Opinion ID: 2029955
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Competence of Trial Counsel:

Text: We agree with the petitioner's position that mere perfunctory action by an attorney assuming to represent one accused of crime cannot be tolerated. Castro v. State, (1925) 196 Ind. 385, 391, 147 N.E.2d 321, 323. However, the evidence before the court at the post conviction hearing disclosed much more than mere perfunctory representation. The thrust of the petitioner's argument in this regard is that it was incompetence and ineffective representation for the trial counsel not to have interposed an insanity plea. The evidence discloses, however, that the petitioner and his attorney had an effective attorney-client relationship for several months prior to the trial, during which time the case was assessed and a trial strategy adopted, essentially at the petitioner's direction. Initially, the attorney had misgivings about the petitioner's competence to stand trial, because he had first agreed to a plea bargain and later changed his mind, had objected to the appointment of a particular attorney to represent him, was a little slow of mental reaction and related a history of alcoholism. Because of these indicators, he petitioned for a psychiatric examination to determine the petitioner's competence to stand trial. The petition was granted, and the petitioner was examined by two psychiatrists, who reported that he was competent to stand trial. Thereafter, the attorney proceeded to put together a defense. From the previously mentioned psychiatric reports came a suggestion that, by reason of the petitioner's alcoholic state, he may not have been able to form the requisite specific intent to commit the crime charged, and this was discussed with the petitioner, along with the advisability of an insanity plea. The petitioner announced that he would not want to go to a mental institution and instructed the attorney to proceed on the absence of intent theory. The record is replete with other evidence of competent and proper representation, including a successful petition for a trial separate from the trial of the petitioner's co-defendant, an unsuccessful petition for a change of judge and a journey to distant parts of the state to interview the petitioner's family and friends. It is apparent that insanity would have been a reasonable defense plea. In retrospect, it might even have been better than the strategy utilized. Such decisions must be made prospectively, however; and for that reason hindsight is not a proper perspective from which to assess professional competence. Beck v. State, (1974) Ind., 308 N.E.2d 697. That another attorney might have conducted the defense differently would be competent evidence upon an issue of incompetence and ineffective representation. But standing alone, it does not preponderate in favor of a finding of incompetence. Beck v. State, supra .