Opinion ID: 1275595
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: client discussions

Text: Applicant claims counsel failed to discuss the theory of his defense and did not inquire into Applicant's preferences regarding mitigation evidence. He stated at PCR that he wished to testify himself during the sentencing phase, and that he wanted the aforementioned witnesses to testify, as well. Counsel denied these claims. He testified to discussions with Applicant concerning presentation of certain testimony which he considered beneficial. He admitted rejecting other testimony he felt would be detrimental. The inclusion or exclusion of evidence must be viewed against counsel's hundreds of hours of research into a given case. Moreover, we note that Applicant did, by means of his unsworn statement, communicate to the jury his version of what took place. Given the information at counsel's disposal concerning the State's evidence, we cannot say that a different strategy, described by trial counsel as throwing in everything but the kitchen sink, would have affected the outcome of this trial.