Opinion ID: 147101
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: The state district court's resolution of the claim

Text: Approximately two weeks after the conclusion of the evidentiary hearing on Bunton's Rule 35(c) motion, the state district court held a separate hearing during which it orally denied Bunton's motion. In doing so, the state district court specifically rejected Bunton's claim that Johnson should have more thoroughly cross-examined White regarding the positioning of his vehicle, particularly based on statements White gave during his videotaped/audiotaped interview with Detective Antuna: [I]t [wa]s very difficult for me to figure out exactly what [White was] saying [in the interview]. I mean, I repeat it. Was there any cars in front of you? No. The only car in front of me, because where my car was was a sign that says Do Not Park after this time and then there was the car. Now, I don't know if he's saying he was parked behind the sign, in front of the sign or where because I guess you can draw from that that perhaps he's saying he was behind the sign. But, in any event, and I think it was demonstrated beyond any doubt at all, that if he was in a car parked behind the sign, he would not have been able to see down the street and see the shooting. But, nonetheless, I mean, first of all, it's pure speculation as to what the witness might have said at trial had he been cross-examined about this statement. Second, and you are dealing with a witness who not only has no ostensible motive to testify in the fashion that he did but who was clearly very, very reluctant, did not come forward for some period of time after the homicide in question, was fearful, as one might anticipate, and it's just pure speculation to think that his testimony in any vital respect would have been damaged by cross-examination by the use of this statement. And, secondly, the jury had an opportunity to go out there and look for themselves and see what sort of field of vision was available to the witness.    So, anyhow, reduced to its shorthand terms, I do not feel that had Mr. Johnson done all the things that current counsel suggests he should have done, that I'm not the least bit convinced that the outcome would have been a single bit different. And that's not to say that Mr. Johnson did the greatest job in the world but that's not the standard. Id., Vol. 12 at 5-6, 8.