Carter v. Metzger et al

Filing 21

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Richard G. Andrews on 3/17/2021. (nms)

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 1 of 29 PageID #: 1143

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE
ARTHUR A. CARTER,
Petitioner,
v.
ROBERT GILMORE, Warden, and
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE
STATE OF DELAWARE,
Respondents.

:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:

Civil Action No. 18-249-RGA

MEMORANDUM OPINION
Arthur A. Carter. Pro se Petitioner.
Sean P. Lugg, Deputy Attorney General of the Delaware Department of Justice, Wilmington,
Delaware. Attorney for Respondents.

March 17, 2021
Wilmington, Delaware

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 2 of 29 PageID #: 1144

/s/ Richard G. Andrews
ANDREWS, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE:
Presently pending before the Court is Petitioner Arthur A. Carter’s Application for a Writ
of Habeas Corpus Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (“Petition”). (D.I. 1; D.I. 7) The State filed an
Answer in opposition. (D.I. 15) For the reasons discussed, the Court will dismiss the Petition.
I.

BACKGROUND
On June 22, 2013, [Petitioner] got into an argument with his
pregnant girlfriend, Morlicea Capers, at her uncle's home in
Edgemoor Gardens. Capers' uncle forcibly pushed [Petitioner] out
of the residence. Once [Petitioner] was outside, he fired a gun into
the air and then sped off in a silver car. Both Capers and a child
inside the home telephoned 911 during the incident. Tapes of both
phone calls were admitted into evidence. The State also admitted a
redacted videotaped statement that [Petitioner] gave to police on
June 27, 2013, the day he was arrested. In the tape, [Petitioner]
initially says that someone fired a gun but that he did not know who.
Later in the videotape, [Petitioner] admits that he fired a .45 caliber
gun in the air before fleeing the scene.
Two neighborhood residents testified at trial that they heard
gunshots on the evening of June 22, 2013. One of those witnesses
testified that she heard an argument just prior to the sound of a
gunshot. Neither neighbor could identify the shooter. One of the
police officers who responded to the scene testified that he arrived
within minutes after receiving a dispatch reporting a domestic
dispute involving a gun. The officer interviewed Capers who stated
that she had had a physical altercation with [Petitioner], after which
[Petitioner] left the residence and then returned with a handgun and
fired a shot in the air outside the residence before he fled the scene
in a silver car.

Carter v. State, 105 A.3d 988 (Table), 2014 WL 7010032, at *1-2 (Del. Nov. 12, 2014). In
January 2014, a Delaware Superior Court jury convicted Petitioner of aggravated menacing,
possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (“PFDCF”), and possession of a
firearm by a person prohibited (“PFBPP”). See id. at *1. On April 11, 2014, the Superior Court
sentenced Petitioner as a habitual offender to a total period of thirty-five years at Level V

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 3 of 29 PageID #: 1145

incarceration, to be suspended after serving thirty years for a period of probation. Id. The
Delaware Supreme Court affirmed Petitioner’s convictions. See id. at *3.
In January 2015, Petitioner filed a pro se motion for post-conviction relief pursuant to
Delaware Superior Court Criminal Rule 61. (D.I. 16-7 at 206-210) The Superior Court
appointed counsel to represent Petitioner, and post-conviction counsel filed an amended Rule 61
motion (“Rule 61 motion”). (D.I. 2 at 23; D.I. 16-7 at 214 -257) The Superior Court denied the
amended Rule 61 motion in January 2017. See State v. Carter, 2017 WL 237621 (Del. Super.
Ct. Jan. 18, 2017). The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed that decision on November 15, 2017.
See Carter v. State, 175 A.3d 620 (Table), 2017 WL 5499162 (Del. Nov. 15, 2017).
II.

GOVERNING LEGAL PRINCIPLES
A. Exhaustion and Procedural Default
Absent exceptional circumstances, a federal court cannot grant habeas relief unless the

petitioner has exhausted all means of available relief under state law. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b);
O’Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 842-44 (1999); Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. 270, 275
(1971). The AEDPA states, in pertinent part:
An application for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of a person in
custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court shall not be
granted unless it appears that –
(A) the applicant has exhausted the remedies available in the courts
of the State; or
(B)(i) there is an absence of available State corrective process; or
(ii) circumstances exist that render such process ineffective to
protect the rights of the applicant.
28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1).

2

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 4 of 29 PageID #: 1146

The exhaustion requirement is based on principles of comity, requiring a petitioner to
give “state courts one full opportunity to resolve any constitutional issues by invoking one
complete round of the State’s established appellate review process.” O’Sullivan, 526 U.S. at
844-45; see Werts v. Vaughn, 228 F.3d 178, 192 (3d Cir. 2000). A petitioner satisfies the
exhaustion requirement by demonstrating that the habeas claims were “fairly presented” to the
state’s highest court, either on direct appeal or in a post-conviction proceeding, in a procedural
manner permitting the court to consider the claims on their merits. Bell v. Cone, 543 U.S. 447,
451 n.3 (2005); Castille v. Peoples, 489 U.S. 346, 351 (1989). A federal legal claim is “fairly
presented” to state courts when there is: “(1) reliance on pertinent federal cases employing
constitutional analysis; (2) reliance on state cases employing constitutional analysis in like fact
situations; (3) assertion of the claim in terms so particular as to call to mind a specific right
protected by the Constitution; [or] (4) allegation of a pattern of facts that is well within the
mainstream of constitutional litigation.” McCandless v. Vaughn, 172 F.3d 255, 261 (3d Cir.
1999).
A petitioner’s failure to exhaust state remedies will be excused if state procedural rules
preclude him from seeking further relief in state courts. See Lines v. Larkins, 208 F.3d 153, 160
(3d Cir. 2000); Teague v. Lane, 489 U.S. 288, 297-98 (1989). Although treated as technically
exhausted, such claims are nonetheless procedurally defaulted. See Lines, 208 F.3d at 160;
Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 750-51 (1991). Similarly, if a petitioner presents a habeas
claim to the state’s highest court, but that court “clearly and expressly” refuses to review the
merits of the claim due to an independent and adequate state procedural rule, the claim is

3

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 5 of 29 PageID #: 1147

exhausted but procedurally defaulted. See id. at 750; Harris v. Reed, 489 U.S. 255, 260-64
(1989).
Federal courts may not consider the merits of procedurally defaulted claims unless the
petitioner demonstrates either cause for the procedural default and actual prejudice resulting
therefrom, or that a fundamental miscarriage of justice will result if the court does not review the
claims. See McCandless v. Vaughn, 172 F.3d 255, 260 (3d Cir. 1999); Coleman, 501 U.S. at
750-51. To demonstrate cause for a procedural default, a petitioner must show that “some
objective factor external to the defense impeded counsel’s efforts to comply with the State’s
procedural rule.” Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478, 488 (1986). To demonstrate actual
prejudice, a petitioner must show “that [the errors at trial] worked to his actual and substantial
disadvantage, infecting his entire trial with error of constitutional dimensions.” Id. at 494.
Alternatively, a federal court may excuse a procedural default if the petitioner
demonstrates that failure to review the claim will result in a fundamental miscarriage of justice.
See Edwards v. Carpenter, 529 U.S. 446, 451 (2000); Wenger v. Frank, 266 F.3d 218, 224 (3d
Cir. 2001). A petitioner demonstrates a miscarriage of justice by showing a “constitutional
violation has probably resulted in the conviction of one who is actually innocent.” Murray, 477
U.S. at 496. Actual innocence means factual innocence, not legal insufficiency. See Bousley v.
United States, 523 U.S. 614, 623 (1998). In order to establish actual innocence, the petitioner
must present new reliable evidence – not presented at trial – that demonstrates “it is more likely
than not that no reasonable juror would have found petitioner guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
House v. Bell, 547 U.S. 518, 537-38 (2006); see Sweger v. Chesney, 294 F.3d 506, 522-24 (3d
Cir. 2002).
4

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 6 of 29 PageID #: 1148

B. Standard of Review
If a state’s highest court adjudicated a federal habeas claim on the merits, the federal
court must review the claim under the deferential standard contained in 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d).
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d), federal habeas relief may only be granted if the state court’s
decision was “contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal
law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States,” or the state court’s decision was
an unreasonable determination of the facts based on the evidence adduced in the trial. 28 U.S.C.
§ 2254(d)(1) & (2); see also Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 412 (2000); Appel v. Horn, 250
F.3d 203, 210 (3d Cir. 2001). A claim has been “adjudicated on the merits” for the purposes of
28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) if the state court decision finally resolves the claim on the basis of its
substance, “rather than on a procedural, or other, ground.” Thomas v. Horn, 570 F.3d 105, 115
(3d Cir. 2009). The deferential standard of § 2254(d) applies even “when a state court’s order is
unaccompanied by an opinion explaining the reasons relief has been denied.” Harrington v.
Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 98 (2011). As explained by the Supreme Court, “it may be presumed that
the state court adjudicated the claim on the merits in the absence of any indication or state-law
procedural principles to the contrary.” Id. at 99.
Finally, when reviewing a habeas claim, a federal court must presume that the state
court's determinations of factual issues are correct. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1). This
presumption of correctness applies to both explicit and implicit findings of fact, and it is only
rebutted by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1);
Campbell v. Vaughn, 209 F.3d 280, 286 (3d Cir. 2000); Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 341

5

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 7 of 29 PageID #: 1149

(2003) (stating that the clear and convincing standard in § 2254(e)(1) applies to “factual issues,”
whereas the unreasonable application standard of § 2254(d)(2) applies to “decisions”).
III.

DISCUSSION
Petitioner’s timely § 2254 Petition and Memorandum in Support (D.I. 1; D.I. 7-1) assert

the following seven Claims for relief: (1) Petitioner was denied due process because defense
counsel did not seek to sever the PFBPP charge (D.I. 1 at 5); (2) the evidence was insufficient to
support Petitioner’s PFDCF conviction because there was no physical evidence that he possessed
a firearm (D.I. 1 at 7; D.I. 7-1 at 20); (3) the State committed a Brady violation by failing to
disclose witness Capers’ recantation (D.I. 1 at 7; D.I. 7-1 at 15, 24-27); (4) Petitioner was not
afforded his Sixth Amendment right to confront accusers because his conviction rested on the
recorded 911 calls which constituted inadmissible hearsay (D.I. 7-1 at 17, 21-22); (5) his
confession was involuntary because he was intoxicated at the time and his will was overborne by
investigators (D.I. 7-1 at 17-18); (6) Officer Tate presented false testimony about Capers’
description of the incident (D.I. 7-1 at 18-20); and (7) all prior counsel provided ineffective
assistance (D.I. 7-1 at 32-37). As noted by the State, Claim One actually asserts that defense
counsel provided ineffective assistance by failing to move to sever Petitioner’s person
prohibited charge, with the resulting prejudice being that the State unduly focused on that charge
during Petitioner’s trial. For ease of analysis, the Court will address Claim One when it
addresses the other allegations of ineffective assistance asserted in Claim Seven, now identified
as Claim Seven (e).

6

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 8 of 29 PageID #: 1150

A. Claim Two: Insufficient Evidence
In Claim Two, Petitioner contends that there was insufficient evidence to support his
PFDCF conviction because there was insufficient evidence to support “the conclusion that [he]
possessed a firearm.” (D.I. 1 at 7) Petitioner’s Memorandum asserts: “Ms. Caper or the juvenile
caller were not absolutely sure, if it was a gun shot that was actually fired (ear-witnesses),
because neither of the two [witnesses] actual [saw] any fire exit a barrel of a gun.” (D.I. 7-1 at
20)
On direct appeal, Petitioner argued that “the evidence was insufficient to support his
conviction for PFDCF because the State did not recover a gun or any physical evidence that
proved he possessed a firearm.” Carter, 2014 WL 7010032, at *2. The Delaware Supreme
Court denied the argument as meritless. Therefore, Claim Two will only warrant habeas relief if
the Delaware Supreme Court’s decision was either contrary to, or an unreasonable application of,
clearly established federal law.
The United States Supreme Court precedent governing insufficient evidence claims is
Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (1979). Pursuant to Jackson, “the relevant question is
whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational
trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id.
at 319. This standard “must be applied with explicit reference to the substantive elements of the
criminal offense as defined by state law.” Id. at 324 n.16. Additionally, “a federal habeas court
faced with a record of historical facts that supports conflicting inferences must presume—even if
it does not affirmatively appear in the record—that the trier of fact resolved any such conflicts in

7

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 9 of 29 PageID #: 1151

favor of the prosecution, and must defer to that resolution.” Id. at 326. It is not necessary that the
evidence exclude every reasonable hypothesis except that of guilt. Id.
Turning to the first prong of the § 2254(d)(1) inquiry, a “state court decision is contrary
to clearly established federal law if it applies a rule that contradicts the governing law set forth in
Supreme Court precedent, or if it confronts a set of facts that are materially indistinguishable
from a decision of [the Supreme] Court and nevertheless arrives at a result different from that
reached by the Supreme Court.” Eley v. Erickson, 712 F.3d 837, 846 (3d Cir. 2013). Here, the
Delaware Supreme Court cited and applied Jackson in holding that there was sufficient evidence
to support Petitioner’s conviction for PFDCF. See Carter, 2014 WL 7010032, at *2 n.7.
Therefore, the Delaware Supreme Court’s decision was not contrary to clearly established
federal law. See Williams, 529 U.S. at 406 (“[A] run-of-the-mill state-court decision applying
the correct legal rule from [Supreme Court] cases to the facts of a prisoner's case [does] not fit
comfortably within § 2254(d)(1)'s ‘contrary to’ clause”).
The Court’s inquiry is not over, however, because it must also determine if the Delaware
Supreme Court reasonably applied the Jackson standard to the facts of Petitioner’s case.
Petitioner’s main complaint about the evidence surrounding his PFDCF conviction is that the
State did not provide “any direct physical evidence” of a weapon. (D.I. 16-2 at 17) The
Delaware Supreme Court rejected Petitioner’s argument, because Petitioner’s “own statement to
police confirmed that he possessed and shot a gun,” and “neighbors testified to hearing gun
shots.” Carter, 2014 WL 7010032, at *3.
The following background information provides context for Petitioner’s instant argument.
At the close of the Petitioner’s case, defense counsel moved for judgment of acquittal on the
8

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 10 of 29 PageID #: 1152

aggravated menacing and PFDCF charges because the complaining victim – Capers – did not
testify at trial. (D.I. 16-3 at 31) In response, and after noting that the PFDCF charge would not
survive if the aggravated menacing charge did not survive, the State argued that there was
sufficient evidence to show a prima facie case of aggravated menacing. (D.I. 16-3 at 31-32) The
Superior Court denied Petitioner’s motion for judgment of acquittal, stating: “I think there is
sufficient evidence to go to the jury on these charges, so I am going to leave it in the jury’s
hands. So, that motion is denied.” (D.I. 16-3 at 32)
To convict Petitioner of PFDCF, the State had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that
Petitioner was in possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. See 11 Del. Code
§1447(a). Under Delaware law, “a firearm need not be recovered to support a jury finding that a
defendant possessed a firearm during the commission of a felony.” Cruz-Urina v. State, 125
A.3d 1100 (Table), 2015 WL 5824796, at *2 (Del. Oct. 2, 2015). Rather, testimony alone can be
sufficient to establish that the defendant possessed a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Id. at *3. Relatedly, the Third Circuit has repeatedly held that “the government may defeat a
sufficiency-of-the-evidence challenge on circumstantial evidence alone,” 1 and has also held that
a confession may be corroborated by circumstantial evidence. See United States v. Baker, 293
F.2d 613, 616-17 (3d Cir. 1961).
At Petitioner’s trial, the State played Petitioner’s recorded police statement for the jury,
in which he stated, “I shot in the air. My intention wasn’t to harm nobody. It was just to back
him [Capers’ uncle] away.” (D.I. 16-7 at 36, 224) During Petitioner’s recorded statement the
police detective asked, “Kind of gun did you have on you that night?” (D.I. 16-7 at 36)

1

United States v. Iglesias, 535 F.3d 150, 156 (3d Cir. 2008).
9

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 11 of 29 PageID #: 1153

Petitioner responded, “That night it was a 40. […] Matter of fact it was a 4-5 extended clip on
it.” (Id.) Since the gun was never recovered, Petitioner’s confession arguably provided the
strongest evidence that Petitioner had a gun in his possession at the time of the incident. The
State, however, provided additional significant circumstantial evidence to support Petitioner’s
PFDCF conviction. For instance, two neighbors testified that they heard gunshots during the
incident. The State played two recorded 911 calls from two people in the residence – Capers and
a child – which described Petitioner as having a gun in his possession. In Capers’ recorded 911
call, Capers stated that she and Petitioner had initially been arguing in the house, that he was
now outside of the house pointing a gun at her through a window, and that he had just fired the
gun outside. (D.I. 16-7 at 44-54) In the child’s recorded 911 call, the child stated that Petitioner
had a gun with a red dot laser on it, and that he shot the gun once in the front yard. (D.I. 16-7 at
56, 58) Additionally, Officer Tate testified that, when he responded to the scene of the incident,
Capers described how she and Petitioner were arguing, that Petitioner left the residence and
returned with a gun, and then he fired a round up in the air in front of the house. (D.I. 16-7 at 76,
220-221)
Viewing this evidence in a light most favorable to the State, the Court concludes that a
rational jury could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Petitioner was in possession of a
gun at the time of the offense. Therefore, Petitioner has not shown that the Delaware Supreme
Court unreasonably applied Jackson in finding the evidence sufficient to sustain his conviction
for PFDCF, nor has he shown that the Delaware Supreme Court’s factual findings were
objectively unreasonable.

10

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 12 of 29 PageID #: 1154

B. Claim Three: Brady v. Maryland
In Claim Three, Petitioner argues that the State violated Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83
(1963) by failing to disclose letters, written by Capers and submitted to the Superior Court, in
which Capers recants her prior excited utterances captured on the 911 call. (D.I. 7-1 at 26-33;
D.I. 16-7 at 59-64) Since the Delaware Supreme Court denied Petitioner’s Brady argument as
meritless, Claim Three will not warrant relief unless the Delaware Supreme Court’s decision was
either contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, Brady v. Maryland.
A violation of Brady occurs when the government fails to disclose evidence materially
favorable to the accused, including both impeachment evidence and exculpatory evidence. See
United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 676 (1985). In order to prevail on a Brady claim, a
petitioner must establish that: (1) the evidence at issue was favorable to the accused, either
because it was exculpatory or it had impeachment value; (2) the prosecution suppressed the
evidence, “either willfully or inadvertently”; and (3) the evidence was material. See Strickler v.
Greene, 527 U.S. 263, 281-82 (1999); Lambert v. Blackwell, 387 F.3d 210, 252 (3d Cir. 2004).
A petitioner demonstrates materiality of the suppressed evidence by showing a “reasonable
probability of a different result.” Kyles v. Whitley, 514 U.S. 419, 434 (1995). In turn, “a
reasonable probability of a different result is accordingly shown when the government's
evidentiary suppression undermines confidence in the outcome of the trial.” Id.
The Delaware Supreme Court’s denial of Claim Three was not contrary to Brady v.
Maryland, because the state court properly cited and detailed the Brady standard. The Delaware
Supreme Court’s denial of Claim Three also did not involve an unreasonable application of
Brady. The record reveals that Capers sent her letters of recantation to the Superior Court
11

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 13 of 29 PageID #: 1155

judges, and the letters were docketed in Petitioner’s case and made part of the public record.
(D.I. 16-7 at 8, Entry Nos. 10 & 39; D.I. 16-7 at 59-64) The letters were not suppressed. Thus,
Petitioner’s Brady argument necessarily fails. Therefore, Claim Three does not warrant relief.
C. Claim Four: Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause Violation
Next, Petitioner asserts that he was denied the opportunity to confront and cross examine
witnesses against him in violation of his Sixth Amendment rights because the State admitted
Capers’ recorded 911 call as evidence without having her testify. The Delaware Supreme Court
denied Petitioner’s Confrontation Clause argument as meritless. Therefore, the Court must
determine if the Delaware Supreme Court’s decision was either contrary, or an unreasonable
application of, clearly established federal law.
The Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment provides, in relevant part, that “in all
criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the ... right to be confronted with the witnesses
against him.” U.S. Const. amend. VI. In Crawford v. Washington, 541 US. 36 (2004), and its
progeny, the United States Supreme Court held that the Confrontation Clause bars the admission
of testimonial statements of witnesses absent from trial that are admitted to establish the truth of
the matter asserted in the statement, unless the witness is unavailable to testify and the defendant
had a prior opportunity for cross-examination. See Crawford, 541 US. at 59, 60 n. 9 (2004); see
also Davis v. Washington, 547 U.S. 813, 823-24 (2006). A testimonial statement is a statement
that is made during non-emergency circumstances and which the declarant would objectively
foresee might be used in the investigation or prosecution of a crime. See United States v. Hinton,
423 F.3d 355, 360 (3d Cir. 2005); Davis, 547 U.S. at 822. The threshold question in every
Confrontation Clause case is whether the challenged statement is testimonial and, if so, whether
12

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 14 of 29 PageID #: 1156

it was introduced to establish the truth of the matter asserted. See Hinton, 423 F.3d at 357;
Miller v. Metzger, 2017 WL 3727316, at *4 (D. Del. Aug. 29, 2017). If the statement is not
testimonial in nature, then the Confrontation Clause has no application. See Whorton v.
Bockting, 549 U.S. 406, 420 (2007). Relevant to the instant issue, “at least the initial
interrogation conducted in connection with a 911 call” is not a testimonial statement, because it
“is ordinarily not designed primarily to ‘establis[h] or prov[e]’ some past fact, but to describe
current circumstances requiring police assistance.” Davis, 547 U.S. at 827.
In denying Claim Four, the Delaware Supreme Court cited and applied Davis along with
a Delaware case applying the Crawford standard. Therefore, the Delaware Supreme Court’s
decision is not contrary to clearly established federal law. See Fahy v. Horn, 516 F.3d 169, 196
(3d Cir.2008) (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania's decision was not “contrary to” clearly
established federal law because it appropriately relied on its own state court cases, which
articulated the proper standard derived from Supreme Court precedent) ); Williams, 529 U.S. at
406.
The Court also concludes that the Delaware Supreme Court's decision involved a
reasonable application of Davis, Crawford and its progeny. As demonstrated by the following
summary, the Superior Court exercised great caution to admit only those portions of Capers’ 911
call that qualified as “excited utterances” that were also not “testimonial” under the Sixth
Amendment.
The 911 custodian testified that two 911 calls were made regarding
the incident. The first call was made by Capers; the second, by a
child inside the house. The Court granted the State permission to
begin playing Capers' 911 call to the jury based on the State's
proffer. After hearing a portion of the 911 call, the Court stopped
the recording for a brief recess, and the jury left the courtroom.
13

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 15 of 29 PageID #: 1157

During the recess, the Court held a discussion with the State and
Defendant's trial counsel regarding the admissibility of the 911 call.
The Court found that the portion of Capers' 911 call that was played
for the jury qualified as an excited utterance under Delaware Rule
of Evidence (“D.R.E.”) 803(2) and, in accordance with Dixon v.
State, was non-testimonial such that its admission did not violate the
Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the United States
Constitution. The remainder of Capers' 911 call was not played for
the jury.
Before the jury returned to the courtroom, the Court listened to the
911 call made by a child inside the residence and found the call
admissible. The jury returned to the courtroom, and the child's call
was played to the jury.
Carter, 2017 WL 237621, at *1–2.
When affirming Petitioner’s conviction, the Delaware Supreme court explained:
In Dixon v. State, this Court upheld the admission of a recorded
phone call between a 911 operator and a witness to a shooting. We
concluded in that case that the taped phone call fell within the
“excited utterance” exception to the hearsay rule under Delaware
Rule of Evidence 803(2) and that its admission did not violate the
Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment because it was “nontestimonial.” We find the same true in [Petitioner’s] case. During
the first taped phone call, [Petitioner] was still in the residence.
During the second taped phone call, made two minutes after the first,
[Petitioner] was outside the residence firing a gun. Both phone calls
(i) were precipitated by an exciting event, (ii) were made while the
excitement of the event was continuing, and (iii) related to the
exciting event. As the Superior Court found, both phone calls
qualified as excited utterances under DRE 803(2).
Moreover, the admission of the 911 phone calls and Capers'
statements to the police did not violate the Sixth Amendment
because the statements were non-testimonial. The statements were
admissible because they “made in the course of police interrogation
under circumstances objectively indicating that the primary purpose
of the interrogation [was] to enable police assistance to meet an
ongoing emergency.” Accordingly, there was no violation of
[Petitioner’s] Sixth Amendments rights, and the Superior Court did
not abuse its discretion in admitting this evidence at trial.
14

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 16 of 29 PageID #: 1158

Carter, 2014 WL 7010032, at *2.
The trial transcript demonstrates that the Superior Court properly applied Davis by
determining at which point Capers’ recorded 911 call became testimonial and then declining to
admit the testimonial portion into evidence. For instance, after sua sponte stopping the tapes and
discussing the tapes with counsel outside the presence of the jury, the Superior Court stated:
“Let me go back to the initial objection by [Petitioner] to make sure the record is clear. With
regard to the call we just heard, I do believe it qualifies under 803(2) as an excited utterance
based on my review of the case law. […] So, I also find that up until this point the declarant’s
statements have been non-testimonial in nature.” (D.I. 18-2 at 27) The Superior Court also
decided to stop the admission of the recorded call at that point, explaining: “I guess my concern
is it’s more of a questioning now. It’s not just the caller giving information and spouting off.”
(Id.)
In turn, the transcript of the portion of Capers’ recorded 911 call that was admitted
demonstrates that the main purpose of the call was to provide police officers with basic
information to address a present emergency. (D.I. 16-7 at 44-54) Capers described a violent
domestic event that had just occurred, and she was actively trying to assist the police in locating
and arresting Petitioner. Petitioner’s location was unknown, and he had just discharged a
firearm. Given these circumstances, the Court concludes that the Delaware Supreme Court's
holding regarding the non-testimonial nature of Capers’ 911 call constituted a reasonable
application of Crawford and Davis. Since the portion of Capers’ recorded 911 call that was
admitted was non-testimonial, the admission of that portion of the 911 call without Capers’

15

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 17 of 29 PageID #: 1159

accompanying testimony did not violate Petitioner’s Sixth Amendment right to confrontation.
Accordingly, the Court will deny Claim Four for failing to satisfy § 2254(d).
D. Claim Five: Coerced Confession
Next, Petitioner contends that his videotaped confession should not have been admitted at
trial because his will was overborne by the police investigator and, at the time of the
interrogation, he was intoxicated, tired, and hungry. The Delaware Supreme Court only
reviewed Claim Five for plain error, which would normally result in the Court analyzing the
claim in context of a procedural default. 2 The State, however, has not pressed that issue, instead
arguing that Claim Five fails to satisfy § 2254(d). Given these circumstances, Claim Five will
only warrant relief if the Delaware Supreme Court’s decision was either contrary to, or an
unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law.
The voluntariness of a defendant's confession is determined by examining the totality of
the circumstances, including any police coercion, the length of the interrogation, its location, its
continuity, and the defendant's maturity, education, physical condition, and mental health. See
Dickerson v. United States, 530 U.S. 428, 434 (2000); Lam v. Kelchner, 304 F.3d 256, 264 (3d
Cir. 2002). The crucial factor, however, is whether there was coercive police activity which
overcame the defendant's will or impaired his self-determination. See Colorado v. Connelly, 479
U.S. 157, 167 (1986). Although there is no precise definition of “coercive police activity,” the
Supreme Court has identified the following examples as constituting such: interrogating the
Error! Main Document Only.By applying the procedural bar of Rule 8, the Delaware Supreme
Court articulated a “plain statement” under Harris v. Reed, 489 U.S. 255, 263-4 (1984) that its
decision rested on state law grounds. In turn, Delaware Supreme Court Rule 8 is an independent
and adequate state procedural rule precluding federal habeas review of a claim’s merits absent a
showing of cause and prejudice, or a miscarriage of justice. See Campbell v. Burris, 515 F.3d
172, 182 (3d Cir. 2008).
16
2

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 18 of 29 PageID #: 1160

defendant for four hours while incapacitated and sedated in intensive care unit; interrogating a
medicated defendant for over eighteen hours without food or sleep; holding a gun to the head of
a wounded defendant to extract a confession; interrogating a defendant for sixteen days in a
closed cell without windows, limited food, and coercive tactics; and holding a defendant for four
days with inadequate food and medical attention. See id. at 164 n. 1. The Supreme Court has
also noted that “coercion can be mental as well as physical.... Subtle pressures may be as telling
as coarse and vulgar ones. The question is whether the accused was deprived of his free choice to
admit, to deny, or to refuse to answer.” Garrity v. State of N.J., 385 U.S. 493, 496 (1967); see
also Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218, 226 (1973) (stating test for determining
voluntariness of confession is whether, in light of all surrounding circumstances, defendant's will
was overborne).
The Delaware Supreme Court provided the following explanation when denying Claim
Five:
[Petitioner’s] third argument is that his videotaped statement was
inadmissible because he was intoxicated and did not talk to police
voluntarily. [Petitioner] did not object to the admission of his
statement below; therefore, we review for plain error. Plain error
exists when the error complained of is apparent on the face of the
record and is so prejudicial to a defendant's substantial rights as to
jeopardize the integrity and fairness of the trial. The burden of
persuasion is on the defendant to show prejudice. In this case,
[Petitioner’s] statement to police was admissible whether or not he
testified at trial. Moreover, [Petitioner] has offered nothing besides
his bare assertion to substantiate his contention that he was
intoxicated at the time he made his statement. There is nothing in
the videotaped statement, which reflects that [Petitioner] was calm,
rational, and articulate when he spoke to police, to support this
belated contention.
Carter, 2014 WL 7010032, at *3.
17

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 19 of 29 PageID #: 1161

Turning to the inquiry under § 2254(d) in this case, the Court notes that the Delaware
Supreme Court did not cite clearly established federal law when considering the voluntariness of
Petitioner’s videotaped police statement. However, the Delaware Supreme Court’s decision is
not contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law, because its
denial of Claim Five is not “ a conclusion opposite to that reached by [the Supreme] Court on a
question of law” or decided differently than the Supreme Court “has on a set of materially
indistinguishable facts.” Williams, 529 U.S. at 412-13. To begin, Petitioner does not deny that
he was given a Miranda warning at the start of his interrogation, or that he agreed to speak with
the police after he was so informed. Petitioner also does not provide any support for his
contention that he was intoxicated and hungry during his interrogation, or that his will was
overborne. The transcript of the interrogation reveals that the majority of the police officer’s
statements consisted mostly of the phrases “okay” and “uh-huh” said in response at various times
to Petitioner’s clear and articulate description of events. (D.I. 16-7 at 30- 43) While the Court
cannot know Petitioner’s level of sobriety or hunger from the transcript, the written transcript of
the interaction between the investigator and Petitioner does not suggest that the police officer
overcame Petitioner’s will. Thus, the Court concludes that the Delaware Supreme Court
reasonably considered the totality of the circumstances in rejecting Petitioner’s contention that
his videotaped confession was involuntary. Accordingly, the Delaware Supreme Court’s denial
of Claim Five does not warrant relief under § 2254(d).
E. Claim Six: Officer Tate’s False Testimony About Physical Altercation
In Claim Six, Petitioner contends that Officer Tate provided false testimony by stating
that, when he went to crime scene, “Ms. Capers offered him information alleging that she was
18

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 20 of 29 PageID #: 1162

physically assaulted by Petitioner and that she was pregnant. This portion of Officer Tate’s trial
testimony is a fabrication (perjury), and creates a fruit of the poisonous tree, nowhere in
[Petitioner’s] criminal indictment is he being criminally charged with physically assaulting
(beating) a pregnant woman; Officer Tate should not have been allowed to testify to the
aforesaid physical assault.” (D.I. 7-1 at 18) The record reveals that Petitioner did not present
this argument to the Delaware Supreme Court on direct or post-conviction appeal. At this
juncture, any attempt by Petitioner to present this argument in a new Rule 61 motion would be
time-barred under Rule 61(i)(1). See DeAngelo v. Johnson, 2014 WL 4079357, at *12 (D. Del.
Aug. 15, 2014). Although Rule 61(i)(1) provides for an exception to the one-year time limitation
if the untimely Rule 61 motion “asserts a retroactively applicable right that is newly recognized
after the judgment of conviction is final,” no such right is implicated in the instant argument.
Similarly, the exceptions to Rule 61(i)(1)’s time-bar contained in Rule 61(i)(5) and (d)(2) do not
apply to Petitioner’s case, because he does not allege actual innocence, lack of jurisdiction, or
that a new rule of constitutional law applies to the instant arguments. Given these circumstances,
the Court must treat Claim Six as exhausted but procedurally defaulted, meaning that the Court
cannot review the merits of the Claim absent a showing of cause and prejudice, or of a
miscarriage of justice.
Petitioner does not assert any cause for his default of the instant Claim, and none appears
to the Court. In the absent of cause, the Court will not address the issue of prejudice. In
addition, Petitioner’s failure to provide new reliable evidence of his actual innocence precludes
the application of the miscarriage of justice exception to his procedural default. Thus, the Court
will deny Claim Six for being procedurally barred from habeas review.
19

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 21 of 29 PageID #: 1163

F. Claim Seven: Ineffective Assistance of Defense and Appellate Counsel
Claim Seven presents six instances of defense and appellate counsel’s ineffective
assistance. The Superior Court considered and rejected all six arguments in Petitioner’s Rule 61
proceeding. Petitioner only presented three of those ineffective assistance of counsel claims on
post-conviction appeal, and the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court’s denial og
those claims. The State notes that Petitioner procedurally defaulted Claims Seven (a), (b), and
(c) (D.I. 15 at 17-18), but does not rely on the procedural default for Claim Seven (a). Given
these circumstances, the Court will review Claims Seven (b) and (c) under the procedural default
doctrine, and will review Claims Seven (a), (d), (e), and (f) under the deferential standard
articulated in § 2254(d).
1.

Claims Seven (b) and (c) are procedurally defaulted

In Claim Seven (b), Petitioner asserts that defense counsel provided ineffective assistance
by failing to challenge the affidavit of probable cause. Although he does not provide a copy of
the probable cause affidavit to demonstrate what should have been challenged, Petitioner alleges
that “a strong possibility exists” that “Officer Tate ‘tainted’ [] the facts of the case by calling it a
‘physical altercation’ because it adds so many dimensions to a verbal dispute.” (D.I. 7-1 at 28)
In Claim Seven (c), Petitioner contends that defense counsel should have objected to
Officer Tate’s testimony concerning Capers’ description of the argument leading to Petitioner’s
arrest and conviction. According to Petitioner, Officer Tate falsely represented Capers’
description of the incident by testifying that there had been a “physical altercation” between
Petitioner and Capers just prior to Petitioner’s firing of the gun. (D.I. 7-1 at 22, 35)

20

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 22 of 29 PageID #: 1164

Petitioner did not present these arguments to the Delaware state courts in his Rule 61
proceeding. Claims Seven (b) and (c) are now procedurally defaulted because any attempt to
present the arguments in a new Rule 61 motion would be time-barred under Rule 61(i)(1), and
none of Rule 61’s exceptions to the time-bar apply. Petitioner does not demonstrate cause for his
default, thereby obviating the need to address prejudice for either Claim. Nevertheless, the Court
also notes that Petitioner cannot demonstrate actual prejudice with respect to defense counsel’s
failure to object to the probable cause affidavit (Claim Seven (b)). The United States Supreme
Court “has repeatedly declined to require the use of adversarial procedures to make probable
cause determinations.” Kaley v. United States, 571 U.S. 320, 338 (2014). Rather, trial provides
a defendant the opportunity to contest evidence against him, “when the question becomes
whether a defendant is guilty beyond peradventure.” Id.
[A]n adversarial process is far less useful to the threshold finding of
probable cause, which determines only whether adequate grounds
exist to proceed to trial and reach that question. The probable cause
decision, by its nature, is hard to undermine, and still harder to
reverse. So the likelihood that a judge holding an evidentiary
hearing will repudiate the grand jury's decision strikes us, once
more, as “too slight” to support a constitutional requirement.
Id. at 339. Here, Petitioner was arrested, indicted, and elected to proceed to trial. He received a
constitutionally sound trial, resulting in his conviction. Consequently, Petitioner will not be
prejudiced by the default of Claim Seven (b), because he cannot demonstrate a reasonable
probability that the result of his proceeding would have been different but for defense counsel’s
failure to challenge the affidavit of probable cause.
Finally, Petitioner’s failure to provide new reliable evidence of his actual innocence
precludes his default of both Claims from being excused under the miscarriage of justice
21

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 23 of 29 PageID #: 1165

exception. For all these reasons, the Court will deny Claims Seven (b) and (c) as procedurally
barred from habeas review.
2. Claims Seven (a), (d), (e), (f): Reviewed under § 2254(d)
The clearly established Supreme Court precedent governing ineffective assistance of
counsel claims is the two-pronged standard enunciated by Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.
668 (1984) and its progeny. See Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510, 522 (2003). Under the first
Strickland prong, a petitioner must demonstrate that “counsel’s representation fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness,” with reasonableness being judged under professional
norms prevailing at the time counsel rendered assistance. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688.
Under the second Strickland prong, a petitioner must demonstrate “there is a reasonable
probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have
been different.” Id. at 694. A reasonable probability is a “probability sufficient to undermine
confidence in the outcome.” Id.
Finally, in order to sustain an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, a petitioner must
make concrete allegations of actual prejudice and substantiate them or risk summary dismissal.
See Wells v. Petsock, 941 F.2d 253, 259-60 (3d Cir. 1991); Dooley v. Petsock, 816 F.2d 885,
891-92 (3d Cir. 1987). Although not insurmountable, the Strickland standard is highly
demanding and leads to a strong presumption that the representation was professionally
reasonable. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689.
Turning to the first prong of the § 2254(d)(1) inquiry, the Court notes that the Delaware
Supreme Court correctly identified the Strickland standard applicable to Petitioner’s ineffective
assistance of counsel allegations. Consequently, the Delaware Supreme Court’s decision was not
22

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 24 of 29 PageID #: 1166

contrary to clearly established federal law. See Williams, 529 U.S. at 406. For the following
reasons, the Court also concludes that the Delaware state courts reasonably applied Strickland in
denying all six allegations.
a. Claim Seven (a): Failure to object to the admission of
Petitioner’s confession
In Claim Seven (a), Petitioner contends that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to
object to the admission of his “illegal confession.” The Court has already concluded that the
Delaware Supreme Court reasonably held that Petitioner’s confession was voluntary. It is wellsettled that an attorney does not provide ineffective assistance by failing to assert a meritless
objection or argument. See United States v. Sanders, 165 F.3d 248, 253 (3d Cir. 1999).
Therefore, the Court will deny Claim Seven (a) as meritless.
b. Claim Seven (d): Failure to object to child’s 911 call
In Claim Seven (d), Petitioner contends that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to
object to the admission of the unidentified child’s 911 call to the police. Petitioner presented this
argument to the Delaware state courts as a violation of the Delaware Rules of Evidence. He
presents it here as a violation of the Confrontation Clause. Both challenges are unavailing.
On direct appeal, the Delaware Supreme Court addressed the Confrontation Clause
aspects of both 911 calls admitted at trial. The Delaware Supreme Court specifically found that
Capers’ statements in her 911 call were non-testimonial “excited utterances” and, thus, not
subject to the confrontation provisions of the Sixth Amendment. Carter, 2014 WL 7010032, at
*2. Although the Delaware Supreme Court held that the child’s 911 call qualified as an excited
utterance under D.R.E. 803(2), it did not address any confrontation clause issues related to the
child’s 911 call. See id.
23

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 25 of 29 PageID #: 1167

In his Rule 61 proceeding, Petitioner argued that defense counsel should have objected to
the child’s 911 call as inadmissible under D.R.E. 403 for being unfairly prejudicial and
cumulative, “because the child was audibly upset and because the information provided by the
child was largely duplicative of Capers’ 911 call.” Carter, 2017 WL 237621, at *5. The
Superior Court rejected Petitioner’s evidentiary challenge, finding the call was not cumulative.
Id. Petitioner did not present Claim Seven (d) on post-conviction appeal, causing the claim to
be procedurally defaulted. However, given that the State has not asserted a procedural default,
the Court will consider whether the Superior Court reasonably applied Strickland in denying the
instant argument.
When rendering its decision to admit the 911 calls during Petitioner’s trial, the Superior
Court did not explicitly address its reason for permitting the child’s entire recorded 911 call to be
admitted. However, a review of the trial transcript indicates that the Superior Court viewed the
child’s 911 call as an admissible excited utterance, just as it had decided with respect to the
portion of Capers’ 911 call that it deemed admissible. (D.I. 18-2 at 27) After hearing the child’s
911 call, the Superior Court stated, “It is clearly an excited utterance. This caller is terrified and
sobbing.” (Id.) As with the admitted portion of Capers’ call, the child’s emotional 911 call was
made close in time to the shooting, it provided the police officers with basic information to
address an emergency, and it was asking for help against a real physical threat.

The child’s 911

call was non-testimonial for the same reason the admitted portion of Capers’ 911 call was nontestimonial. Accordingly, the Court concludes that defense counsel did not perform ineffectively
by not raising a meritless objection to the introduction of the child’s 911 call.

24

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 26 of 29 PageID #: 1168

c. Claim Seven (e): Stipulating to Petitioner’s prohibited status
In Claim Seven (e) (originally identified as Claim One in the Petition), Petitioner
contends that defense counsel provided ineffective assistance by not moving to sever his person
prohibited charge, which he asserts resulted in the State unduly and prejudicially focusing on that
charge. In Petitioner’s Rule 61 proceeding, the Delaware Superior Court denied Claim Seven (e)
after concluding that Petitioner failed to demonstrate that he was prejudiced by the joinder of the
PFBPP charge. Id. at *4. The Superior Court explained that, “rather than the State introducing
potentially prejudicial evidence of [Petitioner’s] prior conviction, the parties stipulated that
[Petitioner] was a person prohibited from possessing a firearm. The stipulation stated only that
[Petitioner] is prohibited from possessing a firearm; it did not indicate why.” Carter, 2017 WL
237621, at *2; see (D.I. 16-7 at 95) The Superior Court also noted, “Consistent with [the]
limiting instruction, the State never emphasized [Petitioner’s] status as a person prohibited to the
jury.” Carter, 2017 WL 237621, at *4.
The Delaware Supreme Court also assessed Claim Seven (e) and, applying the Strickland
standard, found:
[Petitioner] cannot establish that the failure to sever the charge
would have changed the outcome of the case. The jury was never
told why [Petitioner] was a person prohibited and were given
specific limiting instructions that the stipulation was “irrelevant to
[their] deliberations in this case,” and they were “not to speculate as
to the reason why defendant is prohibited, nor consider that fact as
evidence of guilt as to the other crimes alleged in the indictment.”
In addition, the State never emphasized the stipulation nor
encouraged speculation by the jury. Therefore, [Petitioner] was not
prejudiced by his counsel’s failure to sever the charge.
Carter, 2017 WL 5499162, at *3.

25

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 27 of 29 PageID #: 1169

The Delaware state courts reasonably applied Strickland in denying the instant argument.
To begin, defense counsel’s decision to enter the stipulation did not fall below an objective
standard of reasonableness. In his Rule 61 affidavit, defense counsel explains that he did not
think a motion for severance would be successful due to the nature of the charges and because
the same evidence would be provided for both possession charges. (D.I. 16-7 at 260) Defense
counsel also conferred with Petitioner about this issue before entering the stipulation.
In addition, Petitioner cannot demonstrate that he was prejudiced by the stipulation.
Importantly, by stipulating to the fact of Petitioner being a person prohibited, defense counsel
insulated Petitioner from exposing the jury to the reason he was prohibited from owning or
possessing a firearm. This strategy prevented the jury from potentially giving improper weight
to Petitioner’s prior offenses as a way of determining guilt in the trial before them. Accordingly,
the Court will deny Claim Seven (e) for failing to satisfy § 2254(d).
d. Claim Seven (f): Failure to call Capers as a witness
In his final Claim, Petitioner contends that defense counsel provided ineffective
assistance for failing to “call or subpoena [Capers,] the only alleged eyewitness” after she sent
the letters of recantation. He alleges that Capers would have testified that she never felt
threatened by him.
The Delaware Supreme Court denied Claim Seven (f) after determining that Petitioner
failed to overcome the strong presumption that defense counsel’s conduct was reasonable. One
main factor leading the Delaware Supreme Court to this conclusion was that Petitioner did not
ask defense counsel to pursue Capers as a witness but, in fact, actually told defense counsel that
he “hoped and believed” she would not show up in court. Carter, 2017 WL at 5499162, at *3.
26

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 28 of 29 PageID #: 1170

The Delaware Supreme Court also noted that defense counsel’s decision was reasonable because
it avoided the “State’s impeachment of Ms. Capers by cross-examining her about her relationship
with [Petitioner] and her prior statements to the police that contradicted her affidavit.” Id.
In Strickland, the Supreme Court noted that, “when a defendant has given counsel reason
to believe that pursuing certain investigations would be fruitless or even harmful, counsel’s
failure to purse those investigations may not later be challenged as unreasonable.” Strickland,
466 U.S. at 691. As explained in his Rule 61 affidavit, defense counsel’s decision to not call
Capers as a witness was, in large part, due to Petitioner’s indication to defense counsel that
Capers would likely not appear at trial. (D.I 16-7 at 261) The Rule 61 affidavit also states that
defense counsel informed Petitioner about the State’s options for securing Capers’ presence at
trial but, “at no time did Petitioner ever request that Morlicea Capers be subpoenaed for trial as a
defense witness.” (D.I 16-7 at 262) Additionally, the State had already informed defense
counsel of its intent to impeach Capers if she testified inconsistently with her prior statements
and, since her letters did not deny that Petitioner had a gun, Capers’ testimony could have caused
more damage to Petitioner’s case. See Carter, 2017 WL 237621, at *7.
Significantly, in this proceeding, Petitioner does not contradict defense counsel’s
statement that Petitioner had expressed the hope that Capers would not show up at trial or that
Petitioner had never expressed a desire to call Capers as a witness. Based on the foregoing, the
Court concludes that the Delaware Supreme Court reasonably applied Strickland in holding that
defense counsel’s failure to call Capers as a witness did not constitute ineffective assistance.
Accordingly, the Court will deny Claim Seven(f).

27

Case 1:18-cv-00249-RGA Document 21 Filed 03/18/21 Page 29 of 29 PageID #: 1171

IV.

CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY
A district court issuing a final order denying a § 2254 petition must also decide whether

to issue a certificate of appealability. See 3d Cir. L.A.R. 22.2 (2011); 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). A
certificate of appealability is appropriate when a petitioner makes a “substantial showing of the
denial of a constitutional right” by demonstrating “that reasonable jurists would find the district
court’s assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2);
Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000).
The Court has concluded that the instant Petition does not warrant relief. Reasonable
jurists would not find this conclusion to be debatable. Accordingly, the Court will not issue a
certificate of appealability.
V.

CONCLUSION
For the reasons discussed, the Court will deny the Petition without holding an evidentiary

hearing. An appropriate Order will be entered.

28