Opinion ID: 1212322
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Alleged Prejudice from Inability to Raise the Claim Previously

Text: Although Whatley has shown cause to excuse the procedural default to this evidence suppression claim, he must also satisfy the prejudice prong of the cause and prejudice test before his claim can be considered on its merits. However, because the prejudice necessary to satisfy the cause and prejudice test is a prejudice of constitutional proportions and because an evidence suppression claim is a constitutional claim, the prejudice analysis and the analysis of the merits of the evidence suppression claim are co-extensive. [9] As was noted above, the habeas court found that trial counsel's cross-examination of Tommy Bunn showed trial counsel's awareness of the statements Mr. Bunn made during this interview that was allegedly suppressed. However, we have concluded that this finding was clearly erroneous. Thus, the habeas court's resolution of the prejudice question rests on an erroneous finding of fact. The habeas court's error does not necessarily mean, however, that Whatley can demonstrate prejudice. Even though the facts show without contradiction that Whatley was not provided the January 27 interview before trial and direct appeal, we must consider whether his not having the interview created prejudice of constitutional proportions. To show that, Whatley must demonstrate that he can prevail on his underlying evidence suppression claim, which requires a showing of each of the following: (1) the State possessed evidence favorable to the defendant; (2) the defendant did not possess the favorable evidence and could not obtain it himself with any reasonable diligence; (3) the State suppressed the favorable evidence; and (4) had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, a reasonable probability exists that the outcome of the trial would have been different. [10] We conclude that Whatley has failed to satisfy the fourth element, a showing that having the January 27 interview at trial would have created a reasonable probability of a different outcome. As we noted above, the January 27 interview arguably contains contradictory statements by Tommy Bunn regarding whether the first shots were fired before or after Ed Allen began to pursue Whatley, as well as statements expressing uncertainty regarding the timing of those shots. However, Bunn himself ultimately testified under cross-examination at trial that he could not recall whether the shots came first or whether Allen's stepping over him to pursue Whatley came first. Thus, the jury, either with or without being presented with the full January 27 interview, would have concluded that Bunn could not be relied upon to establish a detailed chronology. Furthermore, the district attorney persuasively argued that Whatley must have fired at Allen before Allen was armed, because Allen was shot in the chest at a range of 15 to 18 inches and because it otherwise would have been unlikely for Whatley to have shot Allen in the chest from such a close distance without being shot himself by Allen somewhere other than just in the leg. Furthermore, Whatley's account of events cannot be reasonably reconciled with the testimony at trial indicating that he fired a shot toward either Allen or Bunn from a distance of merely eight inches from the service counter. We conclude as a matter of law that there would not have been a reasonable probability of a different outcome at trial if Whatley had been provided the January 27 interview and, therefore, that he can neither show merit to his underlying evidence suppression claim nor satisfy the prejudice prong of the cause and prejudice test, issues that are co-extensive. [11]