Opinion ID: 1390030
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 24

Heading: Josh Ryen's Videotape/Audiotape Testimony

Text: Petitioner alleges that his federal constitutional rights were violated because of the admission of videotape and audiotape evidence. (Pet. at 47-52.) The Court disagrees. The jury heard two taped statements of Joshua Ryen pursuant to a stipulation. The first was a videotape of a December 9, 1984 interview in which Josh, then age ten, was questioned under oath by the prosecutor and defense counsel. The second was an audiotape of a December 1, 1983 interview with Dr. Lorna Forbes, his treating psychiatrist and a specialist in treating children who survived the murder of a family member. Josh did not identify anyone as the assailant. (95 RT 4932-70; 4971-73; Trial Exs. 641, 642.) The defense received a benefit from the stipulation, as Josh Ryen did not identify his assailant and the jury heard of his earlier statement concerning three Hispanic workers coming to the ranch. The defense also avoided the drama and sympathy that would have undoubted occurred had the defense called victim Josh Ryen to the stand in the trial and heard his firsthand recollection about a man with bushy hair. (4/22/05 HRT 133.) Petitioner's claim was also denied by the state court on independent and adequate state grounds. This Court defers to the denial of Petitioner's claim on the merits by the California Supreme Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d). Accordingly, Petitioner's claim is DENIED on the merits.
Petitioner does not satisfy the requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(2). Petitioner must demonstrate that he could not have presented his claim previously with due diligence. 28 U.S.C. § 2244(2)(b)(I). The facts and circumstances surrounding Joshua's statements and the manner in which his testimony was presented to the jury have been matters of record since trial. Cooper, 53 Cal.3d at 800-801, 281 Cal.Rptr. 90, 809 P.2d 865. Assuming arguendo that Petitioner could demonstrate that the factual and legal basis of his claim could not have been discovered previously with due diligence, he would still be required to demonstrate that the facts underlying his claim, if proven and viewed in light of the evidence as a whole, would be sufficient to establish by clear and convincing evidence that, but for the constitutional error, no reasonable juror would have found him guilty of the Ryen/Hughes murders. See 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b). Petitioner does not meet this standard. The guilt of Petitioner was demonstrated by overwhelming evidence at trial, and has been reaffirmed through post-conviction DNA testing. Petitioner has not established by clear and convincing evidence that no juror would have convicted Petitioner if Josh Ryen was subjected to testifying in person before the jury. Accordingly, this Court DENIES this claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b).