Opinion ID: 2497384
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Procedural Rulings

Text: First, Rimmer contends that the circuit court improperly excluded five witnesses whose testimony he wished to present during his evidentiary hearing, and that the court improperly granted the State's motion for discovery pertaining to the proposed witnesses. We disagree and find no error in the court's rulings. At the evidentiary hearing, Rimmer sought to present the testimony of codefendant Parker, Rosario's girlfriend, and victims Moore, Rosario, and Burke. The State filed a motion for discovery that sought a proffer of each witness's testimony. After the court granted the State's motion, Rimmer proffered the testimony and argued that each witness's testimony was necessary to support Rimmer's misidentification defense and demonstrate how trial counsel was ineffective in investigating and presenting it. In response, the State filed a motion to strike the witnesses' testimony. The court granted the State's motion to strike, but it reserved the right to revisit the issue if Rimmer later made a sufficient showing that the witnesses' testimony was relevant. Rimmer argues that the court should not have required him to proffer the testimony, nor should the court have precluded the testimony at the evidentiary hearing. We disagree with Rimmer's arguments. In State v. Lewis, 656 So.2d 1248, 1249 (Fla.1994), this Court concluded that a trial court may permit pre-hearing discovery during postconviction proceedings under rule 3.850. We stated that in ruling on such a motion for postconviction discovery, the court shall consider the issues presented, the elapsed time between the conviction and the post-conviction hearing, and burdens placed on the opposing party and witnesses, alternative means of securing the evidence, and any other relevant facts. Lewis, 656 So.2d at 1250 (citing People ex rel. Daley v. Fitzgerald, 123 Ill.2d 175, 121 Ill.Dec. 937, 526 N.E.2d 131, 135 (1988)). We reject Rimmer's criticism of the court's analysis of the State's motion for discovery, and we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in granting the State's motion and requiring the proffer. We also conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion when it granted the State's motion to strike the testimony of the five witnesses. It is well settled that [t]he admissibility of evidence is within the sound discretion of the trial court, and the trial court's determination will not be disturbed on appellate review absent a clear abuse of that discretion. Brooks v. State, 918 So.2d 181, 188 (Fla. 2005). The court granted the State's motion on the grounds that the testimony was not relevant. However, the court reasonably allowed Rimmer the possibility of introducing the witnesses' testimony later if he demonstrated relevance. We find no abuse of discretion in the trial court's ruling. Second, Rimmer contends that the circuit court improperly denied certain public records demands. Although the court granted many of Rimmer's demands, it denied Rimmer's demands for information relating to thirty-four people whose names appeared in various police reports or case records. With respect to these people, Rimmer's demands sought the following from the Broward Sheriffs Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the State: Any and all files (regardless of form and including photographs, sound or video recordings, physical evidence, and electronic mail and/or files) related to any matter in which the below-listed individuals were the subject of an investigation, accused, charged and/or convicted of a crime, and/or was a witness, suspect, or victim. The agencies objected to Rimmer's demands on the grounds that the demands were overly broad and unduly burdensome, and the court concluded that Rimmer did not satisfy the burden that he was required to meet under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.852 (Capital Postconviction Public Records Production). Under rule 3.852(g)(3), additional public records are to be produced when all of the following criteria are met: (1) collateral counsel has made a timely and diligent search; (2) the written demand for records specifically identifies the additional records that are not at the records repository; (3) the records sought are relevant to the subject matter of a rule 3.851 proceeding or appear reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence; and (4) the additional public records demand is not overly broad or unduly burdensome. The postconviction record contains detailed orders which reflect the court's careful consideration of the parties' positions on this issue. Among the information considered by the court was the ability of the agencies to conduct searches of the degree required by Rimmer's demand. We emphasize that rule 3.852 is not intended to be a procedure authorizing a fishing expedition for records unrelated to a colorable claim for postconviction relief. Sims v. State, 753 So.2d 66, 70 (Fla.2000). The court did not abuse its discretion in denying Rimmer's demands. Third, Rimmer contends that his postconviction record is incomplete. However, [b]are allegations of unrecorded depositions and proceedings are legally insufficient to warrant relief. Armstrong v. State, 862 So.2d 705, 721 (Fla.2003). Consequently, we find no merit in this claim.