Opinion ID: 1819029
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Petitioner's defense of alibi

Text: ¶ 41. Howard asserts that he has a credible alibi defense, that he informed his trial counsel of this defense, and that he informed counsel that numerous people were willing testify in his behalf regarding this defense. Howard argues that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to investigate this alibi defense and by failing to present this defense at trial. ¶ 42. Assuming, for the moment, that Howard's trial counsel did not properly investigate this defense, (a point which the State vehemently denies), we find that the affidavits and statements Howard offers do not actually provide him with an alibi for the crime. The record from the second trial reveals that the arson investigator determined that the two fires in Kemp's living room smoldered between four to six hours. The fires were extinguished by the fire department after 8:30 p.m. and before 9:00 p.m. Accordingly, it may be inferred that the fires were set after 2:30 p.m. and before 5:00 p.m. ¶ 43. The affidavits and statements offered by Howard allege the following: Howard was at a gathering at his sister's home on February 2, 1992. (Howard's affidavit dated September 10, 2004). There was a get-together at Gloria's house. Howard was there and they all watched a movie. It wasn't dark, dark when [Howard] came to the get-together. I wasn't watching my watch to see what time it was. We were cooking and watching a movie. (Pearlie Mae Howard's affidavit dated September 12, 2004). Sometime after 1:00 p.m. on February 2, 1992, Pearlie saw Howard at their mother's home. About 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Howard came over to Pearlie and Gloria's home. Howard stayed until about 10:00 p.m. (Pearlie Howard's statement to police dated February 8, 1992). Gloria and Pearlie had a get-together at their apartment on a Sunday and Howard was there. Howard left for about five minutes to go to the store. They were watching movies. (Gloria Jean Wilkins' affidavit dated September 14, 2004). On or about February 2, 1992 Gloria had unexpected company at her apartment to watch a movie. Howard was there. Howard arrived around 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. When [Howard] got here it hadn't got dark yet. Howard left around 10:00 p.m. (Gloria Wilkins' statement to police dated February 12, 1992). Duron Pyle was at a get-together at Gloria's house. When he left at 9:15 p.m., Howard was still there. It was semi dark when [Howard] arrived at the get-together. (Duron Pyle's affidavit dated September 13, 2004). The Sunday before last I was over at [Gloria] Wilkins apartment with Duron Pyles. It was around 8:00 p.m. when we got there. Howard was already at the get-together when they arrived. They left around 10:00 p.m. and Howard was still there when they left. (Yolanda Wells' statement to police). Accordingly, at most, these affidavits and unsworn statements allege that Howard was at Gloria and Patsy's apartment for a get-together on February 2, 1992. Howard arrived, at the earliest, around 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Since the fires were set after 2:30 p.m. and before 5:00 p.m., these statements and affidavits do not provide Howard with an alibi for the crime. [12] Even if Howard could prove that his attorneys' performance was deficient, which the State denies, Howard cannot show how that deficient performance prejudiced his defense. Howard cannot meet the prejudice prong of Strickland, and the petition is denied as to this issue. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. at 2064.