion without a hearing, and Smith appealed. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's order in part, but remanded for an evidentiary hearing concerning an alleged violation of the rule in Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963). See Smith v. State, 400 So.2d 956 (Fla. 1982). After holding a hearing, the trial court again denied Smith's motion, and the Florida Supreme Court affirmed in Smith v. State, 421 So.2d 146 (Fla. 1982). On February 9, 1983, Smith filed his petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the district court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254.
Smith contends that the district court erred in refusing to grant him an evidentiary hearing concerning three of his claims for relief — that his counsel rendered ineffective assistance, that the state Rule 3.850 hearing concerning the alleged Brady violation was not full and fair, and that his execution in light of recantations by Wesley Johnson would violate due process. Although the legal analysis of Smith's right to a hearing differs greatly for each claim, we discuss them together because each claim has a common factual basis — the numerous statements of Wesley Johnson. We conclude that, under Thomas v. Zant, 697 F.2d 977 (11th Cir. 1983), the district court should have granted Smith an evidentiary hearing on his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Given the interrelationship of this issue with the Brady issue, the hearing that must be held will necessarily concern both issues. The district court did not err in refusing a hearing concerning Johnson's recantations.
Smith also asked for an evidentiary hearing on other issues. We will address those claims separately.
As the quoted excerpt from the opinion of the Florida Supreme Court indicates, Wesley Johnson was the primary witness against Smith. The record shows that in early September, 1975, Johnson presented himself to the Polk County Sheriff's Department and confessed to three murders. He claimed to have killed Caleb McDowell, John Mitchell Arnsdorff (whom Smith is convicted of murdering), and James Wagner. The transcript of Johnson's statement and the report of the Polk County Sheriff's Office, dated September 6, 1975, indicate that Johnson told the following story concerning the second and third victims.
Our record is somewhat unclear concerning some events. For example, it is doubtful that we now have before us all the statements of Wesley Johnson and Patricia Johnson, his wife. See Smith v. State, 400 So.2d 956, 953 n. 1 (Fla. 1981) (listing statements). Although we believe our construction of the events to be substantially accurate, on remand the district court may expand the record and correct any misconceptions in our opinion.
Johnson and Wagner drove away, but, after leaving Lakeland, they wrecked and the car became stuck in a ditch. Johnson stated that he then opened the trunk and hit Arnsdorff with a jack handle as Arnsdorff begged for mercy. Johnson stated that he stabbed Arnsdorff with the sharp end of the jack and with a knife, while forcing Wagner to watch. Johnson and Wagner then climbed into a second car and drove away. Johnson refused to explain why a second car was with them, although the police asked him to do so. The two drove to a gas station and bought some gas. They then returned to the wrecked vehicle, doused it with gasoline, and set it afire with Arnsdorff in the trunk. This was the extent of what Johnson related concerning Arnsdorff's murder; he did not mention Smith.
The September 6 statement is relevant to this case for one reason in addition to Johnson's omission of Smith. In describing his murder of McDowell, which occurred two years before the other murders, Johnson indicated that he also locked the victim in the trunk of a car and set the car on fire after dousing it with gasoline.
On September 10, Patricia Johnson notified the officers that Wesley "wanted to tell the whole story about the three murders." Polk County Sheriff's Report at 6. She asked to meet with Wesley. After talking with his wife, Johnson informed the police that he would prefer not to give a statement until his attorney could discuss a plea bargain. He indicated, however, that Smith had been with him on the night Arnsdorff was murdered and "did take part in the same." Id. Sometime subsequent to this, Johnson apparently came to the agreement he desired with the prosecutor and gave a statement implicating Smith. He stated that Smith had been with Wagner and himself on the night of Arnsdorff's murder and that Smith had actually struck Arnsdorff with the tire jack. Johnson stated that Wagner stabbed Arnsdorff with an ice pick while Smith used the jack handle. Johnson then stated that he could not remember "exactly what happened right at the moment . . . . we all looked around [and] I stepped up and slammed the [trunk]." Johnson also testified that, after returning with the gas, "[we] got out of the car and Slick's [Smith] got the gas can. So I poured the gas all over it. And Slick gets back in the car, and what's his name throwed a match on it." In response to a clarifying question, Johnson indicated Wagner to be the person referred to as "what's-his-name." He also indicated in detail how he (Johnson) doused the car with gasoline.
Johnson testified at Smith's trial that he agreed to plead no contest to the three murders and testify against Smith in exchange for concurrent life sentences. Johnson was sentenced after Smith's trial.
At trial, Johnson testified that Smith murdered Arnsdorff. Smith's counsel impeached Johnson with only the note written concerning Parks. The state then called Patricia Johnson in rebuttal to testify that Wesley had made prior statement consistent with his story implicating Smith. Since the trial, Johnson has made numerous sworn recantations of his trial testimony, stating that he lied at trial when implicating Smith and that he committed the crime himself.
Smith also contends that his attorney, during the penalty phase:
1. Failed to adduce appropriate mitigating evidence or properly use that evidence in closing argument;
In Strickland v. Washington, ___ U.S. ___, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984), the Supreme Court set forth the test under which we review claims of ineffective assistance. See also Jarrell v. Balkcom, 735 F.2d 1242, 1261 (11th Cir. 1984). The petitioner must show both that his attorney failed to render "reasonably effective assistance," id. at 2064, and that there is "a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different," id. at 2068. With some exceptions not applicable here, see id. at 2067; see also United States v. Cronic, ___ U.S. ___, 104 S.Ct. 2039, 80 L.Ed.2d 657 (1984), the inquiry is two-pronged. The petitioner must show both ineffective assistance and resulting prejudice.
In this case, only one of Smith's claims — that counsel should have more effectively impeached the Johnsons — merits discussion and possible relief. The claimed failure of his attorney to understand the bifurcated proceeding and act as an advocate is related to the failure to impeach issue. The other claims are either unsupported by the record or simply do not merit relief.
For a discussion of the claims regarding erroneous jury instructions and the application of the heinous, atrocious and cruel aggravating factor, see infra section VII (discussing claims in context of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel). Our conclusion concerning these issues does not change in light of the different test for appraising the effectiveness of trial counsel.
Counsel's failure to depose Johnson does not warrant relief or a hearing; given the numerous inconsistent statements made by Johnson and his wife, counsel probably had no need to conduct such a deposition. Had a deposition produced testimony detrimental to Smith, it would have been available to the state as evidence to disprove recent fabrication. (The state Rule 3.850 court held that Smith's counsel had available all the statements we have set forth above.) We are unable, without an evidentiary hearing, to reach a conclusion concerning ineffectiveness in light of counsel's failure to cross-examine Wesley or Patricia Johnson by using their pretrial statements, however. The district court concluded that the attorney failed to use the statements for a valid strategic reason: he preferred to emphasize Johnson's plea bargain for impeachment purposes. Without a hearing, we cannot hold this to be a valid reason for counsel's failure to use the Johnsons' statements not implicating Smith. Use of these statements would have been totally consistent with counsel's assumed strategy of showing that Johnson implicated Smith only to save himself from the electric chair.
The entire transcript of the cross examination is attached to this opinion as Appendix A.
A hearing will also be helpful to clarify the record. See supra note 2.
We also hold that counsel's failure to use the statements may well have resulted in prejudice under the test in Strickland v. Washington. The entire case of the state, with the exception of plaster casts of a tire track and a shoe print, was based on the testimony of Wesley Johnson as buttressed by Patricia Johnson's testimony during the state's rebuttal case. When first questioned, however, neither witness implicated Smith: the September 6 statements of both witnesses omit any reference to Smith. Only after Patricia Johnson conferred with Wesley on September 10 did Wesley implicate Smith — stating that Smith was involved, but that a plea bargain discussion must occur before he would provide any further information.
The tire track matched Smith's car's tires; the shoe print matched a pair of shoes Smith owned. Smith explained that he had loaned his car, with the shoes in the back seat, to Johnson.
Other, more minor, inconsistencies appear among Johnson's statements. For example, Johnson's trial testimony cast Smith more as the ringleader than did his statement made after September 10.
Two conclusions may be drawn from these facts. The first is that Wesley and Patricia Johnson "framed" Smith, as Wesley's recantations would indicate. This conclusion is supported by the timing and order of the statements, and, to some extent, by Johnson's admission on September 6 that he locked his first victim in the car trunk and set the car on fire. Smith's attorney might well have argued that Johnson — who had a history of similar murders — implicated Smith to avoid "the chair," as Johnson stated in his note. The second, contradictory conclusion is that Wesley simply omitted any reference to Smith for some unknown reason — and later told the truth. This interpretation is supported by Johnson's suspicious reference to a second car in his September 6 statement without elaborating concerning its source or its driver. Nevertheless, the choice between the two interpretations would have been one the jury could have made either way had they heard the facts. The jury's choice could well have affected the outcome of the trial.
The fact that jurors have determined guilt beyond a reasonable doubt does not necessarily mean that no juror entertained any doubt whatsoever. There may be no reasonable doubt — doubt based upon reason — and yet some genuine doubt exists. It may reflect a mere possibility; it may be but the whimsy of one juror or several. Yet this whimsical doubt — this absence of absolute certainty — can be real.
Of course, counsel may have elected to choose another strategy at the penalty portion of Smith's trial. If he did so, however, the record does not reveal the content of the strategy. For example, in counsel's closing statement at the penalty phase, he evidenced no reasonable strategy. Counsel stated (in full):
We note that counsel was somewhat confused by the bifurcated proceeding in any event. He repeatedly requested that the judge abandon the bifurcated procedure and use the procedure declared unconstitutional in Furman v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238, 92 S.Ct. 2726, 33 L.Ed.2d 346 (1972).
MR. HADDOCK: May it please the Court? Ladies and gentlemen, this is the last time we will be before you. The most trying circumstances, the fact that will be sent back to you will be cumulative of what you have already decided, that the defendant is guilty. Now, with little help except from you — and you are not here to help me, you are here to do the right thing — I have to ask that you take into consideration all of the things that have been said, all of the things that have been admitted into evidence. In particular, consideration to the statements of Dr. Kaplan pertaining to Mr. Smith.
Weigh those, because they weigh heavily upon everybody in this room. Add them up. If they indicate to you that this man, who has made a statement that you can take or leave — because you have taken and left some of his statements — that he would spend the rest of his life in a penitentiary. Whether this man should die or be given the right to live until, God willing, someday this state will provide a place for him.
Smith contended before the state Rule 3.850 court that he did not receive material evidence from the state before trial pursuant to his request under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963). The state court held a hearing and concluded that the requested material was available to Smith's counsel. Smith now contends that this finding of fact by the state court is incorrect and not entitled to a presumption of correctness under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) because his trial counsel never testified at the hearing. He notes that the testimony at the hearing indicated that the prosecutor, although he maintained an "open file" policy, could not recall whether the various statements were in the file at any particular time. Smith himself testified that he could not recall seeing or hearing about the statements, except for the statement made after September 10 by Wesley Johnson.
We do not hold that these circumstances support a finding that the hearing was not full and fair; indeed, we see no need to pass on this question. When the district court conducts its hearing on the effectiveness of Smith's counsel, the inquiry will by necessity involve the availability of the statements. For example, the state might produce Smith's counsel and introduce his testimony that he did not use the statements because he did not have them. If he did not have them because he did not check the prosecutor's file, this would constitute ineffective assistance given the content of the statements. But, if the statements were not available, counsel could not use them.
For example, Smith does not explain why he could not have deposed his attorney, even if he was unable to subpoena him. Cf. Birt v. Montgomery, 725 F.2d 587, 590 n. 5 (11th Cir. 1984) (en banc) (noting possibility that petitioner could depose witness without passing on sufficiency of state hearing).
If the district court should conclude after an evidentiary hearing that the statements were not available to trial counsel, Smith will be confronted with a variation of Catch-22 created in part by 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d). The state could presumably argue that state court's finding that the statements were available is a historical fact entitled to a presumption of correctness, but that counsel rendered effective assistance under the circumstances because the statements were, in fact, unavailable. Such a situation no doubt results from the difficulties inherent in the administration of justice by means of the writ of habeas corpus. Nevertheless, if this situation arises, the district court should conclude that, under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(3), "the material facts were not adequately developed at the state court hearing," see Thomas v. Zant, 697 F.2d 977, 980 (11th Cir. 1983), and issue the writ under Brady v. Maryland. We have no doubt that statements were "material either to guilt or to punishment" under Brady. 373 U.S. at 87, 83 S.Ct. at 1196.
Smith correctly notes that the state court's finding was supported by somewhat weak evidence. In addition, the state court did not hold an evidentiary hearing on Smith's effective assistance of counsel contention, although he requested a hearing.
As long ago as 1958, the former Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals summarized the law in this area: "Newly discovered evidence in the form of a confession by another does not render the conviction void and subject to collateral attack by habeas corpus because it goes to the merits of the conviction, not its legality." Shaver v. Ellis, 255 F.2d 509, 511 (5th Cir. 1958), cert. denied, 355 U.S. 864, 78 S.Ct. 98, 2 L.Ed.2d 70 (1957). To be distinguished are situations in which the new evidence bears directly on the constitutionality of the conviction. For example, in Schneider v. Estelle, 552 F.2d 593 (5th Cir. 1977), the petitioner claimed new evidence would show that the state had suborned perjury in obtaining a conviction against the petitioner. The court remanded for an evidentiary hearing, holding that the writ should issue if the petitioner proved the allegations of his complaint. Id. at 596; see also Smith v. Florida, 410 F.2d 1349 (5th Cir. 1969).
We have substantial doubt that this claim is one that warrants relief. Cf. United States v. Ballard, 586 F.2d 1060 (5th Cir. 1978); Chaney v. Wainwright, 561 F.2d 1129 (5th Cir. 1977), 443 U.S. 904, 99 S.Ct. 3095, 61 L.Ed.2d 871 (1979). It is clear that Smith's attorney cross-examined Johnson and revealed the facts underlying Johnson's testimony to the jury, which decided whether or not to believe Johnson. We need not consider this issue on its merits, however, because Smith failed properly to raise it under Florida procedure. The Florida courts have refused to address the issue, see Smith v. State, 400 So.2d 956, 959 (Fla. 1981); and, absent a showing of cause for failure properly to preserve the issue and resulting prejudice, the issue is barred from review in the federal courts, Wainwright v. Sykes, 433 U.S. 72, 97 S.Ct. 2497, 53 L.Ed.2d 594 (1976). Smith has shown neither cause nor prejudice.
At Smith's trial, the judge allowed Wesley Johnson to testify concerning the facts of a second murder for which Smith was not on trial. (The circumstances and content of this testimony are set forth in the portion of the Florida Supreme Court's opinion quoted in the introductory portion of this opinion.) The Florida court apparently admitted this testimony on the theory that it constituted part of the res gestae. See Smith v. State, 365 So.2d 704, 706 n. 2 (Fla. 1978). Smith contends that the evidence was irrelevant, inflammatory, prejudicial, and inadmissible as a matter of constitutional, law.
In reviewing the disposition of this claim by the district court, we note that "[i]n order for an evidentiary ruling to be cognizable in habeas corpus, it must deprive the state court defendant of fundamental fairness." Jameson v. Wainwright, 719 F.2d 1125, 1126 (11th Cir. 1983), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 104 S.Ct. 2355, 80 L.Ed.2d 827 (1984); see also Hills v. Henderson, 529 F.2d 397 (1976). A denial of fundamental fairness occurs when the evidence is "material in the sense of a crucial, critical, highly significant factor." Id. at 1127. Under this test, the admission of the evidence did not violate the Constitution, although its admissibility under state law presents a close and difficult question. See 365 So.2d at 708 (three Justices dissenting).
At Smith's trial, the state introduced the testimony of Patricia Johnson, Wesley Johnson's wife. (Wesley Johnson was the prosecutor's essential witness. See supra § I.) The prosecutor called Patricia Johnson to testify concerning prior consistent statements made by her husband in response to Smith's impeachment. The witness list submitted to Smith before trial by the prosecutor did not include Patricia Johnson's name, as Florida law requires. In addition, the record shows that Patricia Johnson was present during a portion of the trial that preceded her testimony and was thus in violation of the sequestration rule. Smith argues that the omission of Patricia Johnson's name from the witness list and the sequestration rule violation compels the issuance of the writ. Smith, however, cites no authority to the effect that these violations are of constitutional dimension. See, e.g., Bronstein v. Wainwright, 646 F.2d 1048 (5th Cir. 1981) (state law violations do not usually warrant habeas relief). Assuming that the claim is simply one rooted in the concept of "fundamental fairness," see Donnelly v. DeChristoforo, 416 U.S. 637, 94 S.Ct. 1868, 40 L.Ed.2d 431 (1974), we conclude that these violations (if they were violations) did not render Smith's trial fundamentally unfair.
The prosecutor explained the omission of Patricia Johnson's name from the list and her presence in the courtroom by contending that he had not forseen that he would call her as a witness.
Dr. Joseph K. Niswonger, a psychiatrist, examined Smith before trial. Niswonger testified that, during the examination, Smith claimed amnesia concerning the events of the murder. The state argued to the jury that this testimony contradicted Smith's alibi that he did not commit the murder, but was at home "sleeping off a drunk." Smith now contends that, under the rule of Estelle v. Smith, 451 U.S. 454, 101 S.Ct. 1866, 68 L.Ed.2d 359 (1981), Niswonger's testimony was inadmissible because Niswonger did not read Smith Miranda warnings before conducting the psychiatric examination. See also Battie v. Estelle, 655 F.2d 692 (5th Cir. 1981). The state contends that this claim is barred from consideration by Wainwright v. Sykes, 433 U.S. 72, 97 S.Ct. 2497, 53 L.Ed.2d 594 (1976), and that the claim also fails on the merits. The state's argument concerning the merits of this claim is correct; we therefore chose not to address the Wainwright issue, which presents a question of law not yet squarely addressed by this court.
The record in this case shows that the trial court did not appoint Niswonger to examine Smith, as was the case in Estelle v. Smith. On the contrary, Smith retained Niswonger (through his trial counsel) to conduct an examination regarding a possible claim of insanity. In such a case, Estelle v. Smith does not require that the psychiatrist give Miranda warnings. The protections of Estelle do not apply unless the psychiatrist is "essentially . . . an agent of the State. . . ." 451 U.S. at 467, 101 S.Ct. at 1875. Thus, the district court properly denied the writ on this issue.
Smith apparently does not contend that all psychiatrists examining all defendants must give Miranda warnings to remind the defendant not to make a statement he later may regret.
Smith contends that the trial judge's post-trial order adding Niswonger to the list of state psychiatrists made Niswonger an agent of the state. This contention is without merit. The judge's revision of the list did not change Niswonger's de facto status during the examination or at trial.
After the penalty hearing, the trial judge sentenced Smith to death. Wesley Johnson, in accordance with his plea bargain, received a sentence of only twenty-five years in prison. Smith contends that this disproportionate punishment violates the Constitution given his "lesser culpability" than Johnson. He requests this court to conduct an independent review of the record and grant relief on this issue, citing as support Barclay v. Florida, 463 U.S. 939, 103 S.Ct. 3418, 77 L.Ed.2d 1134 (1983). This contention lacks merit. See generally Pulley v. Harris, ___ U.S. ___, 104 S.Ct. 871, 79 L.Ed.2d 29 (1984); Collins v. Francis, 728 F.2d 1322 (11th Cir. 1984); Moore v. Balkcom, 716 F.2d 1511 (11th Cir. 1983), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 104 S.Ct. 1456, 79 L.Ed.2d 773 (1984); Henry v. Wainwright, 721 F.2d 990 (5th Cir. Unit B 1983), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 104 S.Ct. 2374, 80 L.Ed.2d 846 (1984).
Although we address claims of ineffective assistance of counsel on appeal much less frequently than claims of ineffective assistance at trial, it is well established that a defendant has the right to effective counsel on appeal. See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 741-42, 744, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 1398-99, 1400, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1966) (counsel must function as advocate on behalf of client). In order to prevail, Alvord must prove that he did not receive "`reasonably effective representation,'" Mylar v. Alabama, 671 F.2d 1299, 1300 (11th Cir. 1982) (citing previous cases), cert. denied, [___ U.S. ___] 103 S.Ct. 3570, 77 L.Ed.2d 1411 (1983); however, counsel need not provide perfect assistance, id. From the reported cases, it appears that counsel's failure to file a brief is in most cases ineffective, see Anders; Mylar; however, counsel's failure to advance errors on appeal later gaining "judicial recognition" does not constitute unconstitutional aid. Sullivan v. Wainwright, 695 F.2d 1306, 1309 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, [___ U.S. ___] 104 S.Ct. 290, 78 L.Ed.2d 266 (1983), and counsel need not brief issues reasonably considered to be without merit, Mendiola v. Estelle, 635 F.2d 487, 491 (5th Cir. Unit A. 1981); Hooks v. Roberts, 480 F.2d 1196, 1197-98 (5th Cir. 1973), cert. denied, 414 U.S. 1163, 94 S.Ct. 926, 39 L.Ed.2d 116 (1974). Alvord contends that the issues not raised by his counsel were of substantial merit. As we stated in Hooks, the best way to evaluate "this question . . . is to examine the alleged trial errors to see if they contain sufficient merit . . . that his appellate counsel can be faulted for not having raised them." 480 F.2d at 1197.
Smith first contends that his counsel should have challenged on appeal the admissibility of photographs of the victim's body during the penalty phase of the trial. We cannot fault Smith's attorney for omitting this claim. The photographs were clearly relevant to the case because the state relied on the "heinous, atrocious, or cruel" aggravating circumstance enumerated in the Florida statute. See Fla.Stat. § 921.141(5)(h). The circumstances of the crime as evidenced by the condition of the victim's body are material to consideration of this aggravating circumstance. In addition, under Florida law, it appears to be settled that such photographs are admissible. See Calloway v. State, 189 So.2d 617 (Fla. 1966); Mardorff v. State, 143 Fla. 64, 196 So. 625 (1940).
Smith argues that his counsel should have challenged the trial court's decision to admit Dr. Niswonger's testimony at the penalty phase of his trial. Counsel need not have raised this claim on the basis of the fifth amendment; we have decided above that such a challenge lacks merit. See supra § V. In addition, counsel could reasonably have concluded that Smith had waived the psychiatrist-patient privilege by introducing Dr. Niswonger's report as to Smith's sanity into evidence at the competency hearing. See Fla.Stat. § 90.242(b) (providing for waiver of privilege).
Smith also argues that his appellate attorney wrongly failed to challenge the trial court's finding of the "heinous, atrocious, or cruel" aggravating circumstance. See Fla.Stat. § 921.141(5)(h). Smith contends that Johnson's testimony at trial demonstrated that the "participants" thought the victim to be dead after they kidnapped him, transported him a considerable distance in a car trunk, struck him with a tire tool (while he pleaded for mercy), stabbed him with an ice pick, and locked him back in the car trunk. Thus, although the medical reports later showed that the victim died when the participants poured gasoline on the car and burned it, the murderer(s) could not have known they had done anything except destroy evidence. Under Godfrey v. Georgia, 446 U.S. 420, 100 S.Ct. 1759, 64 L.Ed.2d 398 (1980), Smith contends that this was not a proper case for application for the subsection (5)(h) circumstance. We believe Smith's counsel could reasonably decide not to raise this issue on appeal.
Smith next contends that his appellate counsel should have challenged the trial court's jury instructions, which did not explain that the state must prove the existence of aggravating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt. See Williams v. State, 386 So.2d 538 (Fla. 1980). The district court noted: (1) that trial counsel never requested such a charge, and (2) that the jury never was charged concerning any burden of proof except that of beyond a reasonable doubt. We hold that, under the circumstances, counsel need not have raised this issue on appeal. See Alvord, 725 F.2d at 1292 (instruction never requested); Henry v. Wainwright, 721 F.2d 990, 995 (5th Cir. Unit B 1983) (jury never heard instruction on any other burden of proof), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 104 S.Ct. 2374, 80 L.Ed.2d 846 (1984).
Smith contends that the death penalty in Florida has been discriminatorily applied on the basis of the race of the victim; he argues that the district court erred in refusing to grant an evidentiary hearing on this issue. The district court acted properly; as the state notes, this issue has been conclusively resolved adversely to Smith. See Sullivan v. Wainwright, 721 F.2d 316 (11th Cir. 1983), application for stay denied, Sullivan v. Wainwright, ___ U.S. ___, 104 S.Ct. 450, 78 L.Ed.2d 210 (1983); Wainwright v. Ford, ___ U.S. ___, 104 S.Ct. 3498, 82 L.Ed.2d 911 (1984); Adams v. Wainwright, 709 F.2d 1443, 1449 (11th Cir. 1983), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 104 S.Ct. 745, 79 L.Ed.2d 203 (1984); Washington v. Wainwright, 737 F.2d 922, 923 (11th Cir. 1984).
In this section of his brief, Smith also challenges the use of non-record material by the Florida Supreme Court in reviewing his case. This issue has also been resolved adversely to Smith. See Ford v. Strickland, 696 F.2d 804 (11th Cir. 1983) (en banc), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 104 S.Ct. 201, 78 L.Ed.2d 176 (1983).
Smith also argues that his sentence is unconstitutional because of the trial judge's faulty instructions to the jury concerning aggravating and mitigating circumstances and because the trial judge misapplied the law concerning the use of the circumstances by relying on an unconstitutional circumstances. Without belaboring this point, we hold that the district judge correctly decided that this claim is barred by a procedural default under Wainwright v. Sykes. Smith contends that he has proffered facts entitling him to an evidentiary hearing on the issue of cause and prejudice, but we disagree. As to the claims concerning restrictions of mitigating evidence, Smith has failed to show prejudice for exactly the reasons enumerated in Ford v. Strickland, 696 F.2d at 812-13. And, as to the claim of reliance on an unconstitutional aggravating circumstance, Smith has failed to proffer any evidence or explanation constituting cause for his failure timely to raise this issue in the state court.
APPENDIX A [64] CROSS-EXAMINATION OF WESLEY JOHNSON
MR. CAMPBELL: Now, Your Honor, —
MR. HADDOCK: This is so horrendous, it's so prejudicial —
THE COURT: Just a moment, Mr. Campbell. Go ahead.
MR. HADDOCK: May I finish, Your Honor? This is so horrendous and prejudicial to the defendant's cause before the jury that I see virtually no way of ever getting it straightened out.
Q How was it, what was disposed — what was the disposition of this note, if you know?
Q Was it addressed to — did you have it sent to Smitty?
MR. CAMPBELL: No sir, not —
MR. CAMPBELL: Judge, that —
MR. CAMPBELL: — Your Honor, I don't have any objection to those related to — no. I withdraw the objection. I believe the answer was three.
A That I testify to the murders for the state, yeah.
Q And have you been sentenced yet?
MR. CAMPBELL: Your Honor —
Q So you are in a position now — let me see if I have got this straight — of having given testimony against Mr. Smith with the promise from the state that if you did so you, who admit that you were involved in crimes, will get a sentence of from 25 years to life?
MR. HADDOCK: Will you reread him the question to make sure he got it?
[The reporter read back the previous question.]
Q Mr. Johnson, you have, have pled no defense to — Mr. Haddock asked you how many crimes you have confessed to and you said three. You have pled no defense to each of those three crimes?
granting evidentiary hearing on trial ineffectiveness claim because counsel's failure to impeach witness during guilt phase "may not only have affected the outcome of the guilt/innocence phase, it may have changed the outcome of the penalty trial"
Summary of this case from Cargle v. Mullin