Opinion ID: 1770827
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Brady Claim and Ineffective Counsel

Text: Freeman claims error in the trial court's summary denial of relief based on his allegations that critical exculpatory evidence was never presented to the jury because of actions by the State. See Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963). He further contends that to the extent that these claims are not cognizable under Brady, they demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). Under either theory, Freeman claims he is entitled to an evidentiary hearing, and the trial court erred in failing to have such a hearing. We disagree and affirm the summary disposition. We begin our analysis with the general proposition that a defendant is entitled to an evidentiary hearing on a postconviction relief motion unless (1) the motion, files, and records in the case conclusively show that the prisoner is entitled to no relief, or (2) the motion or a particular claim is legally insufficient. See, e.g., Maharaj v. State, 684 So.2d 726 (Fla.1996); Anderson v. State, 627 So.2d 1170 (Fla. 1993); Hoffman v. State, 571 So.2d 449 (Fla.1990); Holland v. State, 503 So.2d 1250 (Fla.1987); Lemon v. State, 498 So.2d 923 (Fla.1986); Fla. R.Crim. P. 3.850. The defendant bears the burden of establishing a prima facie case based upon a legally valid claim. Mere conclusory allegations are not sufficient to meet this burden. See Kennedy v. State, 547 So.2d 912 (Fla.1989). However, in cases where there has been no evidentiary hearing, we must accept the factual allegations made by the defendant to the extent that they are not refuted by the record. See Peede v. State, 748 So.2d 253 (Fla.1999); Valle v. State, 705 So.2d 1331 (Fla.1997). We must examine each claim to determine if it is legally sufficient, and, if so, determine whether or not the claim is refuted by the record. Where a Brady violation has been alleged, the defendant must establish a prima facie case that there is 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, 87 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985). To meet this test, the defendant must prove: (1) the State possessed favorable evidence, including impeachment evidence; (2) the evidence was suppressed; (3) the defendant did not possess the favorable evidence and could not have obtained the evidence with the exercise of due diligence; and (4) there is a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed, the outcome would have been different. See Buenoano v. State, 708 So.2d 941 (Fla. 1998); Haliburton v. Singletary, 691 So.2d 466 (Fla.1997); Cherry v. State, 659 So.2d 1069 (Fla.1995); Hegwood v. State, 575 So.2d 170 (Fla.1991). However, [t]here is no Brady violation where the information is equally accessible to the defense and the prosecution, or where the defense either had the information or could have obtained it through the exercise of reasonable diligence. Provenzano v. State, 616 So.2d 428, 430 (Fla.1993). Accord Roberts v. State, 568 So.2d 1255 (Fla.1990); James v. State, 453 So.2d 786 (Fla.1984). When a defendant alleges ineffective assistance of counsel, he must establish the two prongs necessary to demonstrate ineffectiveness as outlined by the Supreme Court in Strickland. The Court said: A convicted defendant's claim that counsel's assistance was so defective as to require reversal of a conviction or death sentence has two components. First, the defendant must show that counsel's performance was deficient. This requires showing that counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the counsel guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth Amendment. Second, the defendant must show that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense. This requires showing that counsel's errors were so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a trial whose result is reliable. Unless a defendant makes both showings, it cannot be said that the conviction or death sentence resulted from a breakdown in the adversary process that renders the result unreliable. 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052. In reviewing counsel's performance, a court must indulge a strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance. Id. at 689, 104 S.Ct. 2052. First, Freeman argues the court erred in summarily denying his claim that the State violated Brady by withholding exculpatory information or, alternatively, that defense counsel had the information and was ineffective for failing to present it to the jury during the guilt phase of the trial. Specifically, Freeman alleges error with regard to the following: (1) the State's failure to inform defense counsel of Kathy Freeman's statement or, in the alternative, defense counsel's failure to have Kathy Freeman testify; (2) the State's failure to conduct a proper investigation of the crime scene or, in the alternative, defense counsel's failure to properly address this issue when cross-examining the detectives who investigated the crime scene; and (3) the State's failure to produce police reports and photographs which would corroborate Freeman's claim that Collier died from hitting his head on the porch or, in the alternative, defense counsel's failure to present this evidence to the jury. Freeman alleges the State improperly withheld Kathy Freeman's statement that Freeman told her he did not intend to kill Collier. The record in this case establishes that Freeman knew or should have known about the statement through the exercise of reasonable diligence. The State listed Kathy Freeman in its initial and second discovery responses in the Epps case. [4] The second response contained the notation, defendant told [Kathy Freeman] that a man named McMillion (first name starts with a D) killed the victim and sold the property. Defendant also admitted committing the other murder [Collier], but said he didn't do this one [Epps]. Freeman listed Kathy Freeman in his reciprocal discovery. Thus, the record conclusively demonstrates Freeman was aware of Kathy Freeman's potential as a witness and that she had made known to the State statements attributable to the defendant. Defense counsel could have discovered the details of any statement through reasonable diligence (for example, by deposition or another discovery method). There was no Brady violation. [5] Additionally, defense counsel was not ineffective for failing to have Kathy Freeman testify. In order to demonstrate that defense counsel was ineffective, Freeman must establish a prima facie case that defense counsel's performance was deficient and that the deficient performance affected the outcome of the trial. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052. Here, Freeman was convicted of felony murder. Intent for the murder is inferred from the underlying felony. As a matter of law, a statement that Freeman did not intend to kill Collier was legally insufficient to negate a felony murder conviction. See State v. Gray, 654 So.2d 552, 553 (Fla. 1995); State v. Enmund, 476 So.2d 165, 168-69 (Fla.1985)(Shaw, J., specially concurring, explaining the felony murder rule). The jury chose not to convict Freeman of premeditated first-degree murder even though they were instructed that they could choose premeditated first-degree murder, first-degree felony murder or both. Therefore, we find beyond a reasonable doubt that defense counsel's failure to have Kathy Freeman testify did not affect the outcome of the case and counsel was not ineffective for failing to have her testify. Freeman also argues the State committed a Brady violation by failing to properly investigate the crime scene, [6] or, in the alternative, defense counsel was ineffective for failing to argue this to the jury. The court was correct in summarily denying this claim because it is not truly a Brady claim. Complaints about the State's treatment of the physical evidence should have been raised on direct appeal; therefore, they are procedurally barred in collateral proceedings. See Hardwick v. Dugger, 648 So.2d 100 (Fla.1994); Lambrix v. Singletary, 641 So.2d 847 (Fla. 1994); Bryan v. Dugger, 641 So.2d 61 (Fla. 1994). Moreover, defense counsel did argue this point to the jury. The issue was addressed in defense counsel's opening argument, cross-examination of Detective DeWitt, and closing argument. Thus, the record also conclusively rebuts Freeman's allegation that defense counsel was ineffective. Freeman must make a prima facie showing that defense counsel's performance fell measurably below that of competent counsel. See Knight v. State, 394 So.2d 997, 1001 (Fla.1981). In the instant case, Freeman cannot prove defense counsel's performance affected the outcome of his trial. He alleges a more thorough investigation would have added evidentiary support to his self-defense claim, proving he did not intend to kill Collier. He opines that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to inform the jury of the improper crime scene investigation. As previously stated, intent is inferred from the underlying felony in felony murder cases. Therefore, additional evidence that Freeman did not intend to kill Collier would not have affected the outcome of this trial as a matter of law. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052. Freeman further alleges the State improperly withheld exculpatory evidence relating to a photograph of the crime scene, a handwritten diagram of the crime scene, and a police report. [7] Freeman argues Collier died from hitting his head on the front porch step. He claims the prosecution withheld evidence of a picture showing blood on the step. There was no Brady violation pertaining to the photograph because it was given to the defense. See Provenzano, 616 So.2d at 430. In his opening statement, defense counsel referred to the photograph, arguing Collier died from hitting his head on the step. Counsel said, On one of the stoops, and you will see the photographs. Look at the blood in that area. There is no Brady violation when the evidence complained of is in the possession of the defense. In the alternative, Freeman alleges defense counsel was ineffective because he did not present the picture to the jury or use it to impeach Detective DeWitt. [8] Again, Freeman's claim of ineffective counsel is insufficient, as a matter of law, because he cannot demonstrate that the failure to present this evidence affected the outcome of his trial. Had the jury seen the picture and believed Collier died from hitting his head on the step, it would have only lent some credibility to Freeman's claim that he acted in self-defense. However, self-defense is not legally available to a person who `[i]s attempting to commit, committing, or escaping from the commission of a forcible felony.' Young v. State, 739 So.2d 553, 560 (Fla.1999) (quoting Marshall v. State, 604 So.2d 799, 803 (Fla.1992)). Freeman was in the process of escaping from the commission of a burglary in the victim's home. Although Freeman has subdivided this Brady /ineffective assistance of counsel issue into separate parts concerning the Kathy Freeman statement, the crime scene investigation, the photograph, the diagram and the police report, all of these subissues coalesce into one real argumentthat these pieces of evidence were material to Freeman's claim of self-defense. While items such as these may be material to a claim of self-defense in a premeditated murder case, this Court has made it clear that such evidence is not material in a felony murder conviction. See Young, 739 So.2d at 560. Freeman's jury rejected the opportunity to convict him of premeditated murder and convicted him of first-degree felony murder only. There is no doubt that the evidence subsumed under this issue is not material to Freeman's felony murder conviction; there is no reasonable probability that the outcome would have been different had the evidence been disclosed. The claim was therefore properly summarily denied.