Opinion ID: 2499163
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Overwhelming Blood Spatter and Other Evidence

Text: ¶ 36 Contrary to the majority's argument, none of the alleged anomalies with the GSR evidence significantly impact the reliability of the blood spatter evidence or any other evidence presented at trial. The defense knew that the jeans may have been folded over when wet but did not argue this to challenge the blood spatter evidence. It is not likely that other contaminating sources for the GSR evidence would have a potent effect. [2] Defense had argued the exposure in a police car could have caused the contamination. ¶ 37 While the majority emphasizes the importance of scrutinizing convictions with painstaking care, the interests of justice requires some balance. That system of justice relies on juries to determine guilt or innocence and should defer to such decisions. ¶ 38 The majority also overstates the importance of the GSR evidence, a matter of only several grains of powder mentioned only once in passing in all this court's prior decisions affirming Stenson's conviction. The majority also fails to present a compelling reason that this alleged Brady evidence meets that test's requirement that prejudice be shown, especially given the victim's blood spatter on the front of Stenson's jeans and the mountain of other evidence linking Stenson to the crime. The jury convicted Stenson after a four-week trial, and Judge Williams, on special remand from this court, expressly found that the third Brady requirement of prejudice was not met. We should defer to the jury and trial court in its findings of fact and affirm its decision on the legal question of prejudice. Both heard all the evidence; this court has heard arguments. Note too that the victims' families were never heard in this court. ¶ 39 The alleged Brady evidence also does not give rise to a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed earlier, the jury result would have been any different. Kyles v. Whitley, 514 U.S. 419, 433-34, 115 S.Ct. 1555, 131 L.Ed.2d 490 (1995) (quoting United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 682, 105 S.Ct. 3375, 87 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985)). In light of the mountain of other evidence in this case, four particles of GSR evidence was not a key piece of forensic evidence supporting the conviction. See Stenson, 132 Wash.2d at 679-80, 940 P.2d 1239. ¶ 40 Trial Judge Williams expressly indicated that the blood spatter evidence on Stenson's jeans was the most compelling evidence at trial. Even without the blood spatter evidence, the circumstantial evidence alone is overwhelming. The majority's decision substitutes its own judgment for those who actually heard the facts and totally disregards the jury, Judge Williams, and the victims of this heinous crime. ¶ 41 As a result, the alleged new Brady evidence is not sufficient to put the whole case in such a different light as to undermine confidence in the verdict. Kyles, 514 U.S. at 435, 115 S.Ct. 1555. We thus should deny Stenson's fifth and sixth personal restraint petitions. [3]