Opinion ID: 1089522
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Argument FiveFailure to Call Witnesses in Guilt Phase

Text: It is contended that attorney Blanche was ineffective in failing to call any witnesses other than defendant in the guilt phase of the trial. There is no showing of witnesses who could have given testimony favorable to the defendant. [3] The trial judge sumed up the case in ruling on the motion for new trial: The case you were faced with was a man who had a bullet from the dead deputy's gun removed from his body. He had several very credible eye witnesses pointing him out as the man who walked in the bank and shot the deputy. You had balistic evidence connecting his gun with his apartment and the deputy's death. This was a chain of evidence that was insurmountable. You did what I consider to be the best thing you could do under the circumstances ... and that was an attempt to getting a conviction of murder two rather than first degree murder. You failed. The jury convicted him because of the impelling nature of the evidence, not because of your lack of diligence or ability as an attorney. (Docket No. 82-K-2515, Vol. I, Tr. 125-126) Since there is no evidence of witnesses who could have helped the defense, no prejudice has been demonstrated.