Opinion ID: 1649620
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Counsel failed to investigate the possibility of other suspects.

Text: ¶ 17. Brown argues that trial counsel's performance was deficient for failure to look into the possibility that the crime might have been committed by Red Martin or Reginald Brown because Martin was named as a suspect by James Coleman Jones and because Reginald Brown was in the vicinity and supposedly had a history of violence and mental illness. As a practical matter, the defense argued at trial that the crime might have been committed by Tony Boyd, a relative of the victims. An effort to present reasonable doubt discharges counsel's duty to investigate. Blue v. State, 674 So.2d 1184, 1199 (Miss.1996), overruled in part on other grounds, King v. State, 784 So.2d 884 (Miss.2001). Brown's claim is speculative at best and fails to articulate what evidence would have made these other two individuals viable suspects. Brown is obligated to make a showing of how additional investigation would have aided his defense. Merritt v. State, 517 So.2d 517, 518 (Miss. 1987). This Court has held that Brown must state with particularity what the investigation would have revealed and specify how it would have altered the outcome of trial. Cole v. State, 666 So.2d at 776 (relying on Nelson v. Hargett, 989 F.2d 847 (5th Cir.1993)). This issue is without merit.