Opinion ID: 1969802
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: 12, b.4, b.21, b.62)

Text: The claims in this subcategory include one alleged Brady violation, consisting of the State's apparent failure to comply with a court order to preserve tapes and logs of police actions on the night of the homicide. Also included are three allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel, the first relating to counsel's alleged failure to obtain and review the tapes and logs after previously moving to compel their preservation, and the other two relating to counsel's alleged failure to elicit from Trooper Sink and Detective Petracca that at the crime scene they initially considered defendant to be a victim of whoever had committed the murder of Maria Marshall. Adjudicating those four claims on the merits, we conclude that they should be dismissed. Notwithstanding the unavailability of the police tapes and logs, and the omission of counsel to interrogate Sink and Petracca on whether defendant was considered a victim at the crime scene, we are satisfied that any alleged Brady violation or ineffectiveness of counsel was immaterial to the outcome of the trial. The prosecutor's opening statement acknowledged, and the State's police witnesses verified, that at the crime scene defendant's forehead was cut and his face was bloodstained. Trooper Sink described a puddle of blood near the right rear tire of defendant's car and Detective Petracca acknowledged that when he interviewed defendant, his head was bandaged and blood was visible on his shirt and trousers. Whether police officers at the crime scene considered defendant a victim or a suspect is irrelevant. What is relevant is that the jury received a full and graphic description of defendant's injuries. 2. The Tire