Opinion ID: 2509294
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The December 5-6, 1994 Hearing

Text: On December 5, defendant requested another Marsden hearing. The trial court excused the prosecutor. Pressed by the trial court to state his specific complaints against Mr. Sheahen, defendant complained that Sheahen had failed to adequately communicate with him, leaving most of the communication to Shafi-Nia and that Shafi-Nia's absence was having a negative effect on Sheahen's representation of him. He also complained Sheahen had failed to adequately investigate and prepare an alibi defense. Specifically, he stated that Sheahen had not talked to a professor of his who knew he had been suicidal. He also said Sheahen had failed to interview other witnesses, including Ronald Hicks, Victoria Eckstone, Adele Bowen and Bruce Cousins. He complained, moreover, that Sheahen had not investigated mental defenses or sought to suppress evidence. Defendant said Sheahen had told him he would be found guilty regardless . . . . The court interrupted and observed that Sheahen had visited defendant countless times in lockup and arranged meetings with defendant at county jail. Defendant complained, however, that Sheahen had only talked to him about taking a deal. In response, Sheahen agreed with defendant that a substantial amount of communication with him had been done through Shafi-Nia, but said he also had met repeatedly with defendant. As to defendant's complaint about suppression of evidence, Sheahen pointed out that we had a month long hearing where we moved to suppress. With respect to defendant's claim about alibi witnesses, Sheahen said defendant doesn't have an alibi witness because he was there at the scene of the crime. As to the professor defendant mentioned, Sheahen stated there were other witnesses to defendant's mental state but he might use the professor. Regarding defendant's claim about Sheahen's assessment of the case, Sheahen said, the record showed the evidence against defendant was substantial. He wanted me to use a two bearded strangers defense. That is absolutely absurd and I will not use it. [8] The trial court denied the motion. It pointed out that Sheahen cannot make up defenses where no defenses exist. [ķ] His duty is to give the defendant solid advice and do the best he can under the circumstances. [ķ] There is no doubt in my mind Mr. Sheahen has done exactly that. . . . [ķ] I find there's no conflict. No irreparable breakdown in the attorney-client relationship. The following day, defendant appeared in court with a two- or three-page handwritten note and complained the trial court had cut him off before he could make his record on the  Marsden Bonin hearing. The court declined to excuse the prosecutors because it said it had heard all of defendant's claims. Nonetheless, with Sheahen's assistance, defendant was allowed to state his complaints. Defendant complained about Sheahen's failure to prepare for the penalty phase. He said he wanted his father to come from Iran for the penalty phase. Sheahen told the court he had looked into having defendant's father come but he is presently in an immigration status that precludes him from leaving Iran to come to this country. The trial court stated it was going to stand by my rulings regarding the representation given the defendant in this case.