Opinion ID: 1110827
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Failure to Submit Sufficient Mitigating Evidence.

Text: ¶ 22. Hughes argues that trial counsel could have introduced more testimony in mitigation at the sentencing phase of the trial. Hughes presents the affidavits of family members who assert that they could have testified as to the conditions and circumstances surrounding Hughes' childhood. Trial counsel presented a case in mitigation that included the defendant, William Ray Hughes; his older bother, Edward Hughes; and, his younger bother, Walter Hughes. There is nothing in the affidavits which Hughes now presents that seems at all likely to have changed the outcome at sentencing had it been presented to the jury in the form of live testimony. ¶ 23. Hughes also contends that trial counsel should have developed more evidence to show that he (Hughes) was mentally retarded. As previously discussed, Hughes was evaluated at the State Hospital prior to trial and found to possess a full scale IQ of 81. Hughes is not mentally retarded. Trial counsel did what he could at the sentencing phase and asked the jury to be merciful. Hughes did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel. This issue is without merit.