Opinion ID: 677091
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Withholding of exculpatory evidence

Text: 29 We determine that Parkus is also entitled to an evidentiary hearing on his Brady claim. Under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 1197, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), a prosecutor violates the accused's due process rights when he refuses to disclose evidence favorable to the defendant which is material either to guilt or to punishment. Evidence is material only if there exists a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been different. United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 682, 105 S.Ct. 3375, 3383-84, 87 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985). A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. Id. 30 Parkus asserts that the prosecutor suppressed prison records which: (1) show that Parkus and Steffenhagen had consensual intercourse on at least one occasion prior to the murder, (2) document Parkus' abuse by other prisoners, and (3) contain information that Parkus' uncle abused him during childhood. While it is uncertain that proof of a former relationship with the victim is material to Parkus' guilt or sentence, the other two kinds of records bear on Parkus' mental state at the time of the killing, and are thus clearly material. Parkus contends that absent this evidence, the prosecutor could, and did, portray Parkus as a predator who selected Steffenhagen at random, and ridicule as untrue Chester's testimony corroborating Parkus' childhood abuse. 31 Petitioner acknowledges that he failed to present this claim to the state courts, but asserts cause and prejudice to remove the procedural default. We think Parkus has sufficiently alleged cause in that the prosecutor, though requested to do so, failed to furnish all records favorable and material to the defense. Parkus' appeals and post-conviction counsel relied on the information given to trial counsel that all relevant records and reports had been disclosed. This excuses their failure to raise the claims prior to resolution of the 29.15 proceeding. Parkus has also sufficiently demonstrated prejudice. Confidence in the outcome of the proceeding is undermined by the jury's inability to consider evidence which would have been offered as proof of lack of guilt (due to lack of mental element), and as mitigating evidence at sentencing. Again, our holding leaves determination of the merits of the underlying claim for the district court on remand.