Opinion ID: 1768076
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Bullet Composition Evidence

Text: Donald Havekost testified as an expert for the Commonwealth. Havekost, at the time of Bowling's trial, was assigned to the scientific analysis section of the F.B.I. Laboratory in Washington, D.C. His testimony concerned compositional analysis of bullets recovered from the Jones's Chevron crime scene, from the Hensley Spur Station crime scene, from the Sunoco shooting and from a partially filled box of .38 special ammunition recovered from Bowling. Using this analysis, Havekost matched (a) one of the bullets recovered from Jones's Chevron with a bullet recovered from the Hensley Spur Station; (b) three of the bullets recovered from the Hensley Spur Station with three of the bullets recovered from the Sunoco Station; (c) two other bullets recovered from the Hensley Spur Station with another one of the bullets recovered from the Sunoco shooting, and matched those three bullets with three of the bullets contained in Bowling's box of ammunition; and (d) another one of the bullets recovered from the Sunoco shooting with five other bullets contained in Bowling's ammunition box. Thus, Havekost was able to link, either directly or indirectly, unused ammunition found in Bowling's possession with spent ammunition found at the two charged crime scenes and the uncharged Sunoco crime scene. At a pretrial hearing on February 28, 1992, defense counsel moved for an independent examination of physical evidence including an examination of bullets and bullet fragments held by the Commonwealth as evidence against Bowling. The Commonwealth noted that discovery was made to the defense two years prior, but had no objection. The Commonwealth also argued that the court had no power to order the F.B.I. to test the evidence. After renewing the motion for independent analysis on July 6, 1992, the trial court granted the motion for independent analysis on July 9, 1992. On August 5, 1992, the trial court entered an order to transport evidence to the state facilities Jefferson Regional Forensic Laboratory. The bullets and bullet fragments examined by Havekost were included on the inventory sheet of evidence to be transported. Further, the order stated that the report from the tests were to be sent only to defense counsel. At the RCr 11.42 evidentiary hearing, defense counsel testified that he agreed to the use of the state facilities because of his interpretation of the applicable law at the time, whichaccording to the legislative history of KRS 31.185provided in pertinent part: Any defending attorney operating under the provisions of this chapter is entitled to use the same state facilities for the evaluation of evidence as are available to the attorney representing the commonwealth. If he considers their use impractical, the court concerned may authorize the use of private facilities to be paid for on court order by the county. 1974 Kentucky Acts, Ch. 358, § 11. Thus, defense counsel's decision to allow the bullets and bullet fragments to be sent to the same laboratory that the Commonwealth used, was reasonable. The Jefferson Regional Forensic Laboratory was unable to perform the bullet composition analysis. While the laboratory was able to forward the evidence to the F.B.I. for bullet composition analysis when the Commonwealth submitted the evidence, for whatever reason, it was unable to forward the evidence to the F.B.I. when the defense submitted the evidence. It became clear that the Jefferson Regional Forensic Laboratory was unable to do the bullet composition analysis or forward the evidence to the F.B.I. So, on September 9, 1992, defense counsel again moved for independent analysis using an independent expert. The trial court granted the motion, but in so doing, advised, ... but the Court would make it clear and in fact that it does, that in the event that this cannot, they cannot be back, does not mean that the Court will continue the case because of the lateness of the motion. On the same day, the trial court entered an order that stated in pertinent part: It is hereby ordered that pursuant to KRS 31.185, the defendant shall be allowed funds to employ the University Analytical Microscopy Associates, Inc. to examine some evidence previously examined by the F.B.I. Laboratory. It was determined that the state facilities were incapable of performing said examinations and that the F.B.I. would not re-examine the evidence.... The evidence shall be examined by Dr. Allen Dozier.... Pursuant to the above order, the bullet evidence was transported to an independent laboratory on September 14, 1992. Fifteen days later, the trial court ordered that the evidence sent to Dr. Dozier be returned to the Laurel Circuit Court to be held in evidence for Bowling's trial. Apparently, Dr. Dozier did no testing on the evidence during the time it was in his possession. In his RCr 11.42 motion and on appeal, Bowling argues that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to ensure that the independent testing of the bullets and fragment evidence be performed. Or, in the alternative, Bowling argues that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to move for a continuance once it became clear that Dr. Dozier did not test the evidence. Bowling's first argument has no merit. Defense counsel recognized the importance of the bullet composition evidence and repeatedly moved the court for independent analysis of the evidence. Next, the record reveals that the trial court affirmatively stated that it would not grant a continuance if the testing could not be done before trial. It is not ineffective assistance of counsel to fail to perform a futile act. Further, nothing in the record supports a finding that independent analysis would have yielded evidence favorable to the defense. In connection with his RCr 11.42 motion, Bowling moved for expenses to hire an expert witness to examine the bullets and bullet fragments. As part of this motion, Bowling tendered the vita of Robert J. Block, who holds a Ph.D. in metallurgical engineering. Additionally, Bowling tendered a document prepared by Dr. Block entitled: Review of the F.B.I. Determination Regarding the Significance of the Chemical Analysis Results Obtained from 39 Bullets. In this document, Dr. Block acknowledged that the procedures used by Havekost to obtain the bullet matches were valid. But Dr. Block questioned the confidence level of the matches obtained by Havekost. Further, Dr. Block questioned Havekost's decision to perform analysis on three different points in each bullet or fragment. Dr. Block argued that using five different points would have produced a higher degree of confidence in the results. Dr. Block next attacked the results obtained by Havekost using his (Block's) own statistical analysis of the results of the chemical compositions of the bullets and fragments obtained by Havekost. While Havekost determined that there were seven (7) unique groupings among the bullets and fragments, Dr. Block determined that there were only three (3) unique groupings. This, of course, casts doubt on Havekost's analysis of the data. Block's attack on the interpretation of the data dovetails with Bowling's argument in this appeal that the methodology and basis of Havekost's testimony were not reliable. This argument questions the admissibility of Havekost's testimony. Likewise, his other arguments attack the admissibility of the bullet composition evidence: (1) there was no statistical evidence introduced evidencing the reliability of the matching of the bullets and bullet fragments; (2) that Havekost did not testify as to how many bullets are shipped for sale in a single consignment or in what quantity the manufacturer boxes the bullets; and (3) that Havekost had no established expertise in the pattern and practice of the business of manufacturing bullets either industry wide, or by the specific manufacturer Havekost identified as making all the bullets he tested. The admissibility of Havekost's testimony could have been raised on direct appeal. This is true even though defense counsel did not object to its introduction at trial. See, e.g., Sanders v. Commonwealth, Ky., 801 S.W.2d 665, 668 (1990), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 831, 112 S.Ct. 107, 116 L.Ed.2d 76 (1991). Thus, the issue cannot be raised or addressed in this appeal from the denial of Bowling's RCr 11.42 motion. See Haight v. Commonwealth, Ky., 41 S.W.3d 436, 441 (2001), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 122 S.Ct. 471, 151 L.Ed.2d 386 (2001), which holds that an RCr 11.42 motion is limited to issues that were not and could not have been raised on direct appeal. Bowling's argument that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to ensure that the bullets and fragments were independently analyzed appears to be an attempt to circumvent this rule. If so, the attempt fails. Assuming arguendo that counsel was deficient, there is no showing of prejudice to Bowling. What an independent analysis of the bullets and fragment evidence would have revealed is pure speculation. It may have been beneficial to the defense. On the other hand, independent analysis may have increased the level of confidence in Havekost's results. Moreover, as Dr. Block's report reveals, Bowling's main point of contention with the accuracy of Havekost's testimony lies not with the actual results of Havekost's chemical analysis, but rather with Havekost's interpretation of the data. Thus, independent analysis of the bullets and fragments was not necessary to dispute Havekost's grouping results. Therefore, we hold in the alternative there is not a reasonable probability that the outcome of Bowling's trial would have been different had an independent examination of the bullets and fragment evidence been performed.