Opinion ID: 1671948
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: cross-examination of fields

Text: Robinson claims that counsel was ineffective in his initial cross-examination of Fields since he did not elicit the extent of Fields' drinking on the night of the murder, nor did he highlight that Fields' deal with the State provided him with an incentive to lie. The trial court denied the various sub-claims as procedurally barred. Although we conclude that not all of Robinson's sub-claims were barred, we nonetheless find no merit to this claim. First, regarding Fields' oral statement to Captain Porter, the State is correct that Fields did not say the shooting was an accident. In total, Porter related: Fields said something to the effect of, somehow or another in the conversation that Robinson had called her a bitch and at that point, she either pushed him or slapped at him or something like that and in turn, he slapped back at her or used his gun to threaten her with and that's when he shot her. That's when Robinson shot her. In his affidavit, Fields described the same scene, but then stated, I truly believe it was an accident but I can't say for sure because I could not see from where I was. I do not believe that Johnny meant to shoot the lady. Fields is obviously hedging his original trial testimony in his affidavit, while not stating flatly that the shooting was an accident. Therefore, while Pearl probably could have pressed Fields more on this issue, Robinson has not demonstrated deficient performance. Moreover, as the State notes, Pearl did establish Fields' motive to he by detailing his deal with the prosecutor for a lighter sentence in exchange for his cooperation in Robinson's case. Next, Robinson's claim regarding Fields' alleged intoxication that night is somewhat dubious considering Fields' detailed affidavit eight years after the murder. Also, the sub-claim regarding Fields' alleged susceptibility to police pressure and low IQ is procedurally barred since the issue was not raised below. Further, the issue as to Robinson's alleged intoxication should have been raised on direct appeal and, indeed, it was raised and rejected by this Court in Robinson's first appeal. Robinson v. State, 520 So.2d 1, 5 (Fla.1988). The State also correctly notes that Robinson's detailed confession casts doubt on any claim he was intoxicated at the time of the offenses. Robinson's argument regarding the jury instruction on weighing Fields' testimony is also procedurally barred since this issue was raised and rejected on direct appeal. Robinson, 574 So.2d at 110-11. Even if it had not been raised, it is the type of claim that should be raised on direct appeal. Gorham v. State, 521 So.2d 1067, 1070 (Fla.1988). Finally, the claim regarding leading questions is a substantive claim improperly recast in ineffective assistance language as a second appeal. Medina v. State, 573 So.2d 293, 295 (Fla. 1990).