Opinion ID: 1680540
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Ineffective Representation with Respect to Suppression Hearing.

Text: ¶ 25. While Underwood acknowledges that defense counsel adequately challenged the written statement taken from him regarding the crime with which he was charged, it is argued that counsel's failure to have Underwood testify at the suppression hearings was evidence of ineffective assistance of counsel. Underwood further contends counsel was ineffective on appeal to contend that the invocation of counsel on the burglary charge required suppression of all subsequent statements. ¶ 26. The State argues that Underwood already raised a claim regarding suppression on his confession on direct appeal. This Court decided the claim against him holding that his constitutional rights were not violated since he understood his rights and spoke voluntarily with law enforcement. See Underwood, 708 So.2d at 30-31. ¶ 27. The State questions the credibility of Underwood's claim since there is no record that he requested the presence of an attorney during questioning. In fact, the two officers present gave sworn testimony that Underwood did not request an attorney during the burglary interrogation. The State also challenges Underwood's claim that he told his attorney he requested counsel during interrogation. The State infers that any attorney would recognize such a clear violation of a defendant's constitutional right had it been brought to his attention. ¶ 28. There is nothing in the record to explain why Underwood's counsel did not allow him to testify during the suppression hearing. The decision may have been a deliberate trial strategy. It is likely that defense counsel knew there would be credibility issues with Underwood's testimony. This Court does not like to second guess an attorney's trial strategy. See Mohr v. State, 584 So.2d at 430. When evaluating the overall performance of counsel, it must be considered that counsel makes strategic discretionary decisions including whether or not to file certain motions, call certain witnesses, ask certain questions, or make certain objections. See Cole v. State, 666 So.2d 767, 777 (Miss.1995). There is also a strong presumption that the attorney's performance was within the wide range of reasonable, professional, and acceptable conduct. See Leatherwood v. State, 473 So.2d 964, 968-69 (Miss.1985). ¶ 29. Again, Underwood has failed to obtain any evidence, such as an affidavit, confirming that trial counsel had this information and failed to act on it. Thus, the record does not establish that counsel's actions were deficient. ¶ 30. Even if counsel's action were deficient in any manner, Underwood has failed to show any resulting prejudice. Even if allowed to testify regarding his request for counsel, the credibility of his statement versus the statements of the two police officers would have been a matter for the court to decide. The circuit court sits as a fact finder when determining voluntariness of a confession, and its determination will not be reversed unless manifestly wrong. Horne v. State, 825 So.2d 627, 639 (Miss.2002) (citing Blue v. State, 674 So.2d 1184, 1204 (Miss.1996)). Since the court allowed the confession to stand, it is unlikely Underwood's statement that he requested counsel would have convinced the court to rule otherwise. Therefore, Underwood's claim is without merit.