Opinion ID: 770943
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Witness Perjury

Text: 51 Sassounian also argues that his conviction should be overturned because Busch fabricated the entire story about his meeting with Sassounian, and that the prosecution knew about at least some of Busch's lies. Perjury by a government witness requires a new trial if there is a reasonable probability that [without the evidence] the result of the proceedings would have been different. Franklin v. Duncan, 884 F. Supp. 1435, 1456 (N.D. Cal. 1995), adopted on appeal, 70 F.3d 75, 76 (9th Cir. 1995) (quoting United States v. Young, 17 F.3d 1201, 1203-04 (9th Cir. 1994)). Sassounian's petition should be granted if perjury undermines confidence in the outcome of the trial. United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 678 (1985). 52 As the California Supreme Court noted, Busch was apparently dubious on the circumstances of Sassounian's confession and wrong on several matters [a]s to the substance. In re Sassounian, 37 Cal. Rptr. 2d at 449. There were questions about whether he would have had access to Sassounian, a high-profile prisoner in relatively tight custody, and whether he was a trusty. Busch incorrectly testified that the assassination took place in Century City, the previous location of the Turkish consulate. Busch also stated that the assassins used 9 mm pistols, when one gunman in fact used a.45 caliber gun. In addition, Busch identified Sassounian's partners as Tejerian  and Yeghoian, individuals who had no connection to the crime but who had been acquaintances of Laughlin. 53 In a June 1991 declaration, Busch recanted all of his testimony. He stated that he had fabricated the story with help from a fellow inmate and that he had never had any contact with Sassounian. He stated that a police detective filled him in on the details of the case, and also gave him money, bought him a car, and promised to help him with his case. In October 1991, however, Busch recanted his recantation and stated in another declaration that he had testified truthfully at trial. 54 The government contends that this court must defer to the factual findings of the California Court of Appeal. On habeas review, we must presume correct a determination after a hearing on the merits of a factual issue, made by a State court of competent jurisdiction in a proceeding to which the applicant for the writ and the State or an officer or agent thereof were parties. 28 U.S.C. 2254(d) (1995). The California Court of Appeal, adopting the referee's report, found that Busch was credible in his trial testimony. The court also found that the government witnesses were credible when they testified that they did not make promises to Busch or suppress evidence. The California Supreme Court, however, did not address the factual findings made by the Court of Appeal. See In re Sassounian, 37 Cal. Rptr. 2d at 456. Rather, the Supreme Court found that, even if Busch fabricated his testimony, the error was harmless because Busch's testimony was vigorously impeached already and overwhelming evidence supported Sassounian's guilt as to the special circumstance finding. See In re Sassounian, 37 Cal. Rptr. 2d at 455. 6 55 The district court, relying on a Fifth Circuit case, see Craker v. Procunier, 756 F.2d 1212, 1213-14 (5th Cir. 1985), deferred to the findings made by the Court of Appeal. We need not decide, however, whether section 2254(d) requires deference when one state court makes factual findings and a higher state court affirms the case without relying on the findings. Instead, we agree with the California Supreme Court that there is not a reasonable probability that, without Busch's testimony, the result would have been different. 56 The prosecution produced strong evidence of Sassounian's guilt. As the district court concluded: 57 [T]he trial evidence overwhelmingly established petitioner's guilt on the first degree murder charge. The deletion of Busch's testimony, or a more effective impeachment of this testimony, would have changed nothing. Multiple eyewitnesses positively identified petitioner. Another eyewitness watched the shooters hide their guns and drive away in a car exhibiting petitioner's license plate. The recovered guns fired the bullets that killed the victim. Testing revealed gunshot residue on petitioner's hand. 58 In short, without Busch's testimony, there is not a reasonable probability that the result would have been different.