Opinion ID: 1942807
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Other Alleged Penalty Phase Errors

Text: Harvey next argues that trial counsel committed other penalty phase errors and that the cumulative effect of these errors warrants reversal. He claims that counsel failed to know the law relating to the mitigating factor of no significant history of prior criminal activity, that counsel conceded several aggravating factors, that counsel failed to investigate potential aggravating and mitigating factors, that counsel encouraged the introduction of irrelevant and highly prejudicial testimony, that counsel permitted nonstatutory aggravating evidence of lack of remorse, and that counsel failed to present evidence on Harvey's behalf prior to sentencing. Harvey claims that counsel should have waived the mitigating factor of lack of significant history of prior criminal activity because otherwise the State was allowed to present evidence of his escape from jail after his arrest on these charges. At the time of this trial, acts committed prior to sentencing and after the murder could be considered for purposes of sentencing. See Ruffin v. State, 397 So.2d 277, 283 (Fla.1981). In this case, the State was permitted to introduce evidence of Harvey's escape. In fact, during the guilt phase of the trial, the State introduced evidence of the escape and the theft of a motor vehicle. Because this evidence had already been presented to the jury during the guilt phase, we agree with the trial court that counsel was not ineffective for failing to waive the mitigating factor of lack of significant criminal history. Next, Harvey argues that trial counsel improperly attempted to distance himself from Harvey in arguments to the jury by expressing revulsion at what Harvey had done. The trial court reviewed the statements, and found that counsel's final argument was a well-organized plea for mercy. This finding is supported by the record. Trial counsel argued that the killings were out of character for Harvey and emphasized that the killings occurred while Harvey was in a state of panic after the robberies were completed. Trial counsel also emphasized that there was no intent to kill at the time Harvey went to the Boyds' home. At the evidentiary hearing, trial counsel explained that his strategy for the closing penalty phase argument was to use the guilt phase to set the tone for the penalty phase and to maintain consistency between both phases. The comments upon which Harvey relies were clearly part of counsel's overall strategy to portray Harvey as a panicked young man who did not intend to commit murder. Trial counsel explained that given the jury's decision to convict, he could not tell them that the decision was unreasonable. Rather, counsel acknowledged the verdict and then made a plea that Harvey was deserving of mercy. Harvey relies heavily on Clark v. State, 690 So.2d 1280 (Fla.1997), in support of this claim. In Clark, this Court held that trial counsel failed to function reasonably as an effective counsel when he indicated his own doubts or distaste for the case and when he attacked the defendant's character and emphasized the seriousness of the crime. Id. at 1283. Furthermore, in Clark, trial counsel virtually encouraged the jury to impose the death penalty, [and] he assisted the prosecution in making its case. Id. In the case now before us, trial counsel did not encourage the jury to impose the death penalty, but instead maintained a consistent theme, pleading for mercy and a life sentence. Trial counsel's performance was not deficient. Harvey also argues that trial counsel's failure to investigate potential aggravating and mitigating factors constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. He argues that counsel failed to investigate evidence concerning the heinous, atrocious, or cruel aggravating factor. Harvey bases this claim on the sentencing court's finding that that the victims had, in fact, heard conversations between Harvey and his codefendant about disposing of the witnesses. Harvey argues that trial counsel should have challenged this evidence because the television was loud and one of the victims was hard of hearing. However, as the trial court found, the evidence that the victims began to run and the defendant's own statement support the conclusion that the victims heard the conversation that took place between Harvey and the codefendant wherein they discussed killing the victims. Ineffective assistance of counsel has not been demonstrated. Harvey also asserts that trial counsel should have pursued the theory that he was substantially dominated by the codefendant. The trial court found that counsel had requested a jury instruction on substantial domination and the request was denied. Counsel then decided not to argue that Harvey was under substantial domination by another because the evidence did not support this theory. Harvey was older than his codefendant, they went to the crime scene in Harvey's car, Harvey was married with marital pressures, and Harvey was the shooter and took the automatic weapon from his codefendant's hands immediately before shooting the victims. These findings are supported by the record. Trial counsel was not deficient for failing to argue the mitigating factor of substantial domination. Harvey next claims trial counsel encouraged the introduction of irrelevant and highly prejudicial testimony. A guard at the Okeechobee County jail was allowed to testify concerning a statement made by Harvey to another inmate to the effect that he had killed twice, had nothing to lose, and would kill again. The trial judge ruled that only the first part of the statement was admissible. However, defense counsel asked the trial judge to admit the entire statement. Defense counsel wanted to put the entire statement into context by explaining the circumstances under which it was made. Counsel questioned the officer about the statement and demonstrated that the other inmate initiated an altercation with Harvey. Counsel's examination showed that Harvey had ignored the other inmate for one-half hour before the statement was made. Under these circumstances, we cannot say that counsel's strategy in handling this matter amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel. Next, Harvey asserts that trial counsel permitted the admission of nonstatutory aggravating evidence of lack of remorse in violation of Randolph v. State, 562 So.2d 331 (Fla.1990). The record reflects that the defense relied on remorse as a mitigating factor during the penalty phase and the State attempted to rebut this factor. Even though the defense argued remorse as a mitigating factor, defense counsel nonetheless objected to the State presenting any evidence on lack of remorse. Counsel's objection to the State's evidence on lack of remorse was overruled. Thus, Harvey has failed to demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel. Finally, Harvey argues that trial counsel was ineffective because the sentencing occurred two hours after the jury returned its advisory verdict, and trial counsel only said, We know of no legal cause of non-sentencing. Harvey argues that counsel was ineffective because he called no witnesses and made no argument for a life sentence. However, Harvey does not allege any new information that counsel could have presented at this stage. Thus, this claim is insufficiently pled, and Harvey has failed to demonstrate that trial counsel's performance was deficient. Because Harvey has failed to show that any of the alleged errors demonstrate both the deficiency and prejudice prongs of the test set forth in Strickland, there are no errors to consider cumulatively. As the trial court found, [T]he overall and specific effects of Mr. Watson's efforts were effective assistance of counsel. We affirm the trial court's order. See Downs v. State, 740 So.2d 506, 509 (Fla.1999) (holding that where allegations of individual error are without merit, a cumulative error argument based thereupon must also fail).