Opinion ID: 1821648
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: ineffective assistance in failing to support the defendant's motion for a psychiatric evaluation.

Text: ¶ 23. Prior to trial, counsel for Burns filed a motion for psychiatric assistance. He sought funds to hire a psychiatric expert who would evaluate Burns's competence. The trial court denied the motion after finding that there was nothing in the record to support a finding of any indication of mental impairment or deficiency. Burns raised the denial of his request for funds for a psychiatrist on direct appeal. The Court, relying on Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68, 105 S.Ct. 1087, 84 L.Ed.2d 53 (1985), found that the trial court's decision was proper in that there was no evidence that Burns had any psychological problem, mental illness or would be a danger to society. Burns, 729 So.2d at 224. Burns now claims that his attorneys at trial were ineffective in failing to support the motion for psychiatric assistance with affidavits or other evidence. ¶ 24. Burns has submitted his own affidavit and an affidavit from the mother of one of his children. Burns claims that he suffered a head injury in 1993 or 1994 and that another head injury required hospitalization in 1995 after the murder. Brandi Thorne states in her affidavit that Burns has been involved in numerous fights and has received numerous head injuries. Burns still has not shown by any reliable measure that his psychiatric condition then or now required attention or that the outcome of his trial was in any way affected. As the Court found in the direct appeal, there still is no indication that Burns suffers from any psychological condition. This Court finds no merit in this issue.