Opinion ID: 1103987
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Investigate Critical Aspects Of Defense.

Text: ¶ 23. Bell claims that counsel failed to investigate the possibility that someone else committed the crime, prove his available alibi, and/or to find witnesses who could have provided important evidence on behalf of the defense. Under Mississippi law, counsel has the duty to interview potential witnesses and to make independent investigation of facts and circumstances. Payton v. State, 708 So.2d 559, 561 ¶ 8 (Miss.1998) (citing Ferguson v. State, 507 So.2d 94, 96 (Miss.1987) (quoting Nealy v. Cabana, 764 F.2d 1173, 1177 (5th Cir.1985))). In addition, counsel must make reasonable investigations or make a reasonable decision that makes particular investigations unnecessary. Wiley, 517 So.2d at 1379. ¶ 24. Bell argues a reasonable investigation would have led counsel to call Bud McMillian as a witness. He claims that McMillian would have testified that he had seen someone resembling Doss running from the store, and that such testimony would have supported his alibi. Bell's argument is nonsensical. On one hand, Bell faults counsel for not calling McMillian to support his alibi. On the other, Bell claims, that by testifying that he saw someone resembling Doss, McMillian would have supported the theory that Bell was merely present during the commission of the crime. Bell cannot argue that the testimony supported either his alibi or his claim that he served only as an accomplice. ¶ 25. Without a supporting affidavit from McMillian, Bell asks the Court to speculate as to McMillian's testimony and its effect on the trial. Counsel's choice of whether to call witnesses and ask certain questions falls within the ambit of trial strategy and cannot give rise to an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Jackson v. State, 815 So.2d 1196, 1200 ¶ 8 (Miss.2002) (citing Cole v. State, 666 So.2d 767, 777 (Miss.1995)). ¶ 26. Next, Bell claims that trial counsel failed to investigate his alibi and that had counsel done so, he would have discovered Bernard Gladney as a potential, corroborating witness. Bell contends that Gladney would have testified that Bell was in Memphis at 7:30 p.m. the day of the murder. Because Gladney is serving time in the Tennessee Department of Corrections for Second Degree Murder, the decision not to call Gladney could be deemed as sound trial strategy. ¶ 27. While together in Memphis, Bell and Gladney were involved in a separate murder. It was the crime for which Bell was initially arrested. Gladney subsequently pled guilty and was sentenced to life in the Tennessee Department of Corrections. As a convicted murderer, Gladney had little credibility, and any testimony provided by him likely would have harmed the defense. Therefore, this claim is without merit.