Opinion ID: 1844309
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether trial counsel was ineffective at the penalty phase of carr's capital trial.

Text: ¶ 27. The standard of review for a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel involves a two part test: the defendant must prove, under the totality of the circumstances, that (1) his attorney's performance was defective and (2) the deficiency deprived the defendant of a fair trial. Hiter v. State, 660 So.2d 961, 965 (Miss.1995). This review is highly deferential to the attorney, and there is a strong presumption that the attorney's conduct fell within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance. Id. at 965. With respect to the overall performance of the attorney, counsel's choice of whether or not to file certain motions, call witnesses, ask certain questions, or make certain objections fall within the ambit of trial strategy and cannot give rise to an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Cole v. State, 666 So.2d 767, 777 (Miss. 1995). ¶ 28. Anyone claiming ineffective assistance of counsel has the burden of proving, not only that counsel's performance was deficient but also that he was prejudiced thereby. Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510, 123 S.Ct. 2527, 2535, 156 L.Ed.2d 471 (2003); Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). Additionally, the petitioner must show that there is a reasonable probability that but for his attorney's errors, he would have received a different result in the trial court. Nicolaou v. State, 612 So.2d 1080, 1086 (Miss.1992). Finally, the Court must then determine whether counsel's performance was both deficient and prejudicial based upon the totality of the circumstances. Carney v. State, 525 So.2d 776, 780 (Miss.1988). ¶ 29. Carr claims his trial counsel was ineffective because: 1) counsel did not adequately present evidence of his mental retardation; 2) counsel did not begin to prepare for the sentencing phase until guilt had been decided; and, 3) counsel failed to make a record of all `off-the-record' discussions.
¶ 30. Carr claims trial counsel failed to adequately present mitigating evidence of his mental retardation. Ron Lewis, Carr's trial counsel, made an oral motion to the trial court stating that Carr's constitutional rights would be violated under the 8th Amendment and 14th Amendment as well as Article 3, Section 14 and 28 of the Mississippi Constitution if the death penalty was imposed upon him because of his mental retardation. He also proffered the testimony of Dr. William Kallman in order to corroborate Carr's mental retardation. Trial counsel also called Carr's elementary school principal, who described Carr's school attendance, family life, and grades. ¶ 31. Carr's school counselor, Mr. Rencher, also testified to Carr's family life, grades, and standardized test scores. According to Rencher, Carr had very few disciplinary problems at school, and his problems all stemmed from his lack of attendance and his poor grades. ¶ 32. Dr. Kallman was a key witness put on by Carr during his sentencing phase. He testified to his personal evaluation of Carr's mental functioning level and placed Carr in the mildly mentally retarded range. Dr. Kallman stated that it was his opinion that Carr had a serious underlying psychotic condition. Carr I, 655 So.2d at 858. When responding to a question regarding how a person with that level retardation would function in the world at the age of twenty-five he responded, Well, this person would have great difficulty functioning independently in the world unless it was a fairly simple task that did not require a lot of intellectual understanding and activity. ¶ 33. Trial counsel has no duty to present mitigating evidence. Wiley v. State, 517 So.2d 1373, 1379 (Miss.1987). Counsel has a duty to make reasonable investigations or to make a reasonable decision that makes particular investigations unnecessary. Id. Unlike defense counsel in Wiggins, 123 S.Ct. at 2542, who failed to investigate, discover, and present powerful mitigating evidence, Carr's trial counsel put forth significant mitigating evidence during the sentencing phase. We cannot say that trial counsel's decisions were unreasonable in this regard. This assignment of error is without merit.
¶ 34. As pointed out above, trial counsel called forth witnesses and presented the court with significant mitigating evidence, so obviously preparation had been made. There is no merit to this claim.
¶ 35. Carr admits in his petition that defense counsel filed a Motion to Require the Court Reporter to Transcribe the Entire Proceedings. Carr also contends that trial counsel failed to object to the off-the-record discussions. In order to preserve an issue for appeal, counsel must object. The failure to object acts as a waiver. Oates v. State, 421 So.2d 1025, 1030 (Miss.1982). Furthermore, this issue was known before direct appeal and it is not now proper to bring before this Court. Miss.Code Ann. § 99-39-21(1). This assignment of error is both barred and without merit.
¶ 36. Carr offers the hearsay affidavit of an investigator who asserts a preliminary background investigation revealed claims of child abuse which Carr purportedly suffered. The failure to call available witnesses on critical issues is a factor to be considered in analyzing an ineffective assistance claim. Leatherwood v. State, 473 So.2d 964, 970 (Miss.1985). The State responds that there is no specific allegation from any identifiable family member such that the claim's validity can be determined. Complaints of uncalled witnesses are typically not favored since presentation of testimony is generally a matter of trial strategy, Boyd v. Estelle, 661 F.2d 388, 390 (5th Cir.1981). Without knowing what specific evidence might have been given by a particular witness, it is impossible to say whether the failure to call such a witness amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel. Without an affidavit from the potential witness, it is speculative at best as to whether the testimony would have more likely than not altered the sentence imposed. Brown v. State, 749 So.2d 82, 91 (Miss.1999). Carr has failed to prove that his trial counsel was ineffective.