Opinion ID: 1377007
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Counsel's Failure to Preserve Co-Defendant's Mental Health Records for Review

Text: In his fifth point, Skillicorn argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to preserve the mental health records of co-defendant Allen Nicklasson for review by this Court. Further, he alleges that his appellate counsel was also ineffective for failing to request that this Court view the exhibits. Skillicorn states that both trial and appellate counsel believed that the issue of Nicklasson's mental health records was meritorious. The motion court found that, in his direct appeal, this Court determined that Skillicorn had no right to the records and that preserving the record would not have assisted Skillicorn. Skillicorn rightly points out that this Court did not reach the issue of whether he had a right to the records in his direct appeal. Instead, we determined that Skillicorn received what he wanted, i.e., an in camera inspection of the documents. Skillicorn, 944 S.W.2d at 885. The trial court found that the contents of Nicklasson's mental health records were irrelevant to Skillicorn's defense. Id. Taking notice of the misstatement by the motion court, we still agree with the motion court that counsel was not ineffective. Skillicorn is correct in pointing out that appellate courts may review documents examined by the trial court, State v. Parker, 886 S.W.2d 908, 917 (Mo. banc 1994) (Court inspected disciplinary records of officer), and that this Court has even ordered a court of appeal to conduct such an investigation, State v. Newton, 963 S.W.2d 295, 297 (Mo.App.1997). Neither of these cases, however, suggests that a review would be necessary or even helpful under the present set of facts. In Parker, the defendant made a materiality showing regarding a police officer's disciplinary record as it related to how he handled the complaints of the defendant's victim and whether it contained any exculpatory information under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963). Parker, 886 S.W.2d at 917. Likewise, Newton is also distinguishable, as the mental health records at issue in the case pertained to a witness for the state who apparently had a history of drug abuse, mental illness, and hallucinations. State v. Newton, 925 S.W.2d 468, 471-72 (Mo.App.1996). In the present case, counsel sought to use Nicklasson's mental health records for the purpose of providing more information about the submissive nature of Skillicorn's personality in an attempt to minimize Skillicorn's role in the murder. Counsel wanted to further illustrate the defense theory that Skillicorn was dominated by the more aggressive Nicklasson. The trial court reviewed the file in camera and determined that there was no relevant information in the file. Additionally, Skillicorn's sister and a jailer in Clay County had already testified about Skillicorn's personality, that he was non-violent, submissive to authority, and quiet. An incomplete record on appeal does not necessarily warrant reversal, as relief is only appropriate if the appellant can demonstrate that due diligence was employed in an attempt to correct the shortcomings and that the incomplete nature of the record prejudiced him. State v. Middleton, 995 S.W.2d 443, 466 (Mo. banc 1999). Skillicorn cannot demonstrate any prejudice against him. At best, the evidence in Nicklasson's file would add to the conclusion that Skillicorn, with his submissive personality, again paired himself up with a more dominant, aggressive individual and then participated in a murder in order to obtain some desired property. This view of Skillicorn was clearly presented in the guilt phase of Skillicorn's trial, for example, Skillicorn's statement to the victim that they were going to have to lose him while Nicklasson actually carried out the killing, leaving Skillicorn, who had just taken the victim's wallet and cash, behind in the victim's car. Skillicorn, 944 S.W.2d at 882-83. This aspect of Skillicorn's behavior was even more prevalent in the penalty phase of his trial as detailed above in section (1). Although the motion court erroneously stated that this Court, in Skillicorn's direct appeal, determined that he had no right to Nicklasson's mental health records, it is equally apparent that the motion court did not clearly err. At trial, the court determined that the information in Nicklasson's file was irrelevant. Skillicorn, 944 S.W.2d at 885. At best, the information would have little or no probative value in light of the evidence adduced by the state. All things considered, trial and appellate counsel cannot be said to be ineffective, and it is plain that Skillicorn cannot demonstrate any prejudice since there is no reason to believe the verdict and sentence would have been any different because of the strong evidence presented against him in both the guilt and penalty phases, Hall, 982 S.W.2d at 680. Moreover, Skillicorn has not produced sufficient evidence to overcome the presumption that counsel was effective. State v. Tokar, 918 S.W.2d 753, 761 (Mo. banc 1996).