Opinion ID: 2052708
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Dawson's Discovery Requests

Text: Dawson contends that the Superior Court abused its discretion in refusing to permit discovery of certain police reports sought in connection with Dawson's motion for postconviction relief. Dawson contends that these reports would have assisted him in discrediting the testimony of Kathy Spence and proving his theory that Nave, McCoy and Irwin committed the Kisner murder. The Superior Court granted certain of Dawson's requests but denied the requested police reports because good cause for their production had not been shown. The decision of a trial court to refuse additional discovery in a Rule 61 proceeding is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Hooks v. State, Del. Supr., 416 A.2d 189, 200 (1980); see also State v. Lewis, Fla.Supr., 656 So.2d 1248, 1249 (1994). We find that the trial court's ruling is well founded in the evidence and Dawson has provided no basis for a finding of abuse of discretion. Superior Court Criminal Rule 61 makes no provision for additional discovery. The trial court concluded, however, that it possessed the inherent authority under Rule 61 in the exercise of its discretion to grant particularized discovery for good cause shown. The court based this ruling on the provision in analogous federal proceedings allowing discretionary discovery. See RULE 6(A) OF THE RULES GOVERNING SECTION 2254 CASES IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTS. No challenge has been raised to the exercise of this discretionary authority. Dawson contends, however, that the trial court abused its discretion in not permitting discovery of the police reports detailing investigations of Kathy Spence's proffered testimony and other evidence relating to the arrest of Nave, Irwin and McCoy. Dawson contends that these materials constitute Brady materials and are, therefore, discoverable as of right. This claim was raised and rejected, supra. As noted, the information sought does not fall within the purview of Brady. Moreover, these materials are not discoverable under a good cause standard because Dawson has shown no compelling reason for their discovery. At trial, substantial physical and circumstantial evidence was produced discrediting Dawson's account of the circumstances of the crime. Thus, the information sought was not relevant to any plausible defense theory. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing discovery of the requested reports.