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Cite as 2012 Ark. 198 SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS No. CR 10-638 STATE OF ARKANSAS Opinion Delivered MAY 10, 2012 APPELLANT APPEAL FROM THE PULASKI COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT, FIRST V. DIVISION, [NO. CR 2006-149] KENNETH HARRISON HON. MARION A. HUMPHREY, APPELLEE JUDGE AFFIRMED. DONALD L. CORBIN, Associate Justice Appellant, the State of Arkansas, appeals the order of the Pulaski County Circuit Court granting Appellee, Kenneth Harrison, a new trial on his petition for postconviction relief filed pursuant to Rule 37 of the Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure. As Rule 37 proceedings are civil in nature, the State may bring this appeal pursuant to Rule 2(a)(3) of the Arkansas Rules of Appellate ProcedureCivil (providing for appeal from an order granting a new trial). State v. Dillard, 338 Ark. 571, 998 S.W.2d 750 (1999). Our jurisdiction is pursuant to Rule 37 and Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 1-2(a)(8) (2011). We cannot say the circuit courts findings are clearly erroneous, and we affirm the order granting postconviction relief. Harrison was tried and convicted of the capital murder of Fulton Watson. The murder occurred at an automobile repair shop where Harrison, Watson, and other witnesses worked. Harrison also lived near the repair shop. Two eyewitnesses, Jacque Snider and Shuntae Ingram, testified and identified Harrison as Watsons killer. The jury sentenced Harrison to
Cite as 2012 Ark. 198 life imprisonment without parole. We affirmed the conviction and sentence. Harrison v. State, 371 Ark. 652, 269 S.W.3d 321 (2007). Harrison then filed a petition pursuant to Rule 37. The circuit court held a hearing on the petition, and then entered an order granting a new trial. The State lodged its appeal. We did not initially reach the merits of the appeal, however, because the record did not demonstrate that Harrisons petition was timely filed and thus that the circuit court had jurisdiction. Accordingly, we reversed and vacated the order granting postconviction relief. State v. Harrison, 2011 Ark. 297 (per curiam). Harrison filed a motion for reconsideration and attached the circuit courts docket sheet that indicated the possibility that the petition had been timely filed. We remanded for the circuit court to make findings of fact and conclusions of law on the jurisdictional question. State v. Harrison, 2011 Ark. 467 (per curiam). The circuit court returned its findings, and we received a supplemental record demonstrating that the verified petition was filed on February 25, 2008. As this court issued its mandate in the direct appeal on December 27, 2007, the petition was in fact timely filed within sixty days pursuant to Rule 37.2(c)(ii) of the Arkansas Rules of Criminal Procedure. We therefore granted the motion for reconsideration, and the merits of the appeal are now before us. The circuit court granted relief on Harrisons petition based on its finding that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to discover the juvenile adjudication for capital murder of Shuntae Ingram, one of the two eyewitnesses who testified to Harrisons murder of Watson, and for failing to use that conviction to impeach Ingram at trial or to investigate Ingrams background and develop a strategy of defense implicating Ingram as the perpetrator of 2
Cite as 2012 Ark. 198 Watsons murder. Because Ingram had given inconsistent statements between the investigation of the case and the trial, the circuit court concluded that Harrison had demonstrated he was prejudiced by counsels failure to investigate Ingrams background. This appeal followed. For reversal of the order granting postconviction relief, the State asserts that the circuit court erred in three ways. First, the State contends the circuit courts finding that Harrison was prejudiced by trial counsels failure to uncover witness Ingrams juvenile adjudication for capital murder directly contradicts this courts conclusion on direct appeal that Harrison had not demonstrated prejudice from the prosecutors failure to disclose the juvenile adjudication. Second, the State contends that the circuit courts finding that trial counsels failure to uncover Ingrams adjudication and rely on it to implicate Ingram is contrary to Rule 609 of the Arkansas Rules of Evidence, and Zinger v. State, 313 Ark. 70, 852 S.W.2d 320 (1993). Third, the State contends that both of the circuit courts findings as to prejudice, even if legally possible to reach despite the law-of-the-case doctrine and previously mentioned evidentiary bars, are clearly erroneous given the other evidence of Harrisons guilt presented at trial. Each of its arguments on appeal turns on the prejudice prong of the test, as the State contends that the circuit court erred in finding that Harrison met his burden of demonstrating prejudice. This court will reverse a circuit courts decision granting postconviction relief only upon a showing that the courts finding was clearly erroneous. State v. Brown, 2009 Ark. 202, 307 S.W.3d 587. A finding is clearly erroneous when, although there is evidence to support it, after reviewing the entire evidence, we are left with the definite and firm conviction that 3
Cite as 2012 Ark. 198 a mistake has been committed. Sartin v. State, 2012 Ark. 155, ___ S.W.3d ___. In making a determination on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, this court considers the totality of the evidence. Id. Our standard of review requires that we assess the effectiveness of counsel under the two-prong standard set forth by the Supreme Court of the United States in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). Sartin, 2012 Ark. 155, ___ S.W.3d ___. In asserting ineffective assistance of counsel under Strickland, the petitioner must show that counsels performance was deficient. Id. This requires a showing that counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the counsel guaranteed the petitioner by the Sixth Amendment. Id. The reviewing court must indulge in a strong presumption that counsels conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance. Id. The defendant claiming ineffective assistance of counsel has the burden of overcoming that presumption by identifying the acts and omissions of counsel which, when viewed from counsels perspective at the time of trial, could not have been the result of reasonable professional judgment. Id. In order to satisfy the second prong of the Strickland test, the petitioner must show that counsels deficient performance prejudiced the defense, which requires showing that counsels errors were so serious as to deprive the petitioner of a fair trial. Id. In doing so, the petitioner must show that there is a reasonable probability that the fact-finders decision would have been different absent counsels errors. Id. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome of the trial. Id. 4
Cite as 2012 Ark. 198 Unless a petitioner makes both Strickland showings, it cannot be said that the conviction resulted from a breakdown in the adversarial process that renders the result unreliable. Id. “[T]here is no reason for a court deciding an ineffective assistance claim . . . to address both components of the inquiry if the defendant makes an insufficient showing on one.” Anderson v. State, 2011 Ark. 488, at 34, ___ S.W.3d ___, ___ (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697). For its first point for reversal, the State argues that the circuit court erred in finding that Harrison was prejudiced by trial counsels failure to uncover Ingrams juvenile adjudication for capital murder because such a finding directly contradicts this courts conclusion on direct appeal of no prejudice. In short, the State contends that the doctrine of law of the case forecloses the possibility of relief on an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim due to this courts no-prejudice holding on the impeachment issue in the direct appeal. Under the doctrine known as law of the case, the decision of an appellate court establishes the law of the case for the trial upon remand and for the appellate court itself upon subsequent review.” Washington v. State, 278 Ark. 5, 7, 643 S.W.2d 255, 256 (1982) (citing Mayo v. Ark. Valley Trust Co., 137 Ark. 331, 209 S.W. 276 (1919)). The doctrine prevents an issue raised in a prior appeal from being raised in a subsequent appeal unless the evidence materially varies between the two appeals.” Fairchild v. Norris, 317 Ark. 166, 170, 876 S.W.2d 588, 590 (1994). However, the doctrine is not limited to issues raised in prior appeals as the doctrine was developed to maintain consistency and avoid reconsideration of matters once decided during the course of a single continuing lawsuit. Id. Accordingly, the conclusion of 5
Cite as 2012 Ark. 198 the court in one opinion becomes the law of the case on subsequent proceedings on the same cause and the matter is res judicata. Green v. State, 343 Ark. 244, 33 S.W.3d 485 (2000) (discussing the doctrine in the context of an appeal from a decision on a petition for postconviction relief asserting a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel). However, in order for the law-of-the-case doctrine to bar consideration of an issue, the merits of the claim must previously have been addressed and the claim must have been adjudicated. Cloird v. State, 352 Ark. 190, 99 S.W.3d 419 (2003); see also Parmley v. Hobbs, 2011 Ark. 75 (per curiam); Mosley v. Norris, 2010 Ark. 501 (per curiam); Smith v. State, 2010 Ark. 137, ___ S.W.3d ___ (per curiam); Jackson v. State, 2009 Ark. 572 (per curiam). In the present case, despite the States assertion to the contrary, this courts decision on Harrisons previous direct appeal did not address or adjudicate the same issue he now raises in his postconviction proceedings. On direct appeal, the issue was whether the circuit court had abused its discretion in denying Harrisons motion for new trial, which was made on the grounds that the State had failed to disclose Ingrams juvenile-delinquency adjudication. Citing Lee v. State, 340 Ark. 504, 11 S.W.3d 553 (2000), this court emphasized that in matters dealing with the prosecutions failure to disclose prior convictions, the crucial issue is whether the appellant was prejudiced by the failure to disclose.” Harrison, 371 Ark. at 658, 269 S.W.3d at 325. This court then concluded that Harrison had not been prejudiced by the inability to impeach Ingram with the juvenile adjudication for capital murder because Ingram had been impeached with other felony convictions. This court further noted that Ingram testified on direct examination and acknowledged that he was currently incarcerated and 6
Cite as 2012 Ark. 198 testifying in prison clothes. On cross-examination, Ingram acknowledged that he was out on bond on charges of automobile theft at the time of Watsons murder. This court stated that [i]t is clear to this court that Ingrams criminal record was made known to the jury and was used by the defense in an attempt to impeach him. We cannot say that a juvenile capital-murder conviction, if there indeed was one, would have affected the jurys assessment of Ingrams credibility. For that reason, we cannot say that any lack of disclosure of Ingrams alleged juvenile conviction undermined confidence in the outcome of Harrisons trial. See, e.g., Lee v. State, [340 Ark. 504, 11 S.W.3d 553 (2000)]. Accordingly, we affirm the circuit courts denial of Harrisons motion for new trial. Harrison, 371 Ark. at 659, 269 S.W.3d at 32526. Thus, the issue on direct appeal was whether the circuit court abused its discretion in denying Harrisons motion for new trial based on the States failure to disclose Ingrams juvenile conviction for capital murder, and this court adjudicated that question on the basis of an absence of prejudice. The issue now before this court and before the circuit court on Harrisons Rule 37 petition, however, is different in that it involves the effectiveness of trial counsels conduct in failing to discover, as opposed to the prosecutors failure to disclose, Ingrams juvenile adjudication and to then use that knowledge to investigate and develop a theory of defense implicating Ingram as Watsons killer. Thus, while there was indeed an adjudication in the direct appeal that no prejudice resulted from trial counsels failure or inability to impeach Ingram with the juvenile adjudication for capital murder, that no-prejudice adjudication did not include defense counsels conduct in failing to investigate and develop a defense theory implicating Ingram. In its order granting postconviction relief, the circuit court noted that, as Harrison himself pointed out to the court, despite the fact that juvenile proceedings are sealed, Ingrams 7
Cite as 2012 Ark. 198 juvenile adjudication for capital murder was discoverable by both the State and his trial counsel as there is a published opinion of Ingrams direct appeal issued by the Arkansas Court of Appeals, Ingram v. State, 53 Ark. App. 77, 918 S.W.2d 724 (1996). The circuit court also observed that at the hearing, trial counsel did not dispute Harrisons assertion that he had told counsel about Ingrams juvenile adjudication, and the circuit court then concluded that the failure of the trial attorney to investigate the criminal record of such an eyewitness constitutes deficient performance that prejudiced [Harrison].” In short, the issue that was adjudicated on direct appeal was the prosecutors conduct in failing to disclose, and the issue at the Rule 37 proceeding was the defense counsels conduct in failing to investigate and then develop a defense. These are two distinct issues. The latter of these issues, trial counsels effectiveness in investigating and developing a defense implicating Ingram was not adjudicated on direct appeal, and resolution of that issue is therefore not barred by law of the case. Accordingly, we find no merit to the States argument that the circuit courts findings on the ineffectiveness of trial counsel are barred by law of the case. As its second point for reversal, the State contends that the finding that trial counsels failure to uncover Ingrams juvenile adjudication for capital murder and develop a defense based on that adjudication is clearly erroneous as contrary to Rule 609 of the Arkansas Rules of Evidence, and Zinger, 313 Ark. 70, 852 S.W.2d 320. The State argues that, even if Ingrams juvenile conviction could have been used to impeach Ingram under Rule 609, it could not have been used substantively to show that Ingram committed Watsons murder. The State contends further that Ingrams delinquency adjudication does not directly link 8
Cite as 2012 Ark. 198 Ingram to Watsons murder and therefore does not satisfy the Zinger requirements for admissibility of evidence implicating the guilt of a person other than the defendant. The States argument is a challenge to the circuit courts finding that Harrison satisfied his burden of demonstrating prejudice. A careful review of the circuit courts order reveals that it speaks only in terms of allowing the admission of Ingrams juvenile adjudication for impeachment purposes and is completely silent with respect to its admission into evidence as substantive evidence of Ingrams guilt. Although the order does speak in terms of defense counsels failure to use the adjudication to spawn an investigation into Ingrams background and his possible involvement in Watsons murder, such a ruling does not equate to a ruling that the adjudication itself is admissible as substantive evidence of Ingrams guilt in the Watson murder; therefore, the ruling is not inconsistent with Rule 609 or Zinger. To aid in an understanding of this issue, we quote the order and then discuss separately the States argument as it relates to Rule 609 and Zinger. The order states, “[T]his court finds merit on the petitions with respect to the failure of counsel to impeach Shuntae Ingram with his juvenile conviction on capital murder and with the trial attorneys failure to investigate whether Shuntae Ingram was the perpetrator in this case.” In addition, the order also states as follows: Shuntae Ingram was allowed to be questioned before the jury only as one who had prior felony convictions of the nonviolent variety not as one who had been convicted of capital murder which involved an aggravated robbery. This information, coupled with the trial attorneys statement at the hearing that an alternative suspect would more likely have been Shuntae Ingram, since, Ingram had been stealing cars from the victim, would have led to an in-depth defense that would have implicated 9
Cite as 2012 Ark. 198 the standard set forth in Zinger v. State, 313 Ark. 70, 852 S.W.2d 320 (1993), for allowing the defendant to point to another person as a perpetrator. The failure of the trial attorney to investigate the background of this eyewitness, Shuntae Ingram, who gave inconsistent statements between the investigation of the case and the trial, constitutes a deficient performance that prejudiced the defendant and affected the outcome of the trial. While it is true that evidence of a juvenile adjudication is generally not admissible under Rule 609, that rule does provide an exception in criminal cases: [T]he court may in a criminal case allow evidence of a juvenile adjudication of a witness other than the accused if conviction of the offense would be admissible to attack the credibility of an adult and the court is satisfied that admission in evidence is necessary for a fair determination of the issue of guilt or innocence. Ark. R. Evid. 609(d) (2011). Rule 609 thus authorizes, as a matter within the trial courts discretion, the use of a delinquency adjudication to attack credibility, provided that the court is convinced that the rules expressed limitations are satisfied. In addition, Rule 609 does not prohibit defense counsels use of Ingrams prior juvenile adjudication to spawn an investigation into a defense theory implicating Ingram in Watsons murder. Accordingly, we find no merit to the States argument that the circuit courts ruling is contrary to Rule 609. We turn now to the Zinger aspect of the States argument. The State argues that Ingrams juvenile-delinquency adjudication for an unrelated capital murder does not point directly to Ingrams commission of Watsons murder, and so would not be admissible under Zinger. As noted, the circuit courts ruling simply does not allow the admission of the delinquency adjudication as substantive evidence of Ingrams involvement in Watsons murder. The ruling does, however, indicate that defense counsels discovery of Ingrams adjudication would have led to the development of an in-depth defense implicating Ingrams 10
Cite as 2012 Ark. 198 direct involvement in Watsons murder. The State argues further that trial counsel could not have developed an admissible defense theory implicating Ingram, however, due to the absence of the required direct link of Ingram to Watsons murder. As announced in Zinger, this courts standard for admissibility of evidence implicating another person in the crime being charged is as follows: A defendant may introduce evidence tending to show that someone other than the defendant committed the crime charged, but such evidence is inadmissible unless it points directly to the guilt of the third party. Evidence which does no more than create an inference or conjecture as to anothers guilt is inadmissible. . . . . . . . [E]vidence of mere motive or opportunity to commit the crime in another person, without more, will not suffice to raise a reasonable doubt about a defendants guilt: there must be direct or circumstantial evidence linking the third person to the actual perpetration of the crime. Zinger, 313 Ark. at 7576, 852 S.W.2d at 323 (quoting respectively State v. Wilson, 367 S.E.2d 589, 600 (N.C. 1988), and People v. Kaurish, 802 P.2d 278, 29596 (Cal. 1990)). At issue in Zinger was testimony from a police officer about a murder similar to the one there on trial that had occurred some thirty miles away in Louisiana. This court affirmed the trial courts exclusion of the evidence of the Louisiana murder on the basis that, although the murders were similar, there was no evidence connecting the suspects in the similar murder with the murder on trial. This court later reconsidered the Zinger test for admissibility and concluded that it complied with the requirement announced in Holmes v. South Carolina, 547 U.S. 319 (2006) that such a test focus on the strength of the evidence implicating the third person and not on 11
Cite as 2012 Ark. 198 the relative strength of the prosecutions evidence against the defendant. Armstrong v. State, 373 Ark. 347, 284 S.W.3d 1 (2008). In the federal habeas proceeding, Armstrong v. Hobbs, 664 F.3d 1137 (8th Cir. 2011), the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit observed that, in the Armstrong case, the trial court had admitted evidence implicating the guilt of Armstrongs girlfriend, but excluded evidence implicating the guilt of the girlfriends sisters. Armstrong had presented evidence that his girlfriend harassed the victim, was present at the murder scene, and lied to police during their investigation. This court had previously affirmed the trial courts exclusion of evidence relating specifically to the girlfriends two sisters, as the only evidence tending to implicate them was a taped recording of them making alleged death threats against the victim. See Armstrong v. State, 366 Ark. 105, 233 S.W.3d 627 (2006). In the present case, the circuit court based its ruling that an admissible in-depth defense implicating Ingram could have been developed in part on testimony from defense counsel that he knew Ingram had been stealing cars. At the hearing, Harrison presented testimony from other witnesses that Ingram and Watson may have had altercations over that fact. Significantly, the felony convictions used at trial to impeach Ingram support the fact that he was involved in automobile theft. In addition, Harrison also presented testimony from other witnesses that, while Harrison was working at the repair shop, he had fired Ingram for stealing money. While such testimony provides a possible motive for Ingram, the State is correct that a direct link of Ingram to Watsons murder is also required before such evidence would be admissible at trial. What the State fails to acknowledge, however, is that this direct link of 12
Cite as 2012 Ark. 198 Ingram to Watsons murder is indeed established by way of Ingrams testimony at trial that he was present at the scene of the murder when the murder occurred. Given that Ingram was one of only two eyewitnesses who testified against Harrison, and given that the defense theory implicating Ingram revolved around events occurring at the repair shop, which was the scene of the murder, we cannot say the circuit court clearly erred in concluding that the defense theory, if it had been properly investigated and developed, would satisfy the direct-link requirement of Zinger. As its third and final point for reversal, the State argues that the circuit court erred in finding that Harrison satisfied the prejudice prong of Strickland in that there is no reasonable probability that the jury would have acquitted him, even if his trial counsel had discovered Ingrams juvenile adjudication and implemented a defense theory implicating Ingram, given the other evidence presented against Harrison at trial. The State points to the testimony of Larry Turner, who was working at a fast-food restaurant next door to the repair shop when the murder occurred. Turner testified that his manager told him that Harrison had shot Watson, and that Turner then went to the scene to check on Watson. The State relies primarily, however, on the testimony of the other eyewitness, Jacque Snider, that she saw Harrison shoot Watson. The States argument focuses on Snider and completely overlooks that the theory of defense that the circuit court found to be inadequately investigated also called into question the credibility of Snider and possibly implicated her as well. As Sniders stepfather is the twin brother of Harrisons father, her trial testimony was particularly damaging to Harrison. 13
Cite as 2012 Ark. 198 However, the evidence that Harrison presented at the Rule 37 hearing showed that Snider, in addition to Ingram, also gave inconsistent statements about what she saw at the scene. In addition, Harrison presented evidence at the hearing that Snider was involved in a relationship with Watson, that he had informed his counsel about a witness who would testify that Sniders husband was stalking Watson, and that Snider was angry with Harrison for his expressed disapproval of her relationship with Watson. Snider and Ingram were the only eyewitnesses to Watsons murder, and the credibility and motives of both could reasonably have been called into doubt by a jury if they had heard the evidence presented at the Rule 37 hearing. The prejudice prong of Strickland requires Harrison to demonstrate that there is a reasonable probability that, but for his counsels failure to investigate Ingrams criminal background and develop a defense implicating Ingram as Watsons killer, the jury would have found reasonable doubt as to Harrisons guilt. Reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome of the trial. Sartin, 2012 Ark. 155, ___ S.W.3d ___. Given the complete absence of any physical or scientific evidence linking Harrison to the murder, and given the potential bias and implication of both of the only two eyewitnesses against Harrison, we cannot say that the circuit courts finding that Harrison demonstrated prejudice from his counsels failure to investigate and develop a defense was clearly erroneous. Finally, we note that while the circuit court granted relief on one claim in Harrisons petition, the circuit court also denied Harrisons other claims. Although Harrison argues in his pro se brief on appeal that the circuit court erred in not granting relief on the remaining 14
Cite as 2012 Ark. 198 claims, he did not file a notice of appeal within thirty days as required by Rule 2(a)(4) of the Rules of Appellate ProcedureCriminal. Similarly, Harrison did not file a notice of cross-appeal within ten days of the States appeal as required by Rule 4(a) of the Arkansas Rules of Appellate ProcedureCivil. See Carter v. State, 2010 Ark. 29 (acknowledging that the Rules of Appellate ProcedureCivil are applied in Rule 37 proceedings when necessary, as Rule 37 proceedings are civil in nature). Citing Office of Child Support Enforcement v. Pyron, 363 Ark. 521, 215 S.W.3d 637 (2005), the State contends that, as Appellee, Harrison is required to file a notice of cross-appeal in order to seek affirmative relief that was not granted in the lower court. We agree. See State v. Fudge, 361 Ark. 412, 206 S.W.3d 850 (2005) (addressing cross-appeal of appellee without expressly deciding whether a notice of cross-appeal is required in a States appeal of postconviction proceedings). Accordingly, we do not address those arguments for affirmative relief raised in Harrisons brief on appeal. In summary, there is evidence to support the circuit courts findings, and after reviewing the totality of the evidence, we are not firmly convinced the circuit court made a mistake. Accordingly, we cannot say the circuit courts findings were clearly erroneous, and we therefore affirm the order granting postconviction relief. Affirmed. HANNAH, C.J., and DANIELSON, J., dissent. PAUL E. DANIELSON, Justice, dissenting.I respectfully dissent. It is my opinion that Ingrams mere presence at the scene of the murder does not satisfy the direct-link requirement 15
Cite as 2012 Ark. 198 of Zinger v. State, 313 Ark. 70, 852 S.W.2d 320 (1993). As the majority correctly points out, there must be direct or circumstantial evidence linking the third person to the actual perpetration of the crime.” Id. at 76, 852 S.W.2d at 323 (quoting People v. Kaurish, 802 P.2d 278, 296 (Cal. 1990)) (emphasis added). Here, Ingrams presence at the crime scene merely establishes that he had an opportunity to commit the murder. Indeed, the mere presence of a person at the scene of a crime is not proof of his or her guilt. See Green v. State, 265 Ark. 179, 577 S.W.2d 586 (1979). Because I cannot say Ingrams mere presence directly links him to the actual perpetration of Watsons murder, I am left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed, and I would hold that the circuit court clearly erred in granting postconviction relief. For this reason, I respectfully dissent. HANNAH, C.J., joins. 16
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