Case Name: John David FLOYD,Petitioner-Appellee v. Darrel VANNOY, Warden, Louisiana State Penitentiary, Respondent-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2018-06-25
Citations: 894 F.3d 143
Docket Number: No. 17-30421
Parties: John David FLOYD,Petitioner-Appellee
v.
Darrel VANNOY, Warden, Louisiana State Penitentiary, Respondent-Appellant
Judges: Before SMITH, BARKSDALE, and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: Federal Reporter 3d Series
Volume: 894
Pages: 143–173

Head Matter:
John David FLOYD,Petitioner-Appellee
v.
Darrel VANNOY, Warden, Louisiana State Penitentiary, Respondent-Appellant
No. 17-30421
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
June 25, 2018
Richard Martin Andrew Davis, Emily Lucy Ann Maw, Innocence Project New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, for Petitioner-Appellee.
Donna Rau Andrieu, Assistant District Attorney, Christopher James Ponoroff, District Attorney's Office for the Parish of Orleans, New Orleans, LA, for Respondent-Appellant.
Before SMITH, BARKSDALE, and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges.
ON PETITION FOR REHEARING EN BANC

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Appellant's Petition for Rehearing En Banc is DENIED. This opinion is substituted in place of the prior opinion, Floyd v. Vannoy , 887 F.3d 214 (5th Cir. 2018).
For two murders in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1980, within days of, and in close proximity to, each other and involving extremely similar facts, John David Floyd was convicted in a state-court joint bench trial of the first, but acquitted of the second, murder, with state post-conviction relief's being denied for the first time in 2011, but federal habeas relief's being granted in 2017 because, after concluding the habeas application was not time-barred, the district court concluded: material evidence, favorable to Floyd, had been withheld prior to trial; and the state courts' contrary decisions had unreasonably applied clearly-established federal law, as proscribed by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA). For the State's challenge to that relief, at issue is whether: Floyd established "actual innocence" to overcome the statute of limitations for his application; and, in denying Floyd's claim that the State withheld favorable, material evidence, in violation of Brady v. Maryland , 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), the Louisiana state courts unreasonably applied clearly-established federal law. AFFIRMED.
I.
On 26 November 1980, William Hines, a white male, was found nude, stabbed to death inside the bedroom of his apartment on Governor Nicholls Street, in the French Quarter. The apartment had no signs of forced entry or evidence of burglary. One glass of alcohol was in Hines' bedroom; another, in his kitchen; and his wounds indicated he was stabbed while lying down.
Detective John Dillmann, the lead detective for the murder investigation, found the scene demonstrated a strong likelihood Hines was murdered by a welcome visitor with whom he shared a drink and had sexual relations. Accordingly, police dusted for fingerprints whiskey bottles, the glass of alcohol in Hines' kitchen, and the glass of alcohol on his nightstand.
Along that line, a crime-scene photograph of Hines' kitchen shows, among other items, a wine bottle and two whiskey bottles on the kitchen table. In addition, the crime-scene technician's report states:
TECH. T. SEUZENEAN DUSTED
SEVERAL WHISKEY BOTTLES-Neg. RESULTS
DUSTED /-WHISKEY BOTTLE AND LIFTED-2 PARTIAL LATENT PRINTS
DUSTED /-WHISKEY GLASS FROM NIGHT TABLE IN BEDROOM-Neg. RESULTS
DUSTED /-WHISKEY GLASS FROM KITCHEN TABLE-Neg. RESULTS
Accordingly, it appears the "DUSTED...WHISKEY GLASS FROM KITCHEN TABLE", but not shown in the photograph, was on the table where the dusted whiskey bottles were located. (To repeat, and as emphasized by the dissent at 149-50, no whiskey glass is visible on the table in the photograph. Myriad items shown on the table prevent conclusively determining whether a whiskey glass was there. But, as shown above, the technician's report states: "DUSTED /-WHISKEY GLASS FROM KITCHEN TABLE".)
In any event, the relatively close proximity of the whiskey glass and the dusted whiskey bottle from which two prints were lifted (the whiskey bottle) is critical in our analysis. This is especially true for Detective Dillmann's erroneous related testimony at trial, in which he: stated "there were two highball glasses filled with a liquid on each side of the bed"; and made no reference to the whiskey glass in the kitchen.
Along that line, the dissent at 149-50 states "the majority has decided, because it fits its narrative, to credit the tech over Dillmann". The dissent's conclusion that the detective's testimony and the technician's report have comparable credibility is contrary to the State's narrative, not ours. The State, in its opening brief at 16, acknowledges that the detective's testimony about the glasses, "rendered for the first time a full year and a half after the crime, [and] directly contradicted by Crime Scene Tech Tim Suzeneau's report", is less credible than the technician's report. Likewise, at oral argument in our court, the State maintained the technician's report, "generated on the day of the offense", was more accurate than the detective's testimony, "recollected at trial . a little over a year after the incident".
In the alternative, the dissent at - asserts a possibility the detective's testimony and contradictory technician's report were both accurate because there may have been one glass in the kitchen and two in the bedroom. But, nothing in the record supports this theory of three whiskey glasses being discovered at the Hines scene.
In sum, in its opening brief and at oral argument, the State maintained the crime scene technician's report included a detailed list of all collected evidence. Again, the report included only two whiskey glasses: one from the kitchen and one from the bedroom.
Police also collected hair, appearing to be a black person's, from Hines' bedsheets. But, because Hines had been dead for at least 24 hours prior to his body's being discovered, any evidence of seminal fluid or spermatozoa on, or in, his body was undetectable.
Following multiple interviews, Detective Dillmann learned Hines was gay and frequented gay establishments in the French Quarter. And, the detective's report, and subsequent testimony, provided that John Clegg, a close friend of Hines and the last known person to see him alive, had advised the detective that Hines "frequently had sexual relations with both black and white males".
At 4:45 a.m. on 28 November, only two days after the discovery of Hines' body, Rodney Robinson, a black male, was found dead at the Fairmont Roosevelt Hotel in downtown New Orleans, just one mile from Hines' apartment. In the hours preceding his death, Robinson had visited several bars with his friend David Hennessy. After Robinson, according to Hennessy, drove him to his home at around 3:15 a.m., Robinson said he was returning to his hotel for the night. Just 90 minutes later, he was found nude, stabbed to death, in a hallway in his hotel.
In their investigation, officers found the locks on Robinson's hotel-room door functional; glasses containing alcohol remained on end tables next to his bed; and articles of clothing were scattered about the room. Consequently, they believed Robinson was murdered after sharing a drink and having sexual relations with his killer. Detectives' interview of Hennessey revealed Robinson was gay.
Police discovered physical evidence of: blood stains along the hallway wall; a blood-stained blue-knit cap in the hallway relatively near Robinson's body; seminal fluid on a tissue discovered near his bed; and spermatozoa and seminal fluid in his body. Additionally, police discovered a black person's hair-determined later not to be Robinson's-on the blue-knit cap. Further, hotel guests staying nearest Robinson's room reported hearing screams and rapid footsteps in the hallway; and a hotel security guard reported seeing a black male running from the back door of the hotel shortly before the police arrived. Detective Michael Rice, lead detective for the murder investigation, believed the guard "witnessed the perpetrator . making good his escape".
Detective Dillmann considered the similarities in the Hines and Robinson crimes-comparable defensive wounds, lack of forced entry, each victim's being gay, glasses of alcohol near each victim's bed (again, for Hines' murder, only one glass was near his bed; the other was in the kitchen, as was the whiskey bottle), and evidence of sexual relations between the perpetrator and victim-to conclude the same perpetrator was responsible for both murders. Initially, investigators unsuccessfully pursued black, male suspects. John Floyd, a white male, then 32, lived as a "drifter" in New Orleans at the time of the murders. He was a heavy drinker and drug-user, and frequented numerous bars in the French Quarter. On 29 November, one day after the discovery of Robinson's body, Detective Dillmann received a tip from Harold Griffin that Floyd had recently made incriminating statements linking him to Robinson's murder.
Griffin reported that, after drinking with Floyd at the Louisiana Purchase Bar from 10:00 p.m. on 28 November (approximately 17 hours after Robinson's body was found) until 5:00 a.m. the next day, 29 November, Floyd asked Griffin to accompany him to the detoxification center at Charity Hospital. Griffin testified that, during their walk to the hospital, Floyd told him "he heard that perhaps going to the Detox Center would be the next best thing to keep from being held accountable for doing something wrong"; Floyd then asked Griffin if he had "heard of the stabbing at the Fairmont"; and he replied "No".
Later that day, Griffin learned of Robinson's murder as covered in the 29 November morning edition of the Times Picayune , and reported his conversation with Floyd to the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), finding it peculiar Floyd knew of the murder prior to the paper's publication. But, the paper had published a story on Robinson's murder in its 28 November evening edition, prior to Floyd's statements to Griffin on the 29th.
Following up on Griffin's tip, Detective Dillmann questioned French Quarter bar owner Steven Edwards, who advised that Floyd made incriminating statements linking him to Hines' murder. According to Edwards, in late November he encountered Floyd "drinking heavily" and refused him service at the Mississippi River Bottom bar. Edwards testified: he told Floyd, "you know you are barred from the f...ing bar"; Floyd then threatened, "[d]on't come f...ing with me. I already wasted one person"; Edwards asked, "Who? Bill Hines?"; and Floyd replied, "Yeah, on Governor Nichol[l]s".
Based on these statements to Griffin and Edwards, Floyd was made a suspect in the two murders. After receiving a positive identification from both Griffin and Edwards, Detective Dillmann and a NOPD officer found Floyd drinking at the Louisiana Purchase Bar. They purchased Floyd at least one drink before arresting and transporting him to NOPD's homicide office.
There, Detective Dillmann began interrogating Floyd. He testified Floyd initially denied any involvement in the two murders, but, within 30 minutes, became very emotional about his drinking and drug-use, and confessed verbally to killing Hines and Robinson.
Following Floyd's admissions, the detective called Detective Rice, and they procured Floyd's signed confessions to both murders. Detective Rice witnessed Detective Dillmann take the Hines confession, and Detective Dillmann did the same for Detective Rice's taking the Robinson confession. The confessions were taken on the evening of 19 January 1981, and had markedly similar descriptions such as: drinking and having sexual relations with the victims before fatally stabbing them in response to each man's wanting to "f... [him]".
Indicted on two counts of second-degree murder, Floyd waived his right to a jury trial, and proceeded to a joint bench trial in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, maintaining a defense of third-party guilt. For the Hines murder the State presented: Floyd's confession to murdering Hines; Detective Dillmann's testimony that the confession was credible; and Edwards' testimony regarding Floyd's threats to him. For the Robinson murder, the State presented: Floyd's confession to murdering Robinson; Detective Rice's testimony related to Floyd's Robinson confession; Griffin's testimony regarding Floyd's statements to him; and testimony by Byron Reed, Floyd's acquaintance and former sexual partner, that Floyd made an incriminating statement about the Robinson murder to him.
For the Hines charge, the defense presented NOPD criminalist Daniel Waguespack's testimony that Floyd was excluded from the blood and hair discovered at Hines' residence. (The hair from the Hines scene has since been lost, preventing DNA testing. It appears this was part of the evidence destroyed during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, after Detective Dillmann took the police files to use in writing a book about, inter alia , the investigation, as discussed infra .) For the Robinson charge, the defense presented: NOPD criminalist Alan Sison's testimony, discussed infra , that the blood and seminal fluid from the Robinson scene were not attributable to Floyd; testimony from Patricia Daniels, the Parish of Orleans coroner's office's medical technologist, that Floyd was excluded from all seminal fluid discovered in Robinson's body; and the Fairmont's security guard's testimony that she repeatedly attempted to report seeing a black male running from the hotel on the night of the murder. For both charges, the defense presented: Floyd's testimony his confessions were untrue and a result of Detective Dillmann's "beating" him during the interrogation; and testimony by Dr. Marvin Miller about Floyd's susceptibility to coercion.
In short, the State did not present any physical evidence linking Floyd to Hines' murder. Rather, Detective Dillmann testified the evidence of the glasses of whiskey discovered in Hines' apartment (as discussed supra , the detective erroneously testified the glasses were discovered "on each side of the bed"; instead, the crime-scene technician's report demonstrates one glass was found in the kitchen, where the whiskey bottle was located, and one glass was found in the bedroom), the placement of clothing in his residence, and the position of Hines' body corroborated "perfectly" the descriptions in Floyd's confession, and supported its credibility. For example, the detective testified: Floyd's statement in his confession that "[w]e were both drinking" was consistent with the fact that investigators "found two drinking glasses in the bedroom of the apartment"; and Floyd's descriptions in his confession of Hines' falling "on the floor next to the bed" after he stabbed him, corroborated the "position of the body where it fell off the bed".
And, as noted, Edwards testified about Floyd's incriminatory threats to him. The trial judge found Floyd's incriminating statements, including in his confession, sufficient to support his guilt for Hines' murder, and convicted him of second-degree murder.
Analogous to the Hines charge, the State did not present any physical evidence linking Floyd to Robinson's murder. To support his guilt, the State presented evidence of Floyd's confession, and of the incriminating statements linking him to that murder.
The defense presented physical evidence to contradict Floyd's confession to murdering Robinson after sexual relations. NOPD Criminalist Alan Sison testified the seminal fluid discovered in Robinson's hotel room was attributable to an individual with type-A blood; medical technologist Daniels, the seminal fluid found in Robinson's body was also attributable to an individual with type-A blood. Floyd, however, has type-B blood; Robinson had type-O. Further, Sison testified the black person's hair discovered in the blue-knit cap, found in the hallway relatively near Robinson's body, was "dissimilar" to Floyd's long blonde hair.
Obviously, there was more exculpatory evidence to present for Robinson's murder than for Hines', in part because Hines' body was not discovered until at least 24 hours after his death. Although Floyd contemporaneously confessed to murdering Hines and Robinson, and investigators presumed the same perpetrator committed both crimes, the trial judge found Floyd's confession and alleged incriminating statements insufficient to support his guilt for the Robinson murder.
After Floyd was found guilty of Hines' murder, but simultaneously acquitted of Robinson's, he was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. The Supreme Court of Louisiana affirmed his conviction and sentence. State v. Floyd , 435 So.2d 992 (La. 1983).
From 1983 until 2006, Floyd wrote numerous letters to individuals and organizations, asserting his innocence. In 2006, 23 years after his conviction was affirmed by the Supreme Court of Louisiana, the Innocence Project of New Orleans (IPNO) assisted Floyd in filing his first state-court application for post-conviction relief. It was supported by newly-discovered evidence, including: pre-trial fingerprint-comparison results from the Hines scene marked "NOT JOHN FLOYD" and "NOT VICTIM"; pre-trial fingerprint-comparison results from the Robinson scene listed "NOT DAVID HENNESSEY", "NOT VICTIM", and "NOT JOHN FLOYD"; post-trial DNA-test results from hair discovered at that scene; Clegg's post-trial affidavit, stating Detective Dillmann misrepresented Clegg's pre-trial statement that Hines had a distinct sexual preference for black males (the Clegg statement); Detective Dillmann's post-conviction statements, including the statement in his 1989 book, Blood Warning: The True Story of the New Orleans Slasher , that he showed Floyd "two of the grisliest shots" in an attempt to "crack him"; evidence of the detective's subsequent mistreatment of suspects; and Floyd's I.Q. score of 59, discovered through tests not existing at the time of trial.
In 2010, the Criminal District Court for the Parish of Orleans denied relief from the bench, without providing reasons. Likewise, the Supreme Court of Louisiana denied relief in a 4-3 decision, without providing reasons. Floyd v. Cain , 62 So.3d 57 (La. 2011). But, reasons were assigned in a detailed dissent, which opined, inter alia , "the exculpatory value of the fingerprint evidence is sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome of Floyd's trial, thus satisfying the requirements for a new trial set forth in Brady ". Id . at 59. (Johnson, J., dissenting).
Following the state-court decisions, Floyd filed in 2011 for federal habeas relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2254, maintaining, inter alia , the State withheld favorable, material evidence in violation of Brady . But, in December 2012, the district court adopted the magistrate judge's report and recommendation (R&R) to deny Floyd's petition as untimely under AEDPA.
Floyd's January 2013 motion to alter and amend the decision was considered in the light of the Supreme Court's superseding McQuiggin v. Perkins decision. 569 U.S. 383, 386, 133 S.Ct. 1924, 185 L.Ed.2d 1019 (2013) (holding AEDPA's time-bar overcome by a valid actual-innocence claim). To overcome the time-bar, Floyd presented such a claim: in the light of newly-discovered exculpatory evidence related to the Hines and Robinson murders, he was actually innocent of murdering Hines. The district court vacated the denial and remanded the petition to the magistrate judge for a R&R in the light of McQuiggin .
The magistrate judge's resulting R&R recommended: Floyd failed to meet his burden to demonstrate actual innocence; and, accordingly, his petition should be dismissed with prejudice, without considering the merits of his constitutional claims. Floyd v. Cain , 2016 WL 4799093, at *26 (E.D. La. 14 Sept. 2016). But, in a 67-page opinion providing an exhaustive analysis of Floyd's actual-innocence claim, the district court concluded that, in the light of the newly-discovered evidence, "any reasonable, properly instructed juror, evaluating this case with the requisite caution and care, would reasonably doubt Floyd's guilt of the murder of William Hines". Id . Having concluded that Floyd had overcome the time-bar, the court remanded the petition to the magistrate judge for a R&R on the merits. Id .
Regarding Floyd's constitutional claims, the subsequent R&R recommended granting Floyd's Brady claim. Floyd v. Vannoy , 2017 WL 1837676, at *4 (E.D. La. 8 May 2017). In a 33-page opinion, the district court approved and adopted the R&R, but added additional reasons for the decision. Id . at *1. For example, although the R&R did not find it necessary to consider Clegg's affidavit and his pre-trial statement in the light of the fingerprint-comparison results' being sufficient to support Floyd's Brady claim, the district court opinion considered them to conclude Clegg's statement to Detective Dillmann was additional Brady material. Id . at *12-16.
The two district-court opinions, totaling 100 pages, provide far greater, and much more graphic, factual detail than does this opinion. As with its decision regarding the time-bar, the district court's merits opinion provides an exhaustive analysis of Floyd's Brady claims and the unreasonableness of the state courts' contrary decisions. Id . at *5-16. In granting relief, the court concluded: the State withheld favorable, material evidence in violation of Brady (the fingerprint-comparison results from the Hines scene and the Clegg statement); and the state-court decisions denying relief were an unreasonable application of clearly-established federal law. Id. at *16. Accordingly, Floyd was awarded habeas relief, with the State's being ordered to retry, or release, him within 120 days of the decision. Id . The district court stayed its order, pending resolution of this appeal. Floyd v. Vannoy , 2017 WL 2688082, at *2-4 (E.D. La. 22 June 2017).
II.
"In a habeas corpus appeal, we review the district court's findings of fact for clear error and its conclusions of law de novo ." Lewis v. Thaler , 701 F.3d 783, 787 (5th Cir. 2012) (quoting Busby v. Dretke , 359 F.3d 708, 713 (5th Cir. 2004) ). The State claims: Floyd failed to meet the necessary actual-innocence burden to overcome the time-bar for his habeas application; and, in the alternative, the state-court denials of post-conviction relief were, pursuant to AEDPA, neither "contrary to", nor "involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States". 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1).
Accordingly, our review encompasses three legal standards. First, actual innocence is established through demonstrating that, in the light of newly-discovered evidence, "it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror would have found petitioner guilty beyond a reasonable doubt". Schlup v. Delo , 513 U.S. 298, 327, 115 S.Ct. 851, 130 L.Ed.2d 808 (1995) ; see also McQuiggin , 569 U.S. at 399, 133 S.Ct. 1924. Second, Brady is violated when: the State suppresses evidence; that is favorable to his defense; and material to guilt or punishment. E.g. , Brady , 373 U.S. at 87, 83 S.Ct. 1194. And third, a state-court decision is an unreasonable application of clearly-established federal law only if fairminded jurists could not disagree that the decision was inconsistent with Supreme Court precedent. E.g. , Harrington v. Richter , 562 U.S. 86, 101, 131 S.Ct. 770, 178 L.Ed.2d 624 (2011).
A.
Floyd filed for state post-conviction relief in March 2006, over 23 years after his conviction became final, and contrary to AEDPA's requiring seeking such relief within one-year of the conviction. 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1). Moreover, where, as here, the conviction preceded AEDPA's 26 April 1996 enactment, the limitations period expired one-year from that date. Flanagan v. Johnson , 154 F.3d 196, 200 (5th Cir. 1998) (citing United States v. Flores , 135 F.3d 1000, 1006 (5th Cir. 1998) ).
Nonetheless, in the "extraordinary case", McQuiggin , 569 U.S. at 393, 133 S.Ct. 1924 (quoting Schlup , 513 U.S. at 324, 115 S.Ct. 851 ), in which a prisoner asserts a "credible showing of actual innocence", he may overcome the time-bar, and have his claims considered on the merits, id. at 392, 133 S.Ct. 1924 ; House v. Bell , 547 U.S. 518, 537, 126 S.Ct. 2064, 165 L.Ed.2d 1 (2006) ; Schlup , 513 U.S. at 316, 115 S.Ct. 851. In that regard, the district court concluded: Floyd's actual-innocence claim was valid; and, accordingly, his petition was not time-barred. Floyd , 2016 WL 4799093, at *26.
Of considerable note, in its reply brief on appeal, the State does not expressly challenge Floyd's innocence. Instead, it has offered him two pleas during the pendency of his federal habeas application, and concedes "it does not take issue with Floyd being permanently released from custody". The State also concedes it challenges the actual-innocence ruling only because of the precedent it sets. (A strong argument can be made that, for the actual-innocence ruling, the State's concessions constitute judicial estoppel, precluding its being challenged.)
In any event, the "fundamental miscarriage of justice exception" permits prisoners with an otherwise untimely application to pursue their constitutional claims. McQuiggin , 569 U.S. at 392-93, 133 S.Ct. 1924. This exception's demanding standard requires "evidence of innocence so strong that a court cannot have confidence in the outcome of the trial unless the court is also satisfied that the trial was free of nonharmless constitutional error". Id . at 401, 133 S.Ct. 1924 (quoting Schlup , 513 U.S. at 316, 115 S.Ct. 851 ). The standard is seldom met. House , 547 U.S. at 538, 126 S.Ct. 2064 (citing Schlup , 513 U.S. at 327, 115 S.Ct. 851 ).
An actual-innocence claim is only established when it is shown that, in the light of newly-discovered evidence, "it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror would have found petitioner guilty beyond a reasonable doubt". Schlup , 513 U.S. at 327, 115 S.Ct. 851 ; see also McQuiggin , 569 U.S. at 399, 133 S.Ct. 1924. Therefore, a credible claim must be supported by "new reliable evidence-whether it be exculpatory scientific evidence, trustworthy eyewitness accounts, or critical physical evidence-that was not presented at trial". Schlup , 513 U.S. at 324, 115 S.Ct. 851. Actual innocence is then demonstrated only when the court scrutinizes the likely impact on reasonable jurors of "the overall, newly supplemented record", House , 547 U.S. at 538, 126 S.Ct. 2064, to conclude that, in the light of all evidence-both the evidence presented at trial and that newly discovered-"no juror, acting reasonably, would have voted to find [petitioner] guilty beyond a reasonable doubt", McQuiggin , 569 U.S. at 386, 133 S.Ct. 1924 (quoting Schlup , 513 U.S. at 329, 115 S.Ct. 851 ). As re-stated in McQuiggin , the court must conclude "it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror would have convicted [the petitioner]". Id . at 395, 133 S.Ct. 1924 (quoting Schlup , 513 U.S. at 329, 115 S.Ct. 851 ) (alteration in original).
Our court does not consider habeas relief based on "freestanding claims of actual innocence". In re Swearingen , 556 F.3d 344, 348 (5th Cir. 2009). Instead, a successful actual-innocence claim provides a "gateway" for the petitioner to proceed on the merits. House , 547 U.S. at 536, 126 S.Ct. 2064. (Therefore, as also discussed at length in the dissent at 148, Floyd's successful actual-innocence claim permits our considering the merits of his constitutional claim: the State withheld favorable, material evidence, in violation of Brady . McQuiggin , 569 U.S. at 386, 133 S.Ct. 1924. And, for review of the Brady claim and the concomitant AEDPA unreasonableness standard for that claim, a great deal of the newly-discovered evidence and the withheld evidence overlaps.)
To establish actual innocence, Floyd presents substantial exculpatory evidence related to both murders. As discussed supra , although he confessed to murdering Hines and Robinson, he was convicted solely of Hines' murder. Therefore, his habeas petition centers on that conviction. But, the district court concluded, and we agree, that, because Floyd's confessions are intertwined, evidence demonstrating Floyd falsely confessed to murdering Robinson supports his assertions he likewise did so for Hines. Floyd , 2016 WL 4799093, at *2. In other words, newly-discovered evidence further and conclusively exculpating Floyd of Robinson's murder-undermining both confessions-is relevant to his actual-innocence claim because it supports Floyd's assertions his confessions were false.
At trial, the State did not present any physical evidence linking Floyd to either murder. His conviction for Hines' murder was based solely on his confession and threat to Edwards. Accordingly, Floyd's actual-innocence claim hinges on whether, in the light of the items he advances as newly-discovered evidence, any reasonable juror could rely solely on the evidence presented at trial-Floyd's confession and threat to Edwards-to find Floyd guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
McQuiggin , 569 U.S. at 386, 133 S.Ct. 1924 (citing Schlup , 513 U.S. at 329, 115 S.Ct. 851 ).
The claimed newly-discovered evidence is: fingerprint-comparison results of fingerprints lifted from the Hines scene; fingerprint-comparison results and DNA-test results from fingerprints and hair discovered at the Robinson scene and on his vehicle; Detective Dillmann's misconduct in later interrogations and tests demonstrating Floyd's susceptibility to coercion; and an affidavit from Clegg.
1.
The fingerprint-comparison results exclude Floyd and Hines as contributors of the fingerprints lifted from the whiskey bottle discovered at the Hines crime scene. In 2008, IPNO obtained an envelope containing the fingerprints, and copies of the NOPD logbook chronicling them. The envelope and logbook conveyed that police initially lifted the fingerprints from the Hines scene, performed a fingerprint-comparison test, and logged the fingerprints "NOT VICTIM" and "NOT JOHN FLOYD". Although police possessed this information at the time of trial, it was neither presented as evidence nor disclosed to the defense.
For the requirement that actual-innocence claims be supported by "new reliable evidence", Schlup , 513 U.S. at 324, 115 S.Ct. 851, the State's assertion that this fingerprint evidence is not "new", and, therefore, cannot support Floyd's claim, distorts the clear meaning of the Schlup standard. Id . at 332-33, 339-40, 115 S.Ct. 851. Although the fingerprint-comparison results existed at the time of the joint bench trial, the results were not presented, were withheld from both the prosecution and the defense, and could not, therefore, have affected the trial judge's analysis of Floyd's guilt. Accordingly, because this information was not presented at trial, and remained unknown to the prosecution, defense, and trial judge throughout the trial, it is "new" evidence. Id. at 339, 115 S.Ct. 851.
Along that line, the Court, in McQuiggin , held no threshold diligence requirement applies to actual-innocence claims; the delay is simply a factor in the court's reliability evaluation. 569 U.S. at 399, 133 S.Ct. 1924. Scientific-based evidence, like the fingerprint-comparison results, is less susceptible to manipulation and, therefore, is appropriately considered reliable evidence despite the time lapse. See id . at 399-400, 133 S.Ct. 1924.
2.
The Robinson DNA-test results and fingerprint-comparison results exclude Floyd and Robinson as the contributors of the hair and fingerprints discovered at the Robinson scene. Parallel to the Hines charge, the State did not present physical evidence linking Floyd to Robinson's murder, and his defense centered on third-party guilt. The newly-discovered evidence of the fingerprint-comparison results exclude Robinson, Hennessey, and Floyd as contributors of the fingerprints lifted from the drinking glasses next to Robinson's bed and the passenger-side door of his vehicle.
Although not presented at trial, police recorded the fingerprint-comparison results of fingerprints lifted from the glasses as belonging to neither Robinson, Hennessey, nor Floyd. Additionally, police labeled the fingerprints lifted from Robinson's vehicle, "NOT . DAVID HENNESSEY", "NOT VICTIM", and "NOT JOHN FLOYD". Further, NOPD's initial analysis of hair lifted from Robinson's bed concluded it belonged to a black male other than Robinson; and Floyd presents the post-trial DNA evidence, further excluding him as the source of that hair.
Similar to the earlier-discussed newly-discovered evidence of fingerprint-comparison results from the Hines scene, this evidence meets the "new reliable" Schlup standard because: it is scientific-based evidence that is not easily manipulated; was unknown to the defense at the time of the trial; and was not presented at trial. McQuiggin , 569 U.S. at 400, 133 S.Ct. 1924 ; Schlup , 513 U.S. at 324, 115 S.Ct. 851.
Regarding the requirement that evidence presented at trial must be considered in the light of all newly-discovered evidence, House , 547 U.S. at 538, 126 S.Ct. 2064, any evidence exculpating Floyd of Robinson's murder-undermining his confession-supports his assertion he falsely confessed to, and is actually innocent of, Hines'. Floyd confessed to killing Robinson after having sexual relations with him. The physical evidence presented at trial by the defense, however, refuted Floyd's confession, and demonstrated a likelihood Robinson was killed by a black male with type-A blood. Floyd's newly-discovered evidence regarding Robinson further excludes him from the Robinson scene, invalidates his confession, and links a third party to that scene.
At trial, no physical evidence was presented to contradict Floyd's confession about Hines. Detective Dillmann testified the evidence discovered at the Hines scene corroborated Floyd's statements, and proved his confession credible. Specifically, the detective testified the evidence of the "glasses filled with a liquid on each side of the bed" corroborated Floyd's confession to drinking with Hines before killing him.
But, as discussed supra , the testimony about the location of the glasses is incorrect; one was found in Hines' bedroom and one in his kitchen, where the whiskey bottle was found. According to the detective's testimony, these glasses were one of the three details proving Floyd's confession credible. Again, however, his testimony was incorrect regarding the location of the glasses: one of the glasses, which Detective Dillmann testified corroborated Floyd's statement that he and Hines had been drinking together, was found not by the bed, but in the kitchen with the whiskey bottle, which had partial prints from neither Floyd nor Hines but a third party.
The newly-discovered evidence of the fingerprint-comparison results from the whiskey bottle in Hines' residence could be found by a reasonable juror to refute Floyd's confession, link a third-party to the crime scene, and impeach the detective's testimony. (Although the dissent at 149 states the murder scene excluded the kitchen, investigators considered Hines' entire apartment in their crime-scene investigation. Moreover, police selected multiple items from the kitchen to dust for prints, and Detective Dillmann testified about the importance of the evidence of "two highball glasses filled with a liquid". Again, one of the glasses, according to the State and the crime scene technician's report, was discovered in Hines' kitchen.)
Confessions are generally considered strong evidence of guilt, and a sound confession alone may significantly influence a juror's decision. Murray v. Earle , 405 F.3d 278, 295 (5th Cir. 2005). "Confession evidence (regardless of how it was obtained) is so biasing that juries will convict on the basis of confession alone." Id . Nonetheless, the credibility of Floyd's confession must be evaluated in the light of the newly-discovered evidence excluding the possibility Floyd committed the crimes to which he confessed. McQuiggin , 569 U.S. at 386, 133 S.Ct. 1924 (citing Schlup , 513 U.S. at 329, 115 S.Ct. 851 ). It follows that, in the light of this newly-discovered contradictory physical evidence, it is more than likely a reasonable, informed juror would reasonably doubt the credibility of Floyd's confessions.
3.
Floyd testified at trial that Detective Dillmann "slapp[ed] [him] on the side of the head"; "hit [him] a bunch of times"; "kick[ed] [him] on the side of the head with his boots" and "threatened to put [his] head through the brick wall and throw [him] out through the window". He further testified he immediately began agreeing to anything the detective asked of him after the detective told him that he "could kill [Floyd] and get by with it".
In that regard, Floyd asserts newly-discovered evidence of, inter alia , the detective's abuse during an interrogation for a crime after the Hines and Robinson murders, his later admissions to showing Floyd crime-scene photographs, and Dr. Gregory DeClue's related examination, discussed infra , undermine the validity of Floyd's confession, in support of his actual-innocence claim.
Floyd presents newly-discovered evidence of the detective's subsequent mistreatment of suspects. In State v. Seward , the Supreme Court of Louisiana ruled a confession coerced, finding the State failed to prove the defendant was not beaten during an interrogation led by Detective Dillmann. 509 So.2d 413, 415-18 (La. 1987). The suspect testified to similar descriptions of being hit in the head, kicked, and forced to the floor during the interrogation. Id . at 415.
Further, at trial, the State asserted Floyd's detailed descriptions of both crimes proved his confessions credible. Now, Floyd asserts newly-discovered evidence of Detective Dillmann's subsequently published 1989 book, Blood Warning: The True Story of the New Orleans Slasher , in which the detective describes showing Floyd "two of the grisliest shots" of the Hines crime scene in an effort to "crack him".
Along that line, the State asserted at trial that the credibility of Floyd's confessions was demonstrated through his volunteering specific crime-scene details. These assertions are severely weakened by evidence that, during the interrogation, detectives provided Floyd with significant details about the crime scenes. Notably, Floyd's descriptions regarding the position of Hines' body do not accurately describe the scene as found by police, but, rather, correspond to crime-scene photographs taken after Hines' body was moved.
Additionally, evidence of forensic psychologist Dr. DeClue's 2009 examination of Floyd, employing methods not available at the time of trial, found Floyd had an I.Q. of 59 and communication skills of a "second or third grade[r]", rendering him "extremely vulnerable" to police coercion.
The credibility of Floyd's confessions, and his trial testimony he was coerced by Detective Dillmann, are appropriately considered in the light of the newly-discovered evidence of: the detective's conduct during a subsequent interrogation; Floyd's observing photographs of the crime scene; and Dr. DeClue's findings regarding Floyd's susceptibility to coercion. House , 547 U.S. at 538, 126 S.Ct. 2064 (quoting Schlup , 513 U.S. at 327, 115 S.Ct. 851 ). Although jurors are likely to find confessions compelling, our court must make a "probabilistic determination" of the hypothetical jurors' opinions of the newly-discovered evidence, and voluntariness of Floyd's confession. Id. (quoting Schlup , 513 U.S. at 329, 115 S.Ct. 851 ). Considering the evidence as a whole, it is likely a reasonable juror would doubt Floyd's confession was "freely and voluntarily made", State v. Trudell , 350 So.2d 658, 661 (La. 1977), and, therefore, lacked credibility to alone establish his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, House , 547 U.S. at 538, 126 S.Ct. 2064.
4.
The final newly-discovered evidence is presented through Clegg's 2008 affidavit. According to Floyd, it undermines his guilt and casts doubt on Detective Dillmann's investigative practices. At trial, the State supported Floyd's guilt with the detective's testimony that Clegg, a friend of Hines', stated Hines "frequently had sexual relations with both black and white males". But, in his 2008 affidavit, Clegg maintained: Hines' preference was for black males; pre-trial, he informed the detective of that preference; and Clegg was "very surprised" when Floyd (a white male) was arrested.
Regarding our court's considering only "new reliable evidence" to support a claim of actual innocence, Schlup , 513 U.S. at 324, 115 S.Ct. 851, Clegg asserts in his affidavit that the detective manipulated Clegg's initial statements. He was a close friend of Hines' and has no apparent connection to Floyd. The reliability of this new evidence is strengthened by the unlikelihood Clegg, a friend of the murder victim, would falsely assert a particular defendant did not fit the profile of the likely killer, in order to support the defendant's innocence. House , 547 U.S. at 551, 126 S.Ct. 2064 (ruling witness' disinterest in aiding defendant supports credibility of post-conviction testimony). Further, reliability is not affected by the passage of time as Clegg has neither died, nor otherwise become unavailable for further questioning. E.g. , McQuiggin , 569 U.S. at 399-400 & n.4, 133 S.Ct. 1924.
The likely impact on reasonable jurors of Clegg's pre-trial statements, as presented at trial by the detective, is considered with the newly-discovered evidence of Clegg's contradictory affidavit. Id. at 386, 133 S.Ct. 1924. It is more than likely the evidence of the detective's testimony, asserting a possibility Floyd's profile aligned with that of men with whom Hines frequently had sexual relations, would have little persuasive value in the light of Clegg's pre-trial statement that he understood his friend to have a distinct preference for black males. In other words, in the light of the newly-discovered evidence through Clegg's affidavit, no reasonable juror would have relied upon Clegg's pre-trial statement-that Floyd did not fit the likely profile of the perpetrator-to adequately support Floyd's guilt.
Additionally, a statement from the victim's friend, asserting the defendant did not fit the profile of the likely killer, would more than likely affect a reasonable juror's analysis of Floyd's guilt. In the light of the newly-discovered evidence of the detective's alleged misrepresentations, Clegg's stating Hines' preference for black males casts doubt on Floyd's guilt, and supports his third-party-guilt defense.
In sum, for the actual-innocence claim, Floyd's guilt was contingent solely on his confession and alleged threat to Edwards. And, the persuasive impact of Floyd's confessions must be scrutinized in the light of all the evidence, presented at trial and new. Id. at 386, 133 S.Ct. 1924 (citing Schlup , 513 U.S. at 329, 115 S.Ct. 851 ). Floyd overcomes the time-bar if, in the light of the newly-discovered evidence, no reasonable juror would determine the confession and alleged threat to Edwards were sufficient to establish Floyd's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Id . at 395, 133 S.Ct. 1924 (citing Schlup , 513 U.S. at 329, 115 S.Ct. 851 ).
In the light of the newly-discovered evidence of: the fingerprint-comparison analysis excluding Floyd from the Hines scene; the Robinson-related fingerprint-comparison results and DNA tests further discounting Floyd's confession; Detective Dillmann's improper interrogation techniques; Floyd's vulnerability to coercion; and Clegg's affidavit maintaining Floyd did not fit the likely profile of the perpetrator, no reasonable juror would find Floyd's confession and Edwards' testimony about a threat sufficient to support Floyd's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Re-stated, because, in the light of the newly-discovered evidence, no reasonable juror, considering the record as a whole, would vote to convict Floyd of Hines' murder, Floyd's actual-innocence claim is sufficient to overcome the untimeliness of his habeas application. Id . at 386, 133 S.Ct. 1924.
B.
Having opened the "actual innocence" gateway, we proceed now to consider the merits of Floyd's Brady claim. See Herrera v. Collins , 506 U.S. 390, 404, 113 S.Ct. 853, 122 L.Ed.2d 203 (1993) (holding that "actual innocence" is not a freestanding constitutional claim but a gateway to assert otherwise barred claims). "[T]he only question that matters under § 2254(d)(1) [is] whether a state court decision is contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law." Lockyer v. Andrade , 538 U.S. 63, 71, 123 S.Ct. 1166, 155 L.Ed.2d 144 (2003). Because our own de novo view of the correctness-or incorrectness-of the state court's decision is a distinct question, see Richter , 562 U.S. at 101, 131 S.Ct. 770 (emphasizing that correctness and reasonableness are different questions); Williams v. Taylor , 529 U.S. 362, 410, 120 S.Ct. 1495, 146 L.Ed.2d 389 (2000) ("[A]n unreasonable application of federal law is different from an incorrect application of federal law."), "we do not reach the question whether the state court erred and instead focus solely on whether § 2254(d) forecloses habeas relief," Lockyer , 538 U.S. at 71, 123 S.Ct. 1166. We conclude that it does not.
A state prisoner seeking federal habeas relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 carries the heavy burden of demonstrating entitlement to that relief. Avila v. Quarterman , 560 F.3d 299, 304 (5th Cir. 2009) ; Lockett v. Anderson , 230 F.3d 695, 707 (5th Cir. 2000) ; Orman v. Cain , 228 F.3d 616, 619 (5th Cir. 2000). Prior to Floyd's seeking such relief, state-court post-conviction relief was denied by both the Criminal District Court for the Parish of Orleans, and the Supreme Court of Louisiana. Floyd , 62 So.3d at 57. In granting relief, the district court concluded: the State withheld material evidence in violation of Brady , and the state-court contrary decisions were an unreasonable application of clearly-established federal law. Floyd , 2017 WL 1837676, at *16. In reviewing de novo the district court's granting relief, we "apply[ ] the same standards to the state court's decision[s] as did the district court". Lewis , 701 F.3d at 787 (quoting Busby , 359 F.3d at 713 ).
When reviewing, as here, the reasonableness of an unexplained state-court decision, our court applies the "look-through" presumption to examine the last reasoned state-court decision, with the presumption that all later unexplained (unreasoned) decisions "rest upon the same ground". Hittson v. Chatman , - U.S. -, 135 S.Ct. 2126, 2127, 192 L.Ed.2d 887 (2015) (quoting Ylst v. Nunnemaker , 501 U.S. 797, 803, 111 S.Ct. 2590, 115 L.Ed.2d 706 (1991) ). But, as discussed supra , in this instance the two state-court denials are unexplained. Therefore, because there is no reasoned state-court opinion, our court must hypothesize the reasons or theories that could have supported the denial of relief. Id. (citing Richter , 562 U.S. at 98, 131 S.Ct. 770.) AEDPA's standards control the review of the state-court decision where, as here, the petition was filed after its effective date. Williams v. Taylor , 529 U.S. 362, 402, 120 S.Ct. 1495, 146 L.Ed.2d 389 (2000). Under AEDPA, federal habeas applications centered on claims "adjudicated on the merits in State court proceedings" are denied unless the adjudication: (1) "resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States"; or (2) "resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding". 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d). Because Brady claims involve mixed questions of law and fact, § 2254(d)(1), instead of subpart (d)(2), is applied. DiLosa v. Cain , 279 F.3d 259, 262 n.2 (5th Cir. 2002) (citing Trevino v. Johnson , 168 F.3d 173, 184 (5th Cir. 1999) ).
The Criminal District Court for the Parish of Orleans denied, without reasons, Floyd's petition from the bench; similarly, the Supreme Court of Louisiana provided no explanation for its denial. Floyd , 62 So.3d 57 (denial of Floyd's writ application in a 4-3 vote without assigning reasons). The only state-court reasoning available on review is the dissent from the state-supreme-court denial, with the dissent's stating Floyd was entitled to a new trial because the fingerprint evidence "undermine[s] confidence in the outcome of Floyd's trial". Id . at 60.
In any event, "[ 28 U.S.C.] § 2254(d) does not require a state court to give reasons before its decision can be deemed to have been adjudicated on the merits". Richter , 562 U.S. at 100, 131 S.Ct. 770 (internal quotation omitted). "When a federal claim has been presented to a state court and the state court has denied relief, it may be presumed that the state court adjudicated the claim on the merits in the absence of any indication[,] or state-law procedural principles[,] to the contrary". Id . at 99, 131 S.Ct. 770. Therefore, where, as here, the state-court denial has no explanation, we review the "ultimate decision" for reasonableness. Charles v.Thaler , 629 F.3d 494, 501 (5th Cir. 2011) (quoting Neal v. Puckett, 286 F.3d 230, 246 (5th Cir. 2002) (en banc) ).
The state court's "adjudication of the claim result[s] in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States", 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1), when: it "reaches a legal conclusion in direct conflict with a prior decision of the Supreme Court or . it reaches a different conclusion than the Supreme Court based on materially indistinguishable facts", Miller v. Dretke , 404 F.3d 908, 913 (5th Cir. 2005).
Because the state courts provided no explanation for their denial of post-conviction relief, we must hypothesize the reasons that supported, or could have supported, the denial consistent with Supreme Court precedent. Richter , 562 U.S. at 98, 102, 131 S.Ct. 770. The decision is an "unreasonable application" under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) only if, after this hypothetical inquiry, we determine there was no reasonable basis for it. Id. at 98, 101, 131 S.Ct. 770.
Under Brady and its progeny, due process requires that the prosecution disclose evidence that is both favorable to the defendant and material to guilt or punishment. 373 U.S. at 87, 83 S.Ct. 1194. This duty to disclose exists irrespective of a request from the defense, United States v. Agurs , 427 U.S. 97, 107, 96 S.Ct. 2392, 49 L.Ed.2d 342 (1976), and extends to all evidence known not just to the prosecutors, but "to the others acting on the government's behalf in the case, including the police", Kyles v. Whitley , 514 U.S. 419, 437, 115 S.Ct. 1555, 131 L.Ed.2d 490 (1995). The district court concluded that the fingerprint-comparison results from the Hines scene, fingerprint-comparison results from the Robinson scene, and Clegg's pre-trial statement all satisfied Brady 's three requirements of suppression, favorability, and materiality. Our task now is to determine whether there is any reasonable theory, consistent with clearly established federal law as determined by the Supreme Court, to support the state courts' conclusions to the contrary. Because the materiality of "suppressed evidence [is] considered collectively, not item by item", Kyles , 514 U.S. at 436, 115 S.Ct. 1555, we first separately consider Brady 's requirements of suppression and favorability with respect to the fingerprint-comparison results and the Clegg statement before collectively considering their materiality.
1.
Floyd's first Brady claim stems from the State's failure to disclose the fingerprint-comparison results. Prior to trial, the State disclosed police and crime-scene reports related to the two murders. Additionally, the State proffered a partial list of the evidence seized from each scene. As discussed supra , the crime-scene technician report for Hines' murder established an NOPD evidence technician dusted for fingerprints the whiskey bottles, the whiskey glass from the kitchen table, and the whiskey glass from the night table in the bedroom, but simply listed the fingerprints as "Laboratory-Exam-No". Likewise, the crime-scene technician report for the Robinson murder established an NOPD evidence technician dusted for prints: a drinking glass containing alcohol on each of the nightstands in Robinson's hotel room; the passenger side of his vehicle; and a glass, a cup, and a whiskey bottle inside the vehicle. Like the fingerprints lifted from the Hines scene, these fingerprints were marked "Laboratory-Exam-No".
However, the State did not disclose the logbook noting Floyd was excluded from the fingerprints collected from both crime scenes, the envelope registering the lifted fingerprints from the Hines scene as "NOT VICTIM" and "NOT JOHN FLOYD", and the envelope registering the lifted fingerprints from the Robinson scene as "NOT VICTIM", "NOT JOHN FLOYD", and "NOT . DAVID HENNESSEY".
a.
First, we find no reasonable theory to support the conclusion that the evidence at issue was properly disclosed. Brady requires the prosecution disclose evidence when it is "of such substantial value to the defense that elementary fairness requires it to be disclosed even without a specific request". Agurs , 427 U.S. at 110, 96 S.Ct. 2392. The State's assertion the fingerprint-comparison results were effectively disclosed through the crime-scene report and list of evidence distorts Brady 's requiring prosecutors to offer exculpatory evidence absent a specific request by the defense. E.g. , id. Floyd's Brady claim does not stem from the fingerprints themselves, but from the results of the State's fingerprint-comparison test.
The State does not demonstrate compliance with Brady 's disclosure requirement by asserting a possibility Floyd could deduce that, based on the general evidence provided to him, additional evidence likely existed. E.g ., Starns v. Andrews , 524 F.3d 612, 619 (5th Cir. 2008). To the contrary, the State's nondisclosure may have reasonably led the defense to conclude no additional evidence existed. United States v. Bagley , 473 U.S. 667, 682-83, 105 S.Ct. 3375, 87 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985). Further, the State's assertions the evidence was not withheld because Floyd could have conducted his own analysis are in direct contrast to clearly-established Brady law rejecting the defense's ability to conduct their own analysis as justification for prosecutorial non-disclosure. Banks v. Dretke , 540 U.S. 668, 696, 124 S.Ct. 1256, 157 L.Ed.2d 1166 (2004) (holding "a rule thus declaring 'prosecutor may hide, defendant must seek', is not tenable in a system constitutionally bound to accord defendants due process"). Consequently, the state court could not have reasonably relied on that theory to find the evidence was not suppressed.
b.
As for Brady 's favorability prong, it would be an unreasonable application of Brady and its progeny to conclude that the withheld evidence was not favorable. It was favorable because it supported Floyd's third-party-guilt defense, and impeached Detective Dillmann's testimony that the "two highball glasses filled with a liquid on each side of [Hines'] bed" corroborated the details of Floyd's confession. (As noted repeatedly, the detective erroneously stated the glasses were found in the bedroom; instead, one was found in the bedroom and one was found in the kitchen, where the whiskey bottle was also located.)
"[T]he character of a piece of evidence as favorable will often turn on the context of the existing or potential evidentiary record." Kyles , 514 U.S. at 439, 115 S.Ct. 1555. Supreme Court precedent defines evidence tending to strengthen a defense as favorable evidence under Brady . Cone v. Bell , 556 U.S. 449, 470, 129 S.Ct. 1769, 173 L.Ed.2d 701 (2009). And, again, the Court has held evidence impeaching a prosecution witness is favorable Brady evidence. Bagley , 473 U.S. at 676, 105 S.Ct. 3375. Any reason to support a conclusion the evidence was not favorable to Floyd is contrary to Court precedent, and, therefore, an unreasonable application of clearly-established federal law. For example, the Kyles Court in 1995 held a withheld list of license-plate numbers, which excluded defendant's vehicle from the crime scene-interestingly, the investigation was led by Detective Dillmann-was exculpatory and impeachment evidence. 514 U.S. at 450, 115 S.Ct. 1555.
On the police's assumption, argued to the jury, that the killer drove to the lot and left his car [at the crime scene] during the heat of the investigation, the list without [defendant's] registration would obviously have helped [defendant] and would have had some value in countering an argument by the prosecution that a grainy enlargement of a photograph of the crime scene showed [defendant's] car in the background.
Id . Likewise, the fingerprint-comparison results excluding Floyd from the fingerprints lifted from the whiskey bottle "would obviously have helped [Floyd] and would have had some value in countering" the detective's testimony and the State's theory that Floyd shared a drink with Hines. Id . Because, in the context of the detective's testimony, this evidence is favorable for impeaching the prosecution's witness, it would be unreasonable to conclude that it is anything other than favorable under Brady . Bagley , 473 U.S. at 676, 105 S.Ct. 3375 (citing Giglio v. United States , 405 U.S. 150, 154, 92 S.Ct. 763, 31 L.Ed.2d 104 (1972) ).
Along that line, and as the dissent maintains at 4-5, the state court could have concluded that the withheld fingerprint-comparison results from the Hines scene do not impeach Detective Dillmann's testimony because he did not testify that the whiskey bottle, from which the prints were lifted, corroborated Floyd's confession. But that conclusion would be an unreasonable application of Supreme Court law.
First, the Court has been clear that favorability depends on context. The detective testified that the whiskey glasses found at the Hines scene-one of which was actually found in the kitchen, as was the whiskey bottle-corroborated Floyd's statement that the two were drinking together. Evidence that a third person-neither Floyd nor Hines-touched the whiskey bottle undermines Detective Dillmann's testimony that the confession was credible based on Floyd's statement that he and Hines were drinking together. Second, although the detective did not specifically reference the whiskey bottle, to conclude that that negates the favorability of the fingerprint-comparison results "confuses the weight of the evidence with its favorable tendency". Kyles , 514 U.S. at 450, 115 S.Ct. 1555.
The dissent also asserts at 5-6 that the state court could reasonably have concluded that the fingerprints lifted from the whiskey bottle were only neutral evidence. We disagree. The presence of a third party's fingerprints at a crime scene does not itself prove Floyd was not present; but, it is evidence that a third party, not Floyd, touched an item that was singled out for dusting by investigators and linked to the commission of the crime through Detective Dillmann's testimony. See id . (holding that a list of cars at the crime scene that did not include the defendant's car "would obviously have helped" the defendant in countering investigator's assumption, argued to the jury, that the killer had driven to the scene and left his car there). Furthermore, although the fingerprint-comparison results do not conclusively establish that Floyd was not present at the Hines scene, any such contention would again confuse weight with favorability, and also misapply the relevant standard for materiality. See id. at 434, 115 S.Ct. 1555 ("[A] showing of materiality does not require demonstration by a preponderance that disclosure of the suppressed evidence would have resulted ultimately in the defendant's acquittal ."). Accordingly, no reasonable theory supports the conclusion that the fingerprint-comparison results were not favorable.
2.
Floyd's second claimed Brady violation stems from Clegg's 2008 affidavit. The detective reported and testified that Clegg stated Hines "frequently had sexual relations with both black and white males". But, in his 2008 affidavit, Clegg maintained that "Bill[ ] [Hines'] taste was for black men"; he knew "Bill's taste was for black men"; he "saw Bill with black men on several occasions"; "Bill was often attracted to rough-looking black men"; that he had advised the detective that Hines preferred black men; and that the detective's report misrepresented his statements. (Although the dissent at 151-53 considers this affidavit in its analysis of the reasonableness of the state courts' application of Brady , only Clegg's pre-trial statement to Detective Dillmann, as presented in Clegg's post-trial affidavit, not his entire affidavit, is properly considered favorable, material evidence withheld by the prosecution in violation of Brady . In short, and contrary to the dissent's contention at 10 that we "cherry-pick[ed] certain sentences from Clegg's affidavit", it is only those portions of Clegg's statement, as contained in the affidavit, that are favorable to impeach the detective's testimony that are relevant to our Brady analysis.)
a.
As with the fingerprint-comparison results, the State's assertions the Clegg statement was not suppressed is also counter to the Court's Banks decision. Id . The State contends the Clegg statement was effectively disclosed through the detective's report's naming Thomas Bloodworth as a reporting witness; Bloodworth identified Clegg and advised the detective to speak with him. The State claims the Clegg statement was effectively disclosed because "a reasonably diligent defense attorney would have similarly interviewed Bloodworth and, through him, learned of Clegg" and interviewed him. As discussed supra , the prosecutor's Brady duty is not absolved through asserting various opportunities available for the defense to have uncovered the evidence. Banks , 540 U.S. at 696, 124 S.Ct. 1256. Therefore, the state court was presented with no reasonable theory for concluding the State did not withhold the Clegg statement; nor were we presented with any; nor do we perceive any.
b.
In addition, it would be unreasonable to conclude that the Clegg statement is not favorable. Under clearly-established Supreme Court precedent, evidence that could have been used to impeach a witness's testimony is favorable. Strickler , 527 U.S. at 281-82, 119 S.Ct. 1936. Clegg's statement, that Hines' sexual preference was for black males, could have been used to impeach Detective Dillmann's testimony that he "had learned that Mr. Hines' sexual preferences was not to any one race". (The dissent at 151 asserts Detective Dillmann's testimony "suggests he relied on more than just one person" for his determinations regarding Hines' sexual preferences. Nonetheless, regarding Hines' sexual preferences, the detective's report, in the record for this habeas proceeding, states only that "Mr. Clegg stated that to his knowledge the victim was homosexual and frequently had sexual relations with both black and white males".) Any assertion that Clegg's knowledge of Hines' sexual preferences may not have been exhaustive again would go to weight, not favorability.
The Clegg statement is also favorable evidence because the fact that the statement was misrepresented in Detective Dillmann's report could have been used to impeach his testimony and call into question the "thoroughness and even the good faith of the investigation". Kyles , 514 U.S. at 445, 115 S.Ct. 1555 ; accord id. at 446, 115 S.Ct. 1555 ("A common trial tactic of defense lawyers is to discredit the caliber of the investigation or the decision to charge the defendant, and we may consider such use in assessing a possible Brady violation" (quoting Bowen v. Maynard , 799 F.2d 593, 613 (10th Cir. 1986) ) ). Moreover, the Clegg statement could have been used to impeach Detective Dillmann's testimony that, despite the fact that only hairs from a black person had been found at the Hines scene, he did not "under the circumstances" think that investigators "ought to be looking for a black" male because he "had learned that [ ] Hines' sexual preference was not to any one race". No reasonable theory supports the conclusion that the Clegg statement was not favorable.
3.
For the final prong, we consider whether any reasonable theory could have supported a conclusion that the withheld evidence was collectively immaterial. Kyles , 514 U.S. at 436, 115 S.Ct. 1555. The materiality of Brady evidence is not considered in the light of the probability of acquittal. Bagley , 473 U.S. at 680, 105 S.Ct. 3375 ; Wearry v. Cain , - U.S. -, 136 S.Ct. 1002, 1006, 194 L.Ed.2d 78 (2016) ("To prevail on his Brady claim, Wearry need not show that he 'more likely than not' would have been acquitted had the new evidence been admitted."). Rather, evidence is understandably material under Brady where it simply demonstrates "a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been different." Youngblood v. West Virginia , 547 U.S. 867, 870, 126 S.Ct. 2188, 165 L.Ed.2d 269 (2006) (quoting Strickler , 527 U.S. at 280, 119 S.Ct. 1936 ). A reasonable probability is a likelihood sufficient to "undermine confidence in the outcome", Bagley , 473 U.S. at 682, 105 S.Ct. 3375 (quoting Strickland , 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052 ). Accordingly, withheld evidence is more likely material when the State presents a weaker case for guilt, e.g. , Smith v. Cain , 565 U.S. 73, 76, 132 S.Ct. 627, 181 L.Ed.2d 571 (2012) (eyewitness "testimony was the only evidence linking [the petitioner] to the crime", and, therefore, the undisclosed statements contradicting this testimony were "plainly material"); Agurs , 427 U.S. at 113, 96 S.Ct. 2392 ("[I]f the verdict is already of questionable validity, additional evidence of relatively minor importance might be sufficient to create a reasonable doubt.").
Floyd was indicted for the second-degree murder of Hines and Robinson. In the joint trial, Floyd's incriminating statements (confession and threat to Edwards) were the only evidence presented to support his guilt for Hines' murder. And, that evidence was contradicted by the suppressed evidence at issue, analogous to the evidence at issue in Cain . 565 U.S. at 76, 132 S.Ct. 627.
The fingerprint-comparison results undermine Floyd's confessions to each murder, and impeach Detective Dillmann's testimony for the Hines murder that the "glasses filled with a liquid" (in fact, discovered in Hines' bedroom and kitchen) corroborated Floyd's confession. The fingerprint-comparison evidence contradicts the physical evidence purported to corroborate Floyd's confessions to each murder, such as the glasses containing whiskey being on each side of Robinson's bed, undermining "confidence in the verdict". Kyles , 514 U.S. at 435, 115 S.Ct. 1555. Likewise, the Clegg statement impeaches the detective's testimony that Hines' sexual preference was for black and white males, and further challenges the credibility of Floyd's confession. In the light of the entire case, the fingerprint-comparison results and the Clegg statement significantly impact the only evidence supporting Floyd's guilt (his incriminating statements, including, most especially, his confession), rendering it material under Brady . Id. In other words, the fingerprint-comparison results and the Clegg statement create a "reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been different". Id. at 433, 115 S.Ct. 1555 (quoting Bagley , 473 U.S. at 682, 105 S.Ct. 3375 ).
Any conclusion to the contrary would be an unreasonable application of Supreme Court law. The state court could have concluded that neither the fingerprint-comparison results nor the Clegg statement conclusively prove Floyd did not commit the Hines murder. But that would constitute an unreasonable application of the Supreme Court's holding that "a showing of materiality does not require demonstration by a preponderance that disclosure of the suppressed evidence would have resulted ultimately in the defendant's acquittal". Id. at 434, 115 S.Ct. 1555.
The state court could also have concluded that, despite the withheld evidence, the trial judge could still have convicted Floyd on the basis of his incriminating statements to Edwards. But that, too, would be an unreasonable application of Supreme Court law. "[M]ateriality . is not a sufficiency of evidence test." Id.
Floyd "need not demonstrate that after discounting the inculpatory evidence in light of the undisclosed evidence, there would not have been enough left to convict". Id . at 434-35, 115 S.Ct. 1555. Where the proof on which a conviction was based was thin to begin with, the Supreme Court has been clear that withheld evidence undermining that proof is material. See Wearry , 136 S.Ct. at 1006 ; Cain , 565 U.S. at 76, 132 S.Ct. 627 ; Agurs , 427 U.S. at 113, 96 S.Ct. 2392. In short, while the trial judge could have convicted Floyd of the Hines murder on the basis of Floyd's incriminating statement to Edwards, or could have continued to credit his confession, there can be "no confidence that [the trial judge] would have done so", and that is all that Brady requires. Wearry , 136 S.Ct. at 1007 (quoting Cain , 565 U.S. at 76, 132 S.Ct. 627 ).
Materiality of the suppressed Hines evidence is further demonstrated by the simultaneous acquittal at the bench trial for Robinson's murder. After considering the exculpatory physical evidence from the Robinson scene, the trial judge found Floyd not guilty of that murder. Floyd , 435 So.2d at 994 (1983). ("[Floyd] was found not guilty of the murder of Robinson (evidence showed that Robinson's assailant had been a black man with Type A blood; Floyd is white with Type B blood") ). Because the trial judge determined the physical evidence rendered Floyd's incriminating statements, including his confession, insufficient to support his guilt for Robinson's murder, there is a "reasonable probability" that, had the similarly favorable physical evidence from the Hines scene been disclosed, "the result of the proceeding would have been different". Cain , 565 U.S. at 75, 132 S.Ct. 627 (quoting Cone , 556 U.S. at 469-70, 129 S.Ct. 1769 ). Re-stated, there is a " 'reasonable probability' that the [trial judge] would have been [similarly] persuaded by the undisclosed evidence" undermining Floyd's Hines confession. Id. at 77, 132 S.Ct. 627 (Thomas, J., dissenting) (citing Bagley , 473 U.S. at 682, 105 S.Ct. 3375 ).
In the light of the withheld evidence undermining the only evidence supporting Floyd's guilt for Hines' murder, and the trial judge's simultaneously acquitting Floyd of Robinson's murder after considering similar physical evidence excluding Floyd from the Robinson scene, there is no sound theory, considering the record as a whole, to support the conclusion that the evidence of the fingerprint-comparison results and the Clegg statement were not reasonably likely to affect Floyd's trial for Hines' murder. Id . ; Kyles , 514 U.S. at 435, 115 S.Ct. 1555. Accordingly, any theory supporting the conclusion that the withheld, favorable evidence was immaterial is an unreasonable application of Brady 's materiality standard.
In sum, "fairminded jurists could [not ] disagree" that the state-court denial of post-conviction relief was contrary to Supreme Court precedent. Richter , 562 U.S. at 88, 131 S.Ct. 770. Re-stated, "the state court's application of clearly established [ Brady ] law was objectively unreasonable". Williams , 529 U.S. at 409, 120 S.Ct. 1495.
III.
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment is AFFIRMED.