Opinion ID: 1620060
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Peede's Competency to Proceed with Postconviction Proceedings

Text: Peede first argues that the trial court erred in finding Peede competent to proceed with postconviction proceedings. After our remand, defense counsel filed a motion to determine competency. Thereafter, the trial court appointed experts to examine Peede and conducted a competency hearing wherein testimony was presented by two experts for the defense and two experts appointed by the court. The two defense experts testified that Peede was unable to assist his counsel in the proceedings. The two court-appointed experts were unable to interview Peede because Peede refused; therefore, they were unable to render an opinion on competency. One court-appointed expert, Dr. Alan S. Berns, subsequently reviewed a videotaped interview conducted by a defense expert and thereafter opined in a written report that Peede was competent. Ultimately, the trial court determined that Peede was competent to proceed. At a status conference after this determination, Peede's new counsel again questioned Peede's competency, and the trial court reaffirmed its prior competency ruling but granted the State's motion for Peede to submit to an examination by a mental health expert selected by the State. The court also granted a defense motion for an additional examination and appointed Dr. Berns to examine Peede. Dr. Berns filed a written report stating that Peede was uncooperative and recommended that Peede be transferred to the psychiatric unit of the Florida State Prison where he could be further observed and evaluated. The State agreed, and Peede was transferred to a state mental health facility. Thereafter, Dr. David Frank from the psychiatric unit of Union Correctional Institution submitted a report stating that Peede refused most services and evaluations. He concluded that Peede had a personality disorder with antisocial and borderline features that did not require inpatient treatment. Dr. Gloria Calderon, a senior physician at Union, also recommended that Peede's psychiatric classification be lowered because he had not received any mental health treatment that year. The trial court then conducted another hearing to determine Peede's competency. Dr. Frank, the defense's only witness, testified that Peede was not incompetent to assist his counsel in the proceedings, and that Peede's unwillingness to discuss the circumstances surrounding the murder was not due to any mental illness. During this hearing, the court asked Peede why he would not talk with his lawyer about the murder: Court: Mr. Peede, why won't you talk to your lawyer about these things? Peede: Truth is, it hurts too much. So I'm not thinking about it, and I don't want to talk about it. Court: So it's just a decision. You decided not to talk about these things with your attorney because it's too painful for you; is that what you're saying? Emotionally painful for you? Did you hear my question Mr. Peede? Peede: Sir, I just told you. I don't think about it. I don't talk about it. That's the end of it. If you want to kill me, kill me. That's it. I'm through with it. Moreover, although defense counsel asserted that Peede would not discuss the facts of the murder, the evidentiary hearing testimony of Dr. Faye Sultan, a defense witness, demonstrated that Peede had discussed the murder with her. The trial court subsequently found Peede competent to proceed, concluding, Simply put, Mr. Peede could assist his attorneys, if he wanted to, but is instead choosing not to discuss the facts of this case. It is clear to this Court that Mr. Peede is not incompetent, simply uncooperative.