Opinion ID: 1802709
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Failure to Present Brandt as a Witness

Text: Next, Jimenez asserts that trial counsel was ineffective due to the failure to utilize Brandt as a witness during the trial. Specifically, Jimenez contends that Brandt would have testified that she saw him exit the elevator on the third floor of the apartment complex immediately prior to the other neighbors hearing the noises from Minas's unit; thus, it would have been impossible for Jimenez to commit the murder. This subclaim is procedurally barred. Jimenez already asserted this subclaim in the amended rule 3.850 motion, and the trial court summarily denied the claim on the merits. Thus, this subclaim is based on evidence that was available when Jimenez filed the amended rule 3.850 motion. Even without this procedural bar, this subclaim is without merit because it is conclusively refuted by the record. Notwithstanding that Detective Ojeda did state in a police report dated October 9, 1992, that Brandt had indicated that she observed Jimenez exit the elevator less than five minutes prior to the neighbors hearing the noises from Minas's unit, Brandt herself stated under oath during a later deposition (on March 23, 1993) that she saw Jimenez exit the elevator after the noises. If Brandt had been presented as a witness during the trial, she likely would have provided testimony similar to that of the sworn deposition (rather than the unsworn, double-hearsay statement that was reflected in the police report). A decision by trial counsel that the sworn testimony was more reliable than the hearsay statement was clearly reasonable. If trial counsel had called Brandt and her testimony had corresponded to her deposition, this would have completely corroborated the testimony presented by other witnesses during the trial that there was time for Jimenez to commit the murder. Thus, we conclude that trial counsel made a reasonable strategic decision not to call Brandt as a witness.