Opinion ID: 1976460
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Hearing on Postconviction Motion

Text: Albury's motion for postconviction relief alleged that Mekler failed to clearly and fully explain to him the nature and consequences of having a trial and the nature and consequences of entering his guilty plea. Albury contended that Mekler failed to make an adequate factual investigation, in particular, with respect to the evidence surrounding the possible defense of extreme emotional distress. Albury also claimed that Mekler failed to apprise him of the pertinent law which precluded the imposition of multiple punishment for a weapon offense and an underlying felony. See Hunter v. State, Del.Supr., 420 A.2d 119 (1980) [4] . Mekler testified at the hearing which was held on Albury's motion for postconviction relief. According to Mekler, all relevant aspects of the case, both factual and legal, were reviewed with Albury. Mekler stated that he met with Albury for the first time not long after Albury's arrest. During that interview, Albury told Mekler that he had gone to the DuPont parking lot, with a loaded gun, to wait for Layton. Albury also advised Mekler that he had consumed alcoholic beverages and smoked marijuana prior to shooting Layton. Albury admitted to Mekler that he had beaten Layton on three or four prior occasions. Albury also told Mekler that he had threatened Layton's life. Albury denied that those threats were serious. Mekler testified that subsequent to his initial interview, he appeared with Albury on December 26, 1979, in the Court of Common Pleas, for a preliminary hearing. The preliminary hearing was waived. However, Mekler asked the Judge to order psychiatric and psychological examinations to determine if Albury suffered from any mental illness or defect at the time of the homicide or which would affect his mental competency to stand trial. The Judge ordered those examinations in accordance with Mekler's request. When those examinations were subsequently completed, the results were a conclusion that there was no evidence of any mental illness and that Albury was competent to stand trial. The reports of the mental examinations did not expressly address the issue of whether or not Albury was suffering from extreme emotional distress at the time of the shooting. Mekler stated that he reviewed with Albury the results of the 1980 psychiatric and psychological evaluations. Mekler also testified that he discussed the defense of extreme emotional distress with Albury. Mekler testified that the prosecutor assigned to Albury's case, Burke, adopted an open file policy. Burke provided Mekler with a copy of the police report, Albury's statement, the autopsy report, and all statements obtained from potential State witnesses. Burke also agreed that Mekler could interview the investigating police officers. Mekler stated that he did interview Detective Ralph Mitchell (Mitchell), of the Delaware State Police. Mekler also spoke with Mitchell by telephone about the case. Mekler testified that he did not interview any of the State's witnesses who were identified in the police report. The autopsy result which was given to Mekler by the State revealed that, at the time of her death, Layton was in an early stage of pregnancy. Mekler stated that he told Albury of Layton's pregnancy as soon as he learned of it. Albury was not previously aware of Layton's pregnancy. The statutory list of aggravating factors which permit a jury to impose the death penalty include the pregnancy of the victim. 11 Del. C. § 4209(e)(1)p. In Albury's case, the State concluded that it would ask the jury to impose the death penalty. Mekler stated that he discussed with Albury all of the information provided to him by Burke and the police. Mekler advised Albury that the State intended to seek the death penalty. Mekler testified that he discussed with Albury the applicable procedures for the imposition of the death penalty. Mekler testified that the possibility of a death penalty was Albury's overriding concern. According to Mekler, he tried to dissuade Burke from seeking the death penalty. Mekler also tried to persuade Burke to offer Albury a plea to a reduced homicide charge. In support of these requests, Mekler stated that he advised Burke of the possibility that extreme emotional distress could be asserted as a defense. Mekler testified that Burke remained adamant in his decision to seek the death penalty, if Albury's case went to trial. Mekler testified that he kept Albury regularly informed of the plea negotiations which he was conducting with Burke in the case. Based upon Albury's statements, Mekler believed that the evidence would support a finding that Albury was lying-in-wait for Layton. Mekler testified that although extreme emotional distress could arguably have been asserted, he concluded that it was not a plausible defense based on the facts of this case. [5] Mekler testified that, therefore, based upon all of the circumstances in the case, it was his opinion that imposition of a death sentence was a substantial likelihood if the case went to trial. Mekler advised Albury of that conclusion. Mekler stated that Albury agreed with his assessment of the case and decided to plead guilty to avoid the possible imposition of the death penalty. Burke also testified at the hearing on Albury's motion for postconviction relief. Burke confirmed Mekler's statements. Burke stated that he felt the State's case against Albury was very strong because of the prior acts of violence against Layton by Albury and because of the apparent lie-in-wait situation. Burke testified that he would not offer a reduced plea to manslaughter based on extreme emotional distress because he was confident that he could convince a jury not only to convict Albury as charged, but also to recommend a sentence of death. Burke recalled that he had described to Mekler the facts of another case where he had obtained a first degree murder conviction, when a claim of extreme emotional distress had been asserted, in circumstances which were similar to Albury's. Nevertheless, Burke stated that he finally agreed not to seek the death penalty and to dismiss the weapon's charge, [6] if Albury would plead guilty, as charged, to murder in the first degree. Burke added that he felt hammered by Mekler's efforts on Albury's behalf. Albury's mother and sister, Betty, testified at the hearing. They stated that they had discussed Albury's case with Mekler prior to the entry of the guilty plea. Albury's mother testified that she did not recall Mekler ever discussing any aspect of the case in detail with the family. However, Betty Albury took notes during conversations with Mekler in January and March of 1980. She recalled discussing with him, on various occasions, a possible change of venue, the defense of extreme emotional distress, the content of prosecution witness testimony, the death penalty, the guilty plea, and possibilities for a pardon. She testified that Albury and the family told Mekler to do anything to avoid the death penalty and that they all believed that the outcome of a trial would be worse than a guilty plea. She stated that the family relied upon Mekler to advise Albury. She said the family left the ultimate decision to enter a guilty plea up to Albury and Mekler. Albury testified at the hearing on his motion for postconviction relief. He acknowledged that Mekler did review with him, at least to some extent, the contents of the police report and his written statement to Detective Mitchell. However, Albury stated that Mekler never provided him with a copy of those materials to read. He also indicated that Mekler never informed him of the outcome of the mental evaluations which were conducted. He stated that Mekler never discussed with him any legal issues which existed in the case, nor any possible defenses which could be raised, including the defense of extreme emotional distress. Albury testified that Mekler never told him anything about any plea negotiations which were going on in his case. Albury admitted that Mekler had mentioned something about the availability of a death sentence at some point in the case. However, Albury indicated he was not really concerned that a death sentence might result from a trial and that he did not know why a death sentence was an available penalty. [7] Albury stated that he did not really understand that a sentence of death could have been imposed until the day of his plea.