Opinion ID: 1598027
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Newly Discovered Evidence Recanted Testimony

Text: Heath first contends that the postconviction court should have granted a new trial based upon the newly discovered evidence of Kenneth Heath's recanted testimony. This Court has addressed claims of newly discovered evidence and stated: [A] defendant must meet two requirements: First, the evidence must not have been known by the trial court, the party, or counsel at the time of trial, and it must appear that the defendant or defense counsel could not have known of it by the use of diligence. Second, the newly discovered evidence must be of such nature that it would probably produce an acquittal on retrial. See Jones v. State, 709 So.2d 512, 521 (Fla.1998) ( Jones II ).[ [6] ] Newly discovered evidence satisfies the second prong of this test if it weakens the case against [the defendant] so as to give rise to a reasonable doubt as to his culpability. Id. at 526 (quoting Jones v. State, 678 So.2d 309, 315 (Fla.1996) ( Jones I )). In determining whether the evidence compels a new trial, the trial court must consider all newly discovered evidence which would be admissible, and must evaluate the weight of both the newly discovered evidence and the evidence which was introduced at the trial. Jones v. State, 591 So.2d 911, 916 (Fla.1991). This determination includes whether the evidence goes to the merits of the case or whether it constitutes impeachment evidence. The trial court should also determine whether the evidence is cumulative to other evidence in the case. The trial court should further consider the materiality and relevance of the evidence and any inconsistencies in the newly discovered evidence. Jones II, 709 So.2d at 521 (citations omitted). When the trial court rules on a newly discovered evidence claim after an evidentiary hearing, we review the trial court's findings on questions of fact, the credibility of witnesses, and the weight of the evidence for competent, substantial evidence. Melendez v. State, 718 So.2d 746, 747-48 (Fla.1998); Blanco v. State, 702 So.2d 1250, 1251 (Fla.1997). Green v. State, 975 So.2d 1090, 1099-1100 (Fla.2008). This Court has noted that recanted testimony is exceedingly unreliable, and if a trial court is not satisfied that the recanted testimony is true, it has a duty to deny the defendant a new trial. Consalvo v. State, 937 So.2d 555, 561 (Fla. 2006) (quoting Armstrong v. State, 642 So.2d 730, 735 (Fla.1994)). This Court is highly deferential with regard to a trial court's determination concerning the credibility of a recantation and will affirm such a determination if it is supported by competent, substantial evidence. See Archer v. State, 934 So.2d 1187, 1196 (Fla.2006). In the instant case, the postconviction court, in a well-written denial order, concluded that Kenneth's recanted testimony was unreliable for four reasons: First, Kenneth Heath's testimony is inconsistent with the medical examiner's trial testimony that the cause of death was gunshot and a sharp force injury to the neck. Second, Kenneth Heath's testimony is internally inconsistent. For instance, while Kenneth Heath claimed at the evidentiary hearing that the victim was dead at the time the defendant cut and stabbed at the victim's throat, Kenneth Heath did not recant his previous testimony that Michael Sheridan was making noises at the time Heath tried to cut this throat. While in the previous testimony at trial, Kenneth Heath described the sounds as like he was trying to swallow, Kenneth Heath testified at the evidentiary hearing that he did not know if the sounds Mr. Sheridan was making were swallowing sounds, or what. Nevertheless, according to Kenneth Heath, Michael Sheridan was still making sounds at the time the defendant stabbed him in the throat. This testimony directly contradicts his claim that Michael Sheridan was already dead when the defendant stabbed and sawed at his throat with a knife. Third, Kenneth Heath revealed his motivation for testifying for his brother during the collateral proceedings. When asked whether his mother wanted him to try to save Heath's life, he said, yes that she doesn't want to see Ronnie die. Kenneth Heath had a motive to alter his trial testimony and this court believes it is appropriate to consider that motive as one factor in determining whether Kenneth Heath's recanted testimony as to the order of wounds is credible. Finally, Kenneth's Heath's demeanor on the witness stand and explanation for his changed testimony [i.e., that someone altered the court documents] belies any notion that his testimony as to the order of wounds is credible. As reflected in the procedural history, each of the postconviction court's findings is supported by the record. Further, it is indubitably more logical to assume that Kenneth changed his testimony based upon a request from his distressed mother than it is to claim that all court documents related to Heath's trial had somehow been altered. We conclude that that the trial court's finding with regard to the credibility of Kenneth's recantation is supported by competent, substantial evidence, and we affirm this determination. See Archer, 934 So.2d at 1196. The postconviction court further concluded that even if Kenneth's testimony was credible, it was not of such nature that it would probably produce an acquittal. We agree. Regardless of whether Heath stabbed Sheridan in the throat while he was still alive or only after he was dead, Heath could still be convicted as a principal of either premeditated murder or first-degree felony murder. Section 777.011, Florida Statutes (1989), discusses the concept of a first-degree principal to a crime: Whoever commits any criminal offense against the state, whether felony or misdemeanor, or aids, abets, counsels, hires, or otherwise procures such offense to be committed, and such offense is committed or is attempted to be committed, is a principal in the first degree and may be charged, convicted, and punished as such.... (Emphasis supplied.) See also Ferrell v. State, 686 So.2d 1324, 1329 (Fla.1996) (affirming first-degree murder conviction and death sentence where the defendant played an integral role in the crimes and in luring the victim to his death even though defendant did not pull the trigger). During the evidentiary hearing, Kenneth testified that while he and Heath were still at the Purple Porpoise, they discussed killing Sheridan after the robbery so there would be no witnesses. Thus, the brothers were contemplating murder even before they left the bar, and the murder of Sheridan was premeditated. See Perry v. State, 801 So.2d 78, 84 (Fla.2001) (`Premeditation is defined as more than a mere intent to kill; it is a fully formed conscious purpose to kill.' This purpose to kill must exist for such a time before the homicide `to permit reflection as to the nature of the act to be committed and the probable result of that act.' (quoting Green v. State, 715 So.2d 940, 943-44 (Fla.1998))). Further, the death of Sheridan occurred during the course of an armed robbery, thereby rendering the crime felony murder. See § 782.04(1)(a), Fla. Stat. (1989). The record here demonstrates that Heath spearheaded the events that led to the murder of Sheridan. While at the Purple Porpoise, Heath suggested that he and Kenneth rob Sheridan. Once they were at the remote site, Heath told Kenneth to retrieve a gun from the vehicle. Once Kenneth shot Sheridan in the chest, Heath removed Sheridan's jewelry, wallet, and watch. When Sheridan failed to respond to inquiries by Heath, he kicked Sheridan. Heath then urged Kenneth to shoot Sheridan to make sure he was dead. After Kenneth shot Sheridan in the head, Heath urged, Shoot him again, shoot him again. After Sheridan was dead, Heath and Kenneth moved the body further into the woods so that it could not be discovered. Heath unquestionably aided, abetted, and procured the murder of Sheridan. We conclude that even if Heath received a new trial, Kenneth's recanted testimony is not of such nature that it would probably produce an acquittal of Heath or even a conviction on a lesser charge. We further conclude that Kenneth's testimony is not of such a nature that it would probably produce a life sentence recommendation. The two aggravators found by the trial court in the sentencing order were (1) Heath had been convicted of a prior violent felony (second-degree murder), and (2) the murder was committed during the course of an armed robbery. See Heath, 648 So.2d at 663. With regard to Heath's prior murder conviction, Detective Gerald Parker testified during the trial about the injuries sustained by the victim, Michael Lee Green. Green's body was found approximately 250 feet from a severely burned vehicle. Green had sustained twenty-three stab wounds and his skull was crushed. The apparent weapon used to inflict the damage to Green's skull was a burned tree stump which was covered with dried blood and matted hair. The sworn statement of Heath with regard to the murder of Green was read to the jury. In that statement, Heath testified that he stabbed Green because Green made unwelcome sexual advances toward him. When Green asked for help after the stabbing, Heath told him to get in his (Green's) car and Heath would drive him to the hospital. However, Heath instead drove the car around and eventually returned to the site where the stabbing occurred. Heath then set the car on fire while Green was inside and leaned on the door to prevent Green from escaping. However, Green did manage to exit from the other side of the vehicle. While Green sat on the ground, watching his car burn, Heath started kicking him. The two struggled, and Heath proceeded to stab Green in the chest and in the back. When Green grasped Heath's leg, Heath grabbed the stump and struck Green with it three times. Heath then dragged Green's body into the bushes. Kenneth's recanted testimony does not disprove either of the aggravators found by the trial court in its sentencing order. Indeed, as noted in the order denying postconviction relief, the recanted testimony actually establishes two additional statutory aggravating circumstances: the murder was committed to eliminate a witness and was cold, calculated, and premeditated. Given the disturbing facts of the Green murder, which was committed by Heath when he was sixteen years old, and the additional evidence that (1) Heath and Kenneth discussed killing Sheridan even before they left the Purple Porpoise, and (2) Heath appeared to be in ecstasy when he sawed at the throat of Sheridan's dead body, we conclude that Kenneth's recanted testimony is not of such a nature that it would probably produce a life-sentence recommendation for Heath. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's denial of this claim.