Opinion ID: 1836026
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: guilt phase performance

Text: As to issue five regarding guilt-phase ineffectiveness, we find no evidence presented at the evidentiary hearing that points to any deficiencies in counsel's guilt phase performance that would satisfy the first prong of Strickland. Regarding the two wit-nesses Rutherford claims would have corroborated his testimony that the money in his possession was from a legitimate source, and did not belong to the defendant, one witness did not even testify at the 3.850 hearing, and the other testified that he paid an uncertain sum to Rutherford by check some days prior to the murder. Trial counsel, in fact, testified that he interviewed a witness about a monetary transaction with Rutherford, but elected not to call him at trial because this witness felt Rutherford had cheated him. None of these matters refute the evidence of guilt presented by the State. There was overwhelming evidence of Rutherford's guilt. Even assuming any deficiency in trial counsel's guilt-phase performance, there is no reasonable probability, sufficient to undermine our confidence in the outcome, that the result of the proceeding would have been different. See Hildwin v. Dugger, 654 So.2d 107, 109 (Fla.1995).