Opinion ID: 1624931
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Failure to Investigate Witnesses

Text: Appellant's next claim alleges counsel was ineffective for failing to interview and investigate several inmate witnesses suggested by appellant, and for not calling them at trial. The witnesses were all death row inmates: Robert Driscoll, Robert O'Neal, Richard Zeitvogel, and Emmett Nave. The hearing court found all the witnesses had been interviewed either by counsel or members of the defense team. Counsel discovered in interviewing the witnesses that they wished to testify that appellant was acting in self-defense. Undisputed evidence at the trial showed the victim was handcuffed with his hands behind his back at the time of the stabbing. Counsel rejected the inmate's line of testimony for fear of incensing and exciting the jury. To establish ineffective assistance, Appellant has to establish the other witness's testimony would have provided Appellant with a viable defense. Hogshooter, supra, at 21. The hearing court properly concluded there was no proof of ineffective representation in this respect.