Opinion ID: 1611770
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Penalty Phase Ineffective Assistance Claims Denied Without an Evidentiary Hearing

Text: In his first claim, Cole raises numerous arguments, alleging trial counsel's ineffectiveness, which the trial court summarily denied without an evidentiary hearing.
In his first subclaim, Cole posits that trial counsel should have presented evidence of Cole's long-term history of drug and alcohol abuse. Cole argues that even though counsel presented evidence of marijuana abuse, counsel should have presented evidence of additional drug use. In ruling on Cole's rule 3.850 motion, the trial court in its detailed order stated: Defendant alleges that counsel was ineffective for failing to present evidence of Defendant's history of alcohol and drug abuse during the penalty phase of this trial. In addition, Defendant alleges that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to call William Paul to testify as to alcohol and drug use by the Defendant at the time of the crime. Defendant alleges that evidence of past alcohol and drug abuse, as well as evidence of alcohol and drug use at the time of the crime, was a mitigating factor and that presentation of this evidence would have resulted in a life sentence. Upon review of the record, it is clear that trial counsel presented extensive evidence of Defendant's history of alcohol and drug use during the penalty phase. Ann Marie Powers, Defendant's [stepsister], testified that Defendant had a marijuana problem from age 12. Beverly Jean Helm, who was a foster parent for Defendant at one time, testified that Defendant had an alcohol and drug problem while he lived with her and that this problem continued after Defendant left her care. Ms. Helm also testified that when she last saw Defendant, he appeared to have a long-term problem with marijuana. There was also ample evidence presented during the guilt phase that Defendant used alcohol and marijuana immediately before, during, and after the crimes. Allen Detwiler testified that before Pam and John Edwards were attacked, Defendant bought a case of beer when Detweiler [sic] took him to the store. Pam Edwards testified that Defendant told both she and her brother that Defendant and Paul had a lot to drink. Pam Edwards testified Defendant's campsite had a lot of empty beer cans. Pam Edwards testified that during her abduction she saw Defendant smoke marijuana. Danielle Zimmerman testified that she saw Defendant smoke marijuana after the murder of John Edwards. In addition, Dr. Berland testified about the effects of drug and alcohol on someone who had mental illness. Trial counsel presented argument that alcohol and marijuana affected Defendant in relation to his mental illness during the penalty phase of the trial. Defendant's allegation that his counsel was ineffective for failing to present evidence of alcohol and drug use is amply refuted by the record. Any additional evidence of drug and alcohol use would have been cumulative of that actually presented. State v. Cole, No. 94-498-CF, order at 8-9 (Fla. 5th Cir. Ct. order filed Feb. 18, 2000) (footnote and record citations omitted). We find no error in the trial court's conclusion that Cole was not entitled to an evidentiary hearing to present what the trial court found would have been cumulative evidence. See Valle v. State, 705 So.2d 1331, 1334-35 (Fla.1997) (affirming trial court's summary denial of ineffective assistance claim based on allegation that trial counsel failed to present cumulative evidence). [7]
Cole next contends that trial counsel failed to present evidence of child abuse. For example, Cole specifically asserts that his mother should have been called as a witness. In ruling on Cole's rule 3.850 motion, the trial court explained: Defendant alleges that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to present sufficient mitigating evidence of child abuse and Defendant's poor upbringing. Specifically, Defendant states that trial counsel was deficient for failing to call Defendant's mother, Ann Cole, during the sentencing phase. Defendant alleges that sufficient evidence of childhood abuse would have resulted in substantial mitigation and a life sentence. Trial counsel presented extensive evidence of Defendant's childhood abuse and poor upbringing during the sentencing phase of this case. Andrea Jane Headlee, Defendant's step-sister, testified that she lived in the same household as Defendant until he was 12. She testified that during that time both she and the Defendant were placed in foster homes more than once, that Ann Cole (Defendant's mother) was sent to prison during their childhood, that Defendant's father, Don Cole, was an alcoholic, and that Don and Ann Cole fought frequently during their marriage. Ann Marie Powers, another one of Defendant's step-sisters, testified that she lived in the same household as Defendant until he was 8. She testified that during that time the children were placed in foster homes at least twice, that Ann Cole was sent to prison one of those times, that Don Cole abused alcohol and that alcohol made him abusive, and that Don and Ann Cole fought frequently and that these fights included physical altercations. Don Cole, Defendant's father, testified that Defendant lived with him until Defendant was three or four. He testified that during that time Ann Cole was physically abusive towards the children and that she exhibited signs of mental illness. Defendant's allegations that his counsel was ineffective for failing to present evidence of childhood abuse and poor upbringing is amply refuted by the record. Any additional evidence of childhood abuse would have been cumulative of that actually presented. Additionally, this Court specifically inquired of Defendant as to whether he wanted his mother to testify on his behalf during [the] sentencing hearing. Defendant unequivocally stated that he did not wish his mother to testify. Defendant cannot now be heard to complain that his trial counsel was ineffective for not calling his mother to testify when Defendant himself specifically stated that he did not wish his mother to testify. State v. Cole, No. 94-498-CF, order at 10-11 (Fla. 5th Cir. Ct. order filed Feb. 18, 2000) (footnote and record citations omitted). We find no error in the trial court's determination that Cole's claim is refuted by the trial record and that the evidence which Cole now asserts should have been presented would have been cumulative. See Valle, 705 So.2d at 1334-35. As to Cole's specific claim about his mother, the record establishes that the trial court offered to send a deputy to pick up Cole's mother, who was under subpoena, but Cole on the record unequivocally declined the trial court's offer after conferring with trial counsel.
Cole claims that trial counsel failed to object to prosecutorial misconduct during penalty phase closing argument. Cole argues that the prosecutor told the jury that William Paul could not have cut John Edwards with a knife, as Paul's hand was broken, and that the statement was inaccurate because Paul's left hand was hurt but was not broken. In rejecting this claim, the trial court found: The evidence in this cause demonstrates that Paul's hand was not broken. However, it is also clear that Paul's hand was badly injured after the initial altercation with John Edwards. Pam Edwards testified that Paul was moaning and said he thought his hand was broken. She also testified that Defendant had her roll a joint for Paul because his hand was cut and swollen. John Tomson [sic] testified that when Defendant and Paul arrived at his trailer, he noticed Paul was in pain and that his hand was swollen and quite large. Mary Gamble testified that when Paul arrived at the trailer his hand was very swollen up and he could barely move it. The evidence demonstrates that even though Paul's hand was not broken, it was injured to the point that he may have had difficulty using it. Therefore, even though the prosecutor's statement that Paul's hand was broken was technically incorrect, it was not prejudicial to the outcome. Therefore, trial counsel's failure to object to the broken hand comment was not prejudicial. State v. Cole, No. 94-498-CF, order at 12-13 (Fla. 5th Cir. Ct. order filed Feb. 18, 2000) (record citation omitted). We find no error in the trial court's determination in respect to this subclaim that Cole is not entitled to any relief.
Cole asserts that trial counsel should have requested a limiting instruction for the heinous, atrocious, or cruel (HAC) aggravator. Cole contended in his rule 3.850 motion that actions taken after a victim becomes unconscious or after the victim dies cannot support the HAC aggravator. Cole maintains in the instant case that, although trial counsel raised the issue that John Edwards could likely have been unconscious when his throat was cut, counsel was ineffective to the extent that trial counsel did not present the trial court with case law that entitled Cole to an instruction that the jury could not consider actions after the victim was unconscious. Cole cites Jackson v. State, 451 So.2d 458, 463 (Fla.1984), to support his position. Cole is correct that we have held that events occurring after the victim's loss of consciousness or death are not relevant to the HAC aggravator determination. See Jackson, 451 So.2d at 463. The record reflects that trial counsel requested and the trial court instructed the jury that events occurring after the victim's death were not relevant for the HAC aggravator. Thus, Cole's ineffective counsel claim can only rest upon trial counsel's alleged failure to request a further limiting instruction that would have advised the jury that events occurring after the victim's loss of consciousness are not relevant for the HAC aggravator. However, as indicated by the trial court in denying this rule 3.850 claim, the trial court in its sentencing order found there to be sufficient acts that occurred while the victim was conscious for the HAC aggravator to be established beyond a reasonable doubt. This Court on direct appeal affirmed the finding of HAC beyond a reasonable doubt. See Cole, 701 So.2d at 852. In doing so, we quoted and adopted the trial court's factual finding that John Edwards was conscious at the time Cole slit John's throat and that John subsequently lived for several more minutes while gasping for air. See id. (John was conscious for several minutes while he gasped [for] air from a severed windpipe slow[ly] filling with blood.). Thus, again, we find no error in the trial court's granting no relief on this claim.
Cole next claims that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to introduce into evidence codefendant Paul's life sentence. Cole submits that the jury would have probably sentenced Cole to life had the jury known of the disparate sentence. We agree with the State that this issue is procedurally barred, as we addressed the disparate treatment argument on direct appeal and found it to be without merit. See Cole, 701 So.2d at 852 (With respect to the disparate treatment, we agree with the trial court's conclusion that since Cole was the dominant actor and the one who committed the actual murder, the codefendant's life sentence was not a mitigating factor.). Moreover, it is clear from the on-the-record statements by Cole and his counsel during trial that the decision not to put on this evidence was influenced by the fact that presenting such evidence would have opened the door to other, harmful evidence. Specifically, the State would have then been permitted to call witnesses to explain the difference between the actions of Paul and Cole. See Gore v. State, 706 So.2d 1328, 1335-36 (Fla.1997). In view of the present record, Cole has no basis upon which to claim this decision was a result of an error by his trial counsel. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 691, 104 S.Ct. 2052 (The reasonableness of counsel's actions may be determined or substantially influenced by the defendant's own statements or actions.).
Cole's next claim is that trial counsel should have hired co-counsel to assist with the penalty phase. We find that this subclaim is legally insufficient because Cole has alleged neither deficient performance nor resulting prejudice for the trial court's failure to secure co-counsel. The claim as alleged is: 35. Counsel was ineffective for not requesting the assistance of co-counsel. This was the first penalty phase Mr. Gleason had tried as lead counsel. His ineffective presentation of mitigating evidence could have been done effectively if he had the assistance of an experienced co-counsel as recommended by the ABA Standards for Criminal Justice 5-6.1 36. Counsel's ineffective performance, which was compounded by the absence of co-counsel, is evident in the bench conference during which counsel relied on Mr. Cole to make the legal decision of what evidence to present. Counsel's ineffectiveness forced Mr. Cole to make the legal decision not to enter Mr. Paul's life sentence as evidence. If the jury heard that Mr. Paul, who possessed the murder weapon and whose fibers were found on the victim, received a life sentence, it is likely they would have given Mr. Cole a life sentence. (Record citation omitted.) The only prejudice alleged by Cole with any specificity concerns the presentation of Paul's life sentence. However, as noted above, Cole is not entitled to relief on that claim. The general allegation that mitigating evidence could have been better presented is an insufficient allegation of prejudice. As Cole makes no further allegation of prejudice relating to this subclaim, Cole has failed to demonstrate that his counsel was ineffective for failing to request co-counsel.