Opinion ID: 2436066
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Mitigation in Sentencing

Text: For his final point appellant argues that counsel was ineffective during the sentencing phase of the trial because he did not present any mitigating evidence or argument in an attempt to persuade the jury to be lenient in sentencing appellant. Appellant has failed to identify with any specificity what mitigating evidence counsel omitted during sentencing, and instead provides us with only bare allegations. This is his burden under the standard provided in Strickland . Since appellant cannot even prove that any mitigating evidence existed, we hold that trial counsel's conduct did not deprive petitioner of effective assistance of counsel. See Swindler v. State, 272 Ark. 340, 617 S.W.2d 1 (1981). It is for this reason, as well as those stated above, that we affirm the trial court's ruling denying appellant postconviction relief. Affirmed. NEWBERN and BROWN, JJ., dissent. DUDLEY, J., not participating.