Opinion ID: 1829288
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Giglio Claim

Text: The trial judge also concluded that Rhodes did not prove that the State knowingly presented false testimony at trial from Agent Malone, in violation of Giglio. To establish a Giglio violation, a defendant must show that: (1) the prosecutor presented or failed to correct false testimony; (2) the prosecutor knew the testimony was false; and (3) the false evidence was material. See Guzman v. State, 941 So.2d 1045, 1050 (Fla.2006). Once the first two prongs are established, the false evidence is deemed material if there is any reasonable possibility that it could have affected the jury's verdict. See id. Under this standard, the State has the burden to prove that the false testimony was not material by demonstrating it was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Id.; see also Mordenti v. State, 894 So.2d 161, 175 (Fla.2004). Rhodes argues that Agent Malone falsely testified concerning the number of hairs he examined and the identity of the hairs in the victim's left hand. The trial court found that Agent Malone admitted to falsely testifying as to the numbers of hairs he tested and the identity of hairs clutched in the victim's hands; however, it denied relief because the State did not knowingly present the false evidence and because it was not material. We find that competent substantial evidence supports the conclusion that Agent Malone falsely testified about the hair clutched in the victim's left hand; however, the record does not support the court's conclusion that Agent Malone testified falsely about the quantity of hairs tested. [4] See Green, 975 So.2d at 1101 (noting that we defer only to those factual findings supported by competent, substantial evidence and review de novo the application of the law to the facts). Notwithstanding the falsity of the testimony, we affirm the trial court's denial of Rhodes's Giglio claim because even if Rhodes satisfied the first two prongs under Giglio, he cannot demonstrate that Agent Malone's testimony was material. Agent Malone's testimony helped neither the State nor the defense. Forensic testing of the hair evidence at the time of trial, and later during Rhodes's postconviction proceeding, revealed that the hair evidence collected on or around the victim's body either belonged to the victim or was inconclusive. As the trial court found, the inconclusive test results do not exclude the Defendant, the victim or a third person as a potential source of the hair. Because the hair evidence did not identify or exclude Rhodes as a source, it did not exonerate Rhodes or inculpate a third party. Therefore, Agent Malone's false testimony concerning the hair evidence was not sufficiently material and thus there is no reasonable possibility that [it] could have affected the judgment of the factfinder. Guzman, 941 So.2d at 1051. As defense counsel aptly stated during trial, the bottom line [is Agent Malone] can't help us out in this case at all. Accordingly, we deny relief on this issue.