Opinion ID: 2083453
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Failure to Present Testimony of an Alibi Witness

Text: Defendant next argues that trial counsel was ineffective because he failed to present the testimony of an alibi witness, Dennis Taylor. Defendant supports this claim with the affidavit of Darlene Taylor, defendant's girlfriend and Dennis' sister. In her affidavit, Darlene states that Dennis was at her apartment the day of the murder and could have testified to essentially the same facts that she did at trial. Darlene further avers that counsel never interviewed her brother, who has since died. In order to support a claim of failure to investigate and call a witness, a defendant must tender an affidavit from the individual who would have testified. Without such an affidavit, a reviewing court cannot determine whether the proposed witness could have provided any information or testimony favorable to defendant. Guest, 166 Ill.2d at 402, 211 Ill.Dec. 490, 655 N.E.2d 873; People v. Ashford, 121 Ill.2d 55, 77, 117 Ill. Dec. 171, 520 N.E.2d 332 (1988); see also People v. Barr, 200 Ill.App.3d 1077, 1080, 146 Ill.Dec. 815, 558 N.E.2d 778 (1990). Because defendant has failed to provide an affidavit from Dennis Taylor, further consideration of his purported testimony is unnecessary. Guest, 166 Ill.2d at 402, 211 Ill.Dec. 490, 655 N.E.2d 873. Even assuming defendant's allegation was sufficiently supported, Dennis's testimony was apparently to be cumulative (see Henderson, 171 Ill.2d at 155, 215 Ill.Dec. 147, 662 N.E.2d 1287 (counsel cannot be deficient for failing to present cumulative evidence)). We also conclude that defendant would not meet the second prong of Strickland. The evidence of defendant's guilt was overwhelming and defendant has failed to demonstrate on this record that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.Ct. at 2068, 80 L.Ed.2d at 698.