Opinion ID: 2094772
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 18

Heading: Failure to Interview Other Witnesses

Text: Defendant next contends that his trial attorneys were ineffective for failing to interview and present witnesses that were identified in the police and medical examiner's reports. These witnesses included Ophelia Loy, Willie Washington, Mack Ray, and Rowland. The State contends that, because the issue could have been raised on direct appeal, defendant has waived his claim that counsel was ineffective for failing to interview Loy. See Hobley, 182 Ill.2d at 428, 231 Ill.Dec. 321, 696 N.E.2d 313. Although this is true, defendant argues that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise this issue on direct appeal. Consequently, we will review the underlying claim. See West, 187 Ill.2d at 435, 241 Ill.Dec. 535, 719 N.E.2d 664. Defendant contends that Loy's testimony would have impeached the reliability of the unsigned statement admitted against him. Loy, the victims' neighbor, reportedly saw one of the victims raking grass on April 18, 1986, at 3 p.m. In defendant's statement, however, he states that he killed the victims during the early morning hours of April 18. The State asserts that defense counsel did not have Loy testify as a matter of trial strategy because her testimony would have directly contradicted defendant's theory as to the victims' time of death. After reviewing the evidence, we agree with the State's assessment. During trial, defense counsel sought to establish that the victims had died before the time mentioned in defendant's confession. Loy, however, would have testified that the victims died after the time indicated in defendant's confession. Because Loy's testimony would have directly contradicted defendant's theory relating to the time of death, we believe that counsel's decision not to call Loy was a matter of trial strategy and did not fall below an objective standard of reasonableness. Defendant next asserts that his attorneys should have interviewed Willie Washington because he was a suspect in the Sanchez murders, he was identified in police reports as the person who killed the Sanchezes, and his brother Wayne knew the victims and discovered the bodies. Defendant contends that, if counsel had interviewed Washington, he would have learned that Washington lived near the victims and that the victims would open the door for him. Defendant also contends that defense counsel should have interviewed Ray, who was reported in a police report to have told the police that Willie Washington had recruited him to rob the Sanchezes. According to Ray's affidavit, if defense counsel had interviewed him, counsel would have learned that Ray, along with Willie and Wayne Washington, stole merchandise to sell to the Sanchezes. On several occasions, the Washington brothers asked Ray if he wanted to help them rob the Sanchezes. Ray declined each time. Defendant also contends that counsel was ineffective for failing to interview Rowland. Defendant asserts that counsel should have interviewed Rowland because police reports indicate that defendant was at Rowland's house just before the murders. Moreover, Rowland told Madigan that Ray had told him that Willie Washington had tried to recruit Ray to rob the Sanchezes and that defendant was with his girlfriend at the time of the murders. The State first argues that defendant has waived his right to challenge counsel's failure to interview and present the testimony of Washington, Ray, and Rowland. We must disagree. The evidentiary basis of the claims relating to these witnesses necessarily rests upon evidence that was de hors the direct appeal record. See People v. Whitehead, 169 Ill.2d 355, 372, 215 Ill.Dec. 164, 662 N.E.2d 1304 (1996). Here, Ray and Rowland have provided affidavits as to what their testimony would have been, and one of defendant's attorneys who interviewed Washington in prison has filed an affidavit revealing what Washington told him during the interview. After examining the affidavits, we are unable to conclude that defendant has demonstrated that, had he introduced this testimony, a reasonable probability exists that he would have been found not guilty. Ray, an admitted drug user who was in custody on a burglary charge, would have been able to testify only that the Washingtons had asked him if he wanted to rob the Sanchezes. Ray had no information that either or both Washington brothers actually had committed the crime, and he was unable to identify with any specificity the time when they suggested robbing the Sanchezes. Rowland's testimony is nothing more than hearsay that repeats Ray's vague testimony. Finally, the information provided by Washington adds nothing of substance. After reviewing these affidavits, we are unable to conclude that, had counsel interviewed these witnesses and presented this evidence, a reasonable probability exists that the outcome of the trial would have been different.