Opinion ID: 584065
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Ineffectiveness of Trial Counsel for Failing to Investigate the Scene of the Crime

Text: 30 Atkins argues that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to investigate whether some intervening cause (a third-party motorist) might have killed Castillo. We disagree. 31 The record shows us that Atkins' trial counsel was faced with the following circumstances: Atkins admitted to beating Castillo about the head; not even a hint of evidence existed to support the theory that Castillo had been struck by a car; and the witness who found Castillo barely alive promptly reported it to police. Also, at trial, the state's pathologist, under exacting cross-examination by defense counsel, testified that Castillo's numerous injuries were totally inconsistent with Atkins' theory that Castillo had been hit by a car; and the police officer who investigated the site where Castillo was found testified that no car accident occurred. Under these circumstances, we cannot say that Atkins' trial lawyer rendered ineffective assistance by failing to investigate the spot where Castillo's body was found. This intervening-cause argument was inherently weak and was unlikely to be strengthened by a greater investment of lawyer time. Nothing presented by Atkins shakes our confidence in the outcome of this case. At some point, a trial lawyer has done enough. Although we have studied Atkins' arguments to the contrary, we think that point was reached here. 32