Opinion ID: 1638451
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Production of Evidence for Additional Forensic Testing

Text: Johnston's next claim challenges the postconviction court's denial of his Motion to Produce Evidence for Forensic Testing, in which he sought access to fingerprint and shoeprint evidence, in addition to the items of clothing that were tested during the relinquishment. Johnston sought production of the evidence in order to perform additional forensic testing, arguing that the forensic testing done at the time of trial was faulty, based on the National Academy of Science report discussed above. We conclude the postconviction court did not err in denying production of the fingerprints and shoeprint evidence for additional testing, and that denial of the motion did not deprive Johnston of due process. Although the fingerprint evidence presented at trial did not incriminate Johnston, he now contends, as discussed above, that the fingerprints should be produced so that they can be compared to those of Jose Gutierrez. However, the fingerprints are not newly discovered evidence, and Johnston knew of Gutierrez at trial but only now seeks to compare his fingerprints to those found at the scene. For these reasons, any claim based on these fingerprints is procedurally barred. Even if the claim were not procedurally barred, Johnston has not provided any basis to conclude the results of the fingerprint testing would probably result in his acquittal. As explained above, Jose Gutierrez's presence near the victim's home that night was fully explored at trial during his testimony. We also agree with the postconviction court that testing of these fingerprints now would not be likely to demonstrate that the forensic testing done for trial was deficient. Johnston also sought production of his shoes and the plaster shoeprint castings that were admitted into evidence at trial. As discussed above, forensic expert Terrell Kingery testified at trial concerning the shoeprint. His method for testing the shoeprint and the deficiencies in that method were fully explored in cross-examination. Johnston has not established, and we do not find, that further testing of the shoeprint evidence would probably result in an acquittal on retrial. The postconviction court denied the motion for production of the fingerprint evidence and the shoes and castings, concluding first that there is no reasonable probability that the results of additional forensic testing would exonerate Johnston of the crime. The court also concluded that there is no absolute right to production of evidence, which is in the nature of a discovery request, in this postconviction proceeding. We agree that the request is in the nature of postconviction discovery. There is no unqualified general right to engage in discovery in a postconviction proceeding. [A]vailability of discovery in a postconviction case is a matter firmly within the trial court's discretion. Marshall v. State, 976 So.2d 1071, 1079 (Fla. 2007). We have held that [a] trial court's determination with regard to a discovery request is reviewed under an abuse of discretion standard. Overton v. State, 976 So.2d 536, 548 (Fla.2007). In denying the motion, the postconviction court properly considered the issues, the fact that Johnston had almost twenty-five years in which to make this motion, and the fact that he only speculates that additional testing could disclose forensic deficiencies. Thus, we conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion. Because Johnston has not shown that the trial court abused its discretion in denying production for additional testing or that any of the testing would probably result in his acquittal, relief is denied on this claim.