Dorotik v. Davidson

Filing 30

ORDER signed by Judge Napoleon A. Jones, Jr on 3/9/09. The Court adopts the Report and Recommendation and denies petitioners writ of habeas corpus, request for an evidentiary hearing, and request for appointment of counsel (All non-registered users served via U.S. Mail Service).(tkl) (jrl).

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JANE M. DOROTIK, Petitioner, vs.

DAWN DAVIDSON, Warden Respondent.

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Case No. 07cv1007 J (POR) ORDER: (1) ADOPTING MAGISTRATE JUDGE PORTER'S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION; (2) DENYING PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS; (3) DENYING REQUEST FOR EVIDENTIARY HEARING; and (4) DENYING REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL.

Before the Court is Magistrate Judge Louisa S. Porter's Report and Recommendation ("R&R") recommending that the Court deny the Writ of Habeas Corpus, filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, of Petitioner Jane M. Dorotik ("Petitioner"). [Doc. No. 1.] The Court has considered the Petition, Respondent's Answer, Petitioner's Traverse, Petitioner's Objections to the R&R, and all the supporting documents the parties have submitted. Having considered these documents, this Court ADOPTS the R&R and DENIES the Petition for the reasons stated below. Factual Background This Court gives deference to State court findings and presumes their correctness. If Petitioner wishes to rebut the presumption of correctness, she bears the burden of proving that the State court was incorrect by clear and convincing evidence. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1); see also Parke v. Raley, 506 U.S. 20, 35-36 (1992) (holding that findings of historical fact,

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

including inferences properly drawn from such facts, are entitled to statutory presumption of correctness). Petitioner has not provided the Court with clear and convincing evidence that the state court erred in its findings of fact. The following statement of facts is taken from the appellate court opinion affirming Petitioner's conviction on direct review. In February 2000 appellant and her husband Robert Dorotik (Robert) were living on a ranch they rented in a rural area near Escondido. The pair had three adult children. Appellant and Robert frequently argued about money. Appellant and daughter Claire were horse enthusiasts. Robert disapproved of the money spent by appellant to support that interest. The couple was not particularly affectionate, sometimes discussed divorce, but never had a physical confrontation. In 1997 appellant and Robert separated. Robert filed for divorce and sought spousal support from appellant whose employment was considerably more remunerative. The couple reconciled in 1998 and resided together at the ranch, agreeing to keep their finances separate. Their relationship was uneven and at times they argued. Robert started a business but it did not do well. On the evening of [Sunday,] February 13, 2000, appellant called friends and asked if they had seen Robert. Appellant explained Robert had gone for a run at 1:00 p.m. and had not returned. Appellant called the sheriff and reported Robert missing. A search was undertaken. The next day a sweatshirt, which appellant stated Robert was wearing on his run, was found on a road about two miles from appellant's home. Shortly thereafter, Robert's body was found in brush next to a road about a half mile from where the sweatshirt was located. Appellant was notified. She started to cry and asked if her husband had suffered. It was determined that Robert died from blunt force injures to the head, with ligature strangulation as a contributing factor. He suffered at least three blows to the head. He had two large lacerations at the right side and back of the head with skull fractures underneath those lacerations and direct damage to the brain at the back of the head. There was a depressed skull fracture on the right side of the head. In the back of the head the bone was completely displaced and there was a hole in the skull. Robert had abrasions on his face and a ligature mark on his neck. There were abrasions and contusions on his hands that appeared to be defensive wounds. Robert was alive when strangled. An expert concluded the damage to Robert's head was consistent with hammer strikes. The police interviewed appellant on February 13, 2000. She told the officers that about 1:00 p.m. Robert told her he was going to jog. She went to the barn and did not see him leave. When she returned to the house at 4:00 p.m., Robert was not there. When he had not returned by 5:00 p.m., she went out looking but could not find him. She then called the police. Appellant told the officers she and Robert each had a $250,000 life insurance policy with the other as beneficiary. A search was conducted of appellant's residence. Bloodstains were found in several areas in the master bedroom. The patterning of some of the stains was consistent with a beating occurring in the room. When officers turned over the
2
07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

mattress in the room, they found a large-volume bloodstain near the headboard. There was a folded, bloodstained towel between the mattress and box springs. In a bag in the master bedroom the officers found a syringe containing a horse tranquilizer. A bloody fingerprint was found on one of the syringes. The print was identified as appellant's. A bed sheet was found in a hamper with transfer, drip and impact blood spatters on it. A steam shampooer and cleaning supplies were found in a living room closet. Blood was found on the handle, cap and nozzle of one of the bottles. Bloodstains were also found in the bed of a truck used at the ranch. DNA testing indicated many of these bloodstains were consistent with Robert's blood. An expert in bloodstain patterning opined that the events started on the bed in the master bedroom. Robert was struck at least twice and perhaps a third time on the bed. He remained on the bed for a time after the assault. At some point Robert moved or was moved to another area in the bedroom where he was struck at least once more. Robert remained in that area for some time. The expert also examined the clothes from Robert's body. There were transfer but no spatter stains on his T-shirt. There was no blood on his sweatpants. There were two bloodstains and a large amount of feces on Robert's boxer shorts. There was no blood on his shoes. Appellant did not testify. She offered evidence suggesting that someone else killed Robert. (Lodgment No. 6, People v. Dorotik, No. D038706, slip op. at 2-4.) Procedural Background In a one-count felony Complaint filed in the San Diego County Superior Court on February 22, 2000, refiled as an Information on November 1, 2000, Petitioner was charged with one count of premeditated murder in violation of Cal. Penal Code sections 187(a) and 189. (Lodgment No. 1, Clerk's Tr. ["CT"] 1-4.) On June 12, 2001, a jury found Petitioner guilty of murder and separately found that the murder was premeditated. (CT 323.) On August 2, 2001, Petitioner was sentenced to twenty-five years to life in state prison. (Id. at 497.) Petitioner appealed her conviction, raising claims which are not presented here. (Lodgment Nos. 3-5.) The appellate court, in an unpublished opinion, affirmed the judgment of conviction in all respects. (Lodgment No. 6, People v. Dorotik, No. D038706 (Cal.Ct.App. Nov. 18, 2003).) Petitioner filed a petition for review in the state supreme court presenting the same claims, which was summarily denied. (Lodgment Nos. 7-8.) Petitioner filed a habeas petition in the state superior court on April 4, 2005, presenting essentially the same claims raised in her federal Petition here. (Lodgment No. 9.)
3
07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

That petition was denied on the merits and on procedural grounds. (Lodgment No. 10, In re Dorotik, No. HCN0787 (Cal.Sup.Ct. Aug. 2, 2005).) Petitioner took her habeas petition to the appellate court on January 3, 2006, now proceeding pro se, where she submitted claims similar to those counsel had raised in superior court. (Lodgment No. 11.) That petition was also denied on the merits and on procedural grounds. (Lodgment No. 12, In re Dorotik, No. D047784 (Cal. Ct.App. Sept. 2, 2005).) Petitioner presented similar claims to the ones raised in the lower courts in a habeas petition filed in the state supreme court on November 20, 2006, which was denied without citation or a statement of reasoning. (Lodgment Nos. 1314.) On June 1, 2007, Petitioner filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with this Court [doc. no. 1], as well as a Motion for Leave to Proceed In Forma Pauperis [doc. no. 2] and a Motion to Appoint Counsel and Request for DNA Testing [doc. no. 3]. The Court denied Petitioner's request to proceed in forma pauperis and dismissed the case without prejudice on June 15, 2007. [Doc. No. 4.] Petitioner paid the filing fee on July 2, 2007 [doc. no. 6] and Magistrate Judge Porter ordered the case to be reopened on July 9, 2007 [doc. no. 7]. On July 23, 2007, Magistrate Judge Porter denied without prejudice Petitioner's request for appointment of counsel and request for DNA testing. [Doc. No. 8.] Respondent Warden Dawn Davidson ("Respondent") filed an Answer to the Petition accompanied by a Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support Thereof on October 9, 2007. [Doc. No. 11.] Petitioner submitted a Traverse on December 13, 2007. [Doc. No. 17.] On August 19, 2008, Magistrate Judge Porter filed an R&R recommending that Petitioner's habeas petition be denied. Petitioner filed objections nunc pro tunc on October 24, 2008. [Doc. Nos. 20, 29.] Legal Standard I. State Habeas Prisoner Standard A federal court must grant habeas relief to a petitioner in state prison if the petitioner is in custody "in violation of the Constitution or other laws or treaties of the United States." 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a). A federal court's duty in examining a state prisoner's habeas petition is governed by 28 U.S.C. § 2254 as amended by the 1996 Antiterrorism and Effective Death
4
07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Penalty Act ("AEDPA"). Pursuant to section 2254, a federal court may grant habeas corpus relief from a state-court judgment only if the adjudication was (1) "contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States," or (2) "was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding." 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d). State interpretation of state laws and rules cannot serve as the basis for a federal habeas petition, as no federal or constitutional question would be implicated. See Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 68 (1991) (stating that "federal habeas corpus relief does not lie for errors of state law"; federal courts may not reexamine state court determinations on state law issues). II. Reviewing Magistrate Judge's R&R The duties of a district court in connection with a magistrate judge's R&R are set forth in Rule 72(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). A district court must "make a de novo determination of those portions of the report . . . to which objection is made," and "may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate judge." 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3) (2007); see also United States v. Raddatz, 447 U.S. 667, 676 (1980) ("[I]n providing for a `de novo' determination . . . Congress intended to permit whatever reliance a district judge, in exercise of sound judicial discretion, chose to place on a magistrate's proposed findings and recommendations."). Petitioner's Objections Because Petitioner has filed objections to the R&R, this Court must conduct a de novo review of the portions of the R&R to which objections were made. Petitioner objects to the R&R by claiming that "her confinement is in violation of the Constitution." [Doc. No. 29.] She further argues that (1) she is entitled to an evidentiary hearing because she has established a colorable claim for relief and was denied an evidentiary hearing in state court, (2) the court should order DNA testing of the rope used to strangle the decedent, the hair wrapped around the decedent's finger, and fingernail scrapings of the decedent because the DNA found on these items might help identify the real perpetrator, and (3) she should be excused from the procedural default of her Brady claim because she has established cause
5
07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

and prejudice and demonstrated that the Court's failure to reach the merits of her claim would result in a fundamental miscarriage of justice. Discussion I. Petitioner's Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims A. Standard of Review When the highest state court issues a decision in a case but does not articulate the rationale for its determination, such as by issuing a silent denial, the silence is deemed to be consent to the lower court's decision, and the reviewing court should "look through" to the "last reasoned opinion" to determine the legal basis for the denial. Ylst v. Nunnemaker, 501 U.S. 797, 804 (1991). Alternatively, when the state court reaches a decision on the merits but provides no reasoning to support its conclusion, the reviewing court is required to conduct an independent review of the record to determine whether the state supreme court clearly erred in its application of controlling federal law when it denied the claim without a statement of reasoning. Pirtle v. Morgan, 313 F.3d 1160, 1167 (9th Cir. 2002); Greene v. Lambert, 288 F.3d 1081, 1089 (9th Cir. 2002) ("[W]hile we are not required to defer to a state court's decision when that court gives us nothing to defer to, we must still focus primarily on Supreme Court cases in deciding whether the state court's resolution of the case constituted an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law."). In independently reviewing the record, the reviewing court must "still defer to the state court's ultimate decision." Pirtle, 313 F.3d at 1167. Petitioner presented ten ineffective assistance of counsel claims in habeas petitions filed in the state superior, appellate, and supreme courts.1/ The superior court denied Petitioner's claim on the merits in a written order, but addressed only the first two of Petitioner's ineffective assistance of counsel claims. (Lodgment No. 10, In re Dorotik, No. HCN0787, slip op at 2-3.) The appellate court did the same, addressing only the first two of

1

Petitioner's ten ineffective assistance of counsel claims are listed below. See infra Part I.B. 6 07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Petitioner's ineffective assistance of counsel claims on the merits.2/ The supreme court summarily denied all ten of Petitioner's ineffective assistance of counsel claims without a statement of reasoning or citation of authorities. (Lodgment Nos. 13-14.) Because the appellate court issued a reasoned opinion denying Petitioner relief based on her first two claims, while the state supreme court issued a silent denial as to these claims, the Court will look through the state supreme court's order to the appellate court's decision on the merits to determine the legal basis for the denial of Petitioner's first two ineffective assistance of counsel claims. As for Petitioner's third through tenth ineffective assistance of counsel claims, because there are no state court opinions which provide a statement of reasons for their denial, the Court is required to conduct an independent review of the record to determine whether the state supreme court clearly erred in its application of controlling federal law when it denied these claims without a statement of reasoning. B. Analysis Claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are governed by Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). "A guilty plea cannot be attacked as based on inadequate legal advice unless counsel was not `a reasonably competent attorney' and the advice was not `within the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases.'" Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687. To make out a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel under Strickland, Petitioner must show (1) "that counsel's performance was deficient" and (2) "the deficient performance
2

The appellate court addressed only those aspects of Petitioner's claim involving forensic evidence and the failure to call Petitioner to testify, stating: Even if petitioner could show her attorney should have made a more thorough investigation of the forensic evidence, she has not shown that such investigation would have resulted in a reasonable probability of a different outcome at trial. Petitioner's expert states that forensic evidence suggests the victim was beaten in the bedroom, but the fatal beating took place at another location. This theory does not tend to show petitioner did not commit the murder. As to her argument if this evidence had been available, she would have testified, and her attorney was ineffective in not preparing her to do so, she has not indicated how further investigation would have encouraged her to testify, informed her testimony or how the result at trial would have been different had she done so. (Lodgment No. 12, In re Dorotik, No. D047784, slip op at 2-3.) 7
07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

prejudiced the defense." Id. The court need not address both the performance prong and the prejudice prong if the petitioner fails to make a sufficient showing of either. See id. at 700. The Strickland test applies in full force in federal collateral proceedings. Id. at 697. The first prong of the Strickland test for deficiency of counsel requires a plaintiff to demonstrate that counsel "made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the `counsel' guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687. "[T]he defendant must show that counsel's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness . . . under prevailing professional norms." Id. at 688. Furthermore, judicial scrutiny of counsel must be highly deferential because of the risk that the benefit of hindsight would make the counsel's performance seem unreasonable. Id. at 689. The second prong of the Strickland test requires that any deficiency of counsel also be prejudicial. Id. at 692. Therefore, even if a defendant is able to show that counsel acted unreasonably, she still must show that counsel's actions had an adverse effect on the outcome. Id. at 693. "The defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different." Id. at 694. Petitioner's argues that her Sixth Amendment right to receive effective assistance of counsel was violated when defense counsel failed to: (1) subject the prosecution's forensic evidence to meaningful adversarial testing and obtain readily available forensic evidence which would have challenged the prosecution's theory of the case and exposed the weakness of the prosecution's forensic evidence; (2) prepare and call Petitioner as a witness; (3) demonstrate that Petitioner was physically incapable of committing the murder as theorized by the prosecution; (4) object or move for a mistrial when a police detective testified that he believed that Petitioner was the murderer; (5) obtain DNA testing on several items of physical evidence; (6) present alternate scenarios consistent with the physical evidence; (7) provide innocent explanations for the apparently incriminating evidence; (8) present evidence that the police focused on Petitioner from the beginning of the investigation and failed to follow other leads which would have led them to the real killers; (9) engage in a reasonably competent investigation before pursuing an absurd theory that Petitioner's
8
07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

daughter was the killer; and (10) make good on promises to the jury regarding what the evidence would show, refrain from admitting to the jury that Petitioner was guilty, and refrain from stating that counsel personally did not believe in the evidence he presented at trial. [Doc. No. 1.] Each of Petitioner's claims will be examined in turn. 1. Forensic Evidence Petitioner argues that her attorney was deficient for failing to subject the prosecution's forensic evidence to meaningful adversarial testing and to obtain readily available forensic evidence which would have challenged the prosecution's theory of the case and exposed the weakness of the prosecution's forensic evidence. [Doc. No. 1.] Petitioner contends that: counsel failed to subject the prosecution's findings regarding the bedroom to comparative testing by independent experts; Charles Merritt, the prosecution expert, had made errors in other cases; the expert retained by the defense, Lisa DiMaio, failed to prepare a report analyzing the prosecution's forensic evidence; and counsel erred in not calling forensic experts to testify for the defense. [Doc. No. 1.] Petitioner also argues that a post-conviction report prepared by Herbert McDonnell "raise[s] serious questions as to the validity of the prosecution's theory of the case." [Doc. No. 1.] This report concludes that: it is more likely than not that the fatal blow to the decedent and the majority of his blood loss occurred outside of the bedroom; Merritt's findings are flawed in finding a transfer pattern rather than a splatter; there was less blood present in the bedroom than would be expected if the killing took place there; the blood found on the mattress could have resulted from a nosebleed; what were reported as blood stains could have been stains caused by rain; there was not enough blood on the mattress to support the theory that the victim remained on the bed for a period of time after being hit multiple times; the convergence of the blood spatter was below what was calculated by the prosecution's expert witness because the expert did not allow for the effect of gravity; and further testing is required regarding the area around the potbelly stove in order to determine whether the stains there are related to the murder. [Doc. No. 1.] Petitioner concludes that "no constitutionally competent attorney" would have accepted the prosecution's forensic evidence and theory of the case. [Doc. No. 1.] Instead,
9
07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

counsel should have challenged this evidence and considered alternate scenarios that did not implicate Petitioner, such as the theory that farm workers killed the decedent between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday. [Doc. No. 1.] Petitioner has failed to meet Strickland's two-prong standard for establishing ineffective assistance of counsel. First, Petitioner has not shown that counsel's performance was deficient in challenging the forensic evidence presented at trial. Petitioner contends that Lisa DiMaio, the defense expert retained by counsel, failed to prepare a report analyzing the prosecution's forensic evidence. However, the record discloses that DiMaio prepared a report for the defense and delivered it to Petitioner's attorney on April 27, 2001, well before trial started on May 15, 2001. (Lodgment No. 2, Reporter's Tr. ["RT"] vol. 1, 12.) Petitioner has thus failed to demonstrate that counsel failed to obtain independent forensic testing. Petitioner also argues that her attorney should have called forensic experts to testify for the defense. However, judicial scrutiny of counsel must be highly deferential because of the risk that the benefit of hindsight would make the counsel's performance seem unreasonable. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689. There is a strong presumption that trial counsel made a strategic decision not to present potentially unfavorable expert forensic testimony at trial, and Petitioner has not overcome this presumption. Second, even assuming that Petitioner could demonstrate deficient performance by trial counsel, she cannot demonstrate that counsel's deficient performance prejudiced the defense. Petitioner asserts that Charles Merritt, the prosecution expert, had made errors in other cases, and that the post-conviction forensic report prepared by Herbert MacDonnell casts doubt on the validity of the prosecution's case. Petitioner's argument is that the outcome of her case would have been different if the jury had been presented with conclusions similar to the those found in McDonnell's report, rather than the prosecution's theory of the case. Petitioner wishes to bolster this argument by suggesting that the prosecution's expert's work is of questionable quality. However, her argument fails because the post-conviction report corroborates the essential elements of the prosecution's theory of the killing. Even if the Court were to accept MacDonnell's interpretations of the forensic evidence, such interpretations would not exonerate Petitioner in any way nor point to anyone
10
07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

other than Petitioner as the murderer. Petitioner specifically emphasizes six findings from MacDonnell's post-conviction report. [Doc. No. 1.] None of them contradict the prosecution's theory of the case, that Petitioner is guilty of murdering the decedent. Amount of blood in the bedroom. The post-conviction report concludes that there was "far less blood present than would have been expected if Merritt's findings were correct." [Doc. No. 1.] MacDonell's report does state that the fatal blow most likely occurred outside of the bedroom.3/ Importantly, MacDonell's report also specifically rejects scenarios in which "Robert was killed elsewhere, his body was dumped and blood evidence was planted in the master bedroom," or "Robert was killed where he was found." [Doc. No. 1, Ex. 1.] The report in no way questions the prosecution's theory that the decedent was attacked in the bedroom, dressed in the clothes he was found in after he had been killed or incapacitated, and dumped where the body was found. Blood on the mattress caused by a nosebleed. The post-conviction report concludes that the "blood on the mattress could have resulted from a nosebleed." [Doc. No. 1, Ex. 1.] However, even assuming that this explanation is correct, the report fails to address the blood splatter and cast-off blood stains on the pillows, bedspread, nightstand, walls, and window in the bedroom, which cannot be explained by the nosebleed theory. Blood stains actually caused by rain. The post-conviction report states that the bloodstain where the decedent's DNA was found, located at the foot of the staircase leading to the bedroom, could actually be a water stain that was present when Petitioner and the decedent bought the house. [Doc. No. 17.] But neither Petitioner nor the post-conviction report can explain why the victim's DNA was found in this location, other than to speculate that the police made a mistake. [Doc. No. 1, Ex. 1.] Even if the water stain existed before Petitioner moved into the house, Petitioner could have stained the same area with the
3

MacDonell's report states, "Given the severity of the head wounds, why was there no brain matter or hair found in the master bedroom? . . . [It is most likely that] Robert was assaulted in the bedroom, taken to another location where he was beaten to death where most of the blood loss occurred, and then his body was dumped. This scenario would account for the lack of the massive amounts of blood in the bedroom and at the scene where his body was found." [Doc. No. 1, Ex. 1.] 11 07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

decedent's blood as she dragged his body down the stairs. Furthermore, the post-conviction report does not question the evidence of other blood splatter and blood cast-off stains in the bedroom. [Doc. No. 1, Ex. 2.] Amount of blood on the mattress. The post-conviction report states, "There was not enough blood soaked into the mattress to support the hypothesis that the victim remained on the bed for the period of time after the multiple hit attack described [by Merritt]. [Doc. No. 1, Ex. 1.] Even assuming this conclusion is correct, the fact that the decedent did not remain on the bed "for a period of time" [doc. no. 1, ex. 2] would in no way refute the blood splatter and blood cast-off evidence indicating that the decedent was struck two or three times while lying on the bed. Blood splatter calculation. The post-conviction report remarks that the prosecution expert apparently did not consider the effect of gravity when calculating the height of the convergence of blood splatter over the mattress, which led him to incorrectly conclude that the origin of the splatter was ten to twelve inches above the mattress. [Doc. No. 1, Ex. 1.] This assertion, however, is refuted by the record. The prosecution expert considered the effect of gravity when providing his opinion. (RT vol. 8, 1316.) More importantly, Petitioner has failed to demonstrate how a slightly different interpretation of the splatter evidence would call into question the veracity of the prosecution expert's conclusions. The area around the potbelly stove. Based on the post-conviction report's statement that the blood stains around the potbelly stove could have been caused by the decedent's nosebleed [doc. no. 1, ex. 1], Petitioner asserts that further testing of this area is required to determine whether the stains are related to the murder [doc. no. 1]. Even assuming that the blood stains found by the stove were not associated with the murder, it would be relevant only to the opinion of the prosecution expert that the decedent's body was moved to the area near the potbelly stove after being hit two or three times on the bed. It would not challenge in any way the blood splatter and cast-off evidence showing that the victim was attacked in the bedroom. Because the area around the stove was the only area which had obviously been cleaned by the carpet cleaner [doc. no. 1, ex. 2], Petitioner further contends that eliminating
12
07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

the blood stains as being related to the attack would cast doubt on her guilt [doc. no. 1]. Even if the Court assumed that further testing of this area would reveal evidence favorable to Petitioner, it would not call into question the extensive evidence showing that the victim was attacked in the bedroom. In any case, the evidence indicates that the victim bled heavily on the mattress, on the carpet around the stove, and on the track of the sliding door. Once the bloody mattress was turned over, the carpeted area around the stove may have been the only area that needed carpet-cleaning. For these reasons, the Court FINDS that the state appellate court's conclusion, that defense counsel's performance in dealing with the prosecution's forensic evidence was neither deficient nor prejudicial to the defense, is a reasonable application of the Strickland standard as well as reasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented. 2. Failure to Call Petitioner to Testify Petitioner contends that her trial counsel's decision not to have her testify at trial was "based on inadequate investigation and incorrect data," and that had she testified she could have "persuasively proclaimed and demonstrated her innocence." [Doc. No. 1.] Petitioner could have testified that: there were no financial difficulties between her and her husband; they were planning a funeral for Petitioner's mother, making it absurd for her to plan a murder at that time; her husband's blood was on the syringe found in the master bathroom because he had assisted her in a veterinary procedure; the victim liked horses and had started a horse-related business; Petitioner lied to the Brumbecks about her mother dying to stir their sympathy in order to collect on a debt they owed; Petitioner and the victim were affectionate toward each other and had no history of domestic violence; the victim had a bad nose bleed in the bedroom, and he cleaned the mattress with the carpet shampooer before flipping it over; Petitioner and the victim almost always cooked steaks on Saturday night and ate the leftovers on Sunday; the victim often drove the family truck in order to measure jogging distances; Petitioner did not go to the dumpster behind the Vons store, but went into the store and bought toilet paper and soda; and no police officers or police dogs found any blood in the bedroom on Sunday evening or Monday when they were in the house. [Doc. No. 1.]
13
07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Petitioner has failed to meet Strickland's two-prong standard for establishing ineffective assistance of counsel. First, Petitioner has not shown that counsel performed deficiently by opting not to call Petitioner to testify. Petitioner has not overcome the strong presumption that counsel made a strategic decision not to present Petitioner's potentially damaging testimony at trial. Second, even assuming that Petitioner could demonstrate deficient performance by trial counsel, she has not demonstrated that counsel's deficient performance prejudiced the defense. Petitioner has failed to show that her testimony in the following areas would have affected the jury's determination of her guilt. Financial Difficulties. Petitioner's testimony regarding her relationship with her husband would have added little, if anything, to the evidence already presented on that issue. The jury heard an audiotape of a statement made by Petitioner to a police officer in which Petitioner said her relationship with her husband had been "really pretty good" and had been going "pretty well" after their initial marital difficulties were resolved. (RT vol. 8, 1284; CT 345-46.) Petitioner's statement to the police, which was played for the jury, was lengthy and contained much detail regarding Petitioner's relationship with the victim. (Id.) Petitioner has failed to show a reasonable probability that had she testified at trial, she would have added any details regarding her and her husband's reconciliation, financial or otherwise, which would have affected the jury's verdict. Funeral Planning. Petitioner contends that she was planning a funeral for her mother and that it would have been absurd for her to contemporaneously plan the murder of her husband. However, the strong evidence of Petitioner's guilt, combined with her unpersuasive attempts to cover up or explain away that evidence, suggests that the murder was not well-planned at all. Bloody Syringe. Petitioner's testimony that the syringe found in the bathroom was bloody because the victim had assisted Petitioner in a veterinary procedure would not have challenged the evidence against her in any meaningful way. There were no drugs found in the victim's body other than caffeine, and there was no contention at trial that Petitioner had used the syringe to inject anything into the victim. (RT vol. 9, 1585.)
14
07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Decedent's Horse-Related Business. Petitioner's testimony that the victim liked horses and had started a horse-related business would not have disproved the evidence of her motive to kill him. Petitioner still had the incentive to prevent the decedent, who had filed for divorce, from collecting spousal support in the future. Petitioner's Lie to the Brumbecks. Petitioner claims that she lied to the Brumbecks about her mother dying to stir their sympathies and motivate them to pay a debt. This testimony would not have rehabilitated Petitioner's credibility in the eyes of the jury; rather, it indicates that she was dishonest. Petitioner and Decedent's Relationship. Petitioner's testimony that she and the victim were affectionate would only have contradicted extensive evidence to the contrary, and not very credibly. Decedent's Nosebleed. Petitioner's testimony that the victim had a bad nose bleed in the bedroom which he cleaned with the carpet shampooer, and that Petitioner told him to flip the mattress after he stained it, would have been duplicative of her son's testimony that Petitioner had explained the presence of blood in the bedroom by saying the victim had a nosebleed. (RT vol. 10, 1785.) A detective also testified that Petitioner had explained the presence of blood in the bedroom by saying that the victim had a nosebleed. (RT vol. 8, 1195.) Moreover, Petitioner's testimony that the blood in the bedroom was from a nosebleed, even if it could explain the large volume blood stain on the underside of the mattress, would have been in stark contrast to the other blood evidence. This evidence included impact blood spatter on the bed, wall, window, headboard, nightstand, telephone, picture, and lamp, as well as cast off blood stains on the wall and ceiling. (Id. at 1196-1204, 1308-1334.) There was also evidence that the victim bled so much while lying on the track of the sliding door that the blood dripped down into the room directly under the bedroom, as well as evidence of a transfer blood stain on the exterior wall adjacent to the stairs leading down from the patio outside the bedroom. (Id. at 1354-56.) None of this evidence could be explained by a nosebleed. Petitioner and Decedent's Meal Habits. Petitioner could have testified that she and
15
07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

the victim almost always cooked steaks on Saturday night and ate the leftovers on Sunday, and that it would have explained the contents of the victim's stomach. However, such testimony would not have accounted for the contents of the victim's stomach other than the steak, which included green leafy vegetable matter, potatoes, beans, and peppers or tomatoes. (RT vol. 9, 1584.) Even if Petitioner had testified that her husband had eaten essentially a full dinner in the early afternoon immediately before going jogging, it probably would not have altered the jury's verdict. The jury heard evidence indicating the victim did not go jogging on Sunday afternoon, but rather had been killed or incapacitated within two hours of eating dinner on Saturday night and was later dressed in his jogging clothes. There was also testimony that Petitioner told a detective that she could not remember what the victim had eaten on Sunday, but speculated that he had eaten cereal. (RT vol. 8, 1286, 1294.) The Family Truck. Petitioner claims that the victim often drove the family truck in order to measure jogging distances, which could have accounted for the tire tracks found near his body. Even if this explanation was true, it would not explain why the Petitioner's truck had backed up to where the body was found, why the grass was bent down as if something had been dragged from the bed of the pickup truck to where the body was found, or why two sets of muddy footprints were found leading from the truck to the body. (Id. at 1174-78; RT vol. 11, 2034-43.) Petitioner's Actions the Day Decedent's Body was Found. Petitioner could have testified that she did not go to the dumpster behind the Vons store, and that she bought toilet paper and soda at the store, but there is no indication that this testimony would have impacted the jury's verdict. An acquaintance of Petitioner testified that he saw Petitioner driving her pickup truck near a Vons store at about 6:45 p.m. on Sunday, and that it appeared odd that Petitioner turned and headed towards the dumpsters in the back of the store, which was an area not normally used to park to shop at Vons, rather than proceed straight into the Vons parking lot. (RT vol. 8, 1429-32; RT vol. 9, 1457-58.) Petitioner contends that had she testified on this matter, she could have rebutted an implication raised by the prosecution that she used her pickup truck to dump the body
16
07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

sometime that evening and then disposed of evidence in the dumpsters. However, nothing related to the homicide was found in the dumpsters behind the Vons store.4/ The jury also heard Petitioner say during the recorded interview that she "ran in, picked up something at the store" while she was out looking for her husband that evening (RT vol. 8, 1284; CT 333), and saw the Vons receipt that Petitioner had purchased something at the store costing $1.01 at 6:58 p.m. on Sunday (RT vol. 13, 2378-79). Investigation of the Bedroom. Finally, Petitioner could have testified that no police officers or police dogs found any blood in the bedroom when they were in the house on Sunday evening and Monday. The police were in the house on Sunday in response to Petitioner's report of a missing person, and there would have been no basis at that time for them to conduct a thorough examination of the entire house looking for signs of foul play. The blood evidence was found when forensic experts examined the house after the police concluded that the victim had been murdered rather than having suffered an accidental death while out jogging, as they had been led to believe by Petitioner. There is no reasonable probability that evidence of a delay in finding the blood evidence in the bedroom would have affected the outcome of the trial. For these reasons, the Court FINDS that the state appellate court's conclusion, that defense counsel's decision to not call Petitioner to testify did not constitute deficient performance or cause prejudice to the defense, is a reasonable application of the Strickland standard. 3. Petitioner's Physical Abilities Petitioner contends that defense counsel was deficient for failing to demonstrate that she was physically incapable of committing the murder as theorized by the prosecution. [Doc. No. 1.] Specifically, she claims that she has a well-documented fractured hip repaired with metal pins and a severely arthritic back. She argues that trial counsel could have retained an expert witness to establish that she lacked the physical strength necessary to carry a body across a sixty-foot porch, down a flight of stairs, load it into a truck and dump it, all
4

The dumpsters had been emptied on Monday, the day after the decedent's body was found, and were not searched until four or five days later. (RT vol. 13, 2378, 2380-81.) 17 07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

without leaving a trace of evidence on the porch or on her clothes. [Doc. No. 1.] Based on an independent review of the record,5/ Petitioner has failed to establish either deficient counsel performance or prejudice to her defense and therefore has not met Strickland's standard for establishing ineffective assistance of counsel. First, Petitioner cannot establish deficient counsel performance. Her contention that counsel did not consult an expert regarding Petitioner's physical abilities is incorrect. Defense counsel retained Dr. William Curran to examine Petitioner on May 2, 2001, well before trial began on May 15, 2001, and provided Dr. Curran with Petitioner's medical records regarding her past injuries and surgeries. (RT vol. 1, 9-11.) Petitioner's counsel informed the court that he would not decide whether to call Dr. Curran as a trial witness until after the examination. (Id.) Two days later, on May 3, 2001, Petitioner's counsel informed the court that he had heard from Dr. Curran, that his co-counsel had "spent a considerable amount of time with him on the phone," and that trial counsel had "taken that information and discussed it with my client this morning." (RT vol. 3, 324.) Thus, Petitioner's contention that trial counsel was deficient because he failed to obtain an expert opinion as to her physical abilities is without merit. Second, Petitioner is unable to demonstrate prejudice. Even if defense counsel has presented evidence that Petitioner was physically unable to commit the murder as theorized by the prosecution, the jury would have heard voluminous evidence to the contrary. Alexander, Petitioner's son, testified that Petitioner shattered her hip in an automobile accident in 1983 or 1984, but that in 1993 or 1994 he observed her moving twenty- or fortyfoot long irrigation metal pipes, and that she moved "a lot of relatively heavy things" in connection to the horse ranch. (RT vol. 10, 1789.) Petitioner's son Nicholas testified that after Petitioner recovered from her automobile accident, she did work around the ranch "that was pretty strenuous and pretty physical," including moving heavy irrigation pipes which were about fifty feet long and weighed between fifty and seventy-five pounds. (Id. at

5

As set forth above, the Court will conduct an independent review of the record with respect to this and the remaining seven aspects of Petitioner's ineffective assistance of counsel claim. See supra Part I.A. 18 07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

1819-20, 1836.) Testimony at trial indicated that the victim weighed 147 pounds at the time of death. Evidence indicated that a slide of some type was used to move the body from the bed of the pickup truck through the grass to where it was found, and it is not unreasonable to believe that a woman who is physically capable of moving seventy-five-pound pipes could also move a 147-pound body with the assistance of a slide. (RT vol. 8, 1174-75; RT vol. 9, 1571.) Based on an independent review of the record, the Court FINDS that the state supreme court did not err in its application of the Strickland standard. Petitioner has not established that counsel failed to consult an expert regarding her physical abilities, nor has Petitioner shown the expert retained by counsel would have testified that she was physically incapable of moving her husband's body. Even assuming that an expert could have provided such an opinion, there is no reasonable probability that the jury would have deferred to the expert's opinion over the evidence presented at trial, including the testimony of eyewitnesses regarding Petitioner's actual physical abilities. 4. Police Detective's Testimony Petitioner contends counsel failed to object or move for a mistrial when Police Detective Richard Empson testified that he did not bother to obtain DNA testing of the rope used to strangle the victim, or the victim's shoelaces, because he believed that Petitioner was guilty. [Doc. No. 1.] At trial, Detective Empson testified about the rope found on the decedent and similar rope found at the home. Defense counsel asked if the rope found on the victim's body had been tested for DNA. (RT vol. 8, 1246.) Empson testified that criminologists in his office discouraged testing because too many people could have handled the rope. (Id. at 1265.) Later, counsel again questioned Empson about the decision not to test the rope and some other materials. (RT vol. 12, 2126.) Shortly afterward, defense counsel pressed him on testing the rope, asking, "And then if you were to recover DNA on that rope from Claire Dorotik or from Leonel Morales, [that] might give you better insight as to who actually killed Bob Dorotik, don't you think?" Empson responded, "I believe I know who killed Mr. Dorotik." (Id. at 2190.) He continued, "That's why I arrested Jane Dorotik." (Id. at 2191.)
19
07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
6

Based on an independent review of the record, Petitioner has failed to establish either deficient counsel performance or prejudice to her defense and therefore has not met Strickland's standard for establishing ineffective assistance of counsel. First, Petitioner cannot establish deficient counsel performance. Although it was improper for the detective to give his personal opinion regarding Petitioner's guilt, clearly defense counsel was attempting to demonstrate that the police investigation was sloppy or incomplete because the lead detective had made up his mind who the killer was and had then ignored or failed to follow up on evidence which might have pointed to a suspect other than Petitioner. Petitioner has therefore failed to overcome the presumption that defense counsel had a tactical reason for prompting the detective to admit he did not pursue DNA testing on the rope because he had already decided Petitioner was guilty. Furthermore, Petitioner has not shown a reasonable probability that a defense motion for a mistrial would have been granted had one been requested. Second, Petitioner is unable to demonstrate prejudice. The case against Petitioner was based primarily on circumstantial and forensic evidence. In reality, it was beneficial to the defense for the jury to hear that the lead detective did not test one of the murder weapons because he had already decided who the killer was. Based on an independent review of the record, the Court FINDS that the state supreme court did not err in its application of the Strickland standard. Petitioner has failed to demonstrate that she received constitutionally ineffective assistance of counsel based on defense counsel's failure to object or request a mistrial when Detective Empson testified that he believed Petitioner was the murderer. 5. DNA Testing Petitioner contends that defense counsel failed to obtain DNA testing of the rope,6/
In her Traverse, Petitioner contends that the rope was not tested only because of her inability to afford the cost of the testing, resulting in a denial of her Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment rights to due process and equal protection. [Doc. No. 17.] This claim was not presented in the Petition and is presented in the Traverse in direct violation of this Court's Order directing a response to the Petition, wherein Petitioner was instructed, "Any traverse by Petitioner (a) shall state whether Petitioner admits or denies each allegation of fact contained in the answer; (b) shall be limited to facts or arguments responsive to matters raised in the answer; and (c) (continued...) 20 07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

fingernail scrapings from the victim, fingerprints on the truck, blood on a towel found in the bedroom which was determined to belong to someone other than Petitioner or the victim, fingernail scrapings of farm workers Morales and Armando, black flecks of material found in the victim's scalp, and the area in and around the potbelly stove. [Doc. No. 1.] Petitioner has failed to establish either deficient counsel performance or prejudice to her defense and therefore has not met Strickland's standard for establishing ineffective assistance of counsel. Petitioner cannot establish deficient counsel performance because she has failed to overcome the presumption that counsel made a tactical decision not to seek DNA testing. Given the evidence of Petitioner's guilt, it was reasonable for counsel to believe that if DNA from a source other than the victim was found in these areas, it would likely belong to Petitioner. Even if DNA belonging to someone other than Petitioner or the victim was found on these areas, it would at best point to an accomplice but would not call into question the evidence implicating Petitioner in the initial attack. Petitioner is also unable to demonstrate prejudice. Petitioner has failed to demonstrate how it would have been helpful to the defense case, other than pure speculation regarding possible results, to conduct testing of these areas. Speculative allegations are insufficient to prove that counsel provided ineffective assistance. See James v. Borg, 24 F.3d 20, 26 (9th Cir. 1994); Blackledge v. Allison, 431 U.S. 63, 74 (1977); see also Simmons v. Gramley, 915 F.2d 1128, 1134 (7th Cir. 1990) ("[C]ursory allegations that are purely speculative cannot support a claim of lack of competence of counsel."). Based on an independent review of the record, the Court FINDS that the state supreme court correctly held that counsel's decision not to obtain further DNA testing did not amount to constitutionally ineffective assistance of counsel. 6. Alternate Scenarios Petitioner contends that defense counsel failed to present the jury with alternate
(...continued) shall not raise new grounds for relief that were not asserted in the Petition." [Doc. No. 7.] The claim is therefore not properly before the Court. See Cacoperdo v. Demosthenes, 37 F.3d 504, 507 (9th Cir. 1994) (noting that a court may ignore issue raised for first time in traverse when scope of traverse has been specifically limited by court order and petitioner ignores order to file a separate pleading indicating intent to raise claim). 21 07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

scenarios, consistent with the physical evidence, that did not implicate Petitioner. [Doc. No. 1.] This contention appears to be unsubstantiated. At trial, defense counsel argued that a farm worker named Leonel Morales could have the killed victim. Lisa Marie Singh testified for the defense that she drove by the area where the decedent's body was found at 4:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. on Sunday and saw two possibly Hispanic men and the victim sitting in a black pickup truck. (RT vol. 13, 2318-19.) Counsel then presented evidence that one tire mark found near the body could have been made by Morales's truck. (RT vol. 11, 2046-47.) Defense counsel also cross-examined the prosecution's expert on the victim's head wounds, who admitted that the wounds could have been made with a drywall hammer, and defense counsel noted that Morales worked with drywall. (Id. at 1912.) Obviously the jury rejected the defense theory that Morales murdered the victim. However, Petitioner's contention that defense counsel was deficient for failing to present such a scenario to the jury for their consideration is not supported by the record. Accordingly, based on an independent review of the record, the Court FINDS that the state supreme court did not err in its application of the Strickland standard. Petitioner cannot demonstrate that defense counsel failed to provide alternate scenarios of the victim's murder that did not implicate Petitioner. 7. Innocent Explanations Petitioner contends counsel was deficient for failing to provide innocent explanations for the apparently incriminating evidence presented by the prosecution. [Doc. No. 1.] Specifically, she opines that: the blood found on the mattress could have come from a nosebleed; the tire tracks found near the victim's body could have been made when the victim measured the distance for his jog, as was his custom: the victim's blood found on the truck was minute and could have been deposited in the course of his work on the ranch; the victim's body and his jogging jacket were found along his usual jogging route, and two witnesses saw him out late Sunday afternoon in the area where the body was found on Monday morning; her fingerprint in the victim's blood on the syringe found in the bathroom could have resulted from the victim assisting Petitioner with a medical procedure on a horse, which could have been verified by medical records and syringes kept in the house and barn
22
07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

in connection to the horse business; there was nothing found in the dumpsters behind the Vons store, and the testimony that Petitioner was seen driving in the direction of the dumpsters was consistent with her shopping at the store; and the type of rope used to strangle the victim was commonly found in the Dorotik household, and Petitioner was knitting a dog bed with the rope. [Doc. No. 1.] Petitioner has not shown that counsel performed deficiently by failing to provide an innocent explanation for every piece of evidence that implicated Petitioner. Counsel's responsibility was not to raise every argument, however implausible, that might tend to exculpate Petitioner. See Boag v. Raines, 769 F.2d 1341, 1344 (9th Cir. 1985) ("Failure to raise a meritless argument does not constitute ineffective assistance."). Counsel only presented explanations that were more likely to persuade the jury of Petitioner's innocence. At trial, counsel presented evidence that the blood found on the mattress could have come from decedent's nosebleed. Counsel also presented the testimony of Lisa Marie Singh, who said she saw the victim in the company of two men in a black pickup truck on Sunday afternoon near where his body was found. Defense counsel's performance was therefore not deficient for failing to present innocent explanations to the jury. Rather, counsel presented these theories to the jury, and the jury rejected them because they were inconsistent with the more persuasive evidence that Petitioner killed the victim. Based on an independent review of the record, the Court FINDS that the state supreme court did not err in its application of the Strickland standard. Counsel's decision not to provide innocent explanations to counter every piece of incriminating evidence did not constitute deficient performance. 8. Police Investigation Petitioner contends that counsel was deficient for failing to present evidence that the police focused on Petitioner from the beginning of the investigation and failed to follow other leads which would have led them to the real killers. [Doc. No. 1.] Specifically, she states that: Detective Empson admitted in court that he did not order testing of the rope or shoelaces because he had already concluded that Petitioner was guilty; Lisa Marie Singh told Detective Ryzdynski that she saw the victim in a black truck with two males a few feet from
23
07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

where the body was found, but that Singh was not contacted by the Sheriff's Department until fifteen months later and told at that time that she had been mistaken because Petitioner was the killer; and the jury was not permitted to hear that Sherry Newton saw the victim jogging about an hour before Singh saw him, and that Newton reported seeing a black truck in the vicinity being driven by two males. [Doc. No. 1.] Petitioner has not met Strickland's standard for establishing ineffective assistance of counsel. First, Petitioner cannot establish that counsel performed deficiently. Petitioner's first assertion, that counsel failed to present evidence relating to Detective Empson, is unsupported by the record. Counsel cross-examined Detective Empson regarding his decision not to conduct DNA testing on the rope because he had already decided Petitioner was guilty. Petitioner next contends that defense counsel's performance was deficient because the court did not permit the jury to hear Sherry Newton's testimony. The Court is not persuaded that counsel's performance regarding Newton's testimony was deficient. Newton did not contact defense counsel until after closing arguments had been presented. As soon as counsel learned of Newton's statement, he vigorously pursued a motion to reopen the defense case. [Doc. No. 1, Ex. 10.] Counsel also stated that Newton had given a statement to the police within one week of the murder, and the failure to disclose the statement was a violation of their duty to disclose under Brady. (Id.) Notwithstanding counsel's efforts, the trial court found that Newton lacked credibility7/ and did not allow her to testify. Second, even if Petitioner could show deficient performance, she cannot establish prejudice. Petitioner alleges that Lisa Marie Singh was not contacted by the detectives until

7

The trial court found that there was no credible evidence that Newton gave a statement to the police at or near the time the body was discovered. Newton testified at the new trial motion that the man she saw jogging was wearing different clothes than those found on the victim. (RT vol. 14, 2784.) The truck she saw had a black and gold license plate, whereas Morales' truck was registered fourteen years after the DMV stopped issuing black and gold license plates. (Id. at 2767; RT vol. 15, 3006-07.) Newton described the jogger she saw as between six feet, three inches and six feet, five inches tall, weighing between 220 and 240 pounds, whereas evidence at trial indicated the victim was five feet, eight and one-half inches tall, and weighed 147 pounds. (RT vol. 14, 2784, 2805.) Newton also testified that it was sunny and warm when she saw the jogger, whereas testimony at trial indicated it was cold and rainy on Sunday when Petitioner reported her husband missing after going jogging. (Id. at 2792.) 24 07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

fifteen months after the murder, and that when Singh was contacted the police told her that Petitioner was the killer. However, even assuming that these events occurred as Petitioner alleges, Petitioner does not explain how these events prejudiced her defense. Singh testified at trial, and Petitioner has come forward with no evidence that the prosecution or the police made any attempt to dissuade her from testifying. Furthermore, Singh testified at trial consistently with her statement she gave to the police the day after the body was found, and Petitioner has not shown that there would have been any effect on the jury's verdict had they heard that Singh was told by the police that she was mistaken or that her testimony was unnecessary since they knew who the killer was. Based on an independent review of the record, the Court FINDS that the state supreme court did not err in its application of Strickland. Counsel's presentation of evidence at trial regarding the police investigation of decedent's murder was not constitutionally ineffective. 9. Pre-Trial Investigation Petitioner contends that her trial counsel should have engaged in a reasonably competent pre-trial investigation before pursuing the absurd theory that her daughter Claire murdered the victim. [Doc. No. 1.] She contends that defense counsel was responsible for her conviction because he implied that she covered up evidence of the killing in order to protect her daughter from being convicted of murder. [Doc. No. 17.] Petitioner has failed to meet Strickland's standard for establishing ineffective assistance of counsel because she cannot establish deficient counsel performance. Defense counsel introduced evidence of two sets of footprints found near decedent's body. Claire, a likely suspect in helping Petitioner dump the body, invoked her Fifth Amendment privilege and did not testify at Petitioner's trial. Defense counsel was therefore in the difficult position of attempting to present evidence suggesting that more than one person participated in dumping the body, while at the same time offering an alternate explanation as to how Petitioner was not aware that the victim had been attacked in the bedroom they shared and that significant cleanup had taken place in the bedroom. Given the evidence that counsel had to explain, his strategic decision to implicate Claire in the murder does not constitute
25
07cv1007 J (POR)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

deficient performance. Based on an independent review of the record, the Court FINDS that the state supreme court correctly held that counsel's decision to implicate Claire did not amount to constitutionally ineffective assistance of counsel. 10. Counsel's Statements Petitioner contends that trial counsel: made promises to the jury in his opening statement regarding evidence they would see which he did not keep; admitted that he did not believe in the evidence presented at trial; and told the jury during closing argument that Petitioner was guilty. [Doc. Nos. 1, 17.] The Court FINDS that none of these statements constitutes deficient performance under Strickland. Counsel's Opening Statement. In his opening statement, trial counsel predicted the evidence would establish that the victim did not like women, he had a difficult relationship with his daughter Claire, and Claire was not in Long Beach over the weekend the murder took place as she had contended, all in an effort to suggest Claire was the killer. [Doc. No. 11.] However, evidence supporting the theory that Claire was the killer was not presented at trial as promised. Petitioner has failed to meet Strickland's standard for establishing ineffective assistance of counsel because she cannot establish prejudice to the defense. The judge instructed the jury that they "must base [their] decision on the facts and the law," that "if anything concerning the law said by the attorneys in their arguments or at any other time during the trial conflicts with my instruction on the law, you must follow my instructions," and that "statements made by the attorneys during the trial are not evidence." (CT 272, 274.) "The Court presumes that jurors, conscious of the gravity of their task, attend closely the particular language of the t