Opinion ID: 1369544
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Complete evidence from family witnesses

Text: Storey claims that counsel should have presented the complete evidence of family witnesses Pat Basler and Sharon Stacey. Pat Basler would have testified that Storey had suffered a neck injury, which impeded his ability to find work. Sharon Stacey would have testified that Storey's father touched her in an inappropriate way, grabbed her throat, kicked her, and threatened to rape her. Counsel felt that an objection would have been sustained if she had attempted to introduce Sharon Stacey's testimony. The motion court held that Storey has not shown that either of these witnesses would have provided any persuasive or helpful information. The court finds that their testimony would not be credible or persuasive. It further held that both witnesses testified at the 1999 trial. Neither witness was persuasive with the jury. Movant fails to show that the `additional facts' would ever be admissible. The Court finds that the testimony would not be credible or persuasive.... This additional testimony of Sharon Stacey and Pat Basler is all sideshow. Even had the court allowed the evidence, and had the jury believed it, the evidence is not particularly helpful to Storey. Counsel had already established that Storey claimed a head injury and that his stepfather was abusive. These witnesses would have reiterated the same thing. Counsel was not ineffective for not putting on cumulative evidence. Skillicorn, 22 S.W.3d at 683.