Opinion ID: 1202760
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: habeas corpus (s001870)

Text: In his petition for a writ of habeas corpus in S001870, defendant bases his claim to relief on what are in substance four grounds. He first asserts he was not provided with effective assistance by trial and appellate counsel. As will appear, he fails to make a prima facie case. To begin with, we seriously doubt defendant has adequately alleged deficient performance on the part of counsel. His first complaint is that counsel failed to communicate with him or to allow him to participate in the development of strategy and tactics. The charge, however, is conclusory and without specificity. The second complaint is that counsel failed to fully investigate the facts of the case. This charge runs in substance as follows: Buchanan, as is undisputed, left class on the night of May 30, 1979, before an optional quiz was given; a copy of that quiz was subsequently found in the van; that copy  defendant conjectures  must have been brought to the van by one of Buchanan's classmates; that classmate  defendant declares  may have been the killer; counsel knew that Buchanan had left class before the quiz was given, and knew that a copy of the quiz was found in the van; therefore, counsel should have sought evidence about the classmate. We doubt, however, that counsel's performance can be called deficient. There was simply nothing more than the merest speculation that an unknown classmate may have gone to the van and may have killed Buchanan. Without something more, it is difficult to conclude that counsel was obligated to investigate further. In any event, we are of the opinion that defendant has not adequately alleged prejudice. Indeed, he has wholly failed to show that absent counsel's alleged failings a more favorable outcome in the guilt phase was reasonably probable on the facts of this case. Defendant next claims that the prosecution introduced False evidence ... substantially material or probative on the issue of guilt (Pen. Code, § 1473, subd. (b)(1)). His complaint is in essence as follows: the optional quiz must have been brought into the van by one of Buchanan's classmates; the prosecution was aware of this fact, but presented its case as though Buchanan brought the quiz to the van herself. The premise is unsound: the record establishes that after class Buchanan spoke with friends who had taken the quiz, probably obtained a copy from one of them, and therefore may have brought it to the van herself. Hence, defendant fails to make a prima facie case. (15) Defendant also claims that he had a right to be present at a pretrial hearing conducted on July 6, 1981. At that hearing, the court in essence established a schedule under which a defense criminologist could examine the van, which was then in storage in Oklahoma, before it was driven back to California by agents of the prosecution. Again, as will appear, no prima facie case is made. It is the rule that the accused is not entitled to be personally present ... [on] matters in which defendant's presence does not bear a `reasonably substantial relation to the fullness of his opportunity to defend against the charge.' ( People v. Jackson (1980) 28 Cal.3d 264, 309 [168 Cal. Rptr. 603, 618 P.2d 149], citing cases (plur. opn.).) Under this rule, defendant did not have a right to be present at the hearing: his attendance at what was essentially a scheduling hearing would not have been useful or of benefit to the defense. (16) Defendant's final claim is that the prosecution interfered with his attempt to obtain evidence. Specifically, he charges that the prosecution had the van examined and cleaned before the defense criminologist could subject it to inspection and tests. It is of course the rule that in no event can duly constituted authority hamper or interfere with efforts on the part of an accused to obtain [evidence] ..., without denying him due process of law. ( In re Martin (1962) 58 Cal.2d 509, 512 [24 Cal. Rptr. 833, 374 P.2d 801] [blood sample to determine intoxication].) The petition, however, fails to adequately allege interference: it states that the prosecution had the van examined and cleaned before the defense criminologist could begin his work; it does not state that the criminologist acted without undue delay or that the delay on his part was attributable to the prosecution. The judgment is affirmed. The petition for writ of habeas corpus in Crim. 25303 is denied. The petition for writ of habeas corpus in S001870 is denied.