Title: Frederick W. Cummings-el v. State of Florida
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: SC01-1501
State: Florida
Issuer: Florida Supreme Court
Date: October 9, 2003

Supreme 
Court 
of 
Florida
_____________________________
Nos. SC01-1501 & SC02-1784
_____________________________
FREDERICK W. CUMMINGS-EL,
Appellant,
vs.
STATE OF FLORIDA,
Appellee.
_____________________________
FREDERICK W. CUMMINGS-EL,
Petitioner,
vs.
JAMES V. CROSBY, Jr., etc.,
Respondent.
[October 9, 2003]
PER CURIAM.
Frederick W. Cummings-El appeals an order of the circuit court denying his
motion for postconviction relief under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850. 
Cummings-El also petitions this Court for a writ of habeas corpus.  We have
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jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 3(b)(1), (9), Fla. Const.  For the reasons that follow, we
affirm the circuit court’s order denying Cummings-El’s rule 3.850 motion, and we
deny Cummings-El’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus.
BACKGROUND
The facts of this case, as set forth in this Court’s direct appeal opinion, are
as follows:
The defendant, Fred Cummings-El, dated the victim, Kathy
Good, for a short period and the two lived together for several
months.  After the relationship ended, Cummings-El harassed Good
and she eventually obtained a restraining order after he assaulted her at
a neighbor’s house.  He then made numerous verbal threats, such as: 
“Kathy, I’m going to kill you.  Kathy, I’m going to kill you [ ]”; and “I
love her.  If I can’t have her, nobody [can] have her.”; and finally “If I
can’t have you, ain’t nobody going to have you.”
Cummings-El broke into Good’s home in the early morning
hours of September 16, 1991, and stabbed her several times while she
was sleeping, killing her.  Several people heard Good’s screams and
saw Cummings-El at the scene.  Good’s eight-year-old son, Tadarius,
was asleep in bed with his mother and awoke to see Cummings-El
“punching” his mother.  Good’s twenty-year-old nephew, Michael
Adams, was asleep on the floor of Good’s bedroom and saw
Cummings-El fleeing from the house.  And Good’s mother, Daisy
Adams, confronted Cummings-El as he was leaving the bedroom. 
Cummings-El, whose face was only one or two feet from Daisy’s,
shoved Daisy to the ground and ran.  Good then staggered from the
bedroom and collapsed in her mother’s arms, saying “Fred, Fred.”
Cummings-El v. State, 684 So. 2d 729, 730-31 (Fla. 1996).
The jury convicted Cummings-El of first-degree murder and armed burglary,
1.  On direct appeal, Cummings-El asserted:  (1) the trial court erred in
striking two jurors for cause; (2) the trial court erred in commenting on the
defendant’s right to remain silent; (3) the trial court erred in instructing on the HAC
aggravating factor; (4) the trial court erred in finding HAC applicable; (5) the trial
court erred in finding CCP applicable; and (6) Cummings-El’s death sentence was
disproportionate.
2.  In this motion, Cummings-El asserted:  (1) trial counsel was ineffective
for failing to preserve for appellate review the issue of the improper exclusion by
the trial court of two venirepersons for cause; (2) trial counsel was ineffective for
failing to call Daphne Roberts as a witness; (3) trial counsel was ineffective for
failing to request separate verdict forms for the alternate theories of premeditation
and felony murder, and for failing to object to the State’s argument regarding the
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and recommended death by an eight-to-four vote.  The trial court followed the
jury’s recommendation and sentenced Cummings-El to death, finding four
aggravating circumstances:  (1) Cummings-El had three prior violent felony
convictions; (2) the murder was committed during the course of a felony; (3) the
murder was heinous, atrocious, or cruel (HAC); and (4) the murder was cold,
calculated, and premeditated (CCP).  The trial court found no mitigating
circumstances.  State v. Cummings-El, No. 91-32268 (Fla. 11th Cir. Ct. order filed
Feb. 19, 1993).  Cummings-El appealed his conviction and sentence to this Court,
raising six issues.1  This Court affirmed the conviction and sentence of death. 
Cummings-El v. State, 684 So. 2d 729 (Fla. 1996).
On May 26, 1999, Cummings-El filed an amended rule 3.850 motion for
postconviction relief, raising eleven issues.2  The postconviction court held a Huff3
alternate theories; (4) trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the trial
court’s improper comment before the jury regarding Cummings-El’s right to remain
silent; (5) trial counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate and present
mitigating evidence during the penalty phase of trial; (6) the trial court erred in
applying murder in the course of a felony and CCP as aggravating factors because
they were duplicative of the underlying theories of premeditation and felony murder;
(7) the trial court improperly weighed the aggravating and mitigating factors; (8) trial
counsel was ineffective for failing to request a second-chair lawyer to assist him
during the trial; (9) cumulative errors that occurred during trial deprived Cummings-
El of a fair trial; (10) the trial court improperly considered Cummings-El’s statement
that he wanted to be sentenced to death if he was found guilty; and (11) Florida’s
death penalty is an unconstitutional form of cruel and unusual punishment.
3.  Huff v. State, 622 So. 2d 982 (Fla. 1993).
4.  Cummings-El’s additional claims were:  (12) trial counsel was ineffective
for failing to argue that CCP was not applicable in a domestic case; (13) trial
counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the cumulative testimony of Daisy
and Michael Adams in the penalty phase; and (14) trial counsel was ineffective for
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hearing and thereafter summarily denied all but one of Cummings-El’s claims.  The
court granted an evidentiary hearing regarding Cummings-El’s claim that trial
counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate and present mitigating evidence at
the penalty phase of trial.
After the Huff hearing, Cummings-El expressed dissatisfaction with his
attorney.  The postconviction court conducted an inquiry into Cummings-El’s
claim, discharged the attorney, and appointed a new attorney.  On June 22, 2000,
Cummings-El filed a second amended rule 3.850 motion for postconviction relief,
raising three additional issues.4  On July 13, 2000, Cummings-El filed a third
failing to interview Cummings-El’s mother and sister for mitigation purposes.
5.  Cummings-El asserted:  (15) the victim’s son, Tadarius Williams, had
recanted his identification testimony of Cummings-El after the trial.
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amended motion for postconviction relief, raising one additional claim.5
On September 25, 2000, the postconviction court held a second Huff hearing
on Cummings-El’s newly added claims.  The postconviction court found that
Cummings-El’s additional claims were technically untimely, but because counsel
had been recently appointed and investigated the additional claims in a reasonable
period of time after his appointment, the court agreed to consider the additional
claims.  The court thereafter summarily denied claims twelve and thirteen.  The
court determined that claim fourteen would be considered as a supplement to claim
five.  Finally, the court denied claim fifteen without prejudice for defense counsel to
obtain a sworn affidavit of recantation or sworn testimony subject to cross-
examination from Tadarius Williams.  If defense counsel produced such evidence,
the court agreed to hear claim fifteen at the previously scheduled evidentiary
hearing.  State v. Cummings-El, No. F91-33268 (Fla. 11th Cir. Ct. order filed Oct.
11, 2000).
Following the evidentiary hearing, the postconviction court entered a final
order denying all relief.  State v. Cummings-El, No. F91-33268 (Fla. 11th Cir. Ct.
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order filed June 14, 2002).  Cummings-El now appeals the postconviction court’s
denial of his rule 3.850 motion.  He also petitions this Court for a writ of habeas
corpus.
RULE 3.850 APPEAL
Cummings-El’s rule 3.850 appeal asserts the following:  (1) the
postconviction court erred by denying Cummings-El’s claim that trial counsel was
ineffective for failing to request a second-chair attorney; (2) the postconviction
court erred by denying Cummings-El’s claim that trial counsel was ineffective for
failing to object to the State’s method of death-qualifying a jury and for failing to
object to the trial court’s exclusion of venirepersons Kozakowski and Oshinsky for
cause; (3) the postconviction court erred by denying Cummings-El’s claim that trial
counsel was ineffective for failing to object to an improper comment made by the
trial court regarding Cummings-El’s right to remain silent; (4) the postconviction
court erred by denying Cummings-El’s claim that trial counsel was ineffective for
failing to investigate and present mitigating evidence during the penalty phase; (5)
the postconviction court erred by denying Cummings-El’s claim that trial counsel
was ineffective for failing to call Daphne Roberts to testify during the penalty
phase; (6) the postconviction court erred by denying Cummings-El’s claim that trial
counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the cumulative testimony of Michael
6.  We find that the record clearly establishes that these six claims are
without merit.  The trial court order in respect to these claims is attached as
Appendix I.
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and Daisy Adams at the penalty phase; and (7) the postconviction court erred by
denying Cummings-El’s claim that the cumulative effect of trial counsel’s errors
resulted in ineffective assistance of counsel.  In view of the thorough and well-
prepared order of the trial court, we find it unnecessary to discuss each of
Cummings-El’s claims and affirm the postconviction court’s summary denial of
claims one, two, three, five, six, and seven.6  We will discuss Cummings-El’s
fourth claim that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate and present
mitigating evidence at the penalty phase of trial.
In Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984), the United States
Supreme Court provided the guidelines for establishing an ineffective assistance of
counsel claim:
First, the defendant must show that counsel’s performance was
deficient.  This requires showing that counsel made errors so serious
that counsel was not functioning as the “counsel” guaranteed the
defendant by the Sixth Amendment.  Second, the defendant must
show that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense.  This
requires showing that counsel’s errors were so serious as to deprive
the defendant of a fair trial, a trial whose result is reliable.  Unless a
defendant makes both showings, it cannot be said that the conviction
or death sentence resulted from a breakdown of the adversary process
that renders the result unreliable.
-8-
This Court reviews a postconviction court’s Strickland analysis as follows:
[T]he performance and prejudice prongs are mixed questions of law
and fact subject to a de novo review standard but . . . the trial court’s
factual findings are to be given deference.  See Stephens v. State, 748
So. 2d 1028, 1034 (Fla. 1999).  So long as its decisions are supported
by competent, substantial evidence, this Court will not substitute its
judgment for that of the trial court on questions of fact and, likewise,
on the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given to the
evidence by the trial court.  Id.  We recognize and honor the trial
court’s superior vantage point in assessing the credibility of witnesses
and in making findings of fact.
Porter v. State, 788 So. 2d 917, 923 (Fla. 2001).
With respect to claims of ineffective assistance of counsel for failing to
investigate and present evidence at the penalty phase, the United States Supreme
Court recently provided:
[O]ur principal concern in deciding whether [counsel] exercised
"reasonable professional judgmen[t]" is not whether counsel should
have presented a mitigation case.  Rather, we focus on whether the
investigation supporting counsel's decision not to introduce mitigating
evidence . . . was itself reasonable.  In assessing counsel's
investigation, we must conduct an objective review of their
performance, measured for "reasonableness under prevailing
professional norms," which includes a context-dependent
consideration of the challenged conduct as seen "from counsel's
perspective at the time."
Wiggins v. Smith, 123 S. Ct. 2527, 2536 (2003) (citations omitted).
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During the penalty phase of this case, trial counsel Theodore Mastos
presented the testimony of two of Cummings-El’s sisters, Catherine Covington and
Diane St. Fleur.  They testified that Cummings-El was good to his family, was not
violent, and was innocent of the crime.  Cummings-El argues that Mastos should
have conducted a more thorough investigation to determine whether there was
additional mitigating evidence relating to his personal history and to his mental
health.
The postconviction court held a six-day evidentiary hearing on this issue. 
During the hearing, Cummings-El presented testimony from six family members, his
middle school principal, his girlfriend, and a childhood friend.  These witnesses
generally testified as to Cummings-El’s family, upbringing, relationship with his
children, personal character, work history, and past drug and alcohol use. 
Cummings-El also presented three mental health experts who testified regarding
Cummings-El’s mental state at the time of the crime and whether he suffered from
brain damage.
Dr. Lynn Schram, a clinical neuropsychologist, testified that the only case in
which he had been qualified to testify as a neuropsychologist was a civil case and
that he was not an expert on legal issues.  Dr. Schram then testified regarding the
tests that he performed on Cummings-El.  Dr. Schram concluded that Cummings-
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El suffers from an attention/concentration problem that could be indicative of some
organic brain damage.  Dr. Schram further testified that he could not diagnose brain
damage with certainty, nor could he find that Cummings-El was impaired in his
everyday functioning.
Dr. Merry Haber, a forensic psychologist, testified that she was asked to
evaluate Cummings-El and develop a psychosocial history to determine whether
there were any mitigating factors that would affect Cummings-El’s death sentence. 
Dr. Haber concluded that Cummings-El suffers from antisocial personality disorder
and exhibits features of obsessive compulsive personality disorder, both arising
from his poor upbringing.  Dr. Haber stated that she believed that Cummings-El
knew his conduct was wrong and that she could not diagnose brain damage with
certainty.
Lastly, Dr. Bruce Frumkin, a forensic clinical psychologist, testified
regarding his evaluation of Cummings-El.  Dr. Frumkin concluded that Cummings-
El did not suffer from antisocial personality disorder, but rather, Cummings-El
suffered from depression, polysubstance abuse, and cognitive inflexibility or
“tunnel vision” that could be caused by some organic brain damage.  Dr. Frumkin
further testified that Cummings-El’s attention impairment could be caused by
something other than a neurological impairment.
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In response, the State presented the testimony of Dr. John Spencer, a clinical
forensic psychologist, and Dr. Jane Ansley, a neuropsychologist.  Dr. Spencer
testified that his evaluations of Cummings-El revealed no significant brain damage
or gross cognitive impairments.  He concluded that Cummings-El had antisocial
personality disorder.  Dr. Spencer also used a video interview of Cummings-El to
reveal Cummings-El’s ability to adapt his behavior to changing situations,
contradicting a diagnosis that Cummings-El experienced “tunnel vision.”
Dr. Ansley testified that her review of Cummings-El’s medical history, the
raw data obtained by the other experts in this case, and the results of the tests she
administered to Cummings-El indicated that Cummings-El had no organic brain
damage or executive function deficit.  Dr. Ansley concluded that Cummings-El has
antisocial personality disorder.  She further testified that she disagreed with Dr.
Schram’s conclusion that Cummings-El experienced an attention/concentration
deficit and that she believed that Cummings-El’s executive functioning was intact.
The State also presented the testimony of Theodore Mastos, Cummings-El’s
trial counsel.  Mastos testified regarding his career as an attorney and his experience
handling capital cases.  Mastos testified that Cummings-El was adamant about not
wanting his family to “beg for his life” because Cummings-El believed he would be
found innocent.  Mastos became concerned about Cummings-El’s refusal to
7.  The portion of the trial court’s order denying this claim is attached as
Appendix II.
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provide information and witnesses, and sought to ensure that Cummings-El’s
refusal was knowing and intelligent.  Mastos therefore requested that Cummings-El
be evaluated.  Dr. Sanford Jacobson evaluated Cummings-El and concluded that he
was indeed competent to make the decision to waive a mitigation defense, he
suffered from no mental illness, and he understood the nature and consequences of
his decision not to present mitigating evidence.
Mastos testified that, given his client’s wishes during the penalty phase, his
strategy was to present Cummings-El in a positive light.  Mastos therefore did not
present evidence of Cummings-El’s drug use, poor upbringing, or that he came
from a family whose members had substantial criminal charges and convictions,
because he believed that such evidence would have an adverse effect on the jury. 
Mastos further stated that had he determined that Cummings-El suffered from
antisocial personality disorder, he would not have presented that fact to the jury
because to do so would have been inconsistent with his strategy.  Mastos had
remained successful in keeping out the details of Cummings-El’s prior convictions.
In its detailed order denying relief on this issue,7 the postconviction court
found that Mastos’s strategy to present positive aspects of Cummings-El’s
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personality and to prevent negative evidence from being introduced was reasonable,
particularly in light of the fact that Cummings-El made it extremely difficult for
Mastos to obtain mitigating evidence.  The court further found that the testimony of
Cummings-El’s friends and family members presented at the evidentiary hearing
was essentially the same as the evidence presented at the penalty phase.  Moreover,
the court noted that if Mastos had presented this additional testimony, it would
have opened the door to extremely damaging testimony about Cummings-El on
cross-examination.  See Breedlove v. State, 692 So.2d 874, 877-78 (Fla. 1997)
(holding that trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to present testimony of
friends and family members that would have been subject to cross-examination that
would have countered any value defendant might have gained from favorable
evidence).
The court evaluated the mental health expert testimony as follows:
This Court found the video tape of the interview of Dr. Spencer
and the Defendant very helpful.  The Court observed first hand how
the Defendant has the ability to change his behavior as the situation
changed.  Additionally, the testimony of Dr. Ansley was extremely
credible.  Dr. Ansley had the benefit of the work of the other experts,
and took it another step.  Dr. Ansley concluded that the Defendant
does not suffer from organic brain damage.  While Dr. Schram
concluded that the Defendant may have brain damage, he is a neuro-
psychologist, not a forensic neuropsychologist.  Dr. Schram has very
little experience in the area of forensic cases.  Dr. Ansley, on the other
hand, is a forensic neuro-psychologist with vast experience, having
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worked on several hundred forensic cases.  Due to her experience and
expertise in the forensic neuropsychology field, and the thoroughness
of her work in this case, this Court finds her testimony to be extremely
credible.
The postconviction court therefore concluded that Cummings-El had not met his
burden of proving that trial counsel’s conduct at the penalty phase was deficient. 
The court further stated that it was “confident in the outcome of the penalty phase,
as [Cummings-El] has failed to show that even if counsel’s assistance was
ineffective, that there was a reasonable probability that but for the errors
complained of, the result would have been different.”
We find that the factual findings described above are supported by
competent, substantial evidence.  Applying the law to these facts, we find no error
in the postconviction court’s denial of relief based upon that court’s detailed
evaluation of the evidence.  Cummings-El has failed to establish that the outcome of
his case would have been different had trial counsel presented the proposed
mitigating evidence.
PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
In his petition for writ of habeas corpus, Cummings-El asserts:  (1) appellate
counsel was ineffective for failing to argue that the trial court committed
fundamental error by allowing prejudicial testimony and prosecutorial misconduct;
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(2) appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to ensure proper preparation of the
record on appeal; and (3) Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584 (2002), renders Florida’s
capital sentencing scheme unconstitutional.
Habeas Issue 1: 
Prejudicial Testimony and Prosecutorial Misconduct
Cummings-El contends that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing
to raise on direct appeal the claims that the trial court committed fundamental error
by allowing the introduction of prejudicial testimony and by allowing improper
prosecutorial comments during the penalty phase.  When evaluating an ineffective
assistance of appellate counsel claim raised in a writ of habeas corpus, this Court
must determine
first, whether the alleged omissions are of such magnitude as to
constitute a serious error or substantial deficiency falling measurably
outside the range of professionally acceptable performance and,
second, whether the deficiency in performance compromised the
appellate process to such a degree as to undermine confidence in the
correctness of the result.
Pope v. Wainwright, 496 So. 2d 798, 800 (Fla. 1986).  The defendant must allege a
specific, serious omission or overt act upon which the claim of ineffective
assistance can be based.  Freeman v. State, 761 So. 2d 1055, 1069 (Fla. 2000).  In
the absence of fundamental error, an appellate attorney has no obligation to raise an
issue that was not preserved for review.  Rutherford v. Moore, 774 So. 2d 637, 646
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(Fla. 2000).  Fundamental error is error that “reaches down into the validity of the
trial itself to the extent that the verdict of guilty could not have been obtained
without the assistance of the alleged error.”  Kilgore v. State, 688 So. 2d 895, 898
(Fla. 1996).  We find that Cummings-El’s appellate counsel was not ineffective for
failing to raise the unpreserved claims regarding witness testimony and
prosecutorial comments because no fundamental error occurred.
Cummings-El’s first subclaim involves the penalty-phase testimony of
Michael and Daisy Adams.  Cummings-El contends that this testimony was
cumulative and unduly prejudicial.  The record reveals, however, that the witnesses’
testimony at these stages was wholly unrelated.  During the guilt phase, these
witnesses testified with respect to the incidents surrounding the victim’s death and
the victim’s identification of Cummings-El as the perpetrator.  During the penalty
phase, these witnesses testified regarding the victim’s consciousness and
awareness of her impending death.  The witnesses’ testimony at the guilt and
penalty phases was therefore not cumulative or unduly prejudicial but was directly
relevant to the facts at issue in each separate phase.
In his second subclaim, Cummings-El contends that appellate counsel was
ineffective for failing to assert that the trial court committed fundamental error by
allowing the prosecutor to (1) comment on nonstatutory aggravation; (2) suggest
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that there were matters outside the record that the trial court could consider in
determining the ultimate sentence; (3) bolster the weight of the State’s evidence by
arguing that the trial court had already sanctioned the existence of the felony murder
aggravator; (4) argue future dangerousness; and (5) work to inflame the passions of
the jury by inviting it to imagine the victim’s pain and suffering as it acted out the
victim’s last moments of life.  We find that the record does not support
Cummings-El’s assertions with regard to these claims.  The record instead reveals
that the prosecutor’s statements did not give rise to any of the errors listed above. 
Cummings-El has therefore failed to establish fundamental error with regard to
these claims.
Habeas Issue 2:
Proper Preparation of the Record
Cummings-El claims that appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to
include in the record a hearing during which the trial court addressed whether
appointed trial counsel was ineffective.  He asserts that in that hearing, the trial
court failed to conduct an adequate inquiry into Cummings-El’s claims of
ineffective assistance of trial counsel, failed to rule on the motion as required by
Hardwick v. State, 521 So. 2d 1071, 1074-75 (Fla. 1988), and failed to inform
Cummings-El of his right to self-representation.  This Court addressed a trial
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court’s obligation regarding claims of incompetent counsel in Morrison v. State,
818 So. 2d 432, 440 (Fla. 2002):
In Hardwick v. State, 521 So. 2d 1071 (Fla. 1988), this Court adopted
the procedure announced in Nelson v. State, 274 So. 2d 256 (Fla. 4th
DCA 1973), to be followed when a defendant complains that his
appointed counsel is incompetent.  When this occurs, the trial judge is
required to make a sufficient inquiry of the defendant to determine
whether or not appointed counsel is rendering effective assistance to
the defendant.  See Howell v. State, 707 So. 2d 674, 680 (Fla. 1998). 
However, as a practical matter, the trial judge's inquiry can only be as
specific as the defendant's complaint.  See Lowe v. State, 650 So. 2d
969 (Fla. 1994).  This Court has consistently found a Nelson hearing
unwarranted where a defendant presents general complaints about
defense counsel's trial strategy and no formal allegations of
incompetence have been made.  See Davis v. State, 703 So. 2d 1055,
1058-59 (Fla. 1997); Gudinas v. State, 693 So. 2d 953, 962 n.12 (Fla.
1997); Branch v. State, 685 So. 2d 1250, 1252 (Fla. 1996).  Similarly,
a trial court does not err in failing to conduct a Nelson inquiry where
the defendant merely expresses dissatisfaction with his attorney.  See
Davis, 703 So. 2d at 1058-59; Branch, 685 So. 2d at 1252; Dunn v.
State, 730 So. 2d 309, 311-12 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999).
A review of the transcript from the January 4, 1993, hearing reveals that
although Cummings-El made general allegations of dissatisfaction, he did not make
an express allegation of attorney incompetence.  The trial court asked Cummings-El
why he believed his trial counsel should be removed from the case.  Cummings-El
responded only that he believed trial counsel was siding with the prosecution in
trying to persuade him to accept a plea and that trial counsel was not meeting with
him on a regular basis.
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The record reveals that the trial court indeed specifically inquired into
Cummings-El’s claims and, based on Cummings-El’s responses, concluded that
there was no need for the court to conduct a separate hearing on this claim.  We
find that the record supports the trial court’s findings in this regard and that
Cummings-El’s general allegations did not establish a sufficient basis to compel the
trial court to hold a hearing to determine attorney competence.  Morrison, 818 So.
2d at 440.  Accordingly, Cummings-El has not established that appellate counsel
erred by failing to include the transcript of the hearing on appeal.  Appellate counsel
cannot be ineffective for failing to raise a claim that would have been rejected on
appeal.  Lambrix v. Singletary, 641 So. 2d 847, 848-49 (Fla. 1994).
Habeas Issue 3:
Ring v. Arizona
Cummings-El asserts that his death sentence is unconstitutional in light of 
the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584
(2002).  We have denied relief for postconviction claims based upon this argument. 
See Bottoson v. Moore, 833 So. 2d 693 (Fla.), cert. denied, 123 S. Ct. 662 (2002);
King v. Moore, 831 So. 2d 143 (Fla.), cert. denied, 123 S. Ct. 657 (2002).  We
likewise deny Cummings-El’s claim.
CONCLUSION
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Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s denial of Cummings-El’s rule 3.850
motion and deny Cummings-El’s petition for writ of habeas corpus.
It is so ordered.
WELLS, PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANTERO, and BELL, JJ., concur.
PARIENTE, J., concurs specially with an opinion.
ANSTEAD, C.J., concurs in part and dissents in part with an opinion.
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION, AND
IF FILED, DETERMINED.
PARIENTE, J., specially concurring.
As in previous postconviction appeals, I write separately to specify that my
concurrence in the denial of relief under Ring rests solely on the existence of a prior
violent felony aggravating circumstance.  See Cole v. State, 841 So. 2d 409, 431
(Fla. 2003) (Pariente, J., concurring in result only); Fotopolous v. State, 838 So. 2d
1122, 1136-37 (Fla. 2002) (Pariente, J., concurring in result only); Bottoson v.
Moore, 833 So. 2d 693, 723 (Fla.) (Pariente, J., concurring in result only), cert.
denied, 123 S. Ct. 662 (2002).  In Bottoson and King v. Moore, 831 So. 2d 143
(Fla.), cert. denied, 123 S. Ct. 657 (2002), on which the majority relies, we denied
habeas relief to petitioners whose aggravating circumstances included prior violent
felony convictions, but did not issue a majority opinion in either case reflecting a
consensus on the rationale for the result.  Subsequently, this Court has issued
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majority opinions referring to the aggravator of previous conviction of a violent
felony as grounds for the rejection of Ring claims in numerous cases including,
most recently, Jones v. State, 28 Fla. L. Weekly S701, S703 (Fla. Sept. 11, 2003). 
The majority in Jones relied on my concurrence in Bottoson to support its
conclusion that the prior violent felony aggravator is "a factor which under
Apprendi and Ring need not be found by the jury." Id.  Thus, although there
remains no consensus on the effect of Ring on Florida's capital sentencing scheme,
it appears that a majority of the members of this Court have concluded that the
prior violent felony conviction aggravator alone is a sufficient reason to deny relief
under Ring. 
I agree that in this case, Cummings-El does not have a valid Ring claim, but
only because of the prior-conviction aggravator and not on any other basis.
ANSTEAD, C.J., concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I concur in the majority opinion in all respects except for its discussion of
the impact of Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584 (2002), on Florida law.
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APPENDIX I
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CRIMINAL DIVISION
Case No. F91-33268
STATE OF FLORIDA
Plaintiff,
vs.
F. W. CUMMINGS-EL
Defendant.
____________________/
ORDER DENYING AMENDED MOTION TO VACATE  JUDGMENT
OF CONVICTION AND SENTENCE OF DEATH AND FOR OTHER
APPROPRIATE RELIEF IN PART AND GRANTING EVIDENTIARY
HEARING ON CLAIM V
This cause having come before the Court on Defendant's Amended Motion
to Vacate Judgment of Conviction and Sentence of Death and for Other
Appropriate Relief, and the Court having reviewed the Motion, the Response filed
by the State, and having held a Huff Hearing on July 23, 1999, finds as follows:
CLAIM I:  In Claim I of his Motion, Defendant argues that counsel was ineffective
for failing to preserve for appellate review the action of the Court in striking for
cause two members of the jury panel who favored life in prison over the death
penalty.  The U.S. Supreme Court has held in Lockhart v. McCree, 106 S. Ct.
1758 (1986), that the Constitution does not prohibit removal for cause, prior to the
guilt phase of a bifurcated capital case, prospective jurors whose opposition to the
death penalty is so strong that it would prevent or substantially impair performance
of their duties as jurors at the sentencing phase of the trial.
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Similarly, in Buchanan v. Kentucky, 107 S. Ct. 2906 (1987), the US Supreme
Court held that "Death qualification" of a capital jury, whereby prospective jurors
were excluded for cause in light of their stated inability to set aside their strong
opposition to the death penalty, did not violate defendant's right to a jury selected
from a representative cross section of the community.  The Court noted that not all
who oppose the death penalty are excludable for cause.  Those who indicate that
they can set aside temporarily their personal beliefs in defense to the rule of law
may serve as jurors.  Id., at 2914.
The record reflects that the jurors were stricken after saying that they could
not set aside their beliefs and follow the law, these portions of the record are
attached to this order hereto as Exhibit "A".
Accordingly, no evidentiary hearing is necessary on this Claim.
CLAIM II:  In Claim II Defendant alleges that counsel was ineffective in failing to
call Daphne Roberts as a witness.  Defendant has failed to demonstrate prejudice
pursuant to Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984).  The testimony of the
victim's son, mother, and cousin refute the allegations of this claim overwhelmingly,
as specifically detailed in the State's Response to Amended Motion to Vacate
Conviction and Judgment and Sentence of Death..  In her deposition, Daphne
Roberts stated that the victim said "He hurt me, he hurt me , Mama.  Fred hurt me." 
When asked did Kathy say "Fred", she replied "Yes, she did."  See Deposition of
Daphne Roberts, p. 19, attached hereto as Exhibit "B".
CLAIM III:  In Claim III the Defendant argues that counsel was ineffective in
failing to have the jury make separate findings on their verdict or verdicts at the
guilt/innocence phase with respect to the prosecution's claim.  In Brown v. State,
473 So. 2d 1260 (Fla. 1985), the Court held that it was proper for the trial court to
refuse the use of special verdict forms which would have indicated whether first-
degree murder conviction was based upon premeditated or felony-murder.
In Buford v. State, 492 So. 2d 355 (Fla. 1986), Buford's argument was that
in light of various theories of first-degree murder presented to the jury, a special
verdict form was required to insure that the jury did not convict him under a theory
and factual setting which would prohibit the imposition of the death penalty.  The
Court held that a special verdict form is not required to determine whether a
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defendant's first-degree murder conviction is based upon premeditated murder,
felony murder or accomplice liability.  Id., at 358.
Further, counsel is not ineffective for failure to anticipate changes in the law. 
Muhammad v. State, 426 So. 2d 538 (Fla. 1983); Harvey v. Dugger, 656 So. 2d
1258 (Fla. 1995).
Additionally, this claim should have been raised on appeal and is
procedurally barred.  Maharaj v. State, 684 So. 2d 726, 728 (Fla. 1996).
CLAIM IV:  Claim IV is that counsel was ineffective in failing to object to a
statement made by the Court to the jury about failure to put on a defense.  This
issue was raised on appeal but not addressed by the Supreme Court as it was not
properly preserved.
The record refutes prejudice to the Defendant.  The Court's instruction, in
context, states:
Folks, the only side of this case who has to go forward and prove
anything is the State side.  The Defense does not have to prove
anything.  The burden of proof of coming forward with the evidence,
of coming up with witnesses, coming forward with the exhibits, all
that.
The Defense is not required to prove anything.  They're not required
to disprove anything and that burden of proof of coming forward with
the evidence is beyond and to the exclusion of every reasonable
doubt.  So that would not be a requirement.  I just want to make sure
everybody understands for the defendant to prove he had a twin, bring
to you the evidence.
It's possible that the Defense does not utter a word through he trial. 
Although it wouldn't happen.  It shouldn't happen.  We need to try to
get on, if we can but go ahead.
Transcript, pp. 247-248, attached hereto as Exhibit "C".
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This claim is refuted by the record and barred.
CLAIM V:  This claim alleges that counsel was ineffective in that he failed to
properly and adequately investigate and prepare mitigating evidence.  Defendant has
failed to state what the mitigating evidence would be and how he suffered prejudice
as a result.  A defendant my not simply file a motion for postconviction relief
containing conclusory allegations that his or her trial counsel was ineffective and
then expect to receive an evidentiary hearing.  Kennedy v. State, 547 So. 2d 912
(Fla. 1989).  See also Engle v. Dugger, 576 So. 2d 696, 700 (Fla. 1991); Valle v.
State, 705 So.2d 1331, 1334 (Fla. 1997); Teffeteller v. Dugger, 24 Fla. L. Weekly
S110, 114 (March 1999).
There are some indications that the Defendant did not want to cooperate in
the mitigation stage.  Defendant was evaluated by Dr. Sanford Jacobson on
January 5, 1993.  The defendant told Dr. Jacobson "he did not want family
members to testify in his behavior."  See report of Dr. Jacobson, attached as
Exhibit "D".  When asked to explain, the Defendant told Dr. Jacobson there was no
difference to him between life in prison or the death sentence because if he was in
jail for the rest of his life, he was lost to his family.
In an abundance of caution, this Court will conduct a evidentiary hearing to
determine if trial counsel was ineffective in failing to present mitigating evidence
during the penalty phase.
CLAIMS VI & VII:  These claims allege incorrect application of the C.C.P. and
H.A.C. aggravating factors.  They were raised on appeal and are barred.  Maharaj
v. State, 684 So. 2d 726, 728 (Fla. 1996).  Matters pertaining to the use of
aggravating factors to be used in the sentencing phase of a capital crime are
procedurally barred because they could have or should have been raised on direct
appeal.  Engle v. Dugger, 576 so. 2d 696, 703 (Fla. 1993); Lopez v. Singletary, 634
So. 2d 1054, 1056 (Fla. 1994); Henderson v. Dugger, 522 So. 2d 835, 838 n.(14).
CLAIM VIII:  This claim alleges the Defendant was deprived of a fair trial because
he only had one attorney.  In Larkins v. State, 655 So. 2d 95 (Fla. 1995), the
Supreme Court held that the trial court's refusal to appoint two attorneys in a capital
murder trial was not ineffective assistance of counsel and did not deprive
Defendant of due process.  See also Armstrong v. State, 642 So. 2d 730 (Fla.
-26-
1994).  Furthermore, this claim should have been raised on direct appeal and is
barred.
CLAIM IX:  This claim is that defendant was deprived of a fair trial.  It should
have been raised on appeal and is barred.  Maharaj v. State, 684 So. 2d 726 (Fla.
1996).
CLAIM X:  This claim is that the trial court incorrectly commented about the
Defendant stating that he wanted to be sentenced to death.  The jury voted eight to
four in favor of death and the jury did not hear this comment.  This claim should
have been raised on appeal and is barred.  Maharaj v. State, 684 So. 2d 726 (Fla.
1996).
CLAIM XI:  This claim is that the death penalty is per se unconstitutional.  This
issue should have been raised on appeal and is barred.  Woods v. State, 531 So.
2d 79 (Fla. 1988).  Additionally, the Supreme Court has again recently held that the
death penalty is not cruel and unusual punishment.  Provenzano v. State, 24 Fla. L.
Weekly S314 (July 1, 1999); Jones v. State, 701 So. 2d 76 (Fla. 1997).
Currently the usage of the electric chair is being challenged by Thomas
Provenzano in front of Judge Clarence Thomas in Orlando.  In the event the electric
chair is found by the Florida Supreme Court to be cruel and unusual punishment
and lethal injection is not an option, this Court will entertain a renewed motion on
this ground.
WHEREFORE, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Defendant's
Amended Motion for Postconviction Relief is DENIED as to Claims I, II, III, IV,
VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, and XI.  An Evidentiary Hearing On Claim V will be held on
Friday, September 17, 1999 and 2:00 p.m.
DONE AND ORDERED in Miami-Dade County this 29th day of July,
1999.
/s/                                            
Joseph P. Farina
Circuit Court Judge
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Exhibit “A” Re:  Juror Oshinsky
MR. HONIG:  That's only life in prison, with a twenty-five year minimum
mandatory.
MR. YERO:  Life in prison would have to be one hundred years, so I know
the person will rot in jail.
MR. HONIG:  Because we can't do it.  Today it's death or life with a
twenty-five year minimum mandatory.
MR. YERO:  No matter.
MR. HONIG:  No matter what we show you?
MR. YERO:  I don't think so.
MR. HONIG:  Okay.  I appreciate that.
How about Mr. Lopez, Dr. Lopez' row, Mr. Oshinsky?
MR. OSHINSKY:  In response to the Judges question, before I indicated
that I thought, not withstanding my belief, that I could follow the law.  Posing it the
way you posed it and perhaps that enlightens what happens in the second phase,
that gives me some pause and if it's strictly a recommendation that comes from my
belief in the entire content, than I would have to tell you that my recommendation
would have to be at best life in prison on a finding of guilty.  And whether or not
there is some circumstances that would push me beyond that, I can't imagine what
that is, but I can't say that that couldn't be presented.
MR. HONIG:  So you're feeling already that if the defendant would be found
guilty, you most likely vote life in prison; is that a fair summary?
MR. OSHINSKY:  It's a fair summary.
MR. HONIG:  I'm going to try to, if we get to the second phase, if we get to
the question of the death penalty, you're already leaning one way, was that fair?
MR. OSHINSKY:  Uh-huh.
MR. HONIG:  If we have to prove to you that death is the appropriate
punishment, are you going to make us prove it by a burden of proof higher than
reasonable doubt because you have such strong feelings?
MR. OSHINSKY:  I'm not sure what the tests are.  That is, I don't practice
criminal law as the other laws.  I'm not sure what is your proof or what the standard
of law is to permit or recommend for the death penalty.
MR. HONIG:  We'll get to that in a moment.
MR. MASTOS:  Judge, most respectfully, there will be the standard under
the Statute 921, the aggravating and mitigating circumstances so the jury will not be
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confused.
THE COURT:  I could do it in a very general way.  The legislature has given
us some help when we have to try to make this decision.  In part, that is assuming
to begin with that a jury has agreed by unanimous vote that somebody is guilty of
first degree murder.  In the statutes of Florida, there is a list of things that jurors can
consider, can weigh, can balance, in helping them to decide in Phase II whether or
not death penalty is appropriate in a particular case.
They actually spell things out.  You could consider this.  You could consider
that.  In terms of saying yes, the death penalty would be applicable or maybe no, it
wouldn't be for various reasons.  So, you will have factors to consider.  They are
called aggravating circumstances.  They're also called mitigating circumstances.  I
really don't want to get into all of them now because a jury could consider things
not even on the list.  When it comes to mitigating factors, there is a balance.  All
twelve of you will be able to express your opinions and cast your vote individually. 
You don't have to come up with a unanimous verdict.  On Phase II, the Judge will
want to hear by your vote, are you in favor by a vote of zero to twelve.  It's a lot of
balance, give and take.
MR. HONIG:  I want to finish up the line.  I think I was still in Lopez' row. 
Is there anybody in this row?  We've already talked to people, given a choice, they
will always recommend life in prison.  One of the things you said Ms. Rosenthal
was if I saw the crime and was one hundred percent sure -- is there any other way if
you didn't see the crime, but were one hundred percent sure?
MS. ROSENTHAL:  How could I be one hundred percent sure?
MR. HONIG:  So you couldn't do it?
MS. ROSENTHAL:  No.
MR. HONIG:  How about the third row, was life in prison --
MS. GRUBB:  Me.
MR. HONIG:  And that's Ms. Grubb.  Is this a religious or moral feeling or
you just can't make that choice yourself?
MS. GRUBB:  I can't make it myself.
MR. HONIG:  If the State proved to you that if there was ever a death
penalty case that this is it, what would be your recommendation?
MS. GRUBB:  Live in prison.
MR. HONIG:  Is there any way we could change how you feel about that?
MS. GRUBB:  No.
MR. HONIG:  Anybody else in this row?
One of the things that came up with Mr. Oshinsky and Ms. Rosenthal, what
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do I have to prove to Ms. Rosenthal absolutely, unless she was there.  I'm not sure
I have to prove --
-30-
Exhibit “A” Re:  Juror Kozakowski
MR. HONIG:  There will be another trial.  There's going to be witnesses and
evidence.  This is an issue of where you get to see, if sitting in this box or not or
whether you get the burden of making a decision because as lawyers, we stand up
here and hear ourselves talk and we want to make sure that we're getting a jury that
will sit fairly in this case.  Like I said, there are all kinds of cases.  We want to make
sure this is the right case for you.
Mr. Kozakowski, I made you a promise and I'm going to stick to it.  I don't
remember what I'm going to ask though.  If you find the defendant guilty of first
degree murder, you and eleven other people on the jury, when we get to the second
part, are you already going to have your mind made up?  What do you think you're
going to do?  Are you going to be able to listen and follow the law?  It's like
another trial.  You have to start with a clean slate.  Do you think you will be able to
do that?
MR. KOZAKOWSKI:  I'm afraid, in my own conscience, that I would go
for the imprisonment rather than the death penalty.
MR. HONIG:  If the Judge tells you, well, you can't.  You have to clean it up
and start from scratch.  Could you do that or are you still going to be starting from
one side to the other?  You're still going to be starting, going towards
imprisonment?
MR. KOZAKOWSKI:  I'm very skeptical of the death penalty.  I'll always
agree I didn't hear the evidence or it's right or this wasn't enough evidence that
would linger in my mind.
MR. FORT:  I feel that there are people in prisons that should have gone to
the chair or lethal injection or whatever.  I feel there are people should have gone
away to prison.  There are people, we know, that plead mental insanity and usually
they get off with just staying in prison.  As far as voting, it's really not a vote.  I
guess it's a vote making my statement.
How I feel if the man has committed first degree murder, it could have been
avoided, if the man could have avoided it and he didn't.  I would say I would go
along with the first degree murder.  I mean, I would go along with execution in one
way or the other later down the road.
MR. HONIG:  Now, would you be able to sit if the defendant is convicted of
first degree murder, will you be able to sit in the aggravating and the mitigating
factors with a fair and open mind or would you already have your mind made up
-31-
with the guilt?
MR. FORT:  Once my mind is made up, it's going to stay there.
MR. HONIG:  But would your mind be made up as to the guilt phase or
could you keep that decision only?
MR. FORT:  If he's guilty, he's guilty.
MR. HONIG:  Ms. Pegram, if the defendant is found guilty, after that, you
will be able to sit and listen to the mitigating factors and be able to or would your
mind be --
MS. PEGRAM:  If he were declared guilty, I'll probably be thinking along the
death penalty but, I would listen.
MR. HONIG:  Mitigating --
MS. PEGRAM:  Things were, I would listen to that and it may have an effect
on what I thought.  I don't know.
MR. HONIG:  Would you be able to follow the law that the Judge gives you
that says you need to listen and watch and hear the evidence on this second trial
and judge it on your own --
MS. PEGRAM:  I think so.
MR. HONIG:  How about you, Mr. Sanchez?  These are all tough questions. 
They really are.
MR. SANCHEZ:  If the accused is found guilty, I would say I would
probably vote, if I'm truly convinced that the person committed the first degree
murder, yes I will.
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Exhibit “B”
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 11TH
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR DADE
COUNTY, FLORIDA
CRIMINAL DIVISION
CASE NO.:  91-33268
THE STATE OF FLORIDA,
:
:
Plaintiff,
:
:
vs.
:
:
F.W. CUMMINGS-EL,
:
:
Defendant.
:
:
____________________________________x
DEPOSITION OF DAPHNEY ROBERTS
. . . .
A.
She just made it right there to the door.
Q.
All right, did she actually get into the living room?
A.
Yes.
Q.
And---
A.
And she fell right there.
Q.
All right, she collapsed?
A.
She fell.
Q.
And then what happened?  Did somebody call the police?
A.
First Mike, yeah.  Mike grabbed her, and Miss Daisy, she just got--
Miss Daisy just got hysterical and started screaming.  Kathy was saying, "He hurt
-33-
me, he hurt me, Mama.  Fred hurt me."  And Mike grabbed her.
Q.
Now, did Kathy say "Fred"?
A.
Yes, she did.  "He hurt me, Mama, he hurt me."  And Mike grabbed
her, was holding her up like this (indicating), and Miss Daisy got hysterical.
She got on the phone, was calling the 911, and Mike--she was on the phone,
and Mike had her, and she was saying, "I can't breathe, I can't breathe."  And it
sounded like she had a cold or something.  She was getting clogged up, I guess. 
She said, "I can't breathe, I can't breathe."
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Exhibit “C”
MR. HONIG:  What if her brother knows the guy?
MR. ROJAS:  I think that helps.
MR. HONIG:  How many people think that it's a reasonable doubt?
MR. SOFFIAN:  Only if the defense case, if he says he has a twin brother.
MR. MASTOS:  We will object and ask that the Court instruct that the
Defense has no burden of proof and furthermore, I think Mr. Honig is arguing the
case.  I object.
THE COURT:  Folks, the only side, the only side of this case who has to go
forward and prove anything is the State side.  The Defense does not have to prove
anything.  The burden of proof of coming forward with the evidence, of coming
forward with the witnesses, coming forward with the exhibits, all that.
The Defense is not required to prove anything.  They're not required to
disprove anything and that burden of proof of coming forward with the evidence is
beyond and to the exclusion of every reasonable doubt.  So that would not be a
requirement.  I just want to make sure everybody understands for the defendant to
prove that he had a twin, in order for the State to prove the case, they have to bring
to you all the evidence.
It's possible that the Defense does not utter a word through the whole trial. 
Although it wouldn't happen.  It shouldn't happen.  We need to try to get on, if we
can but go ahead.
MR. HONIG:  Thank you.
I'll try to handle it very quickly.  The Defense doesn't have to prove anything,
but I'm asking sort of another side to that question.  Do you think that speculation
or forced doubt, do you think it's a reasonable doubt?
MR. SOFFIAN:  I think it's purely speculation.  I wouldn't say it's
reasonable.
MR. HONIG:  What do you think?
MR. SOFFIAN:  Speculation.
MR. HONIG:  How many people here would label it that way, speculation? 
How many people would label it that way?  How many people are tired of raising
their hands?
MS. MICK:  I don't understand the question.
MR. HONIG:  Mr. Rojas said that a reasonable doubt might be even if you
have, I've got an identification, possibility someone has a twin brother, I'm asking if
-35-
it's a reasonable doubt or do you think that's creating an issue in your own doubt,
speculating, a possibility out of your own head now, out of the evidence.
-36-
Exhibit “D”
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Sanford Jacobson, M.D., U.M.D.C.
305-585-7097
Fax:  305-324-8601
January 5, 1993
The Honorable Joseph P. Farina
Circuit Court
Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida
1351 N.W. 12 Street
Miami, Florida  33125
Re:
Cummings-EL, F.W.
Case No. 91-33268
Dear Judge Farina,
F.W. Cummings-EL, also known as Frederick Wooden, is a 34 year old
black male seen for psychiatric evaluation at the Dade County Jail on January 5,
1993 in connection with charges of first degree murder and armed burglary.  The
defendant is seen to determine his competency for legal proceedings, his ability to
meet the test for criminal responsibility, and his need for involuntary hospitalization
and treatment.  The evaluation was requested because some of the statements
attributed to the defendant with respect to the sentencing phase of his trial if indeed
the defendant were to be found not guilty.
HISTORY AND EXAMINATION.  The defendant entered the interview
situation willingly.  I asked him about his name and he told me that the EL at the
end of his name is an attribute that he had placed after his name dealing with his
nationality.  I did not inquire further.  Later in the interview he explained that
-37-
Cummings was his father's name and F.W. stands for Frederick Wooden.  He
noted that his father had been separated from his mother and he did not know him
that well.  His father is now deceased.
The defendant indicated that he was aware that an evaluation had been
requested and explained that it had come about when he was being asked by his
attorney, Mr. Mastos, about family members being available to testify at a
sentencing phase in the event he were found guilty.  The defendant stated he did not
want family members to testify in his behavior.  When asked to explain he told me
that there was no difference between life imprisonment and a death sentence
because if he was in jail for the rest of his life he was lost to his family.  The
defendant professed his innocence and stated that he did not kill the victim. 
According to the defendant he is totally innocent of the charges.
The defendant talked about the allegations and stated that they were not true. 
He complained about the fact that witnesses apparently first failed to identify him
and later came forth and named him as the person that committed the offense.  He
also talked about the fact that there was no forced entry even though one was
claimed by one of the witnesses.  He also added that there was no physical
evidence that would implicate him.
Later in the interview the defendant acknowledged that he knew the victim
and that she was a former girlfriend.  He also acknowledged that some type of
restraining order had been placed against him but that he had adhered to it and it
was no problem for him.  The defendant indicated that he has had a number of
relationships with women.  He claims that the victim was a girlfriend but that they
had no children together although he has five children with whom he describes an
active role in their upbringing.
The defendant was able to participate in an effective fashion in the interview. 
He was well organized in his thinking and expressed himself in a goal directed
fashion.  There were no hallucinations acknowledged in the past or present. 
Nothing was present to suggest delusional thinking.  The defendant showed some
slight irritability at the onset of the interview but that dissipated.  Anxiety level was
certainly within acceptable limits.  Mood was not depressed.  No obsessive or
phobic symptoms were noted.  With respect to substance abuse, the defendant
stated that he has used alcohol and marijuana and also occasionally cocaine but
-38-
denies any problem with these and states that he is not dependent on them and no
longer abuses them.  He indicated that the victim did use drugs to some degree
although he did not describe her as a heavy user.
In terms of any previous psychiatric history, he denied both psychiatric
consultation on an outpatient basis or any inpatient treatment.  Past medical history
was non-contributory and he disclaimed any operations or serious injuries.
With respect to his vocational history, he talked about working as a roofer
and in construction.  The defendant states he has a high school equivalency.
He talked about his family and noted that he was the 7th of 12 children.  He
described a good relationship with his mother and his siblings.
Testing of special faculties showed no impairment in terms of orientation,
memory or intellectual functioning.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS.  Presently it is felt that the defendant is
competent for legal proceedings and has sufficient present ability to communicate
with counsel with a reasonable degree of rational understanding.  He possesses
both a rational and factual understanding of the charges.  An assessment of the
various factors considered indicates that:
A.
The defendant's appreciation of the charges is acceptable;
B.
The defendant's appreciation of the range and nature of possible
penalties is acceptable;
C.
The defendant's understanding of the adversary nature of legal
process is acceptable;
D.
The defendant's capacity to disclose to attorney pertinent facts
of the proceedings at issue is acceptable;
E.
The defendant's ability to manifest appropriate courtroom
behavior is acceptable;
-39-
F.
The defendant's capacity to testify relevantly is acceptable.
At this time the defendant would not meet criteria for involuntary psychiatric
hospitalization.
With respect to the issue of sanity, I would conclude that the defendant was
in the absence of any specific information to the contrary, sane and able to meet the
test for criminal responsibility.
With respect to the defendant's feelings about family members testifying in
any sentencing phase if it were necessary, I can only state that the defendant's
explanation does not appear to me to be irrational or bizarre.  It may not be in his
best interest at this time but the defendant might, if necessary, alter that opinion or
view.
I do not think individuals who make statements of this type, which appear to
be somewhat less than in their best interest, should be viewed as necessarily
impaired or dysfunctional mentally.  It is not in my opinion a reflection of a major
mental illness although it might reflect aspects of his personality which are not
always operating to serve his best interest.
Yours very truly,
/s/
Sanford Jacobson, M.D.
Psychiatrist
SJ/ms
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APPENDIX II
Claim No. 5
COUNSEL WAS INEFFECTIVE FOR FAILURE TO PROPERLY AND
ADEQUATELY INVESTIGATE AND PREPARE STATUTORY AND NON-
STATUTORY MITIGATING EVIDENCE AT THE PENALTY PHASE.
After reviewing the record and carefully considering the testimony adduced
at the evidentiary hearing, this Court does not feel the Defendant has met his burden
of proving that trial counsel's conduct at the penalty phase amounted to deficient
representation in light of Defendant's refusal to assist counsel in preparing for a
penalty phase by expressly prohibiting counsel from presenting background
evidence, irrespective of his later cursory consent to family members being
contacted.  Moreover, this Court is confident in the outcome of the penalty phase,
as Defendant has failed to show that even if counsel's assistance was ineffective,
that there was a reasonable probability that but for the errors complained of, the
result would have been different.
Defendant claims that counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate
whether there was available evidence to contend for the applicability of mental
health mitigating evidence, family related, and other types of mitigating evidence. In
order to prevail on this claim, Defendant must demonstrate that counsel's
performance was deficient and that counsel's performance affected the outcome of
the sentencing proceedings.  Strickland at 695.  Because the reasonableness of
counsel's acts (including what investigations are reasonable) depends "critically"
upon "information supplied by the [petitioner]" or "the [petitioner]'s own
statements or actions," evidence of a petitioner's statements and acts in dealing with
counsel is highly relevant to ineffective assistance claims.  Strickland, 104 S. Ct. at
2066.  "[An] inquiry into counsel's conversations with the [petitioner] may be
critical to a proper assessment of counsel's investigative decisions, just as it may be
critical to a proper assessment of counsel's other litigation decisions."  Id. 
("[W]hen a defendant has given counsel reason to believe that pursuing certain
investigations would be fruitless or even harmful, counsel's failure to pursue those
investigations may not later be challenged as unreasonable.").  Chandler, 218 F. 3d
at 1318, 1319.
-41-
During the Evidentiary Hearing, on December 20, 2000, Theodore Mastos,
defendant's trial attorney testified before this court.  Mr. Mastos is a former State
Attorney, and a former County and Circuit Court Judge.  After leaving the bench,
Mr. Mastos became a criminal defense attorney.  As a defense attorney, Mr.
Mastos tried one capital case prior to Defendant's, State v. Darvy & Harris.  Both
defendants in that case were acquitted.  As a Circuit Court Judge, Mr. Mastos
presided over the trials of Burley Gilliam and Jesus Scull, both of whom were
convicted and sentenced to death.
Mr. Mastos testified that the State had a strong case against the Defendant. 
The State's witnesses were family members of the victim who knew the Defendant
personally.  Mr. Mastos testified that his defense strategy was mistaken identity and
that this was not the type of crime the Defendant would have committed because
interactions with the victim had been confrontational prior to the murder, and that
this type of murder was committed by a coward.  Mr. Mastos testified that no other
defense was presented because the Defendant did not agree to any other defense. 
Mr. Mastos felt he would lose the trust of his client if he went against his wishes
and proceeded to craft any other strategy.
Defendant argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failure to call family
members to testify.  Mr. Mastos testified he was familiar with the aggravators and
mitigators.  He testified that the Defendant nor his family members gave him any
information that would have been useful in presenting evidence of statutory
mitigating factors.  He stated that the Defendant was quite strong-willed and he
could not convince him to do anything.  Mr. Mastos testified that the Defendant did
not want him to contact his family members to testify on his behalf, that he did not
want his family "begging for his life" because he was innocent.  (TR. December 20,
pp. 44,47, 49).  Mr. Mastos testified that he became concerned about Defendant's
refusal to provide information and witnesses and to ensure that the refusal was a
knowing and intelligent decision, rather than the result of some unknown mental
illness, he requested an evaluation by Dr. Sanford Jacobson.  The report of Dr.
Jacobson is Exhibit C to this Court's July 29, 1999 order.  Dr. Jacobson found the
Defendant competent to make the decision to waive a mitigation defense.  The
Court notes that no absolute duty exists to introduce mitigating or character
evidence.  Chandler at 1319.
Mr. Mastos further testified that Defendant grudgingly permitted trial counsel
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to contact family members, but maintained the position that he did not want them to
beg for his life.  The record shows that at the January 4, 1993 trial hearing
Defendant gave trial counsel permission to speak to his family members, but Dr.
Jacobson's report dated January 5, 1993 demonstrates that Defendant did not want
family members to testify.  However, during the penalty phase trial counsel
presented testimony from the Defendant's two (2) available family members, to put
a human spin on the case.  Some of the Defendant's children were in court during
the penalty phase, but did not wish to testify, nor did Defendant wish them to
testify.  This Court notes that trial counsel is not deficient for failure to present
testimony from reluctant family members, Ferguson v. State, 593 So.2d 508, 510
(Fla. 1992), nor is counsel ineffective for following the instructions of the
Defendant.
At the evidentiary hearing, the Court heard testimony from the Defendant's
sister, Catherine Covington, his niece, Catherine Wooden, his middle school
principal, Moses Poole, the mother of four of Defendant' s children, Deborah
Dawson, his sons Frederick and Lyndon Dawson, his nephew, Gregory Wooden,
and a childhood friend of Defendant, Eddie Webster.  The Court notes that the
testimony of Catherine Covington, Catherine Wooden, Frederick Dawson, and
Deborah Dawson offered essentially the same non-statutory mitigation evidence as
that presented at trial by the Defendant's two sisters.  Mr. Mastos testified that he
did not call the mother of four of Defendant's children, Deborah Dawson, who
lived in another state because, according to Mr. Mastos, her testimony, like that of
other civilian witnesses, would not have been particularly helpful to Defendant.  Her
testimony would have revealed, during cross-examination, that the Defendant was a
drug user, supported her periodically, when he was not incarcerated, and
voluntarily left her and the children when he moved back to Florida.
Defendant further argues ineffective assistance for trial counsel's failure to
introduce mitigation evidence including the extensive history of criminal conduct of
Defendant's siblings, and Defendant's substance abuse.  Mr. Mastos was
successful in keeping out details of Defendant's prior convictions.  Mr. Mastos
testified that he did not present the Defendant's previous incarceration records
because he did not want the jury to think that Defendant was a career criminal, as
this would not have elicited their sympathy.  Moreover, while there are indicia of
good behavior in the records, there are also notations of involvement in violent
fights while incarcerated.  The testimony by the family members at the evidentiary
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hearing would have exposed the jury to parts of the Defendant's criminal record
that were not presented at trial.  Mr. Mastos also testified that he would not have
presented to the jury the criminal history of Defendant's family members as that
would have resulted in the jury voting 10-2 or 12-0 for death, rather than 8-4.  (TR.
December 20, 2000, p. 100-101).  Trial counsel is not ineffective for failing to
present background information which would have allowed the presentation of
damaging or derogatory evidence, including violent tendencies, in rebuttal. 
Breedlove v. State, 692 So.2d 874, 878 (Fla. 1997); Medina v. State, 573 So.2d
293, 298 (Fla. 1990).
Regarding Defendant's drug use, Eddie Webster testified about the
Defendant's drug use.  Moses Poole testified that in seventh, eighth, and ninth
grades he had never observed the Defendant under the influence of drugs, and that
the Defendant was an average student and was not a discipline problem.  Mr.
Mastos testified that the Defendant did not tell him about the drug use until after the
trial was over.  Counsel acknowledged that drug abuse can have a double-edged
sword effect on the jury, as juries are not sympathetic to junkies generally.  Further
he believed that drug abuse testimony would have been helpful if the Defendant had
claimed to have committed the crime while in a cocaine rage.  Because the
defense's strategy was to convince the jury that the Defendant was not present at
the scene of the crime and did not commit the crime, and that Defendant is a
decent, upstanding, family man, testimony of drug abuse at the penalty phase
would not have been supportive of counsel's efforts.  Counsel's strategic decisions
will not be second-guessed on collateral attack.  Johnson v. State, 769 So. 2d 990,
1002 (Fla. 2000) (tactical decision not to present a defense of voluntary intoxication
does not constitute ineffective assistance); Remeta v. Dugger, 622 So. 2d 452, 455
(Fla. 1993).
Mr. Mastos said he would not have used extreme emotional disturbance as a
mitigator as it was not consistent with the defense strategy.  He also would not have
presented a claim of impairment to Defendant's ability to conform his conduct to
the requirements of law as it, too, was inconsistent with the defense of mistaken
identity.  Mr. Mastos testified he would never have presented evidence that showed
that the Defendant had an anti-social personality disorder or depicting Defendant as
a psychopathic manipulator as that would defeat his goal of presenting Defendant
as a normal human being, and would have a negative effect on the jury.
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As to Defendant's claim of mental health mitigating factors, the record
reflects that trial counsel did have Defendant psychologically evaluated prior to the
guilt phase.  See Report of Dr. Jacobson, dated January 5, 1993.  Dr. Jacobson's
report found Defendant's reasoning to be rational and not indicative of any mental
illness.  Id. at 3-4.  Mr. Mastos testified that he did not request further mental health
evaluations because Dr. Jacobson's report found nothing wrong and raised no red
flags suggesting organic brain damage, nor did his interactions with Defendant
reveal any psychiatric difficulties.
During the Evidentiary Hearing, the Court heard extensive testimony from
five expert witnesses who conducted mental health evaluations of the Defendant for
the purpose of determining the existence of mitigating factors.  The three experts
presented by the defense were psychologist Dr. Merry Haber, Dr. Bruce Frumpkin,
a forensic and clinical psychologist, and Dr. Lynn Schram, a neuro-psychologist. 
The State presented Dr. John Spencer, a forensic and clinical psychologist and Dr.
Jane Ansley, a clinical psychologist and forensic neuro-psychologist.  The
consensus of the expert testimony is that Defendant has an antisocial personality
disorder, which is not a mitigating factor.  They all agree that antisocial personality
disorder does not cause criminal behavior, it explains it.
Dr. Haber testified that the Defendant has obsessive compulsive personality
traits and has a tendency to focus on a certain issue and is unwilling or unable to
change his focus.  She also found that he is manipulative and likes to present
himself in the best light and likes to convey the impression that he is an upright
moral kind of guy.  Dr. Haber also testified that Defendant had the capacity to
know what he was doing when he killed the victim.  She determined that he acts
without impulse control.  She was concerned about the possibility of brain damage
due to the Defendant suffering a head injury as a child and while in prison, even
though he did not lose consciousness during either incident.  Additionally, she
acknowledged that huffing gasoline could cause brain damage.  As she is not a
neuro-psychologist, she could not diagnose brain damage with certainty.
Dr. Frumpkin also testified about the Defendant's social history and head
injuries.  In addition to having an anti-social personality disorder, Dr. Frumpkin
concluded that the Defendant is probably long-term chronically depressed.  He
agreed with Dr. Schram's conclusion that the Defendant cannot shift attention.  On
cross-examination, Dr. Frumpkin admitted that the impairment in Defendant's
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attention may not be due to improper brain functioning.
Dr. Schram, whose background does not include extensive experience in
forensics nor familiarity with the legal standards of incapacity, testified as to the
results of a number of tests administered to Defendant.  The results of these tests
were:  borderline normal/impaired score on the California Learning Test, low/mildly
impaired score on the Speech Sound Perception Test, mild to moderately impaired
on the Seashore Rhythm test, low normal to normal on the Delayed Recall Test,
normal on the Memory Test, normal on the Ground Peg Board and Trials A & B
Tests, above normal on the Visual Synthesis Test, and good to normal on the
Webster Memory Test.  Dr. Schram also testified that the Defendant scored in the
low normal range on the Judgment Test.  Defendant scored below normal in the
Digits Forward and Digits Backwards Test, which according to Dr. Schram,
indicates that something is not right with the brain.  Dr. Schram opined that the
pattern on the test he administered indicates that the Defendant has an attention and
concentration problem, which is indicative of organic brain damage.  Although the
test suggests impairment in Defendant's attention and concentration abilities, Dr.
Schram was unable to either definitively determine that Defendant suffers from
brain damage, or find that Defendant is impaired in his everyday functioning.
Dr. Spencer found the Defendant has an anti-social personality disorder, but
found no clinical evidence of significant brain damage.  He testified that he
personally observed that the Defendant could change his approach when
confronted with information, known as changing sets.  Dr. Spencer videotaped his
interview with the Defendant.  A portion of the tape was presented as evidence. 
[State's exhibit 3.]  The video clearly showed that the Defendant was capable of
changing sets in the way he altered his mind set when responding to Dr. Spencer. 
As noted by Dr. Spencer, the tape revealed that the Defendant can become
agitated, and not become violent.  He can control his anger.  Dr. Spencer also
stated that it was possible to suffer from brain damage that is not detected or
detectable.  He stated that he did not see anything in his test results or in his
interview with the Defendant that was indicative of organic brain damage.
Dr. Ansley provided a neuro-psychological evaluation.  She testified that the
results of her evaluation showed no indication of any organic brain damage and no
executive function deficit.  Dr. Ansley had reviewed the Defendant's medical history
and the raw data from the testing performed by all of the aforementioned experts. 
-46-
She concluded that this data was valid and reliable, and integrated it into tests she
performed on her own.  Her findings, like those of Dr. Spencer, were that the
Defendant has an anti-social personality disorder and type D on the McGarty scale. 
This type of individual, according to Dr. Ansley, generally does not do well in
treatment as the person does not accept responsibility in general.
Dr. Ansley relied on Dr. Schram's report that indicated that the Defendant
has no memory deficiency.  She testified that memory is the most easily injured
aspect of brain functioning due to brain damage.  She found that the results of Dr.
Schram's report indicated the Defendant had borderline perseveration. 
Perseveration is a measure of one's loss of ability to engage in straight forward
communication.  A person will start and stop if the brain is injured.  To determine
the amount of perseveration, Dr. Ansley administered the Miami Learning Test,
which is a verbal learning test where the subject has to repeat what the tester said. 
The Defendant had normal scores on this test.  Dr. Schram's report stated that
there was perseverance in the area of attention.  Dr. Ansley gave the Defendant the
Wexler Memory Scale 3 Test and concluded that the Defendant was low average to
borderline.
Dr. Ansley testified that attention is one of the most basic skills for any test
given.  A lack of attention will impact the results of all other test.  She performed
the Digits Forward and Digits Backwards tests.  The Defendant had no
performance problems on the Digits Forward test.  She testified that he had some
problems on the Digits Backwards test.  Dr. Ansley stated that she, herself, took
the Digits Backwards test and her score was similar to that of the Defendant.  Dr.
Ansley found that, in general, the Defendant performed in the low average range on
all the tests.  Interestingly, she concluded that he performed as well on tests that do
not require great attention as on tests that require attention to do well.
Dr. Ansley explained that executive functioning is the most complex
behavior.  It is observable when it is present and when it is absent.  It is that part of
the functioning of the brain that enables us to make choices, to know what and
what not to say, to problem solve, to think on our feet.  To test the Defendant's
executive functioning she used tests that are designed so that you figure it out. 
Because Dr. Schram's report noted deficits in cognitive flexibility, or the ability to
change course, Dr. Ansley used the Wisconsin test.  In this test, four cards are put
on the table.  There are different figures, colors and numbers on the cards.  The
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subject is given a card and asked to put the card where it belongs.  All the examiner
says is right or wrong.  Cards can be put with the same number, the same color, or
shape.  The examiner changes the category without telling the subject.  It tests the
ability to deal with feedback.  Then the category is changed again.  The Defendant
did not have any problem with this test.
Dr. Ansley also testified that she had the Defendant perform the tactile
performance test.  In this test, the subject is blindfolded and has to place blocks in
the right hole, using one hand, in a certain amount of time.  The examiner only gives
encouragement when the subject does it.  It requires developing a strategy.  Based
on the results of the tests she conducted, as well as her review of Defendant's
prison records, and the reports of the other expert witnesses, Dr. Ansley testified
that she reached the conclusion that the head injuries and the drug usage reported
by Defendant did not cause brain damage, and that the Defendant does not have
any brain damage that would affect his ability to understand what he was doing
when he killed the victim.  Moreover, she concluded that it was a volitional choice
to violate the restraining order.
This Court found the video tape of the interview of Dr. Spencer and the
Defendant very helpful.  The Court observed first hand how the Defendant has the
ability to change his behavior as the situation changed.  Additionally, the testimony
of Dr. Ansley was extremely credible.  Dr. Ansley had the benefit of the work of
the other experts, and took it another step.  Dr. Ansley concluded that the
Defendant does not suffer from organic brain damage.  While Dr. Schram
concluded that the Defendant may have brain damage, he is a neuro-psychologist,
not a forensic neuro-psychologist.  Dr. Schram has very little experience in the area
of forensic cases.  Dr. Ansley, on the other hand, is a forensic neuro-psychologist
with vast experience, having worked on several hundred forensic cases.  Due to her
experience and expertise in the forensic neuro-psychology field, and the
thoroughness of her work in this case, this Court finds her testimony to be
extremely credible.
Although Mr. Mastos testified that he did not research whether he could
conduct an investigation for penalty phase mitigating evidence without his client's
cooperation and against the expressed wishes of his client, this Court finds that,
under the circumstances of this case, the performance of trial counsel was within
the parameters of "prevailing professional norms".  Strickland v. Washington, 466
-48-
U.S. 688, 690 (1984).  The Court notes that Mr. Mastos used the majority of his
efforts in the guilt phase and cannot be faulted for following the wishes of his client
in the penalty phase.  Chandler v. United States, 218 F.3d 1305 (11th Cir. 2000). 
Furthermore, the Court is convinced that the proposed mitigation evidence would
not have made any difference on the outcome of the sentence, therefore, counsel
cannot be ineffective for failing to present such evidence.
-49-
Two Cases:
An Appeal from the Circuit Court in and for Miami-Dade County, 
Joseph P. Farina, Chief Judge - Case No. 91-33268
and An Original Proceeding - Habeas Corpus
Tony Moss, Miami, Florida; and Sara K. Dyehouse, Tallahassee, Florida,
for Appellant/Petitioner
Charles J. Crist, Jr., Attorney General, and Steven R. Parrish, Assistant Attorney
General, Miami, Florida,
for Appellee/Respondent