Opinion ID: 1685081
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Muhammad's Appeal

Text: Muhammad's cross-appeal is closely related to the issues appealed by the State. Namely, Muhammad alleges that the evidence of the letter and employee statements requires his conviction to be vacated. Muhammad argues that the lower court did not consider the impact of this evidence upon the guilt phase with regard to issues such as whether he would have pursued an insanity defense and whether he was competent to proceed pro se. Although our opinion in Muhammad II indicated that the trial court had not addressed the merits of whether the alleged Brady violation would require a new trial, Muhammad II, 603 So.2d at 490, the nature of the documents that were presented on remand would not require either a new sentencing phase or a new trial. Thus, we agree with the trial court's denial of guilt phase relief. Even if the documents in question were suppressed by the State, they would not have provided any novel information that would have had any impact on guilt phase issues. We previously concluded, after explaining in some detail in Muhammad's direct appeal, that the trial court properly found that Muhammad was (1) competent to stand trial, (2) competent to proceed pro se, and (3) competent to withdraw the notice of intent to raise an insanity defense. Muhammad I, 494 So.2d at 974-76. Nothing contained in the alleged Brady documents causes us to question these conclusions. As we recognized, Muhammad conducted his defense as well as any layman could be expected to do. Id. at 976. Therefore, the lower court properly denied relief regarding the guilt phase.