Opinion ID: 767895
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Fletcher's Testimony Against Perillo

Text: 41 Fletcher returned to Houston to testify against Perillo on November 5 or 6, 1984. Although Fletcher initially stayed at a hotel arranged by the state, she moved to Skelton's condominium shortly thereafter, and stayed with Skelton throughout the duration of Perillo's trial. 42 On the afternoon that Fletcher arrived in Houston, Skelton arranged to have her meet with another criminal defense attorney, Will Gray, with whom Skelton shared office space. Skelton has testified that the sole purpose of this consultation was to seek Gray's advice concerning whether the attorney-client relationship that had existed between Skelton and Fletcher might be used in some manner to exclude or limit the effect of Fletcher's testimony against Perillo. Skelton denies that Gray was consulted regarding any conflict of interest arising out of his prior and concurrent representation of Fletcher. 43 Fletcher only met with Gray once, on the afternoon before she began her testimony against Perillo on November 7, 1984. Skelton dropped Fletcher off and picked her up from the meeting. Gray has testified that his meeting with Fletcher left him thinking that there was a distinct possibility that Fletcher would be charged with perjury unless she asserted the attorney-client privilege at Perillo's trial. Gray was also concerned about the conflict of interest arising from Skelton's simultaneous relationship with both Fletcher and Perillo. After meeting with Fletcher, Gray told Skelton that Skelton should withdraw from Perillo's case. Gray agreed, however, to appear on Fletcher's behalf when she testified the next day. 44 That night Skelton and Fletcher returned to Skelton's condominium alone and had a lengthy conference during which Skelton refreshed Fletcher's recollection of her testimony against Briddle by going through her prior testimony, which Skelton characterized as set in stone, with Fletcher. Skelton also mapped out for Fletcher exactly what he intended to ask her during his cross-examination of her at Perillo's trial the next day. Gray, Fletcher's putative attorney, was not present for this briefing session. 45 Skelton claims that this evening conference at his home was the first time he ever discussed Fletcher's version of the facts with her. Skelton claims he did not discuss the facts of the case against Fletcher with her before or during her own trial, when referring the victims' families to her, when he attended at her wedding, when he negotiated Fletcher's immunity for Briddle's trial, when Fletcher gave a statement to prosecutors detailing those facts before Briddle's trial, when she stayed with him for more than one week during Briddle's trial, when he appeared on her behalf at Briddle's trial, when he represented her in California during the course of Perillo's trial, or at any other time prior to that evening. Skelton's testimony in this regard is, as the district court ultimately found, both incredible and contradicted by other evidence. 46 Without regard to whether Skelton discussed the facts of Fletcher's case with her prior to the evening before her Perillo testimony, Skelton concedes that he did discuss the facts with Fletcher that evening. Thus, Skelton met with Fletcher, the state's star witness, the night beforeshe testified against Perillo for the purpose of permitting Fletcher the opportunity to conform her testimony against Perillo to her prior, and very damaging, testimony in Briddle's trial, and for the purpose of affording Fletcher a preview of Skelton's cross-examination on Perillo's behalf. The record reflects that several individuals were concerned about the conflict of interest problems presented by Skelton's dual relationship with both Fletcher and Perillo. In addition to Gray, there is evidence that Perillo's prosecutors were concerned about the conflict of interest arising out of Skelton's dual relationship with Fletcher and Perillo. As mentioned above, there is evidence that Fletcher was concerned about a conflict of interest. Finally, there is evidence that Skelton himself was concerned about the conflict of interest arising from Skelton's relationship with both Fletcher and Perillo. Skelton asked criminal defense attorney Will Gray, who had extensive experience defending capital cases, to consult with Fletcher. Although Skelton testified that Gray's consultation was exclusively for the purpose of seeing whether Fletcher's testimony could be excluded altogether, both Gray and Fletcher testified that Gray was supposed to consult with Fletcher about any actual conflict that might infringe upon her rights, given Skelton's representation of both Fletcher and Perillo. 47 Notwithstanding Gray's advice, Skelton continued with Perillo's case, and the next day Fletcher appeared to testify against Perillo. Although not introduced during the evidentiary hearing on remand, the record contains sworn affidavits from two individuals, one a member of the bar, stating that they were either party to or overhead a conversation during Perillo's trial in which Skelton said that he had advised Fletcher to lie in Briddle's trial, and that Fletcher would therefore be compelled to repeat her lies in Perillo's trial, although Skelton planned to spin Fletcher's lies in a way that would help Perillo. 3 48 Once Fletcher was called to the stand, the state asked Fletcher some questions which the prosecutor has subsequently testified were intended to address the issue of whether Skelton's representation of Perillo was burdened by a conflict of interest arising from his relationship with Fletcher. Fletcher testified that there was no longer any attorney-client relationship between her and Skelton. Gray then interjected, stating that he represented Fletcher, that Fletcher had been granted immunity for her testimony, and that the extent of his counsel to Fletcher was that she assert the attorney-client privilege where applicable. 49 Gray was never formally appointed to represent Fletcher. Once Fletcher began testifying, and it became clear that she would not follow Gray's advice to assert her attorney-client privilege, Gray left the courtroom, and did not stay to hear Fletcher's testimony or to otherwise protect her interests. There is no indication that Gray ever had any other contact with or exposure to Fletcher. Gray has testified in this proceeding that he feels there was an actual conflict arising from Skelton's multiple representation of both Fletcher and Perillo. While Gray does not ascribe any improper motive to Skelton in doing so, Gray believes that Skelton inappropriately got caught up in trying to serve two masters. 50 Tellingly, neither the prosecutors nor Gray nor Perillo's trial judge elicited from Fletcher the full scope of Fletcher's relationship with Skelton. Although the fact of Skelton's prior representation at Fletcher's trial was stated in the record, no one questioned Fletcher about Skelton's representation after Fletcher's trial, at Briddle's trial, or after Perillo's trial began. Those facts were simply not developed, leaving both Perillo's trial judge and Perillo herself in the dark. Skelton did not, as he had for Fletcher, arrange for Perillo to consult with any independent counsel regarding the existence of a conflict of interest.Indeed, neither the trial judge nor the prosecutors nor Skelton expressed any interest in determining whether Perillo was aware of Skelton's relationship with Fletcher or whether Skelton's dual relationship with both Fletcher and Perillo might have any conflict of interest implications that would impair Skelton's presentation of Perillo's defense. 51 On direct, Fletcher repeated the damaging testimony given at Briddle's trial. Fletcher's testimony tended to establish both Perillo's guilt and her future dangerousness by describing extraneous offenses that were neither contained in Perillo's confession nor otherwise offered into evidence by the state. Fletcher's testimony also tended to establish that Perillo was heartless and cruel. For example, Fletcher testified that Perillo used a tape recorder taken from Banks' house to make mocking recreations of the murders. Fletcher also elaborated on her earlier Briddle testimony without objection from Skelton. For example, Fletcher testified at Perillo's trial, but not at Briddle's trial, that Perillo had calmly demanded her share of the money from the robbery as the trio fled Houston. Fletcher also elaborated on her testimony that Perillo was using Banks' tape recorder on the bus to Denver by testifying that Perillo was making statements like the rope is too tight, and I don't like looking at your face, its turning blue while Briddle laughed. 4 There can be little doubt that Fletcher's testimony was most damaging to Perillo. Perillo, 758 S.W.2d at 572. 52 On cross-examination, Skelton's continuing obligation to Fletcher, arising in part from his role in securing Fletcher's damaging Briddle testimony and the grant of immunity in her favor, and as complicated by his decision to refresh Fletcher's recollection of her prior testimony and his decision to preview his cross-examination with Fletcher, obviously hindered Skelton's ability to challenge or minimize Fletcher's testimony in any meaningful way. Skelton led Fletcher through her testimony so consistently that the transcript reads as though Skelton himself is testifying. Throughout the lengthy cross-examination, Fletcher gave predominantly one word responses to the lengthy, compound questions posed by Skelton. 53 Skelton began by going through some of the lengthy history of his personal and professional relationship with Fletcher. Skelton disclosed that Fletcher had received a five year probated sentence for her involvement in the crimes. Skelton diminished Fletcher's own involvement by pointing out that Perillo's own statements left [Fletcher] out of it. Skelton identified himself and Fletcher with both the government and the victims' families by eliciting her testimony that she volunteered her testimony at Briddle's trial because it was the right thing to do and that, at his urging, she had met with the victims' families. Skelton bolstered Fletcher's credibility by eliciting testimony about her excellent background, including her well-educated sisters, her supportive family, and even her high school grade point average. 54 Skelton then proceeded to Fletcher's version of the facts. Fletcher repeated much of the damaging testimony given on direct. Skelton failed to ask questions that might have impugned Fletcher's credibility or exposed any ulterior motives for her testimony, although he could have fruitfully pursued both avenues. See Perillo I, 79 F.3d at 451 n.12. Skelton failed to point out that Fletcher's prior statement to Denver police that she had last seen Banks alive and well when he dropped her off on the freeway was inconsistent with her testimony at Perillo's trial. See id. Skelton failed to point out that Fletcher might hold a grudge against Perillo because Perillo turned both Fletcherand Briddle in to the police. See id. Skelton failed to explore the import of Fletcher's desire to put all this behind her, which might have included a motive to eliminate the one remaining person who could remind her of and shed light upon Fletcher's own involvement in the murders. Skelton also failed to ask Fletcher questions that would have incriminated her, or at least called into question whether she was more involved in the murders than she claimed. For example, Skelton failed to ask Fletcher about the fact that she had blood on her pants when she was arrested. See id. 5 55 Notwithstanding the fact that Skelton previewed his cross-examination with Fletcher the night before, he also asked questions that tended to incriminate Perillo. For example, Skelton's cross-examination elicited damaging evidence of Perillo's involvement in a host of extraneous offenses not otherwise developed by the state. Id. For example, Fletcher testified that Perillo was heavily involved with drugs, and that Perillo generally helped Briddle with his robberies. Fletcher also offered new details with regard to the robbery that led the trio to flee California. 56 Skelton also elicited false testimony from Fletcher that operated to prejudice Perillo's defense. For example, Fletcher testified that she did not receive any benefit from the state in exchange for her testimony against Briddle. As developed supra, Fletcher received at least use immunity, and probably full transactional immunity, in exchange for her testimony against Briddle. In addition, Skelton elicited testimony from Fletcher that he was not present when she appeared at Briddle's trial, a statement that is flatly contradicted by the record in Briddle's case. Skelton has testified that his trial strategy was to try and make both Fletcher and Perillo look like victims who were being manipulated by an evil and controlling Briddle. Skelton planned to compare Fletcher's outstanding background with her despicable conduct when married to Briddle in order demonstrate the strength of Briddle's influence. But Skelton elicited testimony that was both damaging to Perillo and inconsistent with his stated strategy. For example, Fletcher testified that she was crying and visibly distraught throughout the time the robbery and murders were taking place. But, notwithstanding the fact that Skelton previewed his cross-examination with Fletcher, Skelton elicited Fletcher's testimony that Perillo was calm and methodical (Skelton's word) during the offenses. Similarly, Fletcher testified that Briddle forced her to engage in prostitution for his benefit and that he frequently beat her when she tried to refuse. Fletcher then testified that Perillo refused to engage in prostitution for Briddle's benefit without consequence, and that Briddle never attempted to harm Perillo. 57 Perillo's prosecutors have testified that they were worried that Fletcher's testimony on cross-examination that she received only a five year probated sentence might influence the jurors to likewise impose a lighter sentence than death on Perillo. This is the prosecutors' attempt to make Skelton's approach to Fletcher's cross-examination seem wise, or at least professionally reasonable. But as Perillo's counsel pointed out in the evidentiary hearing, any strategy to highlight the light sentence Fletcher received by comparison can only have been strengthened by a vigorous cross-examination calling into question whether Fletcher was in fact more involved in the offenses than she pretended.The fact that both women pulled on the rope that killed Bob Banks could only have added to the obvious disparity between the five year probated sentence in Fletcher's case and the death penalty being sought in Perillo's case. Such evidence would also have furthered Skelton's stated trial strategy by strengthening the contrast between Fletcher's background and her conduct under the influence of Briddle. 58 Perillo claims, and neither Skelton nor his co-counsel Pelton disputes, that she made a contemporaneous and vociferous objection to counsel when Skelton was cross-examining Fletcher at trial. Perillo claims she told both Skelton and Pelton that Fletcher was lying and that Fletcher was inaccurately portraying Perillo as the ringleader to cover her own more substantial involvement. As just one example, Perillo testified in the evidentiary hearing that, contrary to her prior confessions, Fletcher pulled on one end of the rope that strangled Bob Banks. The fact that she did not make this theory up for habeas review is corroborated by the testimony of Robert Scott, who represented Perillo at her first trial. Scott testified that Perillo told him the same story about Fletcher's active involvement prior to her first trial. 59 Perillo claims that she asked Skelton to cross-examine Fletcher about her lies, but Skelton refused. He just patted Perillo's hand and told Perillo it would be okay. Perillo also says that she told her lawyers she wanted to testify in order to clarify for the record that Fletcher was lying. Perillo claims that Skelton and Pelton refused to allow her to testify. Skelton told Perillo that it was important for Fletcher to testify in a manner that was consistent with her Briddle testimony. The acrimony arising from these events and others is evidenced in Perillo's trial record, which includes Perillo's post-trial and pro se motions to remove Skelton and Pelton from her case. 60 Skelton called only one witness during the guilt phase of Perillo's trial. Skelton called Houston Police Officer West, who took Perillo's second and unsigned statement, in which she claimed that she committed both murders alone. Perillo's second, unsigned statement was recognized as inadmissible and therefore not introduced at Briddle's trial. Prior to West's testimony for the defense, Perillo's second statement had not been introduced into evidence or otherwise discussed at Perillo's second trial. Skelton asked Officer West a few questions to establish that he took the statement and then, inexplicably, had Officer West read the entire lengthy statement, which was highly incriminating as to Perillo and equally exculpatory as to Fletcher, verbatim into the record. West's testimony was the last evidence received before closing arguments and submission to the jury. 61 At the close of evidence in the guilt phase, Skelton told the jury that defending Perillo was one of the most difficult jobs he has ever had to do because of his close relationship with the victims' family, and because of the horrendous and disturbing brutality of the crimes. Skelton told the jury that his hair stood on end when he read the state's file, and found out the trio began planing the offenses the night before the crimes while at the rodeo with Banks. 6 Not surprisingly, the jury returned a verdict of guilty. 62 During the punishment phase, the state called the victim of the California robbery, and two police officers who testified that Perillo's reputation for peaceableness was bad. Skelton and Pelton called numerous witnesses who testified to Perillo's pitiful family background, Perillo's religious conversion in prison, and Perillo's prospects for support from the community should she be spared the death penalty. In his closing argument, Skelton told the jury that he cared a great deal about the victimsin this case, as evidenced by the fact that he was responsible for securing the testimony that ensured Briddle received the death penalty. Skelton told the jury that the sole issue in Perillo's trial had always been punishment, rather than guilt. Skelton emphasized that Perillo was remorseful, and that she deserved some credit for turning the trio in to the police. Skelton closed with a plea for mercy. Thereafter, the jury returned affirmative answers to the two special issues required for imposition of the death penalty. 63 Skelton has testified that there was no conflict of interest arising from his dual relationship with both Fletcher and Perillo because Fletcher would have done anything, even lied on the stand, to help Perillo. But Fletcher's own testimony in this proceeding contradicts that premise; Fletcher has testified that she was pleased with the outcome of Perillo's trial and does not care whether Perillo gets the death penalty. Fletcher's candid admission of her point of view tends to support Perillo's belief that Fletcher's testimony was intended to and did condemn her to death. 64