Opinion ID: 1822143
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel for Failing to Develop and Present a Viable Alibi Defense [5]

Text: Wike next argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to develop and present a viable alibi defense. Wike contends that he has always maintained his innocence, and he claims that he specifically advised his counsel, before the original trial, that he had an alibi for the night of September 21, 1988, and the early morning hours of September 22, 1988. In particular, he alleges that he went to the Silver Eagle Lounge in Pensacola until about 1:30 a.m. While there, he made several phone calls and finally contacted Angie Cooper (then Angie Faulk), whom he had been dating. Wike then drove his car to the Scenic Hills Lounge, and Cooper picked him up from there and took him to her residence. Wike stayed there until 5:45 a.m., when Cooper took him back to the Scenic Hills Lounge, where he got his car and then drove back to his parents' house. In addition, Wike contends that there were other witnesses who could have testified that he was somewhere other than the crime scene at the time of the abduction. In particular, Wike alleged that he had been seen by Glenda Hilliard at Fred's Bar as late as 11:50 p.m. and, after that, by Tammy Osborn at the Silver Eagle Lounge at 1:15 a.m. Furthermore, Wike contends that Angela Jones could place him at the Cove Tavern until 11 p.m., and Carolyn Neal told Mr. Martin, the investigator, that Wike arrived at the RaceTrac at midnight. In response, the State contends that there is no one who could testify to Wike's whereabouts after 1:15-1:30 a.m., and many of those who Wike claims should have been called as witnesses would have had unfavorable things to say about Wike. Accordingly, the State argues that Wike has not demonstrated any deficient attorney performance in the investigation and presentation of evidence at the guilt phase of his trial. In addition, the State contends that Wike has not demonstrated any prejudice because he cannot point to any evidence that trial counsel should have discovered or presented that could possibly have made any difference in the result of the guilt phase of the trial. At the evidentiary hearing, Cooper testified that there was no doubt in [her] mind that Wike was not with her on the night of the crimes, and stated: [H]e was not at my house. She also testified that she had not seen Wike for two to three weeks before the crimes. Defense counsel testified at the hearing that in discussing the matter with Mr. Wike and reviewing the trial strategy that we had we concluded it was more important to have rebuttal argument than to present the issue regarding what I classify as pre-alibi witnesses. In its order denying postconviction relief, the trial court reviewed the hearing testimony and concluded: The record does not support the claim that counsel failed to investigate the use of alibi witnesses. With the exception of Ms. Faulk [Cooper], the Defendant failed to provide the name of a witness who could provide an alibi for the Defendant during the relevant time frame. As to Ms. Faulk [Cooper], when she was located, she positively denied she was with the Defendant during the period of time the crimes were committed. The decision not to call the pre-alibi witnesses to testify at trial was a tactical decision to gain the advantage of rebuttal in closing arguments and cannot be said to have prejudiced the Defendant or to have deprived him of a fair trial. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 686, 104 S.Ct. 2052. Competent, substantial evidence supports the trial court's findings. Indeed, Cooper clearly did not support Wike's alibi defense, nor has Wike demonstrated that any of the other witnesses could have provided an alibi for the relevant time frame either. Accordingly, Wike has failed to demonstrate that counsel's performance was deficient and that there is a reasonable probability that the outcome of the proceeding would have been different absent the alleged deficient performance. See Haliburton v. Singletary, 691 So.2d 466, 470 (Fla.1997). We thus reject Wike's claim on this issue.