Court Opinion

ID: 9928951
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-01 17:03:29.171886+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:05:33.443840
License: Public Domain

Supreme Court of Florida
                             ____________

                          No. SC2021-1779
                            ____________

                          LEON DAVIS, JR.,
                             Appellant,

                                  vs.

                        STATE OF FLORIDA,
                             Appellee.

                             ____________

                          No. SC2022-0883
                            ____________

                          LEON DAVIS, JR.,
                             Petitioner,

                                  vs.

                       RICKY D. DIXON, etc.,
                           Respondent.

                           February 1, 2024

PER CURIAM.

     Leon Davis, Jr., a prisoner under sentences of death, appeals

the circuit court’s denial of his initial motion for postconviction

relief under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.851. He also
petitions this Court for a writ of habeas corpus. We have

jurisdiction. See art. V, §§ 3(b)(1), (9), Fla. Const. For the reasons

explained below, we affirm the denial of postconviction relief and

deny the habeas petition.

     The murders involved in this postconviction appeal and

habeas proceeding occurred on December 7, 2007, at a BP gasoline

station and convenience store in Polk County. Davis was sentenced

to death following a bench trial, and his convictions and sentences

were affirmed on direct appeal. See Davis v. State, 207 So. 3d 177

(Fla. 2016).

     Davis is also the appellant in another 3.851 postconviction

appeal, Davis v. State, SC2021-1778, and the habeas petitioner in

Davis v. Dixon, SC2022-0882. The murders in these cases occurred

at the Headley Insurance Agency in Polk County several days after

the BP murders, and the opinion in these cases is also released

today.

     During Davis’s bench trial for the BP murders, a limited

amount of relevant Headley evidence was introduced. 1 Where it is

      1. On direct appeal, this Court affirmed the introduction of a
limited amount of Headley evidence which included “eyewitness

                                 -2-
necessary to distinguish between these cases, they will be referred

to as “Headley” or “BP.”

            FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

     On direct appeal, this Court set forth the facts of the BP

murders and related crimes as follows:

           On the evening of December 7, 2007, Davis drove to
     the vicinity of a BP gas station and convenience store
     (BP) with the intent to commit robbery. The BP was
     located near the intersection of Highway 557 and
     Interstate 4 in Polk County. Around 8:51 p.m. that
     evening, BP employee Dashrath Patel (Dashrath) and his
     friend Pravinkumar Patel (Pravinkumar) walked out of
     the convenience store’s front door and across the parking
     lot to change the gas price sign.
           The BP had closed for the evening, and the
     convenience store lights were turned off. While talking
     on the telephone, another BP employee, Prakashkumar
     Patel (Prakashkumar), remotely locked the store’s front
     door and began to change the gas prices on the cash
     register. Seconds later, the surveillance camera captured
     a person who appeared to be a black man, about six feet
     tall, who approached the front door of the store and
     pulled on the door. The man, who had a large build, was
     dressed in dark clothing and wore a hood and a face
     mask.
           Prakashkumar indicated to the man that the store
     was closed. The man then raised a gun to the window
     and fired one shot into the store towards Prakashkumar.

testimony [that] identif[ied] Davis as the Headley shooter, plac[ed] a
black Nissan in the vicinity of the Headley building at the time of
the shootings, and establish[ed] that the same gun was used in
both the BP and the Headley shootings.” Davis, 207 So. 3d at 189.

                                 -3-
Suddenly, the shooter’s attention was drawn to Dashrath
and Pravinkumar, and he ran across the parking lot
toward them. Surveillance footage showed both men
with their hands in the air, and Prakashkumar reported
hearing two gunshots that occurred about five to ten
seconds apart. According to the surveillance footage, the
gunshots were fired at approximately 8:53 p.m. After
firing the gunshots, the shooter ran back to the store’s
locked front door and tried in vain to open it. He raised
his gun again, but he then turned and ran away from the
scene.
       In the meantime, Prakashkumar had activated the
silent alarm, called 9-1-1, and sheltered in the
storeroom. Upon arrival at the scene, the responding
deputies learned that there were two missing people.
Following a brief search, the bodies of Dashrath and
Pravinkumar were located. Both victims were shot in the
head execution-style with .38 caliber bullets.
       With the assistance of a trained K-9 search dog, law
enforcement searched the immediate area for the scent of
a person who may have recently left the scene. The K-9
detected a scent that tracked about one quarter of a mile
to the north of the gas station. Footprints led in the
same direction that the K-9 tracked, up to the point
where a set of tire tracks began. A crime scene
technician photographed and made casts of the tire
tracks.
       In the days following the murders, law enforcement
conducted traffic stops in the area of the BP to question
drivers who may have seen something pertinent on the
evening of the murders. During the course of these
stops, four people provided information regarding a car
that was parked that evening in an isolated area near the
gas station. The witnesses described a dark-colored car,
possibly a black Nissan, backed up against a gate. One
of the witnesses described the car as having a distinctive
grille on the front end.
       Davis was not identified as a suspect in the
December 7 BP murders until after the December 13

                           -4-
robbery, arson, and shootings at the Headley Insurance
Agency in Lake Wales (Headley). Davis was positively
identified as the perpetrator of those crimes. The lead
detective in both the BP and the Headley investigations
was Detective Ivan Navarro. Detective Navarro requested
an analysis of the ballistics evidence obtained during the
course of the BP and Headley investigations. The results
of the analysis demonstrated that the same gun was used
in the crimes at the BP and at Headley.
      During the Headley investigation, a black Nissan
Altima with a distinctive grille was seized from the
parking lot of a local nightclub, and during a search of
the car, Davis’s driver license was found inside.
Additionally, two dark-colored jackets were found in the
car’s trunk, and a pair of black gloves was found in the
glove compartment. In light of the witness reports that a
possibly black Nissan was parked near the BP on the
evening of December 7, Detective Navarro requested an
analysis of the BP tire casts and the tires from the Nissan
Altima linked to Davis to look for similarities. The tires
from Davis’s Nissan Altima were consistent with the BP
tire casts.
      A grand jury later indicted Davis for multiple counts
stemming from the BP events: two counts of first-degree
murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, one
count of attempted armed robbery, and one count of
possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

                         Guilt Phase
      Davis waived a jury trial in favor of a bench trial.
The State’s theory was that Davis was a man burdened
by significant financial distress and that he committed
the murders of Dashrath and Pravinkumar during the
course of an attempted armed robbery of the BP.
      Evidence admitted at the trial revealed the following.
At the time of the murders, Davis and his wife, Victoria,
were in debt and unemployed. Victoria was pregnant at
the time and was on a leave of absence from work due to
pregnancy complications. The mortgage payment for the

                           -5-
couple’s home was delinquent, and the couple had given
up driving one of their vehicles and cancelled their cell
phone accounts because of their financial troubles. The
couple shared Victoria’s black Nissan Altima.
       On the day of the BP murders, Davis purchased a
Dan Wesson .357 magnum revolver from his cousin,
Randy Black. Black also gave Davis .38 caliber bullets
which were compatible with the .357 magnum. Davis
returned home after purchasing the revolver, but he left
home again that evening between 6 and 7 p.m. Davis
was alone when he left, and he was driving the black
Nissan Altima. Davis did not return home until between
9 and 9:30 p.m. Davis’s home was a twenty-two to
twenty-three minute drive from the BP.
       Two days after the murders, Davis showed his
mother the revolver that he purchased from Black. The
known rifling characteristics of Davis’s revolver, six lands
and six grooves with right twists, were consistent with
the characteristics of the projectiles obtained during the
BP investigation, including the projectiles removed from
the heads of the victims. The State’s ballistics expert
testified that .38 caliber projectiles could be fired from a
.357 magnum firearm, and that the projectiles obtained
during the BP investigation were consistent with having
been fired from a Dan Wesson .357 magnum revolver.
       The State introduced evidence from the Headley
trial during the guilt phase of the BP trial. To prevent the
introduction of improper evidence, the trial court entered
a pretrial order that sharply limited the admissibility of
Headley evidence. The limited Headley evidence revealed
that on the morning of December 13, 2007, Davis went to
the Lake Wales Walmart to make a purchase.
Surveillance video footage obtained from the store
depicted a tall black man entering the store around
7 a.m., and both a store manager and an employee
positively identified the man in the video as Davis. While
at Walmart, Davis purchased an orange lunch cooler.
       That afternoon, Davis went to Headley, where he
encountered Headley employee Yvonne Bustamante and

                           -6-
shot her in her left hand. Shortly thereafter, Davis
encountered Brandon Greisman near the Headley
building. Greisman and his neighbors, who lived nearby,
had walked towards the Headley building upon noticing
the presence of smoke in the area. Greisman, who saw
Davis and thought that he was there to offer help, saw
Davis pull a gun out of an orange lunch bag and point it
in his direction. Greisman tried to get away but was
unable to do so before Davis shot him in the nose.
Greisman was transported to Lake Wales Hospital, where
he underwent surgery and remained in the hospital
overnight.
       When Greisman was released, his mother drove him
to the Lake Wales Police Department to speak to
detectives. Greisman was shown a photographic lineup
and asked if he recognized the man who shot him the day
before. Greisman recognized Davis’s photograph almost
immediately and identified him as the shooter. At trial,
Greisman also identified Davis from the witness stand.
       Eyewitness Carlos Ortiz, who saw Davis place the
gun into a lunch bag shortly after Greisman was shot,
also identified Davis as the Headley shooter. At trial,
Ortiz testified that in addition to getting an extended look
at Davis at the scene, he recognized Davis because he
previously saw Davis at Florida Natural Growers, where
both men used to work. A few days after the Headley
incident, Ortiz identified Davis’s photograph from a
photographic lineup. Ortiz also identified Davis from the
witness stand.
       Another Headley eyewitness, Fran Murray, testified
that as she approached the Headley building, she saw a
tall black man carrying an orange collapsible lunch pail,
and she saw him place what appeared to be a gun inside
of it.
       Evelyn Anderson, a Headley customer, saw a tall
black man exit the Headley building with a bag under his
arm.
       Ortiz and Murray also testified that they saw a
black car in the area of the Headley building around the

                           -7-
time of the shooting. The car was parked near a vacant
house. Murray described the car as mid-sized, and Ortiz
identified it as a Nissan.
      Davis was also identified by the dying declaration of
Yvonne Bustamante. Upon arriving at the Headley scene,
Lt. Joe Elrod asked Bustamante if she knew the
perpetrator’s identity, and she responded, “Leon Davis.”
Bustamante told Lt. Elrod that Davis was a former
Headley customer. In addition to Lt. Elrod, two
emergency medical responders and eyewitness Anderson
heard Bustamante identify Davis as the perpetrator.
      The State’s ballistics expert testified that the same
gun was used in the BP murders and in the shootings at
Headley.

                        Davis’s Defense
       Davis’s defense was misidentification. He offered an
alibi for the time of the murders and attacked the
eyewitness identifications made during the course of the
Headley investigation.
       Testifying in his own defense, Davis stated that on
December 7, 2007, he brought his son to his home.
Around 7:15 p.m., he left home alone to go Christmas
shopping at the mall. Davis admitted that he was driving
the black Nissan Altima at the time. While shopping,
Davis did not see anyone that he recognized. Davis
testified that although he spent around $150 in cash on
clothing purchases, he did not have documentation for
the purchases. He also testified that the money that he
used to go shopping came from money that he had at
home and a paycheck he had received the day before.
       Davis testified that he left the mall around 8:30
p.m. and returned home around 9 p.m. He stated that
he spent the rest of the evening at home with his family,
leaving only briefly with his family between 9 and 10 p.m.
to get dinner.
       Davis also testified that less than one week later, he
left the Nissan Altima parked at a nightclub, and that the
gloves and jacket that the police later found in the car

                            -8-
     belonged to his wife, Victoria. Davis testified that he kept
     an unloaded gun in a toolbox in the garage that may
     have been unlocked, and that neither Victoria nor his son
     knew about the gun.
          Davis was convicted as charged.

Davis, 207 So. 3d at 183-86.

                    Penalty Phase and Sentencing

     Davis waived a penalty phase jury, and the penalty phase

proceeded before the trial court. Following the penalty phase, the

trial court held a Spencer 2 hearing. Ultimately, the trial court

sentenced Davis to death for the murders of Dashrath and

Pravinkumar. The trial court found that the following aggravating

factors applied to each murder: (1) the capital felony was committed

by a person previously convicted of a felony and on felony probation

(moderate weight); (2) the defendant was previously convicted of

another capital felony or a felony involving the use or threat of

violence to the person (very great weight); and (3) the capital felony

was committed while the defendant was engaged in the commission

of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing a robbery

(great weight). The trial court rejected as not proven that either

     2. Spencer v. State, 615 So. 2d 688 (Fla. 1993).

                                 -9-
capital felony was committed for the purpose of avoiding or

preventing a lawful arrest or effecting an escape from custody.

Davis, 207 So. 3d at 188.

      The trial court found the existence of one statutory mitigating

circumstance: the crime was committed while Davis was under the

influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance (little weight).

The trial court also considered but rejected as statutory mitigation

that Davis had no significant prior criminal history, because Davis

was convicted of grand theft several months before the BP murders.

Id.

      The trial court also found fifteen nonstatutory mitigating

circumstances and assigned varying weights: (1) the defendant was

the victim of bullying throughout childhood (moderate weight);

(2) the defendant was the victim of sexual assault as a child

(moderate weight); (3) the defendant was the victim of child abuse,

both physical and emotional, by a caretaker (moderate weight);

(4) the defendant’s overall family dynamics (little weight); (5) the

defendant’s military service in the U.S. Marine Corps (little weight);

(6) the defendant’s history of being suicidal both as a child and as

an adult (slight weight); (7) the defendant’s diagnosed personality

                                 - 10 -
disorder (slight weight); (8) the defendant’s history of depression

(slight weight); (9) stressors at the time of the incident (little weight);

(10) the defendant was a good person in general (very slight weight);

(11) the defendant was a good worker (little weight); (12) the

defendant was a good son, good sibling, good husband (moderate

weight); (13) the defendant was a good father to a child with Down

Syndrome (moderate weight); (14) the defendant’s good behavior

during trial as well as other court proceedings (slight weight); and

(15) the defendant’s good behavior while in jail and in prison (little

weight). Id.

     In addition to the sentences of death for the murders of

Dashrath and Pravinkumar, the court also sentenced Davis to life

imprisonment with a twenty-year minimum mandatory sentence for

the attempted murder of Prakashkumar, twenty years of

imprisonment with a twenty-year minimum mandatory sentence for

attempted armed robbery, and fifteen years of imprisonment with a

three-year minimum mandatory sentence for possession of a

firearm by a convicted felon. Id.

                                  - 11 -
                          DIRECT APPEAL

     Davis raised twelve issues on direct appeal. Id. at 188-89.3

This Court affirmed Davis’s convictions and sentences. See Davis,

207 So. 3d at 212.

      3. On direct appeal, Davis argued the following: (1) whether
the trial court erred in admitting evidence of the Headley events
during the guilt phase; (2) whether the trial court relied on facts not
in evidence to find Davis guilty; (3) whether the trial court erred by
allowing the impeachment of Victoria Davis; (4) whether the trial
court improperly shifted the burden of proof to Davis; (5) whether
the trial court erroneously used Davis’s prior theft convictions as
circumstantial evidence of his guilt for all charges; (6) whether the
trial court erred in denying the motion for judgment of acquittal;
(7) whether the evidence is sufficient to support Davis’s attempted
robbery conviction; (8) whether the trial court erred in admitting the
hearsay statement of Yvonne Bustamante as a dying declaration;
(9) whether the trial court erred in allowing the prosecution to
introduce the pretrial and in-court identifications made by Brandon
Greisman and Carlos Ortiz; (10) whether the trial court abused its
discretion and distorted the weighing process by improperly
diminishing the weight assigned to two mitigating factors and
attributing a greater weight to one aggravator than was previously
assigned; (11) whether Davis’s death sentences are proportionate;
and (12) whether the Florida death penalty statutory scheme is
facially unconstitutional under Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584
(2002).

                                - 12 -
            3.851 MOTION & EVIDENTIARY HEARING

     Davis filed his initial motion for postconviction relief raising

twenty-two claims and several subclaims.4 On August 23-24, 2021,

       4. Davis’s 3.851 motion argued the following claims: (1) trial
counsel failed to move to dismiss the indictment based on the fact
that the grand jury neither deliberated on nor found the requisite
elements for a capital felony charge; (2) trial counsel failed to move
to bar the State from seeking the death penalty given that there was
no allegation of aggravators in the indictment; (3) trial counsel
failed to bar the State from arguing a felony murder theory because
the grand jury only found the elements for a charge of first-degree
premeditated murder; (4) trial counsel failed to seek a change of
venue and jury trial due to the notoriety of the case; (5) trial counsel
failed to fully advise Davis of the consequences of waiving his right
to a jury trial; (6) trial counsel failed to aggressively litigate a motion
to suppress an automobile search; (7) trial counsel failed to use
available evidence to show flaws in the State’s hypothesis of
prosecution; (8) trial counsel failed to test the State’s case by failing
to call certain witnesses and failing to present certain evidence;
(9) trial counsel failed to request a special jury instruction on
circumstantial evidence; (10) trial counsel was ineffective due to a
failure to request a special jury instruction on dying declarations;
(11) trial counsel failed to argue that the aggravators should have
been tried in the guilt phase as elements of the offense; (12) trial
counsel failed to argue that the maximum sentence allowed under
the jury’s verdict was life imprisonment; (13) trial counsel should
have requested a jury instruction regarding the presumption of a
life sentence; (14) trial counsel failed to argue that his sentence
violated the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and
unusual punishment; (15)(a) trial counsel failed to thoroughly
investigate Davis’s background and present complete social history
mitigation; (15)(b) trial counsel failed to thoroughly investigate
Davis’s background and present sufficient mental health mitigation;
(15)(c) Davis’s waiver of a mental health evaluation was not
knowing, intelligent and voluntary; (16) Davis was deprived of his

                                  - 13 -
the trial court held a two-day joint evidentiary hearing on certain

claims raised in Davis’s BP and Headley postconviction motions. As

to the BP motion, the trial court granted an evidentiary hearing on

claim 7 (trial counsel failed to use available evidence to show flaws

in the State’s hypothesis of prosecution), claim 15(a) (trial counsel

failed to thoroughly investigate Davis’s background and present

complete social history mitigation), claim 16 (Davis was deprived of

right to a reliable adversarial testing at the Spencer hearing given
trial counsel’s failure to ensure the preparation of a comprehensive
pre-sentencing investigation report and provide additional
mitigation evidence; (17) Davis was deprived of a full adversarial
testing due to counsel’s ineffectiveness and the State’s Giglio v.
United States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972), and Brady v. Maryland, 373
U.S. 83 (1963), violations; (18) trial counsel failed to aggressively
litigate a motion to suppress a stale search warrant; (19) trial
counsel failed to use available evidence to challenge the State’s
case; (20)(a) trial counsel failed to thoroughly investigate firearms
identification evidence; (20)(b)(1) trial counsel failed to file a motion
in limine to exclude or limit the ballistics evidence, or alternatively,
to request a hearing under Frye v. United States, 293 F. 1013 (D.C.
Cir. 1923); (20)(b)(2) trial counsel failed to object to the conclusion
of firearms analyst James Kwong that the bullets fired at the BP gas
station were fired from the same firearm used in the Headley case;
(20)(b)(3) trial counsel failed to question Kwong as to his
qualifications, methods, protocols, and the basis for his
conclusions; (20)(b)(4) trial counsel failed to provide expert
testimony challenging Kwong’s findings regarding the firearms
comparison evidence; (21) trial counsel failed to move to suppress,
based on a chain of custody violation, a photopack shown to
Greisman; and (22) cumulative error.

                                 - 14 -
his right to a reliable adversarial testing at the Spencer hearing

given trial counsel’s failure to ensure the preparation of a

comprehensive pre-sentencing investigation report and provide

additional mitigation evidence), claim 17 (Davis was deprived of a

full adversarial testing due to counsel’s ineffectiveness and the

State’s violations of Giglio and Brady, and claims 20(a) (trial counsel

failed to thoroughly investigate firearms identification evidence),

20(b)(3) (trial counsel failed to question the State’s firearms expert

(Kwong) as to his qualifications, methods, protocols, and the basis

for his conclusions), and 20(b)(4) (trial counsel failed to provide

expert testimony challenging Kwong’s findings regarding the

firearms comparison evidence). Portions of claim 15 that related to

counsel’s investigation and presentation of mental health mitigation

were dismissed after the court held a hearing on and granted the

State’s motion to strike the presentation of all mental health

evidence at the evidentiary hearing.

     Six witnesses testified at the evidentiary hearing: (1) James

Kwong (Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) firearms

analyst); (2) Dr. Jeff Salyards (defense postconviction forensics

expert); (3) Dr. James Hamby (State’s postconviction ballistics

                                 - 15 -
expert); (4) Officer Lynette Schwarze (formerly Officer Lynette

Townsel) (Headley detective)5; (5) Robert Norgard, Esq. (lead defense

counsel); and (6) the appellant, Leon Davis.

     The circuit court denied relief on all claims. Davis now

appeals the denial of postconviction relief and petitions for a writ of

habeas corpus.

                     POSTCONVICTION APPEAL

     Davis raises ten claims in his postconviction appeal.

Specifically, he argues that the court erred in denying his claims of

a Giglio violation, a Brady violation, ineffective assistance of trial

counsel, and cumulative error. Davis also argues that the

postconviction court erred in not ordering a competency evaluation

before the evidentiary hearing. We address each issue in turn.

                                I. Giglio

     Davis argues that in violation of Giglio, a police officer who was

involved in the Headley investigation testified falsely during the BP

trial. Specifically, Davis alleges that Officer Lynette Townsel falsely

    5. To remain consistent with the witness’s name on direct
appeal, this opinion will use the last name “Townsel.”

                                  - 16 -
testified about her handling of a photopack (or photographic lineup)

of possible Headley suspects. Davis’s identity as the shooter in the

Headley case was relevant to identifying him as the shooter in the

BP case because the State’s firearms expert concluded that the

same firearm was used in both cases.

     “To establish a Giglio violation, it must be shown that: (1) the

testimony given was false; (2) the prosecutor knew the testimony

was false; and (3) the statement was material.” Sheppard v. State,

338 So. 3d 803, 827 (Fla. 2022) (citing Duckett v. State, 231 So. 3d

393, 400 (Fla. 2017)). While the burden rests with Davis to

demonstrate that the State knowingly presented false testimony,

upon doing so, the burden shifts to the State to establish that the

testimony was not material. See id. The State must prove that the

error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, meaning that “there

is no reasonable possibility that the error contributed to the

conviction.” State v. DiGuilio, 491 So. 2d 1129, 1138 (Fla. 1986).

As we explain, because the officer’s testimony was not material, we

affirm the circuit court’s order denying this claim.

     Consistent with the trial court’s order permitting a limited

amount of relevant evidence from the Headley trial to be introduced

                                - 17 -
at the BP trial, Officer Townsel testified that she met with shooting

victim Greisman at the Lake Wales Police Department on the day

after the Headley incident. During that meeting, she showed

Greisman a photopack that included Davis’s photograph, and

Greisman quickly identified Davis as the shooter.

     Davis argues that Officer Townsel falsely testified that she

placed a copy of the photopack in evidence storage after Greisman

identified Davis. 6 The record does reveal that in May 2010, the

State and the defense discovered that neither the original nor a

copy of the photopack was located in evidence storage. That

discovery set in motion an extensive search that led to Officer

Townsel finding the original photopack in a shed at her home a few

weeks later.

     However, Davis’s Giglio claim fails because the State has

demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt that Officer Townsel’s

testimony was not material. We reject Davis’s argument that the

testimony improperly bolstered the authenticity of the original

       6. Another of Officer Townsel’s statements, that the defense
received a copy of the photopack, was stricken upon objection at
trial.

                                - 18 -
photopack and Greisman’s in-court identification where, during the

cross-examination of Officer Townsel, defense counsel established

that no copy of the photopack was placed in evidence storage.

     Moreover, the original photopack was introduced into evidence

at trial, and both Greisman and Officer Townsel verified its

authenticity during their testimony. Counsel testified at the

evidentiary hearing that he was unable to substantiate any claim

that the original photopack had been tampered with.

     Further, the photopack was not the only evidence admitted

during the BP trial that identified Davis as the Headley shooter.

Multiple eyewitnesses testified to Bustamante’s statement

identifying Davis as the person who shot her. Additionally,

eyewitness Ortiz saw Davis placing a gun into a bag shortly after

Davis shot Greisman. Ortiz was shown a photopack from which he

quickly identified Davis, and that photopack was properly stored in

evidence storage. Ortiz also identified Davis while on the witness

stand and testified that he had seen Davis at a former worksite

prior to the day of the Headley incident.

     Officer Townsel’s testimony was harmless beyond a reasonable

doubt, as there is no reasonable possibility that the testimony

                                - 19 -
contributed to Davis’s conviction. For these reasons, we affirm the

circuit court’s denial of Davis’s Giglio claim.

                               II. Brady

     Davis also argues that the State committed a Brady violation

by withholding the personnel file of Officer Townsel, which would

have indicated that Officer Townsel did not initially place the

original Greisman photopack in evidence storage, and that she was

suspended for three days for mishandling the photopack. “To

establish a Brady violation, a defendant must show: (1) evidence

favorable to the accused, because it is either exculpatory or

impeaching; (2) that the evidence was suppressed by the State,

either willfully or inadvertently; and (3) that prejudice ensued.”

Guzman v. State, 868 So. 2d 498, 508 (Fla. 2003) (citing Jennings v.

State, 782 So. 2d 853, 856 (Fla. 2001)).

     “To establish materiality or prejudice under Brady, the

defendant ‘must demonstrate . . . a reasonable probability that the

[factfinder’s] verdict would have been different had the suppressed

information been used at trial.’ ” Sheppard, 338 So. 3d at 827

(quoting Smith v. State, 931 So. 2d 790, 796 (Fla. 2006)).

                                 - 20 -
     We affirm the circuit court’s denial of this claim. Davis’s

failure to demonstrate prejudice is determinative of this issue, as

Officer Townsel was impeached at trial on her mishandling of the

photopack. The trial court was aware that the original photopack

was missing for more than two years and was found in 2010 in

Officer Townsel’s shed.

     Moreover, as we explained with respect to Davis’s Giglio claim,

the photopack was not the only evidence linking Davis to the

Headley shooting. Multiple eyewitnesses overheard Bustamante

identify Davis as the person who shot her. Ortiz identified Davis as

the Headley shooter shortly after the incident and at trial. Thus, we

affirm the circuit court’s denial of Davis’s Brady claim.

      III. Cross-examination of the State’s Firearms Expert

     Davis argues that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to

robustly cross-examine the State’s firearms expert, FDLE firearms

analyst James Kwong. In particular, Davis maintains that

counsel’s cross-examination inadequately challenged alleged

deficiencies in the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners

(AFTE) theory of identification employed by Kwong and the majority

of firearm and tool mark analysts. As a result, Davis argues,

                                - 21 -
counsel failed to effectively undermine the State’s theory that Davis

was the BP shooter and that the murder weapon was the .357

magnum that Davis bought on the day of the BP murders. The

circuit court properly denied this claim.

     Davis’s claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel are

governed by the standard set forth in the United States Supreme

Court’s decision in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984).

This Court has explained:

           First, counsel’s performance must be shown to be
     deficient. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687
     (1984). Deficient performance in this context means that
     counsel’s performance fell below the standard guaranteed
     by the Sixth Amendment. Id. When examining counsel’s
     performance, an objective standard of reasonableness
     applies, id. at 688, and great deference is given to
     counsel’s performance. Id. at 689. The defendant bears
     the burden to “overcome the presumption that, under the
     circumstances, the challenged action ‘might be
     considered sound trial strategy.’ ” Id. (quoting Michel v.
     Louisiana, 350 U.S. 91, 101 (1955)). This Court has
     made clear that “[s]trategic decisions do not constitute
     ineffective assistance of counsel.” See Occhicone v. State,
     768 So. 2d 1037, 1048 (Fla. 2000). There is a strong
     presumption that trial counsel’s performance was not
     ineffective. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 669.
           Second, the deficient performance must have
     prejudiced the defendant, ultimately depriving the
     defendant of a fair trial with a reliable result. Strickland,
     466 U.S. at 689. A defendant must do more than
     speculate that an error affected the outcome. Id. at 693.
     Prejudice is met only if there is a reasonable probability

                                - 22 -
     that “but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of
     the proceeding would have been different. A reasonable
     probability is a probability sufficient to undermine
     confidence in the outcome.” Id. at 694. Both deficient
     performance and prejudice must be shown. Id. Because
     both prongs of the Strickland test present mixed
     questions of law and fact, this Court employs a mixed
     standard of review, deferring to the circuit court’s factual
     findings that are supported by competent, substantial
     evidence, but reviewing the circuit court’s legal
     conclusions de novo.

Sheppard, 338 So. 3d at 816 (quoting Bradley v. State, 33 So. 3d

664, 671-72 (Fla. 2010)). “Because Strickland requires a defendant

to establish both prongs, if one prong is not met, the Court need not

reach the other.” See id. (citing Stewart v. State, 801 So. 2d 59, 65

(Fla. 2001)).

     Davis has not demonstrated that counsel’s cross-examination

was deficient. Counsel testified that his strategy was to undermine

Kwong’s testimony linking Davis to the firearm used in the BP and

Headley shootings. Kwong testified that the BP and Headley bullets

and bullet fragments were fired from the same firearm. However,

during counsel’s cross-examination, Kwong conceded that they

could have been fired from either a .357 magnum or a .38 caliber

firearm. Moreover, Kwong acknowledged that the firearm could

have been made by one of at least twenty-one different

                                - 23 -
manufacturers. Kwong also admitted that he could not exclude a

9mm firearm as the suspect firearm, but he indicated that it was

less likely than a .357 magnum or .38 caliber because the lands

and grooves on the bullets and bullet fragments that he examined

were inconsistent with those that would be made by a 9mm firearm.

     Thus, counsel was able to gain concessions from the State’s

firearms expert that the murder weapon could have been a different

caliber of firearm than the .357 magnum that Davis bought on the

day of the BP murders, and that twenty-one different firearms could

have produced the same firing characteristics. Counsel’s cross-

examination of Kwong did not constitute deficient performance.

Thus, Davis has not established ineffective assistance of counsel,

and we affirm the circuit court’s ruling.

    IV. Expert to Challenge Firearm and Tool Mark Evidence

     Davis also argues that counsel was ineffective for failing to

obtain an expert to challenge the State’s firearm and tool mark

evidence, and that the circuit court improperly denied this claim.

However, Davis is not entitled to relief.

     At the evidentiary hearing, Davis presented the testimony of

an experienced forensic scientist, Dr. Jeff Salyards, to support his

                                 - 24 -
argument that counsel should have utilized conflicting expert

testimony to undermine Kwong’s firearm analysis. Dr. Salyards,

who is not trained in firearm and tool mark examination, criticized

the AFTE theory of identification as lacking in scientific reliability.

     The failure to offer testimony such as that of Dr. Salyards does

not render counsel’s strategy objectively unreasonable. Counsel

testified at the evidentiary hearing that after researching trial

techniques for challenging ballistics evidence, he consulted with an

experienced ballistics expert, Terry LaVoy. Counsel had consulted

with LaVoy in prior cases and was familiar with his work. In this

case, counsel litigated a motion to ensure that LaVoy had access to

the State’s evidence, and upon examination, LaVoy concluded that

the bullets and bullet fragments in the BP case and the Headley

case were fired from the same firearm. Counsel explained that if he

could not disprove the conclusion reached by the State’s expert, he

did not believe that arguing general criticisms about firearms

examination was an effective strategy. Instead, counsel decided

that he would focus on the fact that multiple types of firearms other

than the .357 magnum that Davis purchased could have been used

                                 - 25 -
in the shootings. Counsel’s use of experts was based on his

strategic decision-making and was not deficient.

       Moreover, even if Dr. Salyards had been allowed to testify at

Davis’s trial, his testimony would have validated Kwong’s testimony

in that (1) the crime lab that Dr. Salyards previously supervised

used training, equipment, and quality control standards fairly

similar to the AFTE method; (2) despite his criticism of the AFTE

method, Dr. Salyards was unaware of an international organization

that utilized a different theory of identification for training firearms

examiners; and (3) Dr. Salyards conceded that the comparative

microscope method utilized by Kwong to evaluate the BP and

Headley bullets and bullet fragments is the most widely used

method to determine whether two bullets were fired from the same

gun.

       Because Davis has failed to show deficient performance, his

claim of ineffective assistance fails. We affirm the circuit court’s

denial of this claim.

                        V. BP Surveillance Video

       Davis also argues that counsel was ineffective for failing to use

certain parts of the BP surveillance video to counter the State’s

                                  - 26 -
theory that only one person committed the BP crimes. At trial, the

State argued that Davis parked his wife’s Nissan Altima down the

street from the BP, walked to the BP, committed his crimes, walked

back to the car, and drove away. Davis maintains that aspects of

the surveillance video would have been favorable to the defense; in

particular, that footage of an SUV driving through the BP lot shortly

after the perpetrator was seen supports a finding that a second

person, such as a getaway driver, was involved. The circuit court

properly denied this claim.

     At the evidentiary hearing, counsel testified that he carefully

reviewed the surveillance footage and hired an expert to review it

and advise the defense team. In consultation with the expert and

the defense team, counsel concluded that nothing seen on the video

supported a theory that two people were involved in the crimes.

Moreover, counsel concluded that the surveillance footage could not

have been used to challenge the State’s theory. We agree with the

circuit court that “[t]he mere fact that the video shows an SUV

approach nearby as the perpetrator ran back towards the store after

killing two men fails to show any involvement by another

individual.” Counsel’s performance was not deficient.

                                - 27 -
     Moreover, four witnesses testified that they saw a vehicle

resembling Victoria Davis’s Nissan Altima near the BP on the night

of the murders, and the State presented evidence that tire casts

made from the area where the car was seen were consistent with

the tires on that car.

     Because counsel evaluated the surveillance video and made a

strategic decision not to rely on it to argue the possibility of a

second perpetrator, his performance was not deficient. We affirm

the circuit court’s denial of this claim.

                         VI. Reasonable Doubt

     Davis also argues that the circuit court improperly denied an

evidentiary hearing on certain claims, including his claim that

counsel failed to present evidence that would have created

reasonable doubt of his guilt. “To be entitled to an evidentiary

hearing on a claim of ineffective assistance, the defendant must

allege specific facts that are not conclusively rebutted by the record

and which demonstrate a deficiency in performance that prejudiced

the defendant.” Jones v. State, 845 So. 2d 55, 65 (Fla. 2003).

“Failure to sufficiently allege both prongs results in a summary

                                 - 28 -
denial of the claim.” Spera v. State, 971 So. 2d 754, 758 (Fla. 2007)

(citing Thompson v. State, 796 So. 2d 511, 514 n.5 (Fla. 2001)).

     Here, Davis challenges the summary denial of his claim that

counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge the State’s handling

of missing video footage from the area near the Headley building.

Davis contends that the footage, captured by the dashboard camera

of a police car at the Headley scene, could have helped prove that

he was not the perpetrator of the Headley crimes and thus would

have undermined the State’s evidence linking him to the BP crimes.

In particular, he suggests that the footage could have been used to

impeach Lieutenant Elrod’s testimony that Bustamante identified

Davis as the shooter. The circuit court did not err in summarily

denying this claim.

     The circuit court correctly concluded that Davis did not

establish his entitlement to an evidentiary hearing. In addition to

the speculative nature of Davis’s claim, deposition testimony in the

record indicates that the footage at issue was extremely limited in

nature. Sergeant Griffin Crosby, who reviewed the footage during

the investigation, testified during his pretrial deposition that the

footage captured (1) the scene as the responding officer drove onto

                                 - 29 -
the Headley parking lot, (2) the Headley building itself, and (3) the

movement of various individuals such as emergency personnel.

Thus, the record undermines Davis’s assertion that the footage

could have been used to impeach Lieutenant Elrod’s testimony or

otherwise disprove that Davis committed the crimes at Headley.

     As the circuit court observed: “There is nothing to indicate any

of the contents of this video are exculpatory or helpful in any way to

Mr. Davis and any such assertions are based on mere speculation.”

We affirm the circuit court’s order denying an evidentiary hearing

on this claim.

                        VII. Search Warrant

     Davis also argues that he was entitled to an evidentiary

hearing on his claim that counsel failed to aggressively litigate a

motion to suppress evidence obtained from Victoria Davis’s Nissan

Altima. A search warrant for the car was signed and timely

executed on the day after the Headley incident, but the return of

the warrant was not made until September 2008.

     “[W]here defense counsel’s failure to litigate a Fourth

Amendment claim competently is the principal allegation of

ineffectiveness, the defendant must also prove that his Fourth

                                - 30 -
Amendment claim is meritorious.” Zakrzewski v. State, 866 So. 2d

688, 694 (Fla. 2003) (quoting Kimmelman v. Morrison, 477 U.S. 365,

375 (1986)). Moreover, “even if a motion to suppress would have

been granted, the defendant must show that there is a reasonable

probability the result of the proceeding would have been different if

not for counsel’s error.” Sanchez-Torres v. State, 322 So. 3d 15, 21

(Fla. 2020) (citing Abdool v. State, 220 So. 3d 1106, 1112 (Fla.

2017)). Davis maintains that counsel’s performance prejudiced him

in the BP case because the State relied on evidence retrieved from

the car to convict him of the Headley murders, and those

convictions were ultimately a part of the basis for sentencing him to

death for the BP murders.

     The circuit court did not err in denying an evidentiary hearing

on this claim. Counsel filed a motion in the Headley case to

suppress the search warrant. The motion identified several possible

grounds for suppression, including the delayed warrant return.

The trial court held a suppression hearing at which counsel argued

in support of the motion. In denying the motion, the trial court

concluded—and in considering this postconviction claim, the circuit

court agreed—that the timely executed search warrant was valid

                                - 31 -
despite the delayed warrant return. See State v. Featherstone, 246

So. 2d 597, 599 (Fla. 3d DCA 1971) (concluding that the delayed

return of a timely executed warrant did not render a warrant void,

but acknowledging an exception where the defendant can

demonstrate prejudice).

     Moreover, the evidence retrieved from Victoria Davis’s Nissan

Altima and admitted during the Headley trial was not the only

evidence that linked Davis to the Headley incident. Although only a

limited amount of Headley evidence was admissible during the BP

trial, the trial court properly admitted evidence that Bustamante, as

testified to by Lieutenant Elrod and other eyewitnesses, identified

Davis as the person who shot her. Additionally, the State

introduced evidence that the bullet removed from Bustamante’s

hand was consistent with the bullets removed from the BP victims’

heads, and the State’s firearms expert testified that (1) all of the

bullets and bullet fragments were fired from the same firearm, and

(2) all had rifling characteristics consistent with the Dan Wesson

.357 magnum that Davis bought on the day of the BP murders.

Davis is not entitled to relief.

                                   - 32 -
                          VIII. Photopack

     Davis argues that the circuit court should have granted an

evidentiary hearing on his claim that counsel was ineffective for

failing to file a motion—based on chain of custody grounds—to

suppress (1) the photopack from which Headley shooting victim

Greisman identified Davis as the person who shot him, and

(2) Greisman’s in-court identification of Davis. Given the State’s

evidence that the same firearm was used in the Headley and BP

incidents, the State relied on Greisman’s identification of Davis as

the Headley shooter as a part of its proof that Davis was the BP

shooter. Greisman testified at the BP trial and verified the

authenticity of the original photopack, and he identified Davis from

the witness stand.

     Because the original photopack—also at issue in the

previously discussed Giglio and Brady claims—was not properly

placed in evidence storage, Davis argues that counsel should have

moved to suppress the photopack on chain of custody grounds as

well as Greisman’s in-court identification. The circuit court did not

err in summarily denying this claim.

                                - 33 -
     Counsel was not deficient for failing to file a motion to

suppress based on chain of custody, as there was no basis for

suppression. In order to suppress the photopack, Davis would have

been required to establish probable tampering. See Peek v. State,

395 So. 2d 492, 495 (Fla. 1980) (“Relevant physical evidence is

admissible unless there is an indication of probable tampering.”).

However, as the circuit court observed, Davis offered only

speculation that the photopack was tampered with during the time

that it was not in evidence storage. Moreover, both Greisman and

Officer Townsel testified that the photopack was the original. Thus,

Davis could not have prevailed on a motion to suppress based on

chain of custody. We agree with the circuit court’s conclusion:

     Clearly, Officer Townsel did not follow the proper
     procedure by failing to place the photo pack securely in
     evidence immediately after Mr. Greisman made the
     identification. However, Mr. Davis has offered only
     speculation that the location of the photo pack prior to
     being placed into evidence resulted in tampering. Such
     bare allegations are insufficient to render the evidence
     inadmissible. See Terry v. State, 668 So. 2d 954, n.4
     (Fla. 1996); Bush v. State, 543 So. 2d 283, 284 (Fla. 2d
     DCA 1989). Instead, the testimony from Officer Townsel
     and Mr. Greisman reflect[s] the original was entered into
     evidence at the time of trial. As Officer Townsel testified
     at the evidentiary hearing, the photo pack was unaltered
     in any way.

                                - 34 -
     Moreover, because Davis has failed to demonstrate that the

photopack identification was tainted, he has failed to establish that

Greisman’s in-court identification should have been suppressed.

We affirm the circuit court’s ruling.

                        IX. Cumulative Error

     Davis argues that “[t]he sheer number and types of errors in

Mr. Davis’s trial, when considered as a whole, virtually dictated his

conviction.” This claim of cumulative error is without merit, and

the circuit court properly denied relief.

     First, Davis has not demonstrated any instances of counsel’s

deficiency. Thus, there is no cumulative error analysis to conduct

with respect to his ineffective assistance of counsel claims. See

Sheppard, 338 So. 3d at 829 (concluding that no cumulative

prejudice analysis of the appellant’s ineffective assistance of

counsel claims was required where “trial counsel was not deficient

in any respect”).

     Second, as to Davis’s Giglio and Brady claims, even assuming

actions by the State that fell within the meanings of Giglio and

Brady, these instances taken together do not establish the requisite

prejudice for relief based on cumulative error.

                                 - 35 -
                    X. Competency Evaluation

     Before Davis’s evidentiary hearing, the State filed a motion to

dismiss portions of Davis’s penalty phase postconviction claim and

to exclude mental health evidence from the hearing. The circuit

court ultimately granted the State’s motion, and Davis argues that

the court erred by not ordering that he be evaluated for competency

before doing so. Davis contends that the court’s failure to order a

competency evaluation before the 2021 evidentiary hearing was

primarily motivated “by the length of time Mr. Davis’s case was on

the docket, the state’s sense of urgency in adhering to the schedule,

and the judicial backlog created by the COVID pandemic.”

However, Davis’s argument is without merit, as he has not

demonstrated that there were reasonable grounds for the court to

order a competency examination.

     “The substantive standard for competence to proceed is

‘whether the defendant has sufficient present ability to consult with

counsel with a reasonable degree of rational understanding and

whether the defendant has a rational as well as factual

understanding of the pending collateral proceedings.’ ” Kocaker v.

State, 311 So. 3d 814, 820 (Fla. 2020) (quoting Fla. R. Crim. P.

                                - 36 -
3.851(g)(8)(A)). A postconviction court’s determination of whether to

order a competency examination is governed by Florida Rule of

Criminal Procedure 3.851(g)(3), which provides:

     If, at any stage of a postconviction proceeding, the court
     determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe
     that a death-sentenced defendant is incompetent to
     proceed and that factual matters are at issue, the
     development or resolution of which require the
     defendant’s input, a judicial determination of
     incompetency is required.

Although Davis cites multiple pages in the postconviction record as

evidence “sufficient . . . to raise a bona fide doubt as to [his]

competency to proceed,” not only does the record fail to raise

doubts about his competency, it contradicts Davis’s claim.

     In arguing that his competency should have been evaluated,

Davis focuses on the contentious relationship with one of his former

postconviction attorneys. He emphasizes that certain letters and

portions of hearing transcripts are evidence that he lacked

competency to proceed. Contrary to Davis’s assertion, however,

these communications reveal not someone whose competency is in

doubt, but instead, a very sophisticated defendant. Davis

demonstrated familiarity with the substance of Giglio claims and

                                  - 37 -
Huff7 hearings, and he was well-informed about the motions filed

on his behalf. Davis also criticized how the attorney worded various

postconviction claims and argued that the attorney was not

pursuing meritorious claims. Thus, the record does not reveal that

Davis’s competence to proceed was in doubt.

     Moreover, the fact that Davis was indecisive about allowing his

attorneys to pursue mental health claims does not substantiate his

claim that a competency examination was warranted.

     Because the court had no reasonable grounds to believe that

Davis was incompetent to proceed, there was no error in not

ordering a competency examination.

            PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

     Davis argues that the trial court improperly relied on his prior

felony convictions for grand theft as proof of his guilt in the BP

case, and that appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise

this issue as a federal claim on direct appeal. “In general, claims of

ineffective assistance of appellate counsel are properly presented in

a petition for writ of habeas corpus . . . .” Brown v. State, 304 So.

     7. Huff v. State, 622 So. 2d 982 (Fla. 1993).

                                 - 38 -
3d 243, 278 (Fla. 2020) (citing Baker v. State, 214 So. 3d 530, 536

(Fla. 2017)); Wickham v. State, 124 So. 3d 841, 863 (Fla. 2013).

The record establishes that Davis is not entitled to relief.

     On direct appeal, Davis’s initial brief contained the following

argument:

     By using the grand theft convictions for the purpose of
     casting Davis in a bad light, as a convicted felon who
     committed a new crime when he obtained a gun from his
     cousin, and then citing that as circumstantial evidence of
     his guilt in the BP murders the trial court violated Davis’s
     constitutional right to due process under the Florida and
     U.S. Constitutions. A new trial is required.

(Emphasis added.) To the extent that Davis argues that appellate

counsel did not adequately argue a federal constitutional violation,

this Court was on notice on direct appeal that Davis alleged that the

trial court violated his federal constitutional rights, and we

addressed Davis’s claim as follows:

           In the sentencing order, the trial court referred to
     the fact that at the time that Davis attempted to rob the
     BP and murdered Dashrath and Pravinkumar, Davis was
     a convicted felon and on felony probation. In July 2007,
     several months before the BP crimes, Davis was
     convicted of felony grand theft and sentenced to
     probation. Based on this evidence, Davis was convicted
     of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Davis,
     though, argues that the trial court also considered the
     felony convictions as proof of his guilt for the murder,

                                 - 39 -
attempted murder, and attempted robbery charges. In
the sentencing order, the trial court said the following:
           The circumstantial and non-
     circumstantial evidence concerning the
     Headley Insurance Agency crimes proves,
     beyond a reasonable doubt, that Leon Davis,
     Jr. robbed the Headley Insurance Agency and
     killed Yvonne Bustamonte [sic] and Juanita
     “Jane” Luciano as was found by the Jury in
     that case. The gun used in those crimes was
     also used to murder Pravinkumar C. Patel and
     Dashrath Patel. Beyond the fact that the
     Defendant purchased a Dan Wesson .357
     revolver from Randy Black and all six
     projectiles recovered from the two crime scenes
     are consistent with having been shot from the
     same type of firearm, there are numerous
     other circumstantial facts that lead to the
     conclusion, beyond a reasonable doubt, that
     Leon Davis, Jr. committed the BP murders.
           Leon Davis, Jr. was facing some very
     serious financial setbacks. He did not have a
     job, and his wife was on leave from her
     employment due to a problem pregnancy. His
     credit cards were maxed out, and he only had
     a few dollars in his accounts at Mid Florida
     Federal Credit Union. He was behind on his
     mortgage payments, and he owed money on a
     loan to the bank. He had even given up his
     cell phone. Due to an inability to pay his
     insurance payments, he parked his Nissan
     Maxima and was using his wife’s car. He was
     also facing his son’s . . . upcoming birthday
     and the Christmas holidays.
           In spite of his financial difficulties, Mr.
     Davis decided to purchase a gun and spent
     $220.00 on a Dan Wesson .357 revolver. This
     is a very strange purchase, and an unlawful
     act, in light of the fact that the Defendant was a

                           - 40 -
           convicted felon on felony probation at the time
           of his acquisition of the firearm.
     (Emphasis added.) Davis argues that this language
     proves that the trial court considered his felony
     convictions as proof of his guilt on all of the charged
     offenses. Davis’s argument is without merit.
           The language emphasized by Davis must be read in
     context. The trial court did not conclude that Davis
     committed the BP crimes because he was a convicted
     felon. Rather, the trial court focused on Davis’s purchase
     of the revolver before the BP crimes. The fact that Davis
     purchased a .357 magnum revolver on the same day of
     the BP crimes is circumstantial evidence of his guilt.
     Davis is not entitled to relief on this issue.

Davis, 207 So. 3d at 194-95.

     Thus, Davis’s claim of a constitutional violation, federal or

state, is without merit because no constitutional violation was

implicated by the trial court’s comments. Davis cannot

demonstrate prejudice because as this Court concluded on direct

appeal, the trial court did not consider Davis’s prior convictions as

proof of his guilt. The trial court was focused on the purchase of

the Dan Wesson .357 magnum revolver and only referred to Davis’s

convictions in that context.

     Davis’s claim that appellate counsel’s performance violated the

suspension clause of the United States Constitution is also without

merit. We therefore deny Davis’s habeas claim.

                                - 41 -
                            CONCLUSION

     For these reasons, we affirm the circuit court’s denial of

postconviction relief and deny Davis’s petition for habeas relief.

     It is so ordered.

MUÑIZ, C.J., and CANADY, LABARGA, COURIEL, GROSSHANS,
and FRANCIS, JJ., concur.
SASSO, J., did not participate.

NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION
AND, IF FILED, DETERMINED.

An Appeal from the Circuit Court in and for Polk County,
 Donald G. Jacobsen, Judge
 Case No. 532007CF00961301XXXX
And an Original Proceeding – Habeas Corpus

Robert Friedman, Capital Collateral Regional Counsel, Tallahassee,
Florida, and Stacy R. Biggart, Special Assistant – Capital Collateral
Regional Counsel, Northern Region, Gainesville, Florida,

     for Appellant/Petitioner

Ashley Moody, Attorney General, Tallahassee, Florida, and Marilyn
Muir Beccue, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Tampa, Florida,

     for Appellee/Respondent

                                - 42 -