Opinion ID: 2022261
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Failure to Present Rebuttal Evidence

Text: By stipulation, the guilt phase evidence was incorporated into the penalty phase hearing, an ordinary procedure in capital cases. This included evidence of Griffin's autopsy, which showed that she had been struck forcefully about the head before and after being stabbed to death. Griffin was seventy-four years old and partially disabled because of childhood polio. The first blows knocked her to the floor. Laying prone, unable to right or defend herself, a large knife taken from her kitchen was plunged into her chest. Finally, she was struck about the head with a toaster. The physical evidence shows there can be no doubt that Ernestine Griffin was intentionally killed. There was little evidence defense counsel could cite to rebut a finding of intentional killing, but he certainly did not concede proof of the statutory aggravator. Rather, he made the best effort he could by attacking the credibility of the evidence, a tactic which did not require introduction of new evidence. His decision to attack the existing evidence was all he could do. It was objectively reasonable and not ineffective under Strickland.