Mickle v. Brown, et al

Filing 393

ORDER Regarding Petitioner's Merits Briefing on Group I Claims. Signed by Judge Thelton E. Henderson on 08/04/2014. (tmi, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 8/5/2014)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10
11
12
13
14

17
18
19
20
21

ORDER REGARDING PETITIONER'S
MERITS BRIEFING (28 U.S.C. § 2254(d))

Petitioner,

15
16

No. C 92-2951 TEH

DENNY MICKLE,

v.
GROUP I CLAIMS
KEVIN CHAPPELL, Warden of California State
Prison at San Quentin
Respondent.

/
INTRODUCTION

Petitioner has filed a brief addressing the impact of Cullen v. Pinholster, 131 S. Ct. 1388

22

(2011), on his petition, and discussing how his Group I claims satisfy 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1) and/or

23

§ 2254(d)(2) on the basis of the record that was before the state court that adjudicated his claims on

24

the merits. Respondent has filed an opposition and petitioner has filed a reply. Based on the record

25

presented to date, the court finds and orders as follows.

26
27

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

28

The following recitation of the factual background of this case is based on the Supreme
Court of California’s opinion disposing of petitioner’s direct appeal, People v. Mickle, 54 Cal. 3d

1

140 (1991). The state court’s factual determinations are presumed to be correct pursuant to 28

2

U.S.C.

3

§ 2254(e)(1).

4

In 1986, a jury in San Mateo County Superior Court sentenced petitioner to death following

5

a conviction of first-degree murder and arson. The jury also found true a special circumstance that

6

he committed the murder while engaged in a lewd and lascivious act on a minor. Evidence at trial

7

established that in February 1983, petitioner took up residence with the victim, twelve-year-old

8

Lashan, and her parents, Darrell Knighten and Sally Phillips, in unit ten of the Mission Bell Motel in

9

Daly City. The motel was occupied primarily by permanent residents.

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

On February 24, the day of the crimes, Lashan's parents left the motel at noon and drove to

11

Oakland to visit Darrell's grandmother. That afternoon, Sally called petitioner to let him know that a

12

woman who worked at Lashan's school would be dropping Lashan off at the motel. Petitioner

13

promised to take care of her until Sally and Darrell returned. The school employee dropped off

14

Lashan at 4 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., Sally called to let petitioner know that she and Darrell would not be

15

home for a while.

16

At 7:30 p.m., two rental store employees arrived to repossess the television set. One of the

17

employees witnessed Lashan lying on the bed, watching television. He took the set. At trial, he

18

stated that both petitioner and Lashan were acting "normal."

19

Between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m., a motel resident saw petitioner pace back and forth between

20

unit ten and the phone booth near the motel's office. Petitioner was not seen again until 9:50 p.m.,

21

when he arrived at the South San Francisco home of his girlfriend, Ruthie. At 10:30 p.m., he called

22

the motel and asked to speak to the residents of unit ten. After a few moments, he hung up and told

23

Ruthie that no one was home. Petitioner then called Lashan's parents at their relative's house. He

24

told Darrell that he left the motel at 7:30 and needed a key to the unit. Darrell told him that Lashan

25

could open the door.

26
27
28

Darrell and Sally were disturbed by petitioner's phone call and immediately drove home. In
the meantime, petitioner told Ruthie that he was going to the Tenderloin and left her house.
At 10:50 p.m., a restaurant employee saw flames shoot out of unit ten's bedroom window.
2

1

The fire was soon extinguished. Lashan's naked body was found on the bathroom floor. Her back

2

had been stabbed several times. A motel butcher knife was found on the counter near the kitchen

3

sink. The front room, hallway, bathroom and kitchen had been damaged by soot, smoke and heat.

4

Petitioner returned to Ruthie's house at 2 a.m. and spent the night. At 7 a.m., Ruthie saw a

5

television report which identified petitioner as a suspect in the motel crimes. She told him to leave.

6

He left and she called the police.

7
8
9

Petitioner called the police an hour later and said he had heard about the fire on television
and wanted to discuss it. Soon thereafter, he was taken into custody.
Petitioner was interviewed three times in custody. He first spoke with Detectives Reese and

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

McCarthy, pursuant to a waiver of his rights under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966), and

11

denied committing the crimes. He said he left Lashan asleep at the motel at 8:15 p.m. and took a bus

12

to the Tenderloin district in San Francisco. He said he called Lashan's parents from there and then

13

visited Ruthie.

14

Petitioner next spoke with his parole officer, Mr. Bandettini, pursuant to another Miranda

15

waiver. Petitioner at first denied the crimes, but then claimed not to remember whether he had

16

stabbed Lashan and stated that he may have had sex with her.

17

Detectives Reese and McCarthy resumed questioning. Petitioner stated that he could have

18

killed Lashan, and did not know what he was doing. He admitted having sex with her, but was not

19

clear about when it occurred. He initially denied setting the fire, but later stated he could have set

20

the fire. He said his actions were not intentional.

21

In describing the evening's activities, petitioner stated that he and Lashan prepared a meal,

22

played cards and arm-wrestled. He then started looking at her and feeling "crazy." He paced back

23

and forth between the front office and their unit. At one point, he took a knife from the dirty dishes

24

and attacked Lashan with it. When asked how Lashan got into the bathroom, he stated that "he

25

might have struck her one time while she was asleep," and that "she might have jumped up and tried

26

to get away from it."

27

Petitioner was arrested at 2 a.m. on February 26, four hours after questioning had begun.

28

On February 27, Detectives Reese and McCarthy again spoke with petitioner at the Chope
3

1

Hospital jail ward. Petitioner stated that he had started a fire on the murphy bed in the motel room,

2

stamped it out, and then started the fire in the bedroom, using paper each time. When asked whether

3

Lashan had made him angry, he said "no." Petitioner again stated that he could not remember the

4

number of stab wounds, but that Lashan had "jumped up" after the first one. He stated that after the

5

stabbing, his hands were shaking, that blood was dripping down the knife, and that he placed it in a

6

basket. He stated that at the time, Lashan was still breathing and calling his name. She had a dress

7

on.

8
9

Petitioner also told a Chope Hospital nurse that he had killed the 12-year-old daughter of a
woman he was living with in a motel and had set the room on fire.

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

After his arrest, petitioner shared a jail cell with Jeffrey Steele. Steele testified that petitioner

11

said that he had "ta[k]en some young pussy" and killed the girl because she had threatened to tell her

12

parents that he had raped her. Petitioner identified the victim as the 12-year-old daughter of friends

13

he had been living with in a motel. According to Steele, petitioner admitted choking and stabbing

14

the girl, but believed that he would "beat" the charges because no weapon was found and because he

15

had started a fire to conceal the crime.

16

At trial, a fire inspector testified that the fire at the motel had been intentionally set. Two

17

beds were its points of origin and paper was used as an accelerant. The large amount of soot was

18

indicative of a slow-burning fire.

19

Furthermore, an autopsy revealed that Lashan had died of four deep stab wounds. Other

20

injuries suggested that she had been immobilized before the stabbing. She survived approximately

21

30 minutes after the stabbing. A vaginal swab revealed the presence of semen in her vagina. No

22

signs of recent trauma to the genital area were found. The absence of trauma was inconclusive as to

23

whether intercourse had occurred shortly before death. Dr. Lack, the pathologist who performed the

24

autopsy, placed the time of death at approximately 9 p.m.

25
26

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

27

Trial proceedings took place in San Mateo Superior Court between 1983 and 1986. In

28

August 1990, while his direct appeal was pending, petitioner filed his first state habeas petition. The
4

1

California Supreme Court denied it in June 1991. The California Supreme Court affirmed

2

petitioner’s conviction and sentence in August 1991. See Mickle, 54 Cal. 3d at 156. He filed a

3

second state habeas petition in March 1992. It was denied in July 1992.

4

In April 1997, petitioner filed a federal habeas petition containing exhausted and

5

unexhausted claims. This court stayed petitioner's federal proceedings pending completion of

6

exhaustion proceedings in state court. Petitioner filed his third state habeas petition to exhaust

7

unexhausted claims in December 1997. The California Supreme Court denied this petition on the

8

merits and on procedural grounds in February 2003.

9

In February 2003, petitioner noticed the filing in this court of his amended petition.

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

Respondent filed an answer in May 2003. Following a case management conference, the parties

11

litigated issues of procedural default. In August 2004, the court issued an order finding several

12

claims procedurally defaulted. Respondent then filed a motion for summary judgment, which the

13

court granted with respect to numerous claims.

14
15
16

The parties subsequently litigated petitioner's entitlement to an evidentiary hearing. On
October 1, 2009, the court granted an evidentiary hearing on numerous claims.
In April 2011, the Supreme Court issued the Pinholster opinion, which holds that in

17

determining the reasonableness of a state court's ruling under § 2254(d)(1), federal courts are

18

"limited to the record that was before the state court that adjudicated the claim on the merits.” 131

19

S. Ct. at 1398. In October 2011, the court decided that in light of Pinholster, it would analyze

20

whether any of petitioner's claims survive review under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1) before holding an

21

evidentiary hearing or granting discovery. Accordingly, the court vacated its order granting

22

petitioner an evidentiary hearing and stayed any discovery litigation pending the court's

23

determination of whether petitioner's claims overcome 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d). The instant briefing

24

followed.

25
26

LEGAL STANDARD
Under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (“AEDPA”), the court

27

should not grant a writ of habeas corpus with respect to any claim that was adjudicated on the merits

28

in state court unless the state court’s adjudication of the claim: “(1) resulted in a decision that was

5

1

contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as

2

determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or (2) resulted in a decision that was based

3

on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court

4

proceeding.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d). A federal court must presume the correctness of the state court’s

5

factual findings. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1).

6

The “contrary to” and “unreasonable application” clauses of § 2254(d) have separate and

7

distinct meanings. See Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 404 (2000). A state court’s decision is

8

“contrary to” clearly established federal law if it fails to apply the correct controlling authority or if

9

it applies the controlling authority to a case involving facts materially indistinguishable from those

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

in a controlling case, but nonetheless reaches a different result. Id. at 413-414. A decision is an

11

“unreasonable application” of federal law if “the state court identifies the correct governing legal

12

principle . . . but unreasonably applies that principle to the facts of the prisoner’s case.” Id. at 414.

13

In Pinholster, the Supreme Court held that in determining the reasonableness of a state

14

court's ruling under § 2254(d)(1), federal courts are "limited to the record that was before the state

15

court that adjudicated the claim on the merits.” 131 S. Ct. at 1398. The court explained that

16

"evidence later introduced in federal court is irrelevant to § 2254(d)(1) review." Id. at 1400.

17

In Harrington v. Richter, the United States Supreme Court made clear that “[a] state court’s

18

determination that a claim lacks merit precludes federal habeas relief so long as fairminded jurists

19

could disagree on the correctness of the state court’s decision.” 131 S. Ct. 770, 786 (2011) (internal

20

quotation omitted). “Under § 2254(d), a habeas court must determine what arguments or theories

21

supported or . . . could have supported, the state court’s decision;” the court must not “overlook[]

22

arguments that would otherwise justify the state court’s result . . . .” Id.

23
24
25
26

DISCUSSION
I. Petitioner’s Challenges to the Application of § 2254(d)
Petitioner contends that § 2254(d) does not preclude the grant of relief on his claims because

27

the state court's determination that he failed to establish a prima facie case constituted both an

28

unreasonable application of controlling federal law, as well as an unreasonable determination of the

6

1

facts. Pet'r's Br. at 10-11. Before addressing his individual claims however, petitioner raises broad,

2

constitutional challenges to § 2254(d) and California's state habeas procedure. These challenges are

3

addressed below.

4

A. Supremacy Clause

5

Petitioner argues that state rules which frustrate the enforcement of federal law violate the

6

Supremacy Clause. Petitioner relies on Supreme Court statements in a 1950 case that a “federal

7

right cannot be defeated by the forms of local practice.” Brown v. Western Ry. Alabama, 338 U.S.

8

294, 296 (1950). In Brown, the Court considered a Georgia law that required a state court

9

considering a demurrer to construe the complaint’s allegations “most strongly against the pleader.”

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

Id. at 295. The Supreme Court held that it would not defer to this state court practice when

11

considering whether the complainant had made a prima facie showing of the violation of a federal

12

law. “[W]e cannot accept as final a state court’s interpretation of allegations in a complaint

13

asserting it.” Id. at 296.

14

Petitioner contends that in a California habeas proceeding, California law recognizes a

15

presumption that the state court conviction is accurate. Pet'r's Br. at 15. He relies upon statements

16

by the California Supreme Court that “[f]or purposes of collateral attack, all presumptions favor the

17

truth, accuracy, and fairness of the conviction and sentence; defendant thus must undertake the

18

burden of overturning them.” People v. Duvall, 9 Cal. 4th 464, 474 (1995) (quoting People v.

19

Gonzalez, 51 Cal. 3d 1179, 1260 (1990)) (emphasis in original). According to petitioner, if

20

§ 2254(d) were to be interpreted to require deference to a state-court adjudication based on state

21

rules requiring a higher showing than constitutional rules, then§ 2254(d) would violate the

22

Supremacy Clause by giving the state rules determinative force. Pet'r's Br. at 15.

23

For several reasons, petitioner’s Supremacy Clause argument is without merit. First,

24

petitioner takes the quoted portion from Duvall out of context. The California Supreme Court

25

described the presumption in favor of the finality of state convictions as the reason the habeas

26

petitioner, rather than the state, bears the burden of pleading and proof. The state court went on to

27

describe the requirements for a state habeas petition: it must “state fully and with particularity the

28

facts on which relief is sought,” and it must “include copies of reasonably available documentary

7

1

evidence supporting the claim.” Duvall, 9 Cal. 4th at 474. Because the court “presume[s] the

2

regularity of proceedings that resulted in a final judgment,” “the burden is on the petitioner to

3

establish grounds for release” and “[c]onlcusory allegations made without any explanation of the

4

basis for the allegations do not warrant relief.” Id. (internal citations omitted). There is no question

5

that federal law is the same. A habeas petitioner in federal court also carries the burden of proving

6

his claims. Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 784.

7

Second, the underpinning for petitioner’s Supremacy Clause argument is that federal law
does not impose such a “presumption.” That is incorrect. Federal courts also presume that a state

9

court conviction is final and correct. Brecht v. Abrahamson, 507 U.S. 619, 637 (1993) (adopting a

10
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

8

more lenient standard for harmless error review in habeas cases because use of Chapman harmless

11

error standard “undermines the States’ interest in finality and infringes upon their sovereignty over

12

criminal matters”); Duckworth v. Eagan, 492 U.S. 195, 210 (1989) (recognizing difference between

13

rules applied on direct review and those applied “to a presumptively final criminal judgment which

14

is collaterally attacked in a federal habeas corpus proceeding”) (O’Connor, J., concurring).

15

Petitioner's argument lacks merit.

16

B. Article III

17

Petitioner argues that if AEDPA requires federal court deference to “novel state-court rules

18

for applying the Constitution,” then it violates Article III of the United States Constitution by

19

encroaching upon the federal courts’ role as the final arbiter of federal law. Pet'r's Br. at 15.

20

Petitioner asserts that interpretation of the law and the Constitution is the primary mission of the

21

federal judiciary, and if § 2254(d) is "read to require a federal court to act as though no

22

constitutional violation occurred," then the statute violates Article III and the separation-of-powers

23

doctrine. Pet'r's Br. at 17.

24

Underlying petitioner's argument is the same interpretation of state law, discussed in the

25

prior section, that Duvall and Gonzalez somehow place a higher pleading burden upon habeas

26

petitioners than does federal law. For the reasons discussed above, that interpretation is incorrect,

27

leaving petitioner’s Article III argument similarly without merit.

28
8

1

C. Suspension Clause

2

Petitioner argues that due to the alleged deficiencies in California's capital habeas process

3

described above, an interpretation of § 2254(d) that required deference to the California Supreme

4

Court's ruling in this case would violate the Suspension Clause of the Constitution. Pet'r's Br. at 17.

5

Petitioner's argument relies on the same underlying incorrect interpretation of state law described

6

above and similarly lacks merit.
Moreover, a law acts to suspend the writ of habeas corpus in violation of the Constitution

7

only where it explicitly bars habeas review. Denmore v. Kim, 538 U.S. 510, 517 (2003). In fact, the

9

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has considered, and rejected, the argument petitioner makes here. In

10
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

8

Crater v. Galaza, 491 F.3d 1119 (9th Cir. 2007), the court considered whether the deference due a

11

state court under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1) constituted a suspension of the writ. The court held it did

12

not. First, a suspension of the writ of habeas corpus occurs only when Congress “clearly and

13

unambiguously” removes all federal habeas corpus jurisdiction. 491 F.3d at 1124 n. 5. The AEDPA

14

does not repeal federal habeas jurisdiction. The court in Crater also rejected an argument that

15

§ 2254(d)(1) “effectively suspends the writ.” Id. at 1124-25. The court pointed out that altering the

16

standards for granting habeas relief is not the same thing as suspending the privilege of the writ. Id.

17

at 1125-26 (citing Felker v. Turpin, 518 U.S. 651 (1996)). It is worth noting that petitioner does not

18

mention Denmore, Felker, or Crater in his brief. Instead, petitioner relies on Boumediene v. Bush,

19

553 U.S. 723 (2008) in which the Supreme Court struck down a statute denying aliens access to the

20

habeas remedy. Petitioner has made no valid argument that the AEDPA suspends the writ of habeas

21

corpus.

22

D. Liberty Interest

23

Petitioner argues that the state court's summary denial of his claims violated due process.

24

Pet'r's Br. at 35. Under California law, if a habeas petitioner pleads “sufficient facts that, if true,

25

would entitle him to relief,” then the court will issue an order to show requiring a response from the

26

state. Duvall, 9 Cal. 4th at 475. Issuance of an order to show cause triggers rights to conduct fact-

27

finding in support of claims in the petition. Id. at 475-77. Petitioner asserts that this rule creates a

28

liberty interest in the state habeas procedures. That assertion however, cannot form the basis of a

9

1

due process argument. “[A]n expectation of receiving process is not, without more, a liberty interest

2

protected by the Due Process Clause.” Olim v. Wakinekona, 461 U.S. 238, 250 n. 12 (1983); Elliott

3

v. Martinez, 675 F.3d 1241, 1245-46 (10th Cir. 2012).

4

E. California Supreme Court’s Application of the Strickland Standard

5

Petitioner argues that the state court's resolution of his guilt-phase ineffective assistance
claims was contrary to, and an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law, as well as

7

an unreasonable determination of the facts. Pet'r's Br. at 36. Under Strickland v. Washington, 466

8

U.S. 668, 687 (1984), an ineffective assistance claim has two components: a petitioner must show

9

that counsel's performance was deficient, and that the deficiency prejudiced the defense. Petitioner

10
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

6

argues that the state court applied the Strickland standard inappropriately in a number of ways that

11

affected its consideration of his Sixth Amendment claims.

12

a. Inappropriate Pleading Standard

13

Petitioner’s first argument is that the California Supreme Court used a higher pleading

14

standard for his ineffective assistance of counsel claims than was permitted by the Supreme Court in

15

Strickland. According to petitioner, the California Supreme Court created a pleading standard in

16

Duvall, 9 Cal. 4th at 474 that directly contravenes a dictate of Strickland that "no special standards

17

ought to apply to ineffective assistance claims made in habeas proceedings." Pet'r's Br. at 41, citing

18

Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697-98.

19

Petitioner’s argument fails on several grounds. As discussed above, petitioner takes the

20

statement in Duvall out of context. The court in Duvall simply explained why a habeas petitioner,

21

and former criminal defendant, bears the burden of pleading and proving his claims. The Supreme

22

Court in Strickland did not change that burden. Rather, the Court recognized that the Sixth

23

Amendment standards it enunciated should apply equally whether the ineffective assistance of

24

counsel claim is raised on appeal or in a collateral attack on the judgment. Strickland, 466 U.S. at

25

697-98. Petitioner has not shown the statements in Duvall regarding the burden of pleading and

26

proof fly in the face of Strickland’s directive that no “special standards” be applied to ineffective

27

assistance of counsel claims raised in habeas proceedings.

28
10

1

Two cases cited by petitioner, In re Crew, 52 Cal. 4th 126 (2011) and In re Avena, 12 Cal.

2

4th 694 (1996), to show the California Supreme Court’s supposed misuse of Strickland are similarly

3

unconvincing. In each case, while the court cites to the “presumptively final judgment” language of

4

Duvall, it goes on to apply the Strickland standards without any indication that it is using them

5

differently than it would on appeal. See Crew, 52 Cal. 4th at149-153; Avena, 12 Cal. 4th at 710-726.

6

Even if petitioner could show the California Supreme Court, in a few cases, relied upon a
higher pleading standard, he has failed to show the California Supreme Court relied upon this

8

allegedly incorrect standard in the present case. The California Supreme Court’s opinion was silent

9

with respect to its reasoning. Resp't's Lodged Ex. 38 (In re Denny Mickle, S066487 (February 25,

10
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

7

2003)). This court is required to give state court decisions the “benefit of the doubt,” Woodford v.

11

Visciotti, 537 U.S. 19, 24 (2002), and must “presum[e] that state courts know and follow the law,”

12

id. (citations omitted).

13

b. Incorrect Prejudice Standard

14

Petitioner’s next argues that the California Supreme Court applied an incorrect test for

15

determining prejudice under Strickland. He asserts that the state court wrongly applied the test

16

articulated in Lockhart v. Fretwell, 506 U.S. 364, 372 (1993), in which the United States Supreme

17

Court considered whether an attorney’s deficient performance rendered the defendant’s trial

18

“unreliable or the proceeding fundamentally unfair.” In 2000, the Supreme Court held that a state

19

court erred in finding that the Court’s decision in Fretwell modified the Strickland standards.

20

Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 391-98 (2000). Petitioner argues that in his case, respondent in

21

fact urged the state court to apply the Fretwell standard, which "eschews a focus on outcome

22

determination -- that is, whether absent counsel's deficient performance a more favorable result

23

would [sic] been obtained -- in favor of an inquiry directed to whether counsel's renders the result of

24

the trial unreliable or the proceeding fundamentally unfair." Pet'r's Br. at 45.

25

There is no indication here that the state court did not inform itself of the clarification set

26

forth in Williams and thereafter applied the correct standard. The California Supreme Court’s

27

opinion was silent with respect to its reasoning. Resp't's Lodged Ex. 38 (In re Denny Mickle,

28

S066487 (February 25, 2003)). As noted above, this court is required to give state court decisions

11

1

the “benefit of the doubt,” Visciotti, 537 U.S. at 24, and must “presum[e] that state courts know and

2

follow the law,” id. (citations omitted). Petitioner's argument lacks merit.

3

II. Claims A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, B2, B3, C3, C4, C5, D, P, FF, LL1 and L2

4
5

Petitioner next addresses individual claims contained in his petition. These claims are
discussed below.

6

A. Ineffective Assistance Of Counsel Claims (Subclaims A1, A2, A3, A4, A5)1

7

In claim A and its subclaims, petitioner alleges that trial counsel, Phillip Barnett and Vincent

8

O'Malley, were ineffective for failing to investigate or present available evidence relating to the fire

9

at the Mission Bell Motel where Lashan's body was found, the time of death and other circumstances

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

of the crime. He asserts that his claims stated a prima facie case for relief in state court and were

11

unreasonably denied. Under state procedure, "the California Supreme Court's summary denial of a

12

habeas petition on the merits reflects that court's determination that the claims made in the petition

13

do not state a prima facie case entitling petitioner to relief." Pinholster, 131 S. Ct. at 1402 n. 12.

14

Claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are examined under Strickland. As noted above,

15

in order to prevail on a claim of ineffectiveness of counsel, a petitioner must establish two factors.

16

First, he must establish that counsel’s performance was deficient, i.e., that it fell below an “objective

17

standard of reasonableness” under prevailing professional norms, id. at 687–68, “not whether it

18

deviated from best practices or most common custom,” Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 788 (citing Strickland,

19

466 U.S. at 650). “A court considering a claim of ineffective assistance must apply a ‘strong

20

presumption’ that counsel’s representation was within the ‘wide range’ of reasonable professional

21

assistance.” Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 787 (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689). Second, he must

22

establish that he was prejudiced by counsel’s deficient performance, i.e., that “there is a reasonable

23

probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have

24

been different.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to

25

undermine confidence in the outcome. Id. Where the defendant is challenging his conviction, the

26

appropriate question is “whether there is a reasonable probability that, absent the errors, the

27
1

28

In the introduction to his brief, petitioner states that Group I claims include claims A6 and A13,
but does not appear to subsequently address them. This Order only addresses claims discussed in
petitioner's brief.
12

1

factfinder would have had a reasonable doubt respecting guilt.” Id. at 695. Overall, “the standard

2

for judging counsel’s representation is a most deferential one.” Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 788.

3

a. Claim A1

4

Petitioner claims that trial counsel were ineffective for failing to discover and present

5

evidence that the fire that consumed the living quarters of Lashan's family at the Mission Bell Motel

6

was fast-burning, and had been ignited approximately a half hour before its discovery at 10:50 a.m.

7

Petitioner alleges that counsel consequently failed to establish that petitioner could not have been

8

present at the time that the fire was set. He argues that the state court unreasonably determined that

9

this claim failed to state a prima facie case for relief.

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

Petitioner was last seen at the Mission Bell Motel at 8:30 p.m. By 9:50, he was at the South

11

San Francisco home of his girlfriend, Ruthie Kilgore. At 10:50, a witness saw flames shooting out

12

the motel's bedroom window. After the fire was extinguished, Lashan's body was found in the

13

bathroom. Mickle, 54 Cal. 3d at 157-58.

14

Whether the fire was fast or slow-burning was explored at trial. To establish how long it

15

took the flames to appear after the fire was set, the prosecution called two expert witnesses: Daly

16

City Fire Inspector John Christensen and State Fire Investigator McGill. Christensen concluded that

17

the fire had been intentionally set, had originated on two beds, and paper had been used as an

18

accelerant. He determined that the bedroom fire started quickly, then died down and burned slowly

19

for one or two hours.2 The large amount of soot was indicative of a slow-burning fire, and the build-

20

up of carbon monoxide and other gases blew out the windows, admitting oxygen and causing the fire

21

to flare up before discovery. Id. at 160. McGill concluded that the fire had been intentionally set

22

and smoldered for a minimum of two hours. Id. His opinion was supported by tests conducted by

23

the State Bureau of Home Furnishings simulating the burn scene. RT 1743-76.

24
25
26
27
28

Petitioner argues that trial counsel were inadequate for failing to adequately challenge the
prosecution evidence that the fire was slow-burning. He asserts that the defense hired two experts,
2

At the scene of the fire however, Christensen initially told Daly City Police Detective Steven Hawthorne
that the fire may have been fast-burning and may have started 20-25 minutes before 10:40 p.m., assuming that
was the time when the clock in the bedroom stopped due to the heat. RT 2067; Am. Pet., Ex. 1. Trial counsel
attempted to impeach Christensen's testimony by questioning Hawthorne, who acknowledged that Christensen's
hypotheses were based on the possibility that a liquid accelerant had been used. RT 2073. Subsequent testing
however, ruled out the possibility of a liquid accelerant. RT 1600-02.

13

1

George Simmons and Donald Morris, both of whom concluded that Christensen's testimony that the

2

fire was slow-burning was not supported by the evidence. Am. Pet., Ex. 152 (Decl. of George

3

Simmons); Ex. 143 (Decl. of Donald Morris). Petitioner argues that trial counsel were ineffective

4

for failing to present Simmons' or Morris' opinions to the jury. Petitioner further contends that trial

5

counsel failed to investigate Christensen's background, and therefore failed to uncover that "less

6

than two years before conducting the fire investigation . . . Inspector Christensen had been dismissed

7

from the Redwood City Fire Department for a variety of offenses including dishonesty in the

8

falsification of time records." Pet'r's Br. at 53. Finally, petitioner alleges that had trial counsel

9

conducted an adequate investigation, they would have been able to obtain additional expert opinions

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

challenging not only the validity of Inspector Christensen's opinion, but also the opinion of State

11

Fire Investigator McGill regarding the inadequacies of the Bureau of Home Furnishings' tests.

12

Respondent counters that by failing to provide a declaration from trial counsel explaining

13

why the defense fire experts were not called at trial, petitioner fails to overcome the strong

14

presumption that counsel's conduct was reasonable. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689. He asserts that

15

trial counsel could have reasonably believed that it was sufficient to impeach Christensen by asking

16

him about his initial statement to Daly City Police Detective Steven Hawthorne that the fire was

17

fast-burning, and further underscoring Christensen's changed view by introducing a letter from the

18

prosecutor asking Christensen to clarify his opinion regarding the range of time during which the

19

fire could have started. Respondent argues that trial counsel may also have reasonably believed that

20

his cross-examination of the prosecution's fire experts would allow him to effectively argue their

21

unreliability to the jury. Finally, he contends that petitioner fails to cite authority suggesting that a

22

diligent attorney is required to research the personnel history of public safety officers such as

23

Christensen when they testify regarding their investigative findings.

24

Petitioner fails to overcome the "strong" presumption that counsel's conduct was reasonable,

25

Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, a presumption that is "doubly deferential" when conducted through the

26

lens of federal habeas review. Yardborogh v. Gentry, 540 U.S. 1, 6 (2003). For the reasons cited by

27

respondent, it is at least arguable that a reasonable attorney would have foregone the investigation

28

and presentation of evidence now cited by petitioner. Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 788 ("question is

14

1

whether an attorney's representation amounted to incompetence under 'prevailing professional

2

norms,' not whether it deviated from best practices or common custom.") As noted by the Supreme

3

Court, Strickland does not require for every prosecution expert an equal and opposite expert from

4

the defense, and in many instances, cross-examination may be sufficient to expose defects in an

5

expert's presentation. Id. at 791. Here, trial counsel vigorously cross-examined the prosecutor's fire

6

expert, RT 1575-97, attempted to impeach him by introducing into evidence a letter from the

7

prosecutor asking Christensen to clarify his changed opinion regarding the duration of the fire,

8

RT1598, and attempted to undermine his reliability in closing argument. RT 2221-30. It was within

9

the bounds of "reasonable judicial determination" for the state court to conclude that trial counsel

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

could follow a trial strategy that did not include the presentation of Morris' and Simmons' testimony,

11

or the presentation of additional expert testimony challenging the opinions of Inspector Christensen

12

or State Fire Investigator McGill. Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 789. Furthermore, petitioner fails to

13

establish that a diligent attorney was required to inquire into the personnel history of a testifying

14

officer such as Christensen.

15

In sum, on the basis of the state court record alone, the Court cannot conclude that no

16

“fairminded jurist[]”could find the state court’s decision correct. Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 786. The

17

Supreme Court of California may have reasonably determined that petitioner's allegations failed to

18

establish a prima facie case for relief. Accordingly, claim A1 lacks merit and is denied.

19

b. Claim A2

20

Petitioner alleges that his counsel were ineffective for failing to investigate scientific

21

evidence that would have demonstrated that the coroner's estimate of the time of Lashan's death was

22

erroneous, and that his reconstruction of the crime was inconsistent with objectively established

23

facts. The prosecution's pathologist, Dr. Arthur Lack, who performed an autopsy on Lashan,

24

testified that she died at approximately 9:00 p.m. on February 24, that she had been stabbed

25

approximately 30 minutes prior to death, and that soot accumulated in her lungs and carbon

26

monoxide gathered in her blood during this time period. He further concluded that based on the soot

27

that collected on Lashan's feet, she had been stabbed in one location and moved herself to another

28

location where she died. Petitioner argues that counsel were ineffective for failing to discover that

15

1

Dr. Lack's conclusions were scientifically unsubstantiated. In support of his contention, he offers

2

the declaration of Thomas Rogers, M.D., who concludes that there is no scientific basis for Dr.

3

Lack's opinion. Am. Pet., Ex. 150.

4

As respondent points out, petitioner fails to rule out a tactical basis for trial counsel's

5

decision not to contest Dr. Lack's findings before the jury. Strickland permits counsel to make

6

reasonable decisions that make particular investigations unnecessary. See Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 788.

7

Counsel could have reasonably believed that the Dr. Lack's opinion was sound, or that since it was,

8

in part, premised on the understanding that the fire was slow-burning as determined by Inspector

9

Christensen, any doubts the jury had about Christensen's opinion would affect their acceptance of

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

Dr. Lack's conclusions. More importantly, in light of the weight of the incriminating evidence

11

against petitioner, including his repeated confessions, a challenge to any medical uncertainty as to

12

the exact time of Lashan K.'s death is not reasonably likely to have produced a different outcome at

13

trial. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 696.

14

The Court cannot conclude that no “fairminded jurist[]”could find the state court’s decision

15

correct. Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 786. Based on the state court record, the Supreme Court of California

16

may have reasonably determined that petitioner's allegations failed to establish a prima facie case for

17

relief. Accordingly, claim A2 lacks merit and is denied.

18

c. Claim A3

19

Petitioner alleges that counsel were ineffective for failing to investigate and discover

20

information regarding Lashan's family life that would have demonstrated that testimony offered at

21

trial was not consistent with the truth. Petitioner alleges that at trial, Lashan's mother, Sally Phillips,

22

suggested that the family maintained a quiet, modest lifestyle with little social involvement, that

23

Lashan was extremely modest and would never undress in front of anyone. Petitioner asserts that

24

had counsel conducted a reasonable investigation, they would have discovered that the Phillips-

25

Knighten family in fact lived a bizarre lifestyle with a great deal of social interaction, and that

26

Lashan was frequently left alone. In support of his claim, petitioner offers declarations from

27

neighbors and friends establishing that Lashan's step-father, Darrell Knighten, dressed in women's

28

clothing and frequented gay nightclubs, that Darrell and Sally had parties where people drank and

16

1

used drugs, that Lashan told her neighbor that Darrell was the father of her 15-year-old sister's baby

2

and that she was afraid and uncomfortable with him. Am. Pet., Exs. 124, 125, 126, 127 & 129.

3

Petitioner's further alleges that counsel were ineffective for failing to discover that Lashan

4

had been sexually active for at least six months prior to her death, and had sexual intercourse with

5

someone other than petitioner within 24 hours prior to her death. Testimony from a pathologist at

6

trial established Lashan had a "mature" vagina whose hymen had been ruptured several months

7

before her murder. Furthermore, swabs taken from her vagina revealed the presence of semen

8

containing both A and B antigens, and had most likely been deposited between 18 and 24 hours

9

prior to her death. Petitioner, whose blood type is B, could not have been the source of the A

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

antigens. He alleges that trial counsel failed to investigate who could have contributed the A or AB

11

antigens, and thus failed to discover who could have engaged in sexual activity with Lashan within

12

24 hours of her death. Petitioner argues that counsel's deficiency also undermined his defense to the

13

special circumstance of lewd and lascivious conduct.

14

Petitioner's allegation that counsel were ineffective for failing to rebut evidence that Lashan

15

lived a modest, quiet lifestyle is unfounded. The testimony petitioner cites in support of his claim,

16

does not, in fact, establish that the family maintained such a lifestyle. Lashan's mother merely

17

testified that no one in the household was expecting any visitors on the evening of February 24, and

18

that none of her friends or family knew that they were staying at the Mission Bell Motel. RT 1216-

19

17. Counsel were not ineffective for failing to rebut non-existent evidence. Furthermore, to the

20

extent that petitioner suggests that the family's lifestyle permitted easy access to Lashan and raised

21

questions of third-party culpability, any evidence of such culpability would have had to be

22

accompanied, under state law, with "direct or circumstantial evidence linking a third person to the

23

actual perpetration of the crime." People v. Hall, 41 Cal. 3d 826, 833 (1986); see also Walters v.

24

McCormick, 122 F.3d 1172, 1177 (9th Cir. 1997) ("evidence of third party culpability is not

25

admissible . . . [unless it is] coupled with substantial evidence tending to directly connect that person

26

with the actual commission of the offense.") Petitioner could not make such a showing as no

27

evidence connected any person other than him to Lashan's death. The state court's denial of

28

petitioner's claim was not objectively unreasonable.

17

1

Petitioner's allegation that counsel were ineffective for failing to discover that Lashan had

2

been sexually active for at least six months, and had sexual intercourse with someone other than

3

petitioner within 24 prior to her death is also unavailing. As noted above, expert testimony at trial

4

established that Lashan had a ruptured hymen, and that semen was deposited in her vagina probably

5

18-24 hours prior to her death by a donor who had an AB blood type, or in a statistically less

6

probable scenario, two different donors who had A and B blood types respectively. Petitioner's

7

blood type is B. RT 1120-21, 1656, 1664-66, 1671, 1678, 1684-87. Expert evidence also

8

established that in 25-30% of sexual assault cases, no ejaculation takes place. RT 1676. In

9

addressing this evidence, the prosecutor conceded that sexual intercourse most likely took place 24

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

hours before Lashan's death, and that someone other that petitioner molested her at that time. RT

11

2192-93. In response, in closing argument, petitioner's counsel dwelled on the undisputed evidence

12

of Lashan's prior sexual intercourse and the existence of AB-semen in her vagina as not reconcilable

13

with petitioner being her molester and killer. RT 2217-21. The prosecutor responded by

14

acknowledging that the semen was not the semen of the murderer, and stated: "[Y]ou've got to

15

realize the temptation to want to believe that this child was only molested once in her life.

16

Obviously, it happened a lot more than that, and it happened to her within 24 hours of the later

17

molest and murder." RT 2247.

18

Petitioner alleges that counsel failed to do what the record shows was done. As noted above,

19

trial counsel did focus on Lashan's undisputed prior sexual activity and the presence of third-party

20

semen. The jury was, in fact, fully aware of the circumstances petitioner now claims should have

21

been raised at trial. Moreover, petitioner himself admitted having "had sex" with Lashan after he

22

stabbed her, and the evidence showed that he killed her while engaging in a lewd act, whether by

23

intercourse without ejaculation, or by having the child disrobe to gratify his lust3. RT 2189-91.

24

Petitioner fails to establish that counsel was ineffective.

25
26

Based on the above, the Court cannot conclude that no “fairminded jurist[]”could find the
state court’s decision correct. Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 786. Based on the state court record, the

27
3

28

There was uncontradicted testimony that Lashan was modest and not inclined to undress in front of
anyone. RT 1217-18. That she had been a victim of sexual abuse by persons other than petitioner did not make
her any less modest.

18

1

Supreme Court of California may have reasonably determined that petitioner's allegations failed to

2

establish a prima facie case for relief. Accordingly, claim A3 lacks merit and is denied.

3

d. Claim A4

4

Petitioner alleges that counsel were ineffective for failing to investigate evidence relating to

5

Darrell, Lashan's step-father, and therefore failed to discover that Darrell had a criminal record

6

involving narcotics offenses, robbery, prostitution, assault and use of a knife. Petitioner contends

7

that counsel never investigated Darrell's alibi evidence that he had been with Sally, Lashan's mother,

8

on the eve of the murder, and failed to consider his involvement in her death.

9

Petitioner's counsel were not ineffective for failing to discover and present irrelevant

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

evidence. None of the evidence cited by petitioner directly connects Darrell with Lashan's death,

11

and may have been inadmissible under state law. See Hall, 41 Cal. 3d at 833. Moreover, Sally

12

testified that she and Darrell had taken her mother to the hospital on the night of the murder.

13

Petitioner cites no compelling reason to doubt her testimony establishing his alibi. Furthermore, to

14

the extent that he suggests that Darrell could have been the source of the AB-semen found in

15

Lashan's body, given that the prosecution conceded that Lashan had been molested by someone

16

other than petitioner within 24 hours of her death, the prejudice from failing to investigate this

17

matter is not apparent.

18

The Court cannot conclude that no “fairminded jurist[]”could find the state court’s decision

19

correct. Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 786. The Supreme Court of California may have reasonably

20

determined that petitioner's allegations failed to establish a prima facie case for relief. Accordingly,

21

claim A4 lacks merit and is denied.

22

e. Claim A5

23

Petitioner contends that trial counsel were ineffective for failing to investigate evidence

24

underlying the conduct that formed the basis of the jury's special circumstance finding that he

25

committed the murder while engaged in a lewd and lascivious act on a minor. In particular, he

26

asserts that counsel failed to demonstrate that he did not compel Lashan to disrobe.

27
28

At trial, the prosecutor argued that there had been either sexual intercourse or a disrobing of
Lashan for lewd and lascivious purposes. Her naked body was found in the bathroom. The jury

19

1

ultimately returned a finding that the lewd and lascivious act underlying the special circumstance

2

was "witnessed by the victim[']s nudity and obvious use of force." CT 416. Petitioner however,

3

argues that Lashan K. was killed in the bathroom after taking off her clothes, possibly to take a

4

shower.

5

The record does not support petitioner's allegations. Bloodstains were found around the

6

bottom of the bathroom doorway and on a lower drawer of a hallway dresser across form the

7

bathroom where Lashan's naked body was found. RT 1024-26, 1056-58. Lashan's feet were coated

8

with blood, which in turn contained soot and paint flecks, indicating that after being stabbed, she had

9

stood and moved during the fire. RT 1092-93. This evidence suggests that Lashan was stabbed and

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

undressed elsewhere, and she moved to the bathroom where she died. Petitioner has not

11

demonstrated that any failure by trial counsel to rebut this inference constituted deficient

12

performance, or that it was prejudicial.

13

The Court cannot conclude that no “fairminded jurist[]”could find the state court’s decision

14

correct. Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 786. The Supreme Court of California may have reasonably

15

determined that petitioner's allegations failed to establish a prima facie case for relief. Accordingly,

16

claim A5 lacks merit and is denied.

17

B. Brady Violations (Claims B2 and B3)

18

In Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), the Supreme Court held that "the suppression by

19

the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon request violates due process where the

20

evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the good faith or bad faith of the

21

prosecution." Id. at 87. The Supreme Court has since made clear that the duty to disclose such

22

evidence applies even when there has been no request by the accused, United States v. Agurs, 427

23

U.S. 97, 107 (1976), and that the duty encompasses impeachment evidence as well as exculpatory

24

evidence, United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 676 (1985). Evidence is material if “there is a

25

reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the

26

proceeding would have been different.” Cone v. Bell, 556 U.S. 449, 469-70 (2009). “A reasonable

27

probability does not mean that the defendant ‘would more likely than not have received a different

28

verdict with the evidence,’ only that the likelihood of a different result is great enough to ‘undermine

20

1

confidence in the outcome of the trial.’” Smith v. Cain, 132 S. Ct. 627, 630 (2012) (quoting Kyles v.

2

Whitley, 514 U.S. 419, 434 (1995)).

3

In sum, for a Brady claim to succeed, petitioner must show: (1) that the evidence at issue is

4

favorable to the accused, either because it is exculpatory or impeaching; (2) that it was suppressed

5

by the prosecution, either willfully or inadvertently; and (3) that it was material (or, put differently,

6

that prejudice ensued). Banks v. Dretke, 540 U.S. 668, 691 (2004); Strickler v. Greene, 527 U.S.

7

263, 281-82 (1999); cf. Towery v. Schriro, 641 F.3d 300, 309-10 (9th Cir. 2010) (no habeas relief

8

on Brady claim under § 2254 where state court reasonably determined "beyond a reasonable doubt

9

that the prosecutor's misconduct did not affect the verdict").

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

a. Claim B2

11

Petitioner alleges that the prosecution knew, or should have known, that less than two years

12

prior to the investigation in this case, Daly City Fire Inspector John Christensen had been discharged

13

from his position as fire inspector with the Redwood City Fire Department following accusations of

14

dishonesty and the falsification of time records, but failed to disclose this information to the defense

15

in violation of Brady. Petitioner asserts that this information was material because Christensen's

16

credibility was critical to the prosecutor's case. As noted in the discussion of claim A1 above,

17

Christensen testified at trial that the fire was slow-burning, even though at the scene of the fire, he

18

initially told Daly City Police Detective Steven Hawthorne that the fire may have been fast-burning

19

based on the possibility that a liquid accelerant had been used. Subsequent testing however, ruled

20

out the possibility of a liquid accelerant.

21

Petitioner fails to establish a Brady violation. Petitioner fails to demonstrate that if

22

Christensen had been impeached with evidence of his discharge, there is a reasonable probability

23

that the result of the proceeding would have been different. Cone, 556 U.S. at 469-70. There was

24

ample evidence of petitioner's guilt, including his access to Lashan, the testimony of jailhouse

25

informant, Jeffrey Steele, as well as petitioner's own inculpatory statements. Petitioner fails to

26

satisfy the materiality prong of Brady.

27
28

The Court cannot conclude that no “fairminded jurist[]”could find the state court’s decision
correct. Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 786. The Supreme Court of California may have reasonably

21

1

determined that petitioner's allegations failed to establish a prima facie case for relief. Accordingly,

2

claim B2 lacks merit and is denied.

3

b. Claim B3

4

Petitioner contends that the prosecution failed to disclose Lashan's step-father, Darrell's

5

criminal record in violation of Brady. He asserts that evidence of Darrell's criminal past would have

6

impeached his credibility and would have led trial counsel to investigate his possible culpability for

7

the charged crime.

8
9

Petitioner again fails to establish a Brady violation. Assuming that the prosecution had
knowledge of Darrell's criminal record and should have disclosed it, petitioner fails to establish that

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

this evidence, if presented at trial, would have "put the case is such different light as to undermine

11

confidence in the verdict." Kyles, 514 U.S. at 435. Petitioner does not cite to any evidence that

12

links Darrell to the charged crime - he merely cites Darrell's "possible responsibility." Pet'r's Br. at

13

74. The mere possibility that undisclosed information might have helped the defense does not

14

establish materiality in the constitutional sense. United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 109-110

15

(1976). The state court could reasonably have determined that Darrell's criminal record was not

16

material.

17

The Court cannot conclude that no “fairminded jurist[]”could find the state court’s decision

18

correct. Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 786. The Supreme Court of California may have reasonably

19

determined that petitioner's allegations failed to establish a prima facie case for relief. Accordingly,

20

claim B3 lacks merit and is denied.

21

C. Napue Violations (Claims C3, C4 and C5)

22

Under Napue v. Illinois, 360 U.S. 264 (1959), it is unconstitutional for the state to knowingly

23

use false or perjured testimony against a defendant to obtain a conviction. “A conviction obtained

24

by the knowing use of perjured testimony is fundamentally unfair, and must be set aside if there is

25

any reasonable likelihood that the false testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury.”

26

Agurs, 427 U.S. at 103 (footnote omitted). To demonstrate a Napue violation, petitioner must show:

27

1) the evidence in question was false; 2) the prosecution knew or should have known it was false;

28

and 3) the false evidence was material. Hayes v. Brown, 399 F.3d 972, 984 (9th Cir. 2005).

22

1

a) Claim C3

2

Petitioner argues that the prosecution presented the false testimony of Daly City Fire

3

Inspector John Christensen in violation of Napue. Christensen testified that the fire was slow-

4

burning.
Petitioner's Napue claim is unavailing because he fails demonstrate that Christensen's

6

testimony was false. As discussed above, at the scene of the fire, Christensen initially told Daly City

7

Police Detective Steven Hawthorne that the fire may have been fast-burning. RT 2067.

8

Christensen's hypothesis was based on the possibility that a liquid accelerant had been used. RT

9

2073. Subsequent testing however, ruled out the possibility of a liquid accelerant. RT 1600-02.

10
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

5

Christensen subsequently changed his opinion and testified that the fire was slow-burning. His

11

opinion was factually-based.4 Although Christensen's opinion conflicts with the opinion of

12

petitioner's current experts, a “disagreement in expert opinion” does not establish that expert

13

testimony was false. Harris v. Vasquez, 949 F. 2d 1497, 1524 (9th Cir. 1990) (finding that the fact

14

that petitioner’s current experts believed his doctor at trial rendered an improper psychiatric

15

diagnosis due to an allegedly inadequate examination does not establish that any testimony was

16

false).

17

Because petitioner cannot establish the threshold requirement under Napue that the evidence

18

in question was false, he cannot demonstrate the additional requirements that the prosecutor knew or

19

should have known the evidence was false, or that the false evidence was material.

20

The Court cannot conclude that no “fairminded jurist[]”could find the state court’s decision

21

correct. Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 786. The Supreme Court of California may have reasonably

22

determined that petitioner's allegations failed to establish a prima facie case for relief. Accordingly,

23

claim C3 lacks merit and is denied.

24

b) Claim C4

25

Petitioner alleges that the prosecutor presented Dr. Lack's false testimony as to the time of

26
27
28

Lashan's death in violation of Napue. Dr. Lack testified that the time of death was 9:00 p.m., give
4

Petitioner speculates that Christensen changed his opinion after he received a letter from the prosecutor
requesting clarification of his views. He asserts that Christensen was vulnerable because he had recently been
discharged from his position as fire inspector for the Redwood City Fire Department. Such speculation does not
establish that Christensen's testimony was false.

23

1

or take a half hour, and that the actual stabbing occurred a half hour before death. RT 1120.

2

Petitioner asserts that because Dr. Lack's estimate was largely based on Christensen's false opinion

3

regarding the start-time and duration of the fire, it follows that Dr. Lack's testimony was also false.

4

As discussed above, petitioner has failed to establish that Christensen's testimony was false.

5

He consequently fails to establish that Dr. Lack's testimony, which relied on Christensen's opinion,

6

was also false. Petitioner's allegation lacks merit.

7

The Court cannot conclude that no “fairminded jurist[]”could find the state court’s decision

8

correct. Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 786. The Supreme Court of California may have reasonably

9

determined that petitioner's allegations failed to establish a prima facie case for relief. Accordingly,

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

claim C4 lacks merit and is denied.

11

c) Claim C5

12

Petitioner alleges that the prosecution presented Lashan's mother, Sally's false testimony

13

regarding her family's lifestyle in violation of Napue. He asserts that Sally testified that the family

14

lived quietly at the Mission Bell Motel, that no one but their close family knew where they were, and

15

that Lashan was a private person who would never undress in front of anyone. Petitioner asserts that

16

in actual fact, the Knighten family was "extremely active socially and sexually." Pet'r's Br. at 83.

17

Petitioner mischaracterizes Lashan's mother's testimony. As noted in the discussion of claim

18

A3 above, Lashan's mother testified that no one in the household was expecting any visitors on the

19

evening of February 24, and that none of her friends or family knew that they were staying at the

20

Mission Bell Motel. RT 1216-17. She did not make statements about the family's social life.

21

Petitioner also fails to present evidence discrediting the view that Lashan was a modest child who

22

would not undress in front of anyone. The prosecution's concession that she was sexually abused

23

prior to her death does not contradict this view either. Petitioner fails to establish that the

24

prosecution presented false evidence in violation of Napue.

25

The Court cannot conclude that no “fairminded jurist[]”could find the state court’s decision

26

correct. Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 786. The Supreme Court of California may have reasonably

27

determined that petitioner's allegations failed to establish a prima facie case for relief. Accordingly,

28

claim C5 lacks merit and is denied.

24

1

D. Claim D

2

Petitioner alleges that the California Supreme Court's denial of his claim alleging that

3

insufficient evidence supported the special circumstance finding was unreasonable. The jury found

4

true the special circumstance that petitioner committed the murder while engaged in a lewd and

5

lascivious act on a minor. They identified the lewd or lascivious act to be "witnessed by the victims

6

[sic] nudity and obvious use of force." RT 2257.

7
8
9
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10
11
12
13
14
15

The California Supreme Court denied this claim on the merits on direct appeal. The court
stated:
Defendant also claims there was insufficient evidence to support the special
circumstance finding on a "disrobing" theory. We disagree. The evidence
established that 12-year-old Lashan was extremely modest, that she never relaxed in
the nude at home, and that she undressed at night only under parental compulsion.
Nothing unusual was noticed about her appearance when she was last seen alive
watching television at 7:30 p.m. Thus, the jury could reasonably infer that Lashan
was clothed an hour later, when the stabbing most likely occurred. However, her
body was found in the nude and bore signs of a violent struggle or assault. A rational
trier of fact could conclude that, at a minimum, the murder occurred during a sexually
motivated, compulsory act of disrobing.
Mickle, 54 Cal. 3d 140, 178 (1991) (internal citations omitted.)
The critical inquiry on review of a claim challenging the sufficiency of the evidence to

16

support a criminal conviction is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to

17

the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime

18

beyond a reasonable doubt. See Jackson v Virginia, 443 US 307, 318-19 (1979). The Supreme

19

Court has emphasized that “Jackson claims face a high bar in federal habeas proceedings . . . .”

20

Coleman v. Johnson, 132 S. Ct. 2060, 2062 (2012) (per curiam) (finding that the Third Circuit

21

“unduly impinged on the jury’s role as factfinder” and failed to apply the deferential standard of

22

Jackson when it engaged in “fine-grained factual parsing” to find that the evidence was insufficient

23

to support petitioner’s conviction). “[T]he only question under Jackson is whether [the jury’s

24

finding of guilt] was so insupportable as to fall below the threshold of bare rationality.” Coleman,

25

132 S. Ct. at 2065.

26

true if the murder was committed while "the defendant was engaged in the commission of a lewd

27

and lascivious act." Mickle, 54 Cal. 3d at 177 n. 19. Under California law, disrobing a child with

28

the specific intent to arouse, appeal to or gratify lust, passions or sexual desires constitutes a lewd

Here, the jury was instructed that it could find the special circumstance to be

25

1

act. Id. at 176. Lashan's body was found naked and bore signs of a physical struggle. Viewed in the

2

light most favorable to the prosecution, this evidence was sufficient for a rational trier of fact to find

3

that Lashan was murdered during the commission of a lewd act. The state court reasonably

4

concluded that the record sufficiently supported the jury's special circumstance finding.

5
6

Petitioner fails to demonstrate that the state court decision constituted an unreasonable
application of Supreme Court precedent. Accordingly, claim D lacks merit and is denied.

7

F. Claim P

8

In claim P, petitioner alleges that the cumulative effect of guilt-phase errors created prejudice

9
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10
11
12

and compel the reversal of his conviction. The parties recognize however, that not all guilt-phase
claims have been briefed yet and request that ruling on claim P be deferred.
Pursuant to the parties' request, the Court defers ruling on claim P until after all guilt phase
claims are briefed.

13

G. Claim FF

14

In claim FF, petitioner repeats the allegations raised in his guilt-phase Brady and Napue

15

claims (claims B2, B3, C3, C4 and C5), but with respect to the penalty phase of trial. Because a new

16

jury was impaneled for the penalty phase, the prosecutor again presented the testimony of witnesses

17

John Christensen, Dr. Lack, Darrell Knighten and Sally Phillips. Petitioner asserts that the

18

testimony of these witnesses was false and/or unreliable in the penalty phase for the same reasons

19

that their testimony was false and/or unreliable in the guilt phase of the trial. In addition, he

20

contends that Dr. Lack falsely testified that the evidence suggested that a sexual act was perpetrated

21

by petitioner on Lashan, that there was evidence of garroting, and that the evidence suggested that he

22

stabbed her while she was lying on the bed, then turned her over and stabbed her twice again. Pet'r's

23

Br. at 92. Petitioner alleges that the presentation of the testimony of these witnesses violated Brady

24

and Napue.

25

Petitioner's penalty-phase allegations fail for the same reasons that his guilt-phase allegations

26

fail, as discussed in claims B2, B3, C3, C4 and C5 above. Additionally, to the extent that Dr. Lack's

27

testimony regarding the circumstances of the crime conflicts with the opinion of petitioner's current

28
26

1

experts, as noted above, “disagreement in expert opinion” does not establish that expert testimony

2

was false. Harris, 949 F. 2d at 1524. Petitioner fails to establish Brady and Napue violations.

3

The Court cannot conclude that no “fairminded jurist[]”could find the state court’s decision

4

correct. Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 786. The Supreme Court of California may have reasonably

5

determined that petitioner's allegations failed to establish a prima facie case for relief. Accordingly,

6

claim FF lacks merit and is denied.

7

H. Claim LL1

8

In claim LL1, petitioner alleges that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate
and request jury instructions on lingering doubt in the penalty phase of trial. He argues that

10
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

9

substantial evidence cast doubt on petitioner's guilt of first degree murder and on the special

11

circumstance finding. In particular, he alleges that evidence that petitioner was not at the scene of

12

the crime when the fire was set, that numerous other persons with motive and opportunity had access

13

to Lashan K., that Lashan K. had been sexually active for more than 6 months and had sexual

14

intercourse with someone other than petitioner within 24 hours of her death, as well as other

15

evidence, all cast doubt on his guilt.

16

Petitioner's allegations lack merit. As a preliminary matter, petitioner does not have a

17

constitutional right to a lingering doubt instruction. Franklin v. Lynaugh, 487 U.S. 164, 172-74

18

(1988). Furthermore, the decision to forego focus on lingering doubt is a trial tactic subject to

19

double-deference under federal habeas law. See People v. Hawkins, 10 Cal. 4th 920, 968 (1995),

20

abrogated on other grounds, People v. Lasko, 23 Cal. 4th 101 (2000); Yarborough v. Gentry, 540

21

U.S. 1, 6 (2003). At the penalty phase of petitioner's trial, the jury received evidence not only of his

22

confessions, but also of his history of prior sexual assaults, including his rape and sodomy of a 7-

23

year old, rape of another 7-year old and rape and impregnation of a 13-year old. Given the

24

aggravating evidence of petitioner's history of sexual molestation, trial counsel may have reasonably

25

chosen to focus on other aspects of petitioner's background in order to move the jury toward

26

leniency rather than pursue a lingering doubt theme. Trial counsel's lack of focus on lingering doubt

27

was not unreasonable.

28
27

1

The Court cannot conclude that no “fairminded jurist[]”could find the state court’s decision

2

correct. Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 786. The Supreme Court of California may have reasonably

3

determined that petitioner's allegations failed to establish a prima facie case for relief. Accordingly,

4

claim LL1 lacks merit and is denied.

5

I. Claim LL2

6

Petitioner alleges that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to or present expert

7

opinion to counter Dr. Lack's penalty phase testimony. Dr. Lack testified that the evidence

8

suggested a sexual crime, that there was evidence of strangulation by means of a necklace and that

9

the fatal stab wounds were administered while Lashan K. was lying on her stomach and then turned

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

over, either by herself or by the perpetrator of the crime. Petitioner alleges that Dr. Lack's

11

unrebutted testimony wrongly established that the murder was committed as part of a sexual act. Dr.

12

Lack did not suggest that the assault was sexual in nature when he testified at the guilt phase. In

13

support of his claim, petitioner offers the declaration of Dr. Thomas Rogers, who opines that there

14

was no scientific basis for Dr. Lack's conclusions. Am. Pet., Ex. 150.

15

To the extent that Dr. Lack's testimony confirmed that the murder occurred as part of a

16

sexual act against the victim, that fact had already been established beyond a reasonable fact at the

17

guilt phase of trial when the jury found true the special circumstance that Lashan K. was murdered

18

during the commission of a lewd and lascivious act. Trial counsel may have reasonably decided to

19

forego challenging a fact that had already been established in the guilt phase -- even without Dr.

20

Lack's testimony regarding the sexual nature of the crime at the guilt phase. Petitioner fails to

21

establish that counsel was ineffective in this regard.

22

The Court cannot conclude that no “fairminded jurist[]”could find the state court’s decision

23

correct. Richter, 131 S. Ct. at 786. The Supreme Court of California may have reasonably

24

determined that petitioner's allegations failed to establish a prima facie case for relief. Accordingly,

25

claim LL2 lacks merit and is denied.

26

J. Factual Determination Under § 2254(d)(2)

27

Throughout his motion, petitioner alleges that the state court's rejection of his claims was

28

based on an unreasonable determination of the facts within the meaning of § 2254(d)(2). The state

28

1

court did not hold an evidentiary hearing and denied his claims in a summary order. Petitioner

2

asserts that to the extent that the state court made factual determinations or resolved factual disputes

3

without a hearing, then its decision involved an unreasonable determination of the facts. Pet'r's brief

4

at 64-65.

5

Petitioner's argument is unavailing. The state court made no explicit factual findings in

6

denying the merits of petitioner's habeas claims. While factual findings were implicit in the state

7

court's denial, petitioner can not establish a violation of § 2254(d)(2) based on a generalized

8

grievance that the state court must have resolved factual disputes without a hearing. Rather,

9

petitioner must establish that the state court unreasonably determined the facts because no other

United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10

reasonable explanation can account for the state court decision regarding a particular claim. Richter,

11

131 S. Ct. at 784. Petitioner has failed to make this showing with respect to his claims.

12
CONCLUSION

13
14

For the above-mentioned reasons, claims A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, B2, B3, C3, C4, C5, D and FF

15

are denied. The court defers ruling on claim P until after all guilt phase claims are briefed. The

16

parties shall proceed to brief Group II claims as follows:

17

1) Within 90 days of the date of this Order, petitioner shall file a motion explaining why the

18

Supreme Court of California's denial of Group II claims (A10, A11, A12, B1, C1, H, DD, EE

19

and LL4) was "contrary to, or involved and unreasonable application of, clearly established

20

Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States," or "resulted in a

21

decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence

22

presented in the State Court proceedings." 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d). Pursuant to Pinholster, 131

23

S. Ct. at 1398, petitioner's brief shall be based on the record that was before the state court

24

that adjudicated the claims on the merits.

25

2) Within 60 days of the date of service of petitioner's brief, respondent shall file an

26

opposition.

27

3) Within 30 days of the date of service of the opposition, petitioner shall file a reply.

28
29

1

4) A briefing schedule for litigating the remaining Group III claims will be set after the court

2

rules on the merits of petitioner's Group II claims.

3

IT IS SO ORDERED.

4
5
6

DATED: 08/04/2014
_______________________________
THELTON E. HENDERSON
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

7
8
9
United States District Court
For the Northern District of California

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
30