Opinion ID: 2544894
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Testimony of Dr. Maher at the Spencer Hearing

Text: Dessaure next claims that his counsel was ineffective for not presenting the testimony of Dr. Maher at the Spencer hearing. We disagree. The law is well-established that a competent defendant may control decisions pertaining to his defense, including the presentation of mitigation evidence, and that counsel will not be rendered ineffective for following a competent defendant's wishes. See Hamblen v. State, 527 So.2d 800, 804 (Fla.1988) ([I]n the final analysis, all competent defendants have a right to control their own destinies.). Here, Dessaure repeatedly made it clear that he did not want to present mitigation to a penalty phase jury. Yet, despite Dessaure's insistence that he did not want a penalty phase and despite his lack of cooperation, Dessaure's defense counsel investigated all possible mitigation in preparation for the penalty phase. Defense counsel then proffered the mitigation to the trial court, including that Dr. Maher diagnosed Dessaure with posttraumatic stress disorder arising from childhood trauma within his family and that as a result of that disorder, at the time he committed the crime, he would have had difficulty conforming his behavior to the requirements of the law and would have been under extreme emotional disturbance. After each proffer of mitigation testimony, the trial judge asked Dessaure if he understood that this testimony could be used to establish a mitigating factor for the court to consider, and also if he understood that by not allowing counsel to present any evidence to support this proffer, the court would not consider it in sentencing. To each question, Dessaure answered that he understood. Dessaure also reaffirmed his decision not to present any evidence to support the mitigation and not to present any legal argument against any aggravating circumstance. After each proffer of mitigation, Dessaure was asked whether he was continuing to exercise his right not to present evidence of mitigation; and he insisted that he was. Later, at his family's prompting, Dessaure decided that he did want to present some mitigation at his Spencer hearing. As a result, defense counsel presented the mitigation testimony of Mary Parent, the mother of Dessaure's child, and Louise Randal, Dessaure's grandmother. Dessaure also testified on his own behalf and asked the judge to impose a life sentence. Thereafter, defense counsel informed the court that Dessaure waived his right to present any additional testimony or evidence, and the following exchange took place: Court: What are you waiving now, Mr. Watts? Defense Counsel: Judge, further evidence. I have advised Mr. Dessaure that we've prepared a complete penalty phase and that we've proffered some and then we've presented some evidence. We could have asked this Court for more time to present Dr. Mayer or anybody else on the witness list. And that is the purpose of the waiver. Court: So, Mr. Dessaure, at this point you're waiving your right to present any additional testimony or evidence at this time; is that right? Dessaure: Yes, sir. Then, Dessaure signed a written waiver stating that (1) he was aware that additional mitigating evidence existed and could be presented to the trial court as evidence; (2) he understood that the mitigation that was proffered was not evidence that could be weighed by the trial court; (3) his attorneys had advised him that they would be glad to call additional witnesses and present additional evidence and that the court would likely allow the presentation of evidence; and (4) [h]aving been advised of the above, and understanding, I hereby waive presentation of additional mitigation and rely on the record as it stands, for the Court's consideration of my sentence. In sum, Dessaure's counsel was prepared and proffered all mitigation at a sentencing hearing, including the findings of Dr. Maher. When Dessaure changed his mind about presenting some mitigation at the Spencer hearing, defense counsel presented the testimony of Ms. Randal and Ms. Parent. Mr. Watts then informed the trial court that he could also present the testimony of Dr. Maher, but that Dessaure did not wish to present additional mitigation. And Dessaure signed a waiver acknowledging as much. Defense counsel cannot be ineffective for following Dessaure's direction under these circumstances. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's denial of this claim.