Opinion ID: 5000457
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Medical Examiner and Neighbor Evidence

Text: Evidence from the medical examiner and upstairs neighbor require closer examination, and we will remand to the District Court for further factual development to consider whether trial counsel was effective. See Lambert v. Warden Greene SCI, 861 F.3d 5 459, 472 (3d Cir. 2017); Richardson, 905 F.3d at 764. First, trial counsel failed to ask the medical examiner about his post-mortem report showing that the victim suffered facial injuries consistent with an assault. Gribble argues this shows a confrontation with the victim rather than a sneak attack. Given the medical examiner’s acknowledged inexperience, we see no reasonable trial strategy in failing to question his report, so post-conviction counsel failed to raise a claim of ineffectiveness. Second, trial counsel failed to introduce testimony and a 911 call from a neighbor, Joe Boles, who recalled hearing screams, which sounded to him like “someone being killed downstairs.” (App. at 426–27.) Seeing no strategy to ignore this witness or his emergency call, reasonable jurists could debate the merits of trial counsel’s effectiveness. So postconviction counsel’s performance was deficient, and we will remand for an evidentiary hearing.