Opinion ID: 1814310
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Counsel's Advice on Defendant Testifying

Text: In his fourth claim, Williams contends that his trial counsel was ineffective because he provided erroneous advice that if Williams testified, the defense would lose opening and closing arguments. In support, Williams points to a letter in the file stating that Williams declined to testify that included a legal misstatement of the law that Williams was advised by RJE [defense counsel] that the 1st and last closing would be traded for any testimony on his behalf. During the postconviction hearing, defense counsel asserted that the memo to the file was prepared by his secretary, and this was a typographical error that she had made well after his conversation with Williams occurred. Defense counsel testified that he did not advise Williams that they would lose opening and closing if Williams testified and that Williams chose not to testify after defense witness Gregory Manning fared badly during the State's cross-examination. Williams disputed this version of events at the hearing, asserting that after Manning testified, defense counsel and Williams went into a little room to talk, and defense counsel stated that he wanted to give the opening and closing statement to the jury, but he would not get that opportunity if Williams testified. Defense counsel was then recalled and asked whether he was sure about his recollection of the events in light of the conflicting testimony. Defense counsel responded, He'd just had someone testify in front of him, so I can be absolutely certain that I certainly did not tell him that. After weighing the evidence presented, the postconviction court denied the claim, finding that defense counsel's testimony was more persuasive. This Court has often recognized a trial court's superior vantage point in being able to assess the credibility of the witnesses and hence defers to the trial court's finding on credibility so long as that finding is supported by competent, substantial evidence. See, e.g., Porter v. State, 788 So.2d 917, 923 (Fla.2001). In this case, the court found that defense counsel was the more credible witness, a decision which is amply supported by the surrounding circumstances. As the trial court's findings are supported by competent, substantial evidence, we affirm the denial of relief.