Opinion ID: 1611682
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Is the suppressed evidence material?

Text: Last, but perhaps most importantly, we must determine whether the evidence was `material.' Jefferson, 645 So.2d at 316. Belisle argues that impeaching Annette Belisle ... was critical to the defense. Belisle's brief at 9. The State argues that even if the proffer should have been disclosed, the Court of Criminal Appeals was correct that `[u]nder the facts of this case, there is no indication that the late disclosure of the documents affected the outcome of the trial.' State's brief at 19-20 (quoting Belisle, 11 So.3d at 296). The evidence is material only if there is a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been different. A `reasonable probability' is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. at 682, 105 S.Ct. 3375. [9] The same rule applies when the State discloses Brady material in an untimely manner. See Coral v. State, 628 So.2d 954, 979 (Ala.Crim.App.1992) (Tardy disclosure of Brady material is generally not reversible error unless the defendant can show that he was denied a fair trial. (citing United States v. Gordon, 844 F.2d 1397 (9th Cir. 1988); United States v. Shelton, 588 F.2d 1242 (9th Cir.1978); Ex parte Raines, 429 So.2d 1111 (Ala.1982); and McClain v. State, 473 So.2d 612 (Ala.Crim.App.1985))). First, the issue of materiality distinguishes Belisle's case from Giglio. In this case, the proffer was discovered and used by the Belisle during trial, and it contained no undisclosed promises or threats. In Giglio, however, defense counsel discovered new evidence [during the pendency of the defendant's appeal] indicating that the Government had failed to disclose an alleged promise made to its key witness [Taliento] that he would not be prosecuted if he testified for the Government. Giglio, 405 U.S. at 150-51, 92 S.Ct. 763. Furthermore, the facts of Giglio also indicate that Taliento testified at trial that he had received no promises for his testimony, and that [i]n summation, the Government attorney stated, `(Taliento) received no promises that he would not be indicted.' Giglio, 405 U.S. at 152, 92 S.Ct. 763. Because the facts of Giglio are distinguishable from those in this case, the Court of Criminal Appeals' decision in this case does not conflict with Giglio. Even if the facts of Giglio were not distinguishable, however, Belisle still has failed to demonstrate that had the proffer been disclosed sooner, the outcome of his trial would have been different. The gravamen of Belisle's arguments is that the proffer destroys [Annette's] credibility... and casts suspicion on the State's investigation and handling of the case, Belisle's brief at 11, and that the State's failure to disclose the proffer prevented [Belisle] from formulating a key part of his defense. Belisle's brief at 12. Belisle's second argument has been previously addressed by this Court. Appellant's argument that the information would have enabled more effective preparation for trial was rejected in United States v. Agurs, supra, 427 U.S. [97,] at 112 n. 20, 96 S.Ct. at 2401 n. 20 [(1976)], on the grounds that an argument could always be made that knowledge of the prosecutor's case, both incriminating and exculpatory, would help defense counsel in preparation of the case for the defense. Therefore, the proper focus is upon the materiality in the nondisclosure or delayed disclosure of exculpatory information in determining the denial vel non of defendant's rights of due process and fair trial .... Ex parte Raines, 429 So.2d 1111, 1113-14 (Ala.1982). [10] Thus, Belisle is not entitled to a new trial simply because having the proffer would have enabled him to more effectively prepare for trial. Belisle also argues that the proffer was material because Belisle's theory of defense was that the State did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt the elements of the crime because its main witness, Annette Belisle, was lying to gain her freedom. Impeaching Annette Belisle therefore was critical to the defense of this case. Belisle's brief at 9. He also argues that the revelation of this agreement committing her to a specific version of facts would have undermined the State's attempt to shore up Annette's credibility and would have `put the whole case in such a different light as to undermine the confidence in the verdict.' Belisle's brief at 19 (quoting Kyles v. Whitley, 514 U.S. 419, 435, 115 S.Ct. 1555, 131 L.Ed.2d 490 (1995)). We disagree. Belisle did not initially have access to the proffer; thus, he could not at that time attack Annette's alleged scripted testimony. The record, however, indicates that Belisle had many other components of that proffer by which he could similarly impeach Annette: Belisle was aware of and cross-examined Annette on the fact that she was testifying as part of a plea agreement with the State; he was aware of the original plea agreement with which the proffer was associated; and he used Annette's various previous statements given to State detectives to impeach her. Additionally, once the defense was made aware of the proffer, it was admitted into evidence, and defense counsel had the opportunity to thoroughly cross-examine Annette regarding it. [11] Moreover, the defense also presented other impeachment testimony from three inmates who had been incarcerated with Annette: Kitty Hyatt, Valerie Wheeler, and Juanita Pitts. Kitty Hyatt testified that Annette said she was present at the murder but that she had not struck the initial blow. Valerie Wheeler testified that she overheard Annette say that Annette had hit the victim with a can of peas and that the man with her had hit the victim with an iron bar. Juanita Pitts testified that Annette said that she struck the initial blow with a can and then asked Belisle to help. Thus, although Belisle did not originally have the proffer in his possession, Belisle was certainly able to establish that Annette had incentive to lie (and had lied to investigators), to demonstrate that Annette was not a credible witness, and, once the proffer was disclosed, to cast suspicion on the State's investigation and handling of the case. Although the proffer both was suppressed and was favorable to Belisle, so as to meet those two elements, we cannot conclude that it was material. Therefore, the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeals does not conflict with Giglio and Belisle is not entitled to a reversal.