Opinion ID: 1804987
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Investigate Fact Witnesses

Text: Windom contends that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to present fact witnesses during the guilt phase of the trial that would have shown a marked change in Windom's behavior in the weeks preceding the shootings, which would have supported his assertion that he was insane at the time of the crime. At the evidentiary hearing, Windom presented the testimony of five family members, a childhood friend, and a neighbor. These witnesses testified generally as to Windom's poor childhood and upbringing, and his demeanor in the weeks prior to the shootings. They testified that Windom, who had always been well groomed and neatly dressed, had become disheveled. He began walking around in public with no shirt or shoes, or wearing the same clothes for days at a time. They further stated that Windom had not bathed and that he had an odor. Windom's mother and sister testified that Windom had suffered two brain injuries as a child. The post-conviction court denied this claim, finding that the lay witness testimony would likely not have changed the outcome of the trial because Windom's trial counsel did in fact present evidence of Windom's demeanor at the time of the crime during the guilt phase. Trial counsel presented testimony that Windom looked wild on the day of the shootings and completely out of character. The jury heard testimony that Windom had been upset in the days leading up to the shootings and that Windom had never been a violent person. With regard to evidence of brain damage from head injuries Windom suffered as a child, the post-conviction court found: The central theme to Mr. Windom's attack in this matter centers around Mr. Leinster's lack of investigation into Mr. Windom's mental health, and whether he suffered brain damage from two events described during the hearing. The most notable event described was Mr. Windom's rollover traffic accident wherein Mr. Windom alleges he lost consciousness and was hospitalized for a couple of days. Indeed, the defense's medical experts (Pincus and Beaver) draw a great deal of their conclusions based upon what they felt was one undeniable aspect of [Windom's] past: that he suffered permanent brain damage from the traffic accident Mr. Windom described. While Mr. Barch was somewhat unsure of the doctor's name, he did remember speaking to him before the trial, and posing the question to him regarding whether Mr. Windom had sustained any brain damage as a result of his traffic accident. The doctor (who Mr. Barch seemed to think was named Khouzoum) apparently stated unequivocally to Mr. Barch that Mr. Windom suffered no lasting damage from this accident. Additionally, Mr. Barch specifically asked Mr. Windom's mother and sister about any incident in his life which may have caused brain damage. They provided no information to Mr. Barch about any other head injuries including birth trauma. Post-conviction order at 5-6 (record citations omitted). The post-conviction court's findings of fact are supported by competent, substantial evidence. We find no legal error in the post-conviction court's denial of relief on this issue.