The opinion
ORDER
SUSAN C. BUCKLEW, District Judge.
This cause is before the Court on Petitioner Patrick Hannon’s amended petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (Doc. No. 13) (hereinafter “petition”). Hannon is a Florida prisoner under sentence of death.
Hannon filed a memorandum in support of the petition. (Doc. No. 10) (hereinafter “memo”). Respondent filed a response to the petition (Doc. No. 19), and Hannon filed a reply to the response. (Doc. No. 24). The petition was timely-filed and venue in this Court is proper because Hannon was tried and sentenced in Hillsborough County, Florida, within this Division of the Middle District of Florida.
Upon due consideration of each of Han-non’s claims, the Court has determined that none have merit and that the petition should be DENIED.
BACKGROUND
On March 27, 1991, Patrick Hannon and Ronald Richardson were charged by superseding indictment with the premeditated murders of Brandon Snider (Count One) and Robert Carter (Count Two). (App. A14/1683-1685). Due to their differing speedy trial expiration dates and Richardson’s request for a continuance, their cases were ultimately severed for trial. Hannon’s jury trial began July 15, 1991 and concluded July 24, 1991. (App. A13/1634; A14/1657-1658; 1783-1784; 1792).
On direct appeal, the Florida Supreme Court set out the pertinent facts:
Brandon Snider, a resident of Tampa, went to Indiana to visit relatives. While
*1178
there, he went to the home of Toni Acker, a former girlfriend, and vandalized her bedroom. On January 9, 1991, Snider returned to Tampa. On January 10, 1991, Hannon, Ron Richardson, and Jim Acker went to the apartment where Snider and Robert Carter lived. Snider opened the door and was immediately attacked by Acker, who is Toni Acker’s brother. Acker stabbed Snider multiple times.
1
When Acker was finished, Han-non cut Snider’s throat. During the attack, Snider’s screams drew the attention of his neighbors. They also drew the attention of Carter, who was upstairs. Hearing the screams, Carter came downstairs and saw what was happening. He then went back upstairs and hid under his bed. Hannon and Acker followed Carter upstairs. Then Hannon shot Carter six times, killing him.
In July 1991, Hannon was brought to trial for the murders of Snider and Carter. During the trial, Richardson reached an agreement with the State. He pled guilty to being an accessory after the fact and testified against Han-non. Hannon was found guilty of both murders. After a penalty proceeding,
2
the jury unanimously recommended death. The trial court found the following aggravating circumstances applicable to both murders: (1) previous conviction of a violent felony (the contemporaneous killings); (2) the murders were committed during the commission of a burglary; and (3) the murders were heinous, atrocious, or cruel. Sec. 921.141(5)(a), (d), and (h), Fla. Stat. (1991). As to Carter, the court found the additional aggravating factor that the murder was committed to avoid or prevent a lawful arrest. Sec. 921.141(5)(e), Fla. Stat. (1991). In mitigation, the court considered testimony from Hannon’s mother and father that Hannon was not a violent person. Also, the court considered the fact that Hannon’s original co-defendant, Richardson, was no longer facing the death penalty. The trial court found that the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating factors and followed the jury’s recommendation, imposing separate death sentences on Hannon for the murders of Snider and Carter.
Hannon v. State,
638 So.2d 39, 41 (Fla. 1994) (footnotes omitted).
On direct appeal, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed Hannon’s convictions and death sentences.
See Hannon v. State,
638 So.2d 39 (Fla.1994), decided June 2, 1994, as revised on denial of rehearing, September 8, 1994. Hannon then filed a petition for writ of certiorari in United States Supreme Court. Review was de
*1179
nied on February 21, 1995.
Hannon v. Florida,
513 U.S. 1158 , 115 S.Ct. 1118 , 130 L.Ed.2d 1081 (1995). (App. B1-B3).
Next, Hannon filed an interlocutory appeal related to DNA testing.
See FSC Case No. SC01-2774.
(App. C2). On April 17, 2002, the Florida Supreme Court dismissed this appeal.
Hannon v. State,
817 So.2d 847 (Fla.2002) (citing
Trepal v. State,
754 So.2d 702 (Fla.2000)).
On March 17, 1997, Hannon filed a motion for postconviction relief in the trial court, raising 34 grounds for relief. Han-non filed an amended motion on April 10, 2000, raising 21 grounds for relief. (App. D3/385-526).
The state trial court held a
Huff
hearing on November 16, 2001.
See Huff v. State,
622 So.2d 982 (Fla.1993). On that same day, the state trial court issued an order reflecting its determination that an evidentiary hearing was required to address claims IV (in part), V (in part), IX, X (in part), XVI (in part), XIX (in part), and XXI of Hannon’s motion for postconviction relief. The evidentiary hearing was conducted by the state trial court on February 18, 2002, and June 21, 2002.
The state trial court entered two comprehensive written orders addressing the postconviction claims. The first order, which summarily denied postconviction relief, in part, was 102 pages in length, and included excerpts from the trial record. (App. D6/1073-1174). Following the evidentiary hearing, on February 3, 2003, the state trial court issued its final written order denying postconviction relief. (App. D10/1998-2043).
Hannon appealed the denial of postconviction relief in FSC Case Number SC03893. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the state trial court’s denial of postconviction relief in
Hannon v. State,
941 So.2d 1109 (Fla.2006), decided August 31, 2006, rehearing denied by
Hannon v. State,
2006 Fla. LEXIS 2627 (Fla., Oct. 27, 2006).
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Because Hannon filed his petition after April 24, 1996, this case is governed by 28 U.S.C. § 2254 , as amended by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA).
Penry v. Johnson,
532 U.S. 782, 792 , 121 S.Ct. 1910 , 150 L.Ed.2d 9 (2001);
Henderson v. Campbell,
353 F.3d 880, 889-90 (11th Cir.2003);
Maharaj v. Sec’y for Dept. of Corrections,
304 F.3d 1345, 1346 (11th Cir.2002). The ultimate issue with respect to each claim is whether the Florida Supreme Court’s resolution of the claim was “contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (d).
Williams v. Taylor,
529 U.S. 362 , 120 S.Ct. 1495 , 146 L.Ed.2d 389 (2000);
Robinson v. Moore,
300 F.3d 1320 (11th Cir.2002);
Van Poyck v. Florida Department of Corrections,
290 F.3d 1318 (11th Cir.2002). The standard Hannon must meet could not be higher; it is not enough that the state court “got it wrong.” Hannon must show that the result of the state court’s decision was objectively unreasonable.
Bell v. Cone,
535 U.S. 685, 694 , 122 S.Ct. 1843 , 152 L.Ed.2d 914 (2002) (citing
Williams v. Taylor, supra).
In the event constitutional error is found in a habeas proceeding, the relevant harmless error standard is set forth in
Brecht v. Abrahamson,
507 U.S. 619 , 113 S.Ct. 1710 , 123 L.Ed.2d 353 (1993). The test is “less onerous” then the harmless error standard enunciated in
Chapman v. California,
386 U.S. 18 , 87 S.Ct. 824 , 17 L.Ed.2d 705 (1967). “The test is whether the error had substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s verdict. Under this standard, habeas petitioners may obtain plenary review of their constitutional claims, but they are not entitled to habeas relief based on trial
*1180
error unless they can establish that it resulted in ‘actual prejudice.’”
Brecht,
507 U.S. at 637 , 113 S.Ct. 1710 . Although no constitutional error has occurred in Han-non’s case, any .possible error would be harmless beyond any reasonable doubt based on the facts and the record herein.
No evidentiary hearing is required because none of Hannon’s claims turn on any unresolved issue of fact; all involve issues of law argued on the basis of the existing record.
3
DISCUSSION
Ground One
Mr. Hannon was denied the effective assistance of counsel due to trial counsel’s failure to investigate and present mitigation and due to his failure to obtain adequate mental health assistance at the penalty phase of his capital trial in violation of the Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
Hannon contends that trial counsel was ineffective in- allegedly failing to investigate and present additional mitigation, including mental health experts, at the penalty phase. See, Amended Petition at 5 (Doc. 13: Memo at 12-30) (Doc. 10).
Hannon’s ineffective assistance of counsel (IAC) penalty phase claims were the subject of an evidentiary hearing in the state trial court and were rejected on both the prejudice and deficiency prongs under
Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668, 686 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 , 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984).
Because the state court adjudicated Hannon’s IAC/penalty phase claims on the merits, this Court may grant relief only if the state court’s adjudication: (1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or (2) resulted in a decision that 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).
In order for Hannon to obtain federal habeas corpus relief, he must demonstrate that his case satisfies the requirements set forth in either § 2254(d)(1) or § 2254(d)(2). In addition, it is the petitioner’s burden under § 2254(e) to overcome the state court’s fact finding by “clear and convincing evidence.” For the following reasons, Hannon has not demonstrated any basis for federal habeas relief under AEDPA.
Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. 668 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 , 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984), establishes the test that governs claims of ineffective assistance of counsel,
ie.,
the “clearly established Federal law” relevant to this case under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (d).
See, Alderman v. Terry,
468 F.3d 775, 791 (11th Cir.2006). In rejecting Hannon’s IAC/penalty phase claims, the Florida Supreme Court evaluated Hannon’s claims under
Strickland ,
and stated, in its comprehensive analysis:
II. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel at the Penalty Phase
To succeed in an ineffective assistance of penalty phase counsel claim, the claimant must demonstrate that counsel performed deficiently and that such deficiency prejudiced his defense.
See Strickland,
466 U.S. at 687 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 . Pursuant to
Strickland ,
trial counsel has an obligation to conduct a reasonable investigation into mitigation.
See id.
at 691 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 ; see also
*1181
Wiggins v. Smith,
539 U.S. 510 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 , 156 L.Ed.2d 471 (2003). Counsel’s decision to not present mitigation evidence may be a tactical decision properly within counsel’s discretion.
See Brown v. State,
439 So.2d 872, 875 (Fla.1983) (“The choice by counsel to present or not present evidence in mitigation is a tactical decision properly within counsel’s discretion.”);
Valle v. State,
705 So.2d 1331 , 1335 n. 4 (Fla. 1997) (same);
Gorham v. State,
521 So.2d 1067, 1070 (Fla.1988) (same). When evaluating claims that counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate or present mitigating evidence, this Court has phrased the defendant’s burden as showing that counsel’s ineffectiveness “deprived the defendant of a reliable penalty phase proceeding.”
Asay v. State,
769 So.2d 974, 985 (Fla.2000) (quoting
Rutherford v. State,
727 So.2d 216, 223 (Fla.1998)). Further, as the United States Supreme Court recently stated in
Wiggins :
[C]ounsel has a duty to make reasonable investigations or to make a reasonable decision that makes particular investigations unnecessary.... [A] particular decision not to investigate must be directly assessed for reasonableness in all the circumstances, applying a heavy measure of deference to counsel’s judgments..
...... [0]ur principal concern in deciding whether [counsel] exercised “reasonable professional judgmen[t]” is not whether counsel should have presented a mitigation case. Rather, we focus on whether the investigation supporting counsel’s decision not to introduce mitigating evidence ... was itself reasonable. In assessing counsel’s investigation, we must conduct an objective review of their [sic] performance, measured for “reasonableness under prevailing professional norms,” which includes a context-dependent consideration of the challenged conduct as seen “from counsel’s perspective at the time.”
539 U.S. at 521-23 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 (citations omitted) (fifth alteration in original) (first emphasis supplied) (quoting
Strickland,
466 U.S. at 688-89, 691 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 ).
Contrary to the critical dissenting view, the counsel provided was neither standardless nor empty. As evidence of trial counsel’s deficiency, Hannon asserts that trial counsel advanced an invalid lingering doubt argument during the penalty phase, hopeful that the jury would believe Hannon did not have the type of character to be involved in these crimes, and that trial counsel failed to investigate and present mitigation during the penalty phase. Specifically, Hannon asserts that trial counsel was ineffective in pursuing the innocence/alibi defense even after Hannon’s alibi, Richardson, had changed his testimony to assist the State at the end of the trial and the jury had found Hannon guilty.
The nature of our bifurcated system in Florida places an onerous burden on death penalty counsel to be informed when making strategic and tactical decisions throughout both the guilt and penalty phases. Such is neither standard-less nor an empty promise. We require and encourage death penalty counsel to conduct reasonable investigations as are appropriate to ensure that he or she can properly counsel and inform a defendant with regard to the nature and extent of the mitigation that may be viable in the case. However, not every death penalty investigation will find mitigating evidence, and an investigation into mitigation will run the gamut from discovering latent superficial mental disabilities to very open and evident brain damage. In addition,
Strickland
does not require defense counsel to present mitigating
*1182
evidence at sentencing in every case.
See Wiggins,
539 U.S. at 533 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 . However, if defense counsel decides not to investigate mitigation, that “particular decision not to investigate must be directly assessed for reasonableness in all the circumstances, applying a heavy measure of deference to counsel’s judgments.”
Wiggins,
539 U.S. at 521-22 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 (quoting
Strickland,
466 U.S. at 691 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 );
see also Rose v. State,
675 So.2d 567, 572 (Fla.1996) (stating that in evaluating the competence of counsel “the actual performance of counsel in preparation for and during the penalty phase proceedings, as well as the reasons advanced therefor,” must be considered).
Investigating and presenting mental health mitigation is not always but certainly at times may be inconsistent with presenting an innocence defense during the penalty phase. However, failing to investigate and present mental health mitigation is not the
sine qua non
of ineffective assistance of counsel. We therefore must determine whether trial counsel’s particular decision in this case not to investigate and develop mitigation was reasonable under the circumstances.
See Wiggins,
539 U.S. at 521-22 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 . Based on the record in this case, Hannon has not and cannot demonstrate that his trial counsel was deficient during the penalty phase because, under these circumstances, Hannon’s trial counsel at the time had specific tactical and calculated reasons for the strategy adopted. Counsel did not default in his obligation, as characterized by the dissent, but strategically adopted a different path. Further, the path taken was one with which Hannon agreed and which he fully supported. [n8]
n8 The dissent asserts that when trial counsel initially stated that he would not be offering evidence in mitigation, the trial court “directed [counsel] to reconsider” his decision, see dissenting op. at 1158; however, the trial court merely gave Hannon’s trial counsel overnight to review pertinent case law and “thoroughly discuss whether or not the defendant should put on mitigating evidence.” With regard to the initial decision not to present mitigation, trial counsel stated, ‘We have discussed it, but I was expressing [Hannon’s] wishes. I will continue to discuss it.” (Emphasis supplied.) Even the trial judge expressly noted that “[i]f Mr. Hannon knowingly and intelligently waives his right to present mitigating evidence or circumstances, he has that right under the law.”
In
Koon v. Dugger,
619 So.2d 246, 250 (Fla.1993), this Court acknowledged the “problems inherent in a trial record that does not adequately reflect a defendant’s waiver of his right to present any mitigating evidence” and announced the following prospective rule to be applied in such situations:
When a defendant, against his counsel’s advice, refuses to permit the presentation of mitigating evidence in the penalty phase, counsel must inform the court on the record of the defendant’s decision. Counsel must indicate whether, based on his investigation, he reasonably believes there to be mitigating evidence that could be presented and what that evidence would be. The court should then require the defendant to confirm on the record that his counsel has discussed these matters with him, and despite counsel’s recommendation, he wishes to waive presentation of penalty phase evidence.
Id.
at 250 . Hannon’s trial preceded this Court’s decision in
Koon .
Therefore, counsel could not benefit from the aforementioned rule in memorializing on the
*1183
record that Hannon had knowingly and voluntarily waived the presentation of any type of mitigation that would detract from Hannon’s assertion that he was not at the crime scene and he did not possess the type of character to commit the murders.
At the postconviction evidentiary hearing, trial counsel testified that Han-non, as well as Hannon’s parents, adamantly maintained Hannon’s innocence throughout the guilt and penalty phases. Trial counsel therefore decided to focus on obtaining an acquittal during the guilt phase, arguing that Hannon was totally innocent and not present at the crime scene, and then only if necessary proceed to establish during the penalty phase that Hannon did not have the type of character to commit such murders. Trial counsel testified that Hannon assisted in every aspect of his defense, [n9] including testifying in his own defense during the guilt phase, and agreed to continue with the presentation of the innocence theme defense during the penalty phase, even after he was convicted. Trial counsel stated that he explained mitigation to Hannon and advised Hannon that he could change his position and admit his involvement in the murders during the penalty phase, but Hannon said he did not wish to do so.
Cf. Cummings-El v. State,
863 So.2d 246, 252 (Fla.2003) (concluding that counsel was not ineffective in limiting mitigation investigation where defendant was adamant about not wanting his family to “beg for his life,” and the defendant understood the nature and consequences of his decision not to present mitigating evidence). [nlO]
n9 Trial counsel testified that Hannon understood the jury process and his rights in the criminal proceedings, that he paid attention to the progress of his case, and that he exhibited no signs of mental impairment.
nlO Hannon’s decision not to present evidence in mitigation is demonstrated by Mrs. Hannon stating as she testified at the penalty phase that Hannon “didn’t want us to [testify] because he knows how badly we’re hurting.”
Trial counsel further testified that he had discussions with Hannon’s parents and his sister Moreen, and he sought their input with regard to Hannon’s defense. According to counsel, Hannon’s parents and Moreen also agreed with a penalty phase strategy of character and to continue maintaining Hannon’s innocence. Trial counsel stated that Han-non’s parents “continued to believe their son did not and could not do this.” Therefore, the dissent’s assertion that counsel “blindly follow[ed] his client’s desire to limit mitigation,” see dissenting op. at 1161, is unsupported by the postconviction record. Rather, counsel’s adoption of a strategy that focused on Hannon’s character was the product of discussions with not only Hannon, but with his most intimate family members. According to counsel, Hannon and his family agreed not to pursue a strategy where, after proceeding during the guilt phase on the theory that Hannon was not present at the time of the murders, Hannon at the penalty phase would suddenly admit he committed the crimes and begin offering evidence in mitigation of the murders. Counsel stated that he, Hannon, and his family “decided that [changing tactics] wasn’t what it was going to be because Mr. Hannon was adamant. I can’t tell you how much he was adamant he wasn’t there.” Neither Hannon nor any of his family members suggested any mitigation matters for the penalty phase. Rather, Hannon, his parents, and his sister consistently urged the strategy that counsel ultimately adopted and pursued; that is,
*1184
“keepfing] a consistent defense and a consistent position.”
Trial counsel further testified that he was fully aware that lingering doubt was not a statutory mitigator. However, trial counsel stated that providing evidence during the penalty phase that Hannon did not have the type of character to commit the murders, and continuing to support the underlying innocence defense, had a real and practical jury effect that would mitigate in favor of the jury sparing Hannon’s life, [nil] It was the character and demeanor of Hannon that trial counsel advanced in a very practical way. Even an expert in capital cases presented by Hannon during the postconviction evidentiary hearing admitted that the consistent approach had a practical and real impact factor in the juror’s vote in terms of whether to vote for life imprisonment, notwithstanding that lingering doubt is not a recognized and valid statutory mitigating factor,
nil Contrary to the dissent’s assertion, we have not “transformed counsel’s continuing innocence strategy into a lingering doubt strategy” or a “reasonable doubt” strategy. Dissenting op. at 1158. We reiterate that counsel’s strategy was to demonstrate to the jury that Hannon in no way possessed the type of character to commit the crimes. Counsel also testified at the postconviction hearing that it was his strategy to persuade the jurors to recommend life over death by virtue of the fact that Han-non, who had already been found guilty of two murders, was not “begging for his life” but instead addressed and emphasized demeanor and character to continue to insist that he did not and could not commit the crimes.
The record supports trial counsel’s postconviction testimony that a defense based on the notions that Hannon did not commit the murders and was not even the type of person who could have committed the murders was developed from the beginning of trial. Even during the guilt phase, trial counsel presented Rusty Horn and Paul Kilgore to show that Hannon did not have the type of character to commit the murders and moved all of their guilt phase testimony into evidence during the penalty phase. Horn, Hannon’s roommate and supervisor at his stucco job, described Hannon as a “teddy bear” type who had a reputation for nonviolence. Kilgore, another of Hannon’s roommates, testified that Hannon was a nice person. Trial counsel decided it was not necessary, and likely would not have made any difference, to recall Horn and Kilgore during the penalty phase to reiterate that to which they had already testified. The record also demonstrates that trial counsel presented mitigation during the guilt phase through Hannon, who testified that he attended high school through the eleventh grade; wanted to work, earn money, and learn a trade; was a hard worker; obtained a job with Rusty Horn where he received an extra fifty cents an hour if he did not drink; worked at a gas station; delivered auto parts and pizza; and visited his sister’s house on Christmas and celebrated with his nieces and nephews.
Trial counsel presented further evidence that Hannon did not have the type of character to commit these murders through the penalty phase testimony of Toni Acker and Hannon’s mother and father. Acker testified that Hannon was “a good-time guy, carefree, liked to have fun”; that Hannon had cared for her child; and that Hannon was incapable of conduct such as these murders. Han-non’s mother testified that Hannon had never hurt anyone in his entire life and that Hannon could not hurt any animal
*1185
or person. Hannon’s mother also pleaded with the jury, “Please, you’ve taken away his freedom for something he didn’t do. Don’t take away his life. Give us a chance, please, to prove that he never did anything like this. He couldn’t.” Hannon’s father testified that Hannon had never been a violent person, and that he was always a “teddy bear.” Hannon’s father also testified that “[Hannon] says he’s innocent. I believe he’s innocent, and I think he ought to be given a chance to prove that he is innocent. That’s it.” The record supports trial counsel’s postconviction evidentiary hearing testimony that his penalty phase strategy was to establish that Hannon did not have the type of character to commit the murders.
Contrary to the dissent’s misdirected charge, we have not failed to recognize our legal precedent with regard to “lingering doubt” and have expressly factored that consideration into our decision today. This Court has repeatedly observed that residual doubt is not legally appropriate as a mitigating circumstance,
see, e.g., Darling v. State,
808 So.2d 145, 162 (Fla.2002), and has consistently concluded that it is not error to deny an instruction that would allow a jury to consider lingering doubt or exclude evidence of lingering doubt during the penalty phase.
See Duest v. State,
855 So.2d 33, 40 (Fla.2003) (concluding that the trial court did not err in denying an instruction that the jury could consider lingering doubt in rendering its advisory sentence).
Although this Court has previously rejected an argument that trial counsel was ineffective in the penalty phase for failing to argue lingering doubt as a mitigating circumstance, see
Trepal v. State,
846 So.2d 405, 434 (Fla.2003), it has never expressly determined that trial counsel is per se ineffective for pursuing the practical impact that character evidence may create jury doubt and the impact it may have during the penalty phase.
But see Parker v. Sec’y for Dep’t of Corr.,
331 F.3d 764, 787 (11th Cir. 2003) (“Parker’s attorneys were not deficient in focusing their time and energy on acquittal at trial and focusing their arguments at sentencing on residual doubt instead of other forms of mitigation.” (parentheses omitted)). Further, contrary to the dissent’s claim that we are ignoring United States Supreme Court case law, see dissenting op. at 1157, that Court has never resolved the issue advanced by the dissent either, not even in its most recent decision touching upon lingering doubt.
See Oregon v. Guzek,
546 U.S. 517 , 126 S.Ct. 1226 , 163 L.Ed.2d 1112 (2006). [nl2] However, trial counsel’s strategy in the instant case of presenting evidence to demonstrate that Hannon did not have the type of character to commit the murders was a tactical method used by trial counsel in an attempt to sway the jury’s recommendation in favor of life over death.
See Eddings v. Oklahoma,
455 U.S. 104, 110 , 102 S.Ct. 869 , 71 L.Ed.2d 1 (1982) (concluding that the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments require that the sentencer not be precluded from considering, as a mitigating factor, any aspect of a defendant’s character that the defendant proffers as a basis for a sentence less than death). [nl3] It is certainly logical that a jury of laypersons is less likely to recommend death if they have some lingering concerns about guilt than if there is absolute certainty on the issue of guilt.
See Lockhart v. McCree,
476 U.S. 162, 181 , 106 S.Ct. 1758 , 90 L.Ed.2d 137 (1986) (“[J]urors who decide both guilt and penalty are likely to form residual doubts or ‘whimsical’ doubts ... about the evidence so as to bend them to decide against the death penalty. Such residual doubt has been
*1186
recognized as an extremely effective argument for defendants in capital cases.”) (quoting
Grigsby v. Mabry,
758 F.2d 226, 247-48 (8th Cir.1985) (Gibson, J., dissenting));
Parker,
331 F.3d at 787-88 (“Creating lingering or residual doubt over a defendant’s guilt is not only a reasonable strategy, but is perhaps the most effective strategy to employ at sentencing.”) (internal quotation marks omitted). The dissent refuses to even consider that lawless conduct related to illegal drugs or alcohol at times may even itself operate to be aggravating in the eyes of a lay jury rather than mitigating, as the dissent portrays those factors present.
See generally Cummings-El,
863 So.2d at 267 (“Counsel acknowledged that drug abuse can have a double-edged sword effect on the jury, as juries are not sympathetic to junkies generally.”) (quoted from trial court’s denial order attached to opinion).
nl2 In none of the cases cited by the dissent does the United States Supreme Court address the effectiveness of counsel for arguing that the commission of a murder was completely out of line with a defendant’s character. Hence, contrary to the dissent’s claim that we are ignoring Supreme Court case law on lingering doubt, see dissenting op. at 1157, we instead conclude that such case law is not dispositive as to the issue that we decide today.
Moreover, to the extent the dissent asserts that in
Wiggins v. Smith,
539 U.S. 510 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 , 156 L.Ed.2d 471 (2003), the United States Supreme Court, and in
Rose v. State,
675 So.2d 567 (Fla.1996), this Court “explicitly disapproved” of a continuing assertion of innocence defense, see dissenting op. at 1157, this statement is misdirected. In neither
Wiggins
nor
Rose
did the Court hold that counsel was ineffective for pursuing an innocence strategy, nor prohibit a defense based on the character of the defendant. Rather, in both cases the Courts found that counsel was ineffective for failing to adequately investigate into mitigation that could have been discovered had counsel conducted a reasonable investigation. The instant case is distinguishable from
Wiggins
and
Rose
in that Hannon’s counsel made a reasoned decision to limit his investigation into mitigation based on Hannon’s express desire that he pursue a strategy that Hannon did not possess the type of character to commit-the murders. Further, the instant case is distinguishable from
Rose
in that, while counsel in
Rose
pursued a penalty phase strategy that he believed to be ill-conceived, counsel in the instant case agreed with his client that maintaining a consistent position during the penalty phase was a viable strategy.
n13
See also King v. Dugger,
555 So.2d 355 , 360 (Fla.1990) (Barkett, J., dissenting) (“I believe that a jury is entitled to, and often does, mitigate a sentence because of ‘lingering doubt’ about the defendant’s guilt.”);
Melendez v. State,
498 So.2d 1258, 1263 (Fla. 1986) (Barkett, J., specially concurring) (“There is certainly nothing irrational — indeed, there is nothing novel — about the idea of mitigating a death sentence because of lingering doubts as to guilt.”) (quoting
Heiney v. Florida,
469 U.S. 920, 921 , 105 S.Ct. 303 , 83 L.Ed.2d 237 (1984) (Marshall, J., dissenting from denial of certiorari));
see also Way v. State,
760 So.2d 903, 924 (Fla.2000) (Pariente, J., concurring) (“I urge the Legislature [to] consider including evidence of residual doubt as a statutory mitigating factor that could be considered by juries in making a sentence recommendation, the trial court in imposing the death sentence, and this Court in determin
*1187
ing whether the death penalty should be affirmed.”). Although the dissent criticizes the reference to these views, they are presented not for authority, but for the common sense and grounded logic they set forth.
The conduct of Hannon’s trial counsel does not constitute per se ineffective assistance of counsel. In
Haliburton v. Singletary,
691 So.2d 466 (Fla.1997), this Court determined that conduct similar to that of Hannon’s counsel did not constitute ineffective assistance.
See id.
at 471 . At the evidentiary hearing in
Haliburton ,
trial counsel testified that, although he was aware that Haliburton had suffered physical and sexual abuse as a child and that he had a history of substance abuse, and that these factors would be considered mitigating in many cases, they were more harmful than helpful in the case.
See id.
This information would have been more mitigating than any factor in the present case. Trial counsel in
Haliburton
testified that he elected not to call the mental health expert, even though she could have testified that there was a strong indication of brain damage, because she would have also testified that Haliburton was an extremely dangerous person and that he was likely to kill again.
See id.
According to trial counsel, testimony that Haliburton’s emotional problems and deprived upbringing caused him to commit the crime or lessened his culpability would have conflicted with the picture of charity and pacifism painted by the other defense witnesses and would have been inconsistent with Haliburton’s strategy.
See id.
The testimony that the defense witnesses offered in
Haliburton
is similar to the character evidence presented by trial counsel in the instant case. Trial counsel’s penalty phase strategy was to humanize Haliburton by dwelling upon his close family ties and on the positive influence he had on his family and fellow inmates.
See id.
This Court held that “[e]ven though this strategy was unsuccessful in persuading the court and jury to sentence Haliburton to life imprisonment, we cannot conclude that he was ineffective. In light of the substantial, compelling aggravation found by the trial court, there is no reasonable probability that had the mental health expert testified, the outcome would have been different.”
Id.; see also Henry v. State,
862 So.2d 679, 686 (Fla.2003) (determining there was no deficient performance in counsel’s decision to humanize defendant rather than use mental health testimony);
Shere v. State,
742 So.2d 215, 223-24 (Fla.1999) (determining that counsel was not ineffective for failing to request a neuro-psychological or neurological exam by a qualified expert even though trial counsel had obtained evidence of defendant’s “severe head injury as a youth and his subsequent headaches” where counsel’s penalty phase strategy was to portray the defendant as “a kind, gentle, God-fearing man”);
Rutherford v. State,
727 So.2d 216, 223 (Fla.1998) (determining there was no error where retrial counsel was aware of mental mitigation “but made a strategic decision under the circumstances ... to instead focus on the ‘humanization’ of Rutherford through lay testimony”);
Bryan v. Dugger,
641 So.2d 61, 64 (Fla.1994) (determining that trial counsel was not ineffective for choosing a mitigation strategy of humanizing the defendant and not calling a mental health expert).
Similar to trial counsel’s evidentiary hearing testimony in
Haliburton ,
trial counsel in this case testified that his primary goal was to convince the jury that Hannon was not at the crime scene and that he was not the type of person to commit these murders, and that counsel intentionally sought to avoid contra-
*1188
dieting that defense by presenting witnesses to testify that Hannon had used illegal drugs, was unstable, failed at school, or was abused. [nl4] Trial counsel’s strategy in this case from the beginning of trial and through the penalty phase was to emphasize Hannon’s good character traits. According to trial counsel, attempting to present testimony that Hannon may have had drug and alcohol problems that may have influenced him to commit the murders, or hiring a mental health expert attempting to discuss possible mental health mitigation to lessen his culpability would have been in total conflict with the picture of the nonviolent, “teddy bear” image of Hannon and would have been inconsistent with his innocence/alibi defense. Even though ultimately this strategy was unsuccessful in convincing the court and the jury to sentence Hannon to life imprisonment, we conclude, as in
Haliburton ,
that trial counsel was not ineffective in this case. The dynamics of a jury and. a jury trial may often place practical considerations of human nature and citizen interaction on a level that cannot be simply ignored notwithstanding guiding statutory considerations when issues of life or death are involved.
nl4 The dissent proclaims that counsel was “unfamiliar with the prevailing death penalty case law on mitigation, such as
Ake v. Oklahoma
[ 470 U.S. 68 , 105 S.Ct. 1087 , 84 L.Ed.2d 53 (1985) ],” see dissenting op. at 1164; however, this statement is hugely conclusory and not supported by the postconviction evidentiary transcript. The dissent takes counsel’s statement that he was not familiar with the
Ake
case “off the top of my head,” and untenably uses this one statement to reach the sweeping conclusion that counsel lacked knowledge about case law concerning mitigation in death penalty cases. Indeed, it is a conclusory statement in itself to presume that any particular case is “prevailing” in a particular legal area. Further, the
Ake
case is not even relevant to the instant proceedings because counsel’s strategy during the penalty phase — a strategy that Hannon himself approved — was to present evidence that Hannon did not possess the character to commit the murders and that he was innocent of the crimes — not that he suffered from some sort of brain injury or mental illness at the time of the murders.
An analogy can also be drawn to
Straight v. Wainwright,
422 So.2d 827 (Fla.1982), a case in which the defendant challenged his trial counsel’s failure to investigate for the purpose of developing evidence of mitigating circumstances.
See id.
at 832 . There, trial counsel, as did trial counsel in this case, stated that he did not present mitigating circumstances because he felt them to be, even after the verdict of guilt, fundamentally inconsistent with the entire defense.
See id.
This Court concluded that trial counsel’s performance was not ineffective where trial counsel viewed evidence of mitigating circumstances as fundamentally damaging to the integrity of his client’s case.
See id.
Similar to trial counsel in
Straight ,
Hannon’s counsel here believed that any evidence of mitigating circumstances available would only damage the integrity of Hannon’s case. Further, Hannon agreed with counsel in this case that mitigation evidence should not be presented during the penalty phase. Under the totality of the circumstances at the time of trial, counsel was not deficient in strategically choosing not to present mitigation evidence that would be in conflict with and contradict Hannon’s innocence/alibi defense.
See Parker,
331 F.3d at 788 (counsel not ineffective for failing to in
*1189
troduce evidence of mental defects and personality disorder where counsel did not see any signs of brain damage or mental disorder, and counsel further thought such evidence would be inconsistent with the defendant’s alibi defense and would undermine defendant’s credibility);
Cummings-El,
863 So.2d at 252 (determining that counsel’s performance was not deficient where penalty phase strategy was to present defendant in a positive light and not to present evidence of defendant’s drug use, poor upbringing, and family members’ criminal backgrounds; counsel believed that such evidence would have an adverse effect on the jury and, further, introducing any evidence of mental illness would have been inconsistent with the aforementioned strategy);
Brown v. State,
439 So.2d 872, 875 (Fla.1983) (concluding that under the totality of the circumstances at the time of trial, counsel was reasonably effective where he testified that in his opinion presentation of mitigation evidence during the penalty phase was contradictory to the alibi defense and the defendant did not assist in pursuing mitigating evidence).
Neither the United States Supreme Court’s decision in
Wiggins v. Smith,
539 U.S. 510 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 , 156 L.Ed.2d 471 (2003), nor its recent decision in
Rompilla v. Beard,
545 U.S. 374 , 125 S.Ct. 2456 , 162 L.Ed.2d 360 (2005), compels a different conclusion. In
Wiggins ,
the Court concluded that defense counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness where counsel abandoned their investigation into mitigation even though their limited investigation revealed information that would have led a “reasonably competent attorney to investigate further.” 539 U.S. at 527 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 . The Supreme Court noted that defense counsel’s investigation included a review of reports which noted that Wiggins had spent most of his life in foster care and had displayed emotional difficulties while there and that Wiggins’ mother was a chronic alcoholic who on at least one occasion left her children alone for days without food.
See id.
at 523, 525 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 . The Supreme Court concluded that a reasonable attorney would have realized the need to pursue these leads further, but defense counsel abandoned the investigation at this juncture.
See id.
at 527 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 . [n15] The Supreme Court determined that counsel’s failure to investigate further into Wiggins’ background resulted from inattention rather than reasoned strategic judgment, in part because during opening statements, counsel informed the jurors, ‘You’re going to hear that [Wiggins] has had a difficult life,” but then failed to provide the jury with any details of Wiggins’ life history.
See id.
at 526 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 . In holding that counsel’s performance was deficient, the Supreme Court nonetheless noted that
“Strickland,
does not require counsel to investigate every conceivable line of mitigating evidence no matter how unlikely the effort would be to assist the defendant at sentencing,”
id.
at 533 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 , and distinguished Wiggins’ case from others where the High Court had concluded that limited investigations into mitigation were reasonable.
See id.
at 535 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 .
nl5 The Supreme Court noted in part that further inquiry likely would have revealed repeated incidents of sexual abuse suffered by Wiggins that could have been offered in mitigation.
See id.
at 525 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 .
In the recently decided
Rompilla ,
the Supreme Court concluded that the defense counsel’s conduct in preparation for the sentencing phase fell below the level of reasonable performance that is required by
Wiggins
and
Strickland
*1190
where defense counsel failed to review a court file on the defendant’s prior conviction.
See
125 S.Ct. at 2463-64 . The Court stressed that it was not creating a per se rule requiring defense counsel to “do a complete review of the file on any prior conviction.”
Id.
at 2467. Rather, the High Court found that counsel’s performance fell below a level of reasonable performance because counsel knew that the Commonwealth intended to seek the death penalty by proving
Rompilla
had a significant history of felony convictions indicating the use or threat of violence, an aggravator under state law. Counsel further knew that the Commonwealth would attempt to establish this history by proving Rompilla’s prior conviction for rape and assault, and would emphasize his violent character by introducing a transcript of the rape victim’s testimony given in that earlier trial.
Id.
at 2464.
The Supreme Court in its conclusion emphasized that “the prior conviction file was a public document, readily available for the asking at the very courthouse where Rompilla was to be tried,” yet “counsel did not look at any part of that file, including the transcript, until warned by the prosecution a second time,” the day before the evidentiary sentencing phase began.
Id.
Although the facts of
Rompilla
led the Court to the conclusion that defense counsel’s performance was unreasonable, the Court held that “[o]ther situations, where a defense lawyer is not charged with knowledge that the prosecutor intends to use a prior conviction in this way, might well warrant a different assessment.”
Id.
at 2467.
A careful reading of the Supreme Court’s decisions in
Wiggins
and
Rompilla
reveals that those decisions are inapplicable to the facts of the instant matter. Unlike
Wiggins ,
in the instant case there were no reports containing evidence of Hannon’s life history which should have prompted trial counsel to conduct a deeper investigation into Han-non’s background. In fact, trial counsel testified that during the criminal proceedings neither Hannon, his father, his mother, nor his sister Moreen ever mentioned that Hannon might suffer from some form of brain injury, that Hannon was abused or neglected, or that he had a traumatic childhood or a substantial drug problem. According to counsel, when asked if Hannon had been born with any problems, Hannon’s parents stated that they had “no problem with him.” Moreover, unlike
Rompilla ,
there is no indication here that the State planned to rely on particular material in aggravation that was not obtained and reviewed by trial counsel prior to the penalty phase trial. Finally, and most distinguishing, unlike the defendants in
Wiggins
and
Rompilla ,
Hannon adamantly expressed his wish to proceed consistent with the innocence defense during the penalty phase. The dissent’s assertion that we have “ignore[d] the mandate for defense counsel’s duty to investigate,” dissenting op. at 1157, does not accommodate these critical facts. Consistent with his client’s wishes, trial counsel sought to demonstrate that Han-non did not have the type of character to commit the murders rather than offering evidence on Hannon’s drug use, his mental fitness, or his family history. Therefore, unlike defense counsel’s deficient performances in
Wiggins
and
Rompilla ,
trial counsel’s limited investigation into mitigation under the specific facts of the instant case, which was based on the express wishes of Hannon, was within the level of reasonable performance that is required by
Strickland
and
Wiggins .
Hannon has also failed to demonstrate that he suffered prejudice. Contrary to
*1191
the dissent’s view that a per se rule of reversal is required, upon application of all applicable authorities, including
Wiggins
and
Rompilla ,
relief is not available here. In assessing prejudice, we reweigh the evidence in aggravation against the totality of the mental health mitigation presented during the postconviction evidentiary hearing to determine if our confidence in the outcome of the penalty phase trial is undermined.
See Rutherford v. State,
727 So.2d 216, 223 (Fla.1998) (stating that in assessing prejudice “it is important to focus on the nature of the mental mitigation” now presented);
see also Wiggins,
539 U.S. at 534 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 (“In assessing prejudice, we reweigh the evidence in aggravation against the totality of available mitigating evidence.”). We conclude that it does not. There is no reasonable probability that had any of the mental health experts who testified at the postconviction evidentiary hearing testified at the penalty phase, Hannon would have received a life sentence. Our confidence has not been undermined in this outcome or proceeding.
At the evidentiary hearing, Hannon presented the testimony of Drs. Barry Crown, Faye Sulton, and Jonathan Lip-man. Dr. Crown, an expert in clinical and forensic psychology and neuropsychology as well as substance abuse, testified that he performed a neuropsychological evaluation of Hannon and had reviewed background materials, as well as a cognitive test that had already been performed by Dr. Sulton. Dr. Crown testified that Hannon scored within normal limits on most of the tests that were administered and opined that Hannon’s overall cognitive processing was “squarely within the heartland of what we would consider to be a typical person,” but he demonstrated some difficulty with rapidly retrieving stored information and applying it to a new situation. Dr. Crown also testified that Hannon may have had some brain damage but he could not state that the brain damage in any way affected Han-non’s behavior on the date of the crime because Dr. Crown had not been asked to consider or determine that in his evaluation.
Dr. Sulton, an expert in clinical psychology, testified that Hannon’s thinking was not disturbed, nor was he having hallucinations or so deeply depressed that his thinking would be distorted. She opined that Hannon did not have any obvious major mental illness and that his behavior did not make much sense in light of his normal intelligence. She also testified that by January of 1991, Hannon had experienced many failures personally and professionally, worked several jobs, had been unsuccessful in the military, used vast amounts of illegal substances over a long period of time, and that his ability to function on a day-to-day basis, reason, use good judgment, and logically and sequentially plan activities were all compromised. She also testified that she found only nonstatutory mitigation through her interviews with family members and Hannon. These included areas of general parental neglect, lack of structure, and lack of discipline and guidance in his early environment; a childhood history of illness that interfered with his school life at a crucial time; extreme dependence on other people to assist him in basic living skills; dependence on Ron Richardson for employment and drugs; substance abuse over many years; extraordinary impulsivity at times and great lack of concentration; and an inability to formulate goal-directed behavior and to live as an adult. Dr. Sulton further testified that Hannon’s personality changes, impulsivity, irritability, difficulty with concentra
*1192
tion, and paranoid thinking would have impacted his day-to-day life. Ultimately, Dr. Sulton testified that in her opinion Hannon was not incompetent to stand trial at any point, was not insane at the time of the incident, and was of average intelligence. [nl6] Dr. Sulton agreed with Dr. Crown’s overall picture of Hannon’s normalcy with only some areas of deficit.
nl6Dr. Sulton testified that Hannon had a verbal IQ of 112, which is bright to average, a performance IQ of 102, which is average, and full scale IQ of 108, which is average.
Dr. Lipman, a neuropharmacologist, testified that Hannon’s degree of intoxication at the time of the offenses would not suggest to him that Hannon was unable to remember what occurred or would have rendered him unable to know what he was doing at the time of the crime. Dr. Lipman, however, admitted that he probably underestimated Hannon’s drug burden at the time of the offense because he was not aware that Hannon had used cocaine the night of the crimes. Dr. Lipman basically agreed with the State’s expert’s conclusions, which included a polysubstance abuse diagnosis.
The State’s expert, Dr. Merin, an expert in the fields of neuropsychology and forensic psychology, testified that he reviewed Drs. Sulton and Crown’s testing and administered the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III test to Hannon. Dr. Merin testified that he agreed with Dr. Crown’s conclusions with the exception of Dr. Crown’s finding of prefrontal lobe impairment. Dr. Merin explained the discrepancy was based on Dr. Crown using a shorter version of the Category Test. Dr. Merin testified that when he did the longer version of the test, three years after Dr. Crown, there was no indication of any prefrontal lobe impairment. Dr. Merin testified that he did not find any significant brain injury. Dr. Merin also opined that because Han-non was heavily into drugs and alcohol, he probably had destroyed some neurons in his brain, but not to the extent that it interfered with his ability to reason, to make decisions on his own behalf, to maintain goal-directed behavior, or to think logically. Dr. Merin further testified that he found no indication of any thought disorder or suggestion of psychosis or brain-related problems.
The postconviction testimony presented failed to establish the existence of statutory mental health mitigation (and indeed underscored Hannon’s average intelligence and ability to reason), no expert was able to identify any significant brain damage, and there was contrary evidence. Even Dr. Crown, who arguably provided the most favorable testimony for Hannon, could not translate any brain damage as having any conceptual or actual impact on Hannon’s behavior, and there was no evidence to establish any nexus between Hannon’s mental health and his behavior or as it related to the crimes. Therefore, portraying Hannon as a drugged-out individual who had been involved in prior bad acts would have been more harmful, especially considering that the mental health implications were so equivocal.
Moreover, contrary to the dissent’s claim that an investigation by trial counsel would have revealed “voluminous evidence of mitigation,” see dissenting op. at 1169, the mitigation provided by witnesses during the postconviction evidentiary hearing was not compelling. [nl7] Indeed, the dissent offers what is actually a very one-sided presentation of post-conviction witness testimony which creates a distorted view of Hannon’s home life in an effort to bolster its assertion that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to conduct further investigation into
*1193
mitigation. [nl8] Further, in sentencing Hannon to death, the trial judge found substantial aggravation in this case. Specifically, the trial court found three aggravating circumstances applicable to both the murders of Snider and Carter — (1) previous conviction of a violent felony (the contemporaneous killings); (2) the murders were committed during the commission of a burglary; and (3) the murders were heinous, atrocious, or cruel.
See Hannon,
638 So.2d at 41 . As to Carter, the trial court found the additional aggravating factor that the murder was committed to avoid or prevent a lawful arrest.
See id.
[n19] On direct appeal, we affirmed the court’s findings of aggravation.
See Hannon,
638 So.2d at 43 .
nl7 At the evidentiary hearing, information regarding Hannon’s drug and alcohol abuse as well as his upbringing and family situation was presented through the testimony of Hannon’s family. Hannon’s mother, father, and two sisters (Hellen Coker and Moreen Hannon) testified that their home life was difficult, especially when Stephanie, another of Hannon’s sisters, had scoliosis, at which time the parents were barely home. Hannon’s mother and father both testified with regard to the problems they had with Moreen, who began abusing drugs and alcohol at age thirteen and had a close relationship with Hannon. Moreen also testified with regard to her running away from home as well as her alcohol and drug use. Hannon’s mother testified that Hannon was a very good kid, had many friends, had developed rheumatic fever when he was seven or eight and was out of school for a few months, and was a pretty good student.
Moreen seemed to have more specific information with regard to Hannon’s substance abuse than the rest of his family. Moreen testified that she was aware of Hannon’s drug and alcohol use while growing up, that Hannon’s drug use escalated over the years, that Han-non drank on a regular basis in 1990, and that she, Hannon, Ron Richardson, and Mike Richardson all drank alcohol as well as used cocaine. Moreen also testified that Hannon was a good worker and did not have any trouble getting a job although he moved around from job to job, and she described Hannon’s behavior as agitated and irritated in 1990 during the time leading up to the murders. Hellen also testified that Hannon drank frequently when he was a teenager, and that Hannon was drinking and doing drugs excessively in 1990. Han-non’s mother and father testified that they were unaware of the existence and extent of the substance abuse problem that emerged during Hannon’s youth.
nl8 For example, the dissent references Hellen Coker’s testimony wherein she alleges physical abuse and emotional indifference by her parents. However, contrary to Hellen’s testimony, Hannon’s mother testified that she told her children that she loved them and hugged them, bought them birthday and Christmas presents, and that she never “smashed their facets] into the wall.” Hannon’s father testified that he never spanked his children or struck them with a belt. While Mrs. Hannon admitted that she drank “a lot of wine,” she also believed that it did not affect her ability to take care of the house and her children because “the kids looked terrific. The house was great.” Despite the fact that Hannon developed rheumatic fever as a child, Hannon’s mother testified that he did not have to make up the time he missed from school because his illness occurred partly during the summer, and fur
*1194
ther, “[Hannon] was a pretty good student, so he was okay.” The dissent further takes out of context Hellen’s statement that she left home five days after she turned eighteen because she “hated it.” A review of her full testimony reveals that her home situation was not the only factor that led to her departure: “I hated it. I didn’t like my home life. I didn’t like the town we lived in. I mean you couldn’t sneeze without somebody calling. They knew everything that went on. I just wanted to get away from there. - Something different.” Finally, Dr. Merin testified that when he asked Hannon about his relationship with his father, Hannon stated, “I got along great with him. My only regret was that he was away so much.” As to his mother, Hannon stated that they “[g]ot along great” and that he, as the Hannons’ only son, received lenient treatment. In noting such testimony, we do not seek to present a lopsided view of Hannon’s childhood in an effort to demonstrate that any existing mitigation was minimal. Rather, we only do so to demonstrate that the evidence in mitigation presented during the postconviction proceedings was equivocal and not “abundant,” as the dissent proclaims. See dissenting op. at 1167. The dissent characterizes our discussion of these elements of Hannon’s background as mere “lip service,” see dissenting op. at 1162; however, the dissent lacks any basis for this assertion other than its subjective disagreement with our conclusion regarding the insignificance of the mitigation evidence presented at the postconviction hearing. nl9 Hannon asserts he was denied effective assistance of counsel because his trial counsel failed to adequately challenge the aggravators. However, once Hannon was convicted of the murders based on the facts in evidence, regardless of what trial counsel would have argued, the prior violent felony aggravator (contemporaneous killings) and the committed during a burglary aggravator were applicable as a matter of law. Although trial counsel in the instant case arguably could have more effectively challenged the HAC and the avoiding or preventing a lawful arrest aggravators during the penalty phase, the nature of the murders and facts in evidence in this case support the application of these aggravators, which were both challenged and upheld on direct appeal. See
id.
at 43-44 . Thus, assuming without deciding whether trial counsel was deficient in challenging the aggravators, this claim is meritless because Hannon has failed to demonstrate prejudice.
With regard to the HAC aggravator, we have previously noted that it is one of the most serious aggravators set out in the statutory sentencing scheme,
see Everett v. State,
893 So.2d 1278, 1288 (Fla.2004),
cert. denied,
544 U.S. 987 , 125 S.Ct. 1865 , 161 L.Ed.2d 747 (2005), and a review of the trial record demonstrates that the murders of Snider and Carter were particularly cruel. Hannon grabbed Snider, who had been stabbed by Acker fourteen times, from behind and slit his throat with such force that it nearly severed his head. Prior to that, Snider’s screams could be heard throughout the apartment complex. An individual who was outside the apartment heard Snider gurgling on his own blood. At one point during the attack, Snider called to his roommate, “Call 911 — my guts are hanging out.” Upon hearing Snider’s screams, Carter came downstairs and witnessed Snider’s brutal stabbing. Carter pleaded with the attackers to spare his life, at one point
*1195
saying to Acker, “[L]et me get out of here,” and then retreated to a bedroom upstairs, hiding under a bed. Despite these pleas, Hannon went upstairs and proceeded to fire six shots into the huddled, defenseless Carter with a semiautomatic pistol. Hannon fired two shots into Carter at close range, and four shots with the pistol placed in contact with, or nearly up against, Carter’s body. Despite the number of gunshot wounds, Carter did not die instantaneously. An officer who responded to the 911 call testified that when he arrived at the upstairs bedroom, Carter was still gasping for breath — Carter stopped breathing only just before the paramedics reached the bedroom. Based on the brutal and disturbing nature of these murders, there is no reasonable possibility that Hannon would have received a life sentence. Therefore, Hannon has failed to demonstrate that if the mental health and lay witness testimony presented during the posteonviction evidentiary testimony had been offered at trial “the result of the proceeding would have been different,”
Strickland,
466 U.S. at 694 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 , and we fundamentally disagree with the dissent’s assertion to the contrary. See dissenting op. at 1168. Our confidence in the outcome of this case has not been undermined.
See id.
Accordingly, this claim is without merit.
Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1124-1138 .
Hannon’s IAC/penalty phase claim provides no basis for relief under AEDPA. Hannon has not demonstrated that the state court’s rejection of this issue was either contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, federal law. The Florida courts expressly applied
Strickland
as the appropriate prevailing law, so they did not act contrary to established federal law. In addition, the rejection of this claim in state court was not an unreasonable application of
Strickland .
The Florida Supreme Court’s finding, that trial counsel made reasonable strategic decisions, is supported on the record and refutes Hannon’s allegation that trial counsel performed ineffectively. In addition, Hannon has not established that he was prejudiced by trial counsel’s performance.
A state court’s decision is “contrary to” Supreme Court precedent only if (1) “the state court applies a rule that contradicts the governing law set forth” in Supreme Court cases; or (2) the state court confronts “a set of facts that are materially indistinguishable from a decision of [the Supreme] Court and nevertheless arrives at a result different” from Supreme Court precedent.
See Williams v. Taylor,
529 U.S. 362 , 120 S.Ct. 1495 , 146 L.Ed.2d 389 (2000).
A state court’s decision is an “unreasonable application” of Supreme Court precedent “if the state court identifies the correct governing legal principle from [the Supreme] Court’s decisions but unreasonably applies that principle to the facts of the prisoner’s case.”
See Lockyer v. Andrade,
538 U.S. 63 , 123 S.Ct. 1166 , 155 L.Ed.2d 144 (2003) (citation omitted). The state court’s application of clearly established law “must be more than incorrect or erroneous,” it must be “objectively unreasonable.”
Id.
The Florida Supreme Court correctly identified the principles announced in
Strickland
as those governing the analysis of Hannon’s claim. Consequently, Hannon cannot show that the Florida Supreme Court’s adjudication was contrary to the United States Supreme Court’s clearly established law.
Williams,
529 U.S. at 405 , 120 S.Ct. 1495 . Nor can Hannon establish any “unreasonable application” of Supreme Court precedent. In evaluating a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, reviewing courts must conduct a highly deferential review of counsel’s performance and “ ‘in
*1196
dulge [the] strong presumption’ that counsel’s performance was reasonable and that counsel made all significant decisions in the exercise of reasonable professional judgment.”
Strickland,
466 U.S. at 689-90 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 . When courts examine the performance of an experienced trial counsel, “the presumption that his conduct was reasonable is even stronger.”
Chandler v. United States,
218 F.3d 1305, 1316 (11th Cir.2000) (en banc). Hannon’s burden of persuasion is a heavy one: “petitioner must establish that no competent counsel would have taken the action that his counsel did take.”
Chandler,
218 F.3d at 1315 . Thus, even if trial counsel in this case relied on a “pure” “residual doubt” strategy, it would not have supported a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.
See Alderman v. Terry,
468 F.3d 775, 783 (11th Cir.2006) (rejecting petitioner’s habeas claim under AEDPA where defense attorneys pursued a lingering or residual doubt theory and, in doing so, gave the jury a basis for returning a verdict of life imprisonment).
Furthermore, as for the second prong of
Strickland ,
“[a] petitioner’s burden of establishing that his lawyer’s deficient performance prejudiced his case is also high.”
Stewart v. Secretary,
476 F.3d 1193, 1209 (11th Cir.2007) (quoting
Van Poyck v. Fla. Dep’t of Corr.,
290 F.3d 1318, 1322 (11th Cir.2002)). “It is not enough for the defendant to show that the errors had some conceivable effect on the outcome of the proceeding.”
Id.
(citing
Strickland,
466 U.S. at 693 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 ). Instead, when a petitioner challenges a death sentence, “the question is whether there is a reasonable probability that, absent the errors, the sentencer ... would have concluded that the balance of aggravating and mitigating circumstances did not warrant death.”
Id.
(citing
Strickland
at 695, 104 S.Ct. 2052 ).
In
Rutherford v. Crosby,
385 F.3d 1300, 1306 (11th Cir.2004), the Eleventh Circuit emphasized that, under AEDPA, the habeas petitioner “must do more than satisfy the
Strickland
standard.” He must also show that in rejecting his ineffective assistance of counsel claim the state court “applied
Strickland
to the facts of his case in an objectively unreasonable manner.”
Chandler ,
at 1309 (citing
Bell v. Cone,
535 U.S. 685, 699 , 122 S.Ct. 1843 , 152 L.Ed.2d 914 (2002)). Here, too, Hannon “must do more than satisfy the
Strickland
standard.” He must also show that in rejecting his ineffective assistance of counsel claim the state court “ ‘applied
Strickland
to the facts of his case in an objectively unreasonable manner.’ ”
Id.
at 1309. Hannon has not, and cannot, do so in this case.
The Florida courts meticulously evaluated each of Hannon’s IAC/penalty phase claims under
Strickland ,
and the Florida Supreme Court’s dispositive factual findings are fully supported by the record. Hannon was represented by an experienced criminal trial attorney who pursued a consistent theme at trial — emphasizing Hannon’s admirable character throughout this case — and, thereby, introducing mitigation on Hannon’s behalf during both the guilt phase and penalty phase. Evidence presented during the guilt phase undeniably may be considered in mitigation.
See Bell v. Cone,
535 U.S. 685, 700 , 122 S.Ct. 1843 , 152 L.Ed.2d 914 (2002).
Hannon himself did not provide trial counsel with the information now urged as mitigating. Furthermore, trial counsel spoke to many of the same family members who testified at the post-conviction evidentiary hearing. Trial counsel Joe Episcopo confirmed, at the evidentiary hearing, that it was a strategic decision not to present anything in the penalty phase that would detract from their consistent
*1197
theory — that Hannon was not guilty and that, because of his character, he was not capable of committing the atrocities in this case: nearly beheading Brandon Snider and then chasing Robbie Carter and shooting him repeatedly at point-blank range.
As the Florida Supreme Court found, trial counsel’s investigation and presentation of mitigating evidence was within the realm of constitutionally adequate assistance of counsel. Trial counsel conducted a reasonable investigation, presented appropriate guilt and penalty phase evidence, and emphatically urged the jury to recommend sparing Hannon’s life.
The Supreme Court has never held that counsel must present all available mitigating evidence in the penalty phase of a capital trial in order to perform reasonably. In
Wiggins ,
the attorney had not investigated sufficiently to make a reasonable decision about what evidence to present. In
Williams ,
the Virginia state court had applied an incorrect standard in assessing the petitioner’s ineffectiveness claim; the Court did not hold that counsel is constitutionally deficient for deciding against the presentation of mitigation on tactical grounds.
See also, Rutherford v. Crosby,
385 F.3d 1300, 1315 (11th Cir. 2004) (rejecting ineffectiveness based on failure to present mitigating evidence, and distinguishing
Wiggins ,
noting that the new mitigation in
Wiggins
was not counterproductive or inconsistent with the other mitigation offered while Rutherford’s mitigation “would have come with a price”). In
Rompilla ,
the Supreme Court stressed that it was not creating a per se rule requiring defense counsel to “do a complete review of the file on any prior conviction.” None of these cases interpret the Sixth Amendment as foreclosing counsel’s ability to make reasonable strategic decisions limiting the presentation of mitigating evidence. To the contrary, case law has consistently recognized that an attorney has an obligation to make an appropriate decision about what evidence to present or not present.
See Housel v. Head,
238 F.3d 1289, 1296 (11th Cir.2001) (noting reasonableness of counsel’s decision against focusing on intoxication and substance abuse in mitigation).
Hannon has not shown that his trial counsel was ineffective in his performance at the penalty phase of Hannon’s trial. On the facts of this case, as carefully outlined by the Florida Supreme Court, Hannon has failed to demonstrate that the state courts acted unreasonably in rejecting Hannons’ claim that counsel’s performance was deficient at the penalty phase.
Moreover, even where a petitioner arguably demonstrates that his counsel’s performance at sentencing was deficient, he must also show that he was prejudiced by his counsel’s deficient performance. “It is not enough for the defendant to show that the errors had some conceivable effect on the outcome of the proceeding.”
Strickland,
466 U.S. at 693 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 . Rather, “the question is whether there is a reasonable probability that, absent the errors, the sentencer ... would have concluded that the balance of aggravating and mitigating circumstances did not warrant death.”
Id.
at 695 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 ;
see Henyard v. McDonough,
459 F.3d 1217, 1242 (11th Cir.2006). In this double homicide case, there are three powerful aggravators as to each victim, and a fourth aggravator applicable to victim Robbie Carter. Hannon has not and cannot meet the standard required to prove that his attorney was ineffective when the facts that support these substantial aggravating factors are compared to the fairly unremarkable mitigation now argued by habeas counsel.
Hannon has not shown that if trial counsel had introduced, at the penalty phase, all of the mental health evidence advocated
*1198
at the postconviction evidentiary hearing, the outcome of the penalty phase would have been different. In short, Hannon has not shown that he was prejudiced by trial counsel’s representation at the penalty phase.
Because Hannon has not satisfied either of the
Strickland ,
prongs, Hannon is not entitled to relief on Ground One.
Ground Two
Mr. Hannon was denied the effective assistance of counsel pre-trial and at the guilt phase of his trial due to trial counsel’s failure to present a voluntary intoxication defense and his failure to adequately investigate and prepare for trial in violation of the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution
Hannon asserts that trial counsel was ineffective during the guilt phase for failing to present a voluntary intoxication defense and for failing adequately to investigate and prepare for trial. Amended Petition at 6 (Doc. 13); Supporting Facts at 6-8 (Doc. 13-2); Memo at
Sl-ii
(Doc. 10).
The Voluntary Intoxication Defense Claim
Hannon faults trial counsel for failing to pursue a voluntary intoxication defense. This claim has no merit. Hannon’s defense was alibi and an innocence theory. Hannon’s trial counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for failing to pursue the voluntary intoxication defense because such a defense would have been inconsistent with Hannon’s innocence theory. Hannon testified during the trial proceedings that he did not commit the crime. Had trial counsel presented a voluntary intoxication defense, it would have been totally inconsistent with Hannon’s defense that he did not commit the murder. Trial counsel’s strategy in this case amounted to a tactical decision well within his discretion; the strategy was so obvious from the record that no evidentiary hearing on this issue was necessary in state court.
See Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1139 .
The Failure of Trial Counsel To Adequately Investigate and Prepare for Trial
A. Blood Spatter Expert Judith Bunker
Hannon argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate and then, at trial, to cross-examine blood spatter expert Judith Bunker as to her false credentials. As a result, Hannon claims, the jury never heard “the truth regarding her credentials, and thus, they were deprived of material evidence critical to evaluating the reliability and trustworthiness of Mrs. Bunker’s testimony.” This claim also has no merit.
Trial counsel testified at the postconviction evidentiary hearing that (1) he chose not to question Bunker’s credentials at trial to avoid giving the jury the impression that he was attempting to present an inconsistent defense; and (2) Bunker’s testimony did not adversely impact Hannon’s defense because Bunker was never able to confirm that any of the victims’ blood was on Hannon.
In affirming the denial of this post-conviction claim, the Florida Supreme Court stated:
At the evidentiary hearing, trial counsel testified that he was aware that Bunker had been hired as the State’s expert but decided not to conduct an investigation into Bunker’s credentials because her testimony regarding the blood spatter at the crime scene was totally irrelevant to Hannon’s alibi defense that he was not at the crime scene on the night of the murders, a factor not considered by the dissent. Trial counsel stated that he did not obtain Bunker’s personnel file, was not aware whether
*1199
Bunker ever completed high school or attended college, and had not seen a group of letters indicating that Bunker had not worked at various places or lectured at certain places as represented on her resume. Trial counsel stated at the postconviction evidentiary hearing that he most likely would not have used this information regarding Bunker to impeach her at trial. Although confronting this witness with this type of information would have made him look sharp, it would not have advanced Han-non’s defense in any way and would have only left the jury wondering why counsel was even taking the time to question Bunker if she truly had nothing to do with Hannon’s defense. The dissent provides no explanation for this gap. Trial counsel further testified that he chose not to question Bunker’s credentials at trial to avoid giving the jury the impression that he was attempting to present an inconsistent defense. Trial counsel testified that Bunker’s testimony did not adversely impact Hannon’s defense because Bunker was never able to confirm any of the victims’ blood on Hannon. He did object to the introduction of crime scene photographs because he believed the photographs were being admitted simply to emphasize the goriness of the crime but decided not to cross-examine Bunker with regard to these photographs. The defense strategy was to continue with the theory that Hannon was not at the crime scene and, therefore, cross-examining this witness would only confuse the jury with regard to why he was attacking a witness that was not at all relevant to Hannon’s case....
Moreover, trial counsel’s tactical decision not to challenge or impeach Bunker’s blood spatter testimony was reasonable because Bunker’s testimony did not implicate Hannon in the murders, nor was it even an element in the State’s case against Hannon.
Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1123-1124 .
This Court agrees that trial counsel’s failure to cross-examine Bunker as to her false credentials was a reasonable trial strategy because “Bunker’s testimony did not implicate Hannon in the murders, nor was it even an element in the State’s case against Hannon.” The defense strategy was to continue the theory that Hannon was not at the crime scene, and cross-examining Bunker would have confused the jury with regard to why trial counsel was attacking a witness who was not relevant to Hannon’s case.
Hannon has also failed to demonstrate prejudice with regard to counsel’s decision not to cross-examine Bunker on this issue. On direct appeal, the Florida Supreme Court determined that Bunker’s testimony relating to the blood spatter evidence was properly admitted at Hannon’s trial
only
to assist the jury in understanding the facts.
See Hannon,
638 So.2d at 43 . Although Hannon also claims that the trial court did not address the significance of Bunker’s testimony on the penalty phase of trial and thus overlooked the relevance of Bunker’s testimony as it pertains to the HAC aggravator, Hannon fails to state that the Florida Supreme Court upheld the application of HAC as to both murders without relying on Bunker’s blood spatter testimony.
See Hannon,
638 So.2d at 43 ;
Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1123-1124 .
B. Miscellaneous Claims
Hannon contends that trial counsel failed to prepare for trial in that he did not obtain Hannon’s “rap sheet”; did not review photographs before trial; and did not cross-examine and impeach state witnesses. In addition, Hannon contends that trial counsel did not adequately question
*1200
jurors regarding their views on capital punishment.
Hannon claims that trial counsel failed to cross-examine state witnesses Oliver Rodz, Lori Evans, Deputy Copeland, Deputy Shoemaker, and Omar Perez. According to Hannon, these witnesses either identified Hannon as the man they saw leaving the crime scene or were involved in processing the crime scene. According to Hannon, trial counsel also failed to impeach state witnesses Patrick Green, Shane Cohn, Crime Scene Technician Ronald Cashwell, Deputy Daniel McGill, Crime Scene Technician Linda Larmon, Medical Examiner Charles Diggs, Keefe Roberts, Keith Fernandez, John J. Ring, and Jason Rayborne.
The Florida Supreme Court, in affirming the denial of postconviction relief, found that this claim was procedurally barred:
Hannon in effect has chosen to contest the trial court’s summary denial of this claim by merely listing these allegations without any supportive argument or authority with regard to the manner in which trial counsel’s conduct was deficient or the prejudice he sustained. This Court has previously determined that similar speculative, unsupported arguments of this type are improper and for which no relief is available.
See Cooper v. State,
856 So.2d 969 , 977 n. 7 (Fla.2003) (rejecting similar argument as insufficient for consideration);
Sweet v. State,
810 So.2d 854, 870 (Fla.2002) (“[Bjecause on appeal Sweet simply recites these claims from his postconviction motion in a sentence or two, without elaboration or explanation, we conclude that these instances of alleged ineffectiveness are not preserved for appellate review.”);
see also Duest v. Dugger,
555 So.2d 849, 852 (Fla.1990) (“The purpose of an appellate brief is to present arguments in support of the points on appeal. Merely making reference to arguments below without further elucidation does not suffice to preserve issues .... ”). Therefore, we conclude that Hannon’s unsupported claim is improper and deny relief on this claim.
Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1139 .
This Court agrees that the claim is procedurally barred. Hannon failed to present arguments in support of his claims in' his postconviction appellate brief and therefore failed to preserve the claim for appellate review.
4
Because this claim was not preserved for appellate review, the claim is procedurally barred.
A procedural default will only be excused in two narrow circumstances. First, petitioner may obtain federal habeas review of a procedurally defaulted claim if he shows both “cause” for the default and actual “prejudice” resulting from the default. “Cause” ordinarily requires petitioner to demonstrate that some objective factor external to the defense impeded the effort to raise the claim properly in the state court.
Henderson v. Campbell,
353
*1201
F.3d at 892;
Marek v. Singletary,
62 F.3d 1295, 1302 (11th Cir.1995). To show “ ‘prejudice,’ ” Hannon must show “not merely that the errors at his trial created a possibility of prejudice, but that they worked to his factual and substantial disadvantage, infecting his entire trial with error of constitutional dimensions.”
Hollis v. Davis,
941 F.2d 1471, 1480 (11th Cir. 1991) (quoting
United States v. Frady,
456 U.S. 152, 170 , 102 S.Ct. 1584 , 71 L.Ed.2d 816 (1982)). Hannon must show that there is at least a reasonable probability that the result of the proceeding would have been different if trial counsel had performed as Hannon now claims he should have performed.
Henderson v. Campbell,
353 F.3d at 892 .
Second, a petitioner may obtain federal habeas review of a procedurally defaulted claim, without a showing of cause or prejudice, if such review is necessary to correct a fundamental miscarriage of justice.
Edwards v. Carpenter,
529 U.S. 446, 451 , 120 S.Ct. 1587 , 146 L.Ed.2d 518 (2000);
Henderson v. Campbell,
353 F.3d at 892 . This exception is only available “in an extraordinary case, where a constitutional violation has resulted in the conviction of someone who is actually innocent.”
Henderson v. Campbell,
353 F.3d at 892 . The fundamental miscarriage of justice exception concerns a petitioner’s “actual” innocence rather than his “legal” innocence.
Johnson v. Alabama,
256 F.3d 1156 , 1171 (2001) (citing
Calderon v. Thompson,
523 U.S. 538, 559 , 118 S.Ct. 1489 , 140 L.Ed.2d 728 (1998));
Murray v. Carrier, 477
U.S. 478, 495-96, 106 S.Ct. 2639 , 91 L.Ed.2d 397 (1986) (explaining that a “fundamental miscarriage of justice” occurs “in an extraordinary case, where a constitutional violation has resulted in the conviction of someone who is actually innocent”). To meet this standard, a petitioner must “show that it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror would have convicted him” of the underlying offense.
Schlup v. Delo,
513 U.S. 298, 327 , 115 S.Ct. 851 , 130 L.Ed.2d 808 (1995). In addition, “ ‘[t]o be credible,’ a claim of actual innocence must be based on [new] reliable evidence not presented at trial.”
Calderon,
523 U.S. at 559 , 118 S.Ct. 1489 (quoting
Schlup,
513 U.S. at 324 , 115 S.Ct. 851 ) (explaining that “[g]iv-en the rarity of such evidence, in virtually every case, the allegation of actual innocence has been summarily rejected”) (internal quotation marks omitted).
The
Schlup
Court stated that the petitioner must show constitutional error coupled with “new reliable evidence — whether it be exculpatory scientific evidence, trustworthy eyewitness accounts, or critical physical evidence — that was not presented at trial.”
Schlup,
513 U.S. at 324 , 115 S.Ct. 851 . This fundamental miscarriage of justice exception is not available unless “the petitioner shows, as a factual matter, that he did not commit the crime of conviction.”
Ward v. Cain,
53 F.3d 106, 108 (5th Cir.1995) (denying certificate of probable cause) (footnote omitted).
Hannon has not shown cause and prejudice to overcome the procedural default and has not shown that a fundamental miscarriage of justice will occur if the Court does not reach the merits of this claim.
C. The Failure To Depose Ron Richardson and/or Request a Continuance To Investigate Ron Richardson Claim
Hannon asserts that trial counsel was deficient in failing to depose Ron Richardson after discovering during trial that Richardson was to testify against Hannon. This claim also has no merit. Hannon claims that trial counsel had a duty to investigate Richardson’s relationship with Hannon and his influence on Hannon, as well as to impeach Richardson. “[W]hen a failure to depose is alleged as a part of an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, the appellant must specifically set
*1202
forth the harm from the alleged omission.”
Brown v. State,
846 So.2d 1114, 1124 (Fla. 2003) (citing
Magill v. State,
457 So.2d 1367, 1370 (Fla.1984)).
At the postconviction evidentiary hearing, Hannon’s trial counsel testified that the defense theory was an alibi defense, specifically that neither Hannon nor Richardson was at the crime scene when the crimes were committed, and that both Hannon and Richardson were playing a drinking game at Richardson’s house the night of the crimes. Trial counsel testified that he did not direct any investigation into Richardson’s background and did not remember if he had ever obtained Richardson’s criminal history before the trial began. Trial counsel further testified that he did not obtain any additional investigative material concerning Richardson’s relationship with Hannon after Richardson, in a surprise move, turned to testify for the State during trial. Trial counsel stated that the trial judge offered him an opportunity to depose Richardson after the State disclosed during trial that Richardson would be presented as a witness for the State but Hannon’s trial counsel decided that he would not conduct a deposition at that point because he believed Richardson’s story was totally fabricated, and that his best trial strategy was to question Richardson immediately in the presence of the jury instead of creating an opportunity for Richardson to rehearse his testimony during a deposition.
Counsel cannot be deemed ineffective merely because postconviction counsel disagrees with trial counsel’s strategic decisions.
See Strickland,
466 U.S. at 689 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 (“A fair assessment of attorney performance requires that every effort be made to eliminate the distorting effects of hindsight ----”);
Cherry v. State,
659 So.2d 1069, 1073 (Fla.1995) (“The standard is not how present counsel would have proceeded, in hindsight .... ”). In
Occhicone v. State,
768 So.2d 1037, 1048 (Fla. 2000), this Court held that “strategic decisions do not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel if alternative courses have been considered and rejected and counsel’s decision was reasonable under the norms of professional conduct.”
Trial counsel, believing that the evidence would disclose to the jury that Richardson’s story was clearly fabricated for purposes of obtaining the “deal” with the State, decided that his best strategy was to continue with the innocence defense and the alibi basis for the defense. Trial counsel testified at the evidentiary hearing that he consciously and strategically decided that he would not depose Richardson after this last-minute turn of events because it was his strategy and approach to use the element of total surprise in questioning Richardson with regard to the details of the crime and prevent the State from using the deposition to better prepare Richardson for his trial testimony. Moreover, trial counsel related that Richardson was an integral part of Hannon’s alibi defense and, thus, his strategy and goal after Richardson turned to assist the State was to demonstrate and emphasize that Richardson was not familiar with any of the details of the crime scene, thereby bolstering Hannon’s argument that neither Richardson nor Hannon was at the scene and that Richardson had changed his story to procure his last-minute agreement with the State. Trial counsel also testified that he was not interested in attempting to portray Richardson as a bad person or as a guilty party before the jury because that would also undermine Hannon’s alibi defense, which was predicated on Hannon’s drinking with Richardson at the time of the murders. Hannon’s trial counsel testified that his trial tactic and examination of Richardson was in fact ultimately successful, because on cross-examination, the defense elicited that Richardson actually
*1203
knew very little with regard to the victims’ apartment:
The record supports trial counsel’s testimony that Richardson was unable to provide any meaningful details about the victims’ apartment for the jury. The record also demonstrates that Hannon’s counsel successfully revealed to the jury that Richardson had previously supported Hannon’s alibi by stating that he and Hannon were playing a drinking game the night of the murders, and that he was not involved with the murder. Moreover, counsel impeached Richardson by eliciting from Richardson that up until even the night before he testified, he had denied seeing the wounds to Snider’s throat, and that within the last twenty-four hours he had completely changed his story. Richardson claimed that he suddenly remembered Snider’s wounds. Further, when asked about his drastic change in testimony, Richardson affirmatively testified that he previously had lied not once, but several times to law enforcement. Finally, counsel highlighted to the jury that on the Sunday morning before Richardson’s new testimony he was facing the death penalty for two counts of first-degree murder, but by the evening of that same day, in exchange for his testimony against Hannon, Richardson had received a “deal” for only five years in prison. (App. A10/1193-1215,1217).
The record supports the conclusion that trial counsel had a carefully considered and planned defense strategy. Trial counsel made a strategic decision not to depose Richardson so that he could better impeach him at trial.
Moreover, Hannon has failed to demonstrate any prejudice because he has not even suggested what evidence or information trial counsel would have procured had he deposed Richardson, or conducted further investigation, that would have so affected the proceeding that confidence in the outcome would be undermined.
D. The Failure To Question Michele Helm Claim
Hannon claims that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to question Michelle Helm, Ron Richardson’s former girlfriend, regarding her July 9, 1991 deposition testimony. The state trial court denied this claim after the postconviction evidentiary hearing. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the state trial court’s denial of post-conviction relief:
Hannon contends that his trial counsel was deficient in failing to question Michelle Helm, the former girlfriend of Ron Richardson, regarding her July 9, 1991, deposition testimony. Hannon asserts that Helm testified in her deposition that Richardson was a very jealous person who was violent and had threatened to kill her, often accusing her of sleeping with other men, especially Robbie Carter and Jim Acker. At the evidentiary hearing, trial counsel testified that he was present at Helm’s deposition but was not concerned with this information to attack Richardson’s testimony at trial because Richardson’s specific bad acts were not only irrelevant to Han-non’s alibi defense, such specific bad act evidence would not have been admissible at trial. Trial counsel testified that it was his strategy to lessen the focus on anything negative with regard to Richardson because it would be beneficial to Hannon’s case with Richardson being Hannon’s alibi witness until he altered his position at the end of the trial.
Moreover, trial counsel’s main focus when cross-examining Richardson after the change in testimony at the last moment was to show the jury that Richardson did not remember the details of the victims’ apartment, and this negative information was not necessary to bolster the argument that Richardson’s story was fabricated. Based on the foregoing,
*1204
Hannon has not demonstrated that trial counsel acted deficiently when he made the strategic decisions with regard to the interrogation of Helm concerning her deposition testimony and chose not to use her to attack Richardson. Han-non was not prejudiced by these decisions and accordingly, this claim has no merit.
Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1124 .
The standard for judging counsel’s performance is “ ‘reasonableness under prevailing professional norms.’ ”
Chandler v. United States,
218 F.3d 1305, 1313 (11th Cir.2000) (en banc) (quoting
Strickland,
466 U.S. at 688 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 ). The test for reasonableness is not whether counsel could have done something more or different; instead, this Court must consider whether the performance fell within the broad range of reasonable assistance at trial.
Id.
As recently noted in
Stewart v. Secretary,
476 F.3d 1193, 1209 (11th Cir.2007), the issue is not what is possible or “what is prudent or appropriate, but only what is constitutionally compelled.” (quoting
Burger v. Kemp,
483 U.S. 776, 794 , 107 S.Ct. 3114 , 97 L.Ed.2d 638 (1987)).
Trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to question Michelle Helm. Before Richardson changed his testimony and testified for the state, trial counsel’s strategy was to lessen the focus on anything negative about Richardson. Richardson was Hannon’s alibi. After Richardson changed his story, trial counsel’s strategy was to show the jury that Richardson did not remember the details of the crime scene and that his changed story was fabricated. Michelle Helm’s negative testimony regarding Richardson’s temper was not necessary to bolster trial counsel’s argument that Richardson’s “changed story” was fabricated.
Trial counsel’s strategic decision not to question Michele Helm is “virtually unchallengable” under the Sixth Amendment. See
Wiggins,
539 U.S. at 521-22 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 ;
Strickland,
466 U.S. at 691 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 . The Florida Supreme Court specifically found that counsel’s strategic decisions were both informed and reasonable. The testimony from the evidentiary hearing supports these conclusions.
Hannon’s Defense Expert Attorney, Robert Norgard
Finally, Hannon cites to the post-conviction evidentiary hearing testimony of his defense “expert” attorney, Robert Norgard, to second-guess trial counsel’s decisions and support Hannon’s contention that trial counsel was ineffective.
See
(App. D17/3130). This claim has no merit.
Attorney Robert Norgard was called to testify as an expert at the postconviction evidentiary hearing about the standards in 1990-1991 of
effective
defense counsel at the penalty phase of a death case. He testified that Hannon’s trial counsel should have investigated mitigating evidence before the trial began and should have called a mental health expert to testify on Han-non’s behalf. Norgard testified that trial counsel should have interviewed family members, reviewed Hannon’s health, school, and medical records, and should have had Hannon evaluated by a mental health expert. However, Norgard admitted that he did not know all of the facts of Hannon’s case and that he was only testifying as to the community standards for presenting mitigating evidence at the penalty phase of a death case in 1990-1991. (App. D13/2558-2597).
The state trial court did not find Attorney Norgard’s testimony convincing as to trial counsel’s ineffectiveness for failing to investigate mitigating evidence and failing to obtain a mental health expert and the Florida Supreme Court found that trial counsel’s actions were within the realm of competent counsel.
*1205
The record supports trial counsel’s post-conviction testimony that a defense based on the proposition that Hannon did not commit the murders and that he was not the type of person who could have committed the murders was developed from the beginning of trial. During the guilt phase, trial counsel called Rusty Horn and Paul Kilgore to show that Hannon did not have the type of character to commit the murders and moved all of their guilt phase testimony into evidence during the penalty phase. Horn, Hannon’s roommate and supervisor at his stucco job, described Han-non as a “teddy bear” type who had a reputation for nonviolence. Kilgore, another of Hannon’s roommates, testified that Hannon was a nice person. Trial counsel decided it was not necessary, and likely would not have made any difference, to recall Horn and Kilgore during the penalty phase to reiterate their previous testimony.
The record also demonstrates that trial counsel presented mitigation during the guilt phase through Hannon, who testified that he attended high school through the eleventh grade; wanted to work, earn money, and learn a trade; was a hard worker; obtained a job with Rusty Horn where he received an extra fifty cents an hour if he did not drink; worked at a gas station; delivered auto parts and pizza; and visited his sister’s house on Christmas and celebrated with his nieces and nephews.
Trial counsel testified at the postconviction evidentiary hearing that he had discussions with Hannon’s parents and his sister Moreen, and that he sought their input with regard to Hannon’s defense. According to defense counsel, Hannon’s parents and sister agreed with a penalty phase strategy of emphasizing Hannon’s good character and Hannon’s innocence. Defense counsel testified that Hannon’s parents “continued to believe their son did not and could not do this.” Counsel’s adoption of a strategy that focused on Hannon’s character was the product of discussions with not only Hannon, but also with his most intimate family members. According to defense counsel, Hannon and his family agreed not to pursue a strategy where, after proceeding during the guilt phase on the theory that Hannon was not present at the time of the murders, Han-non suddenly admitted, at the penalty phase, that he had committed the crimes and began offering evidence in mitigation of the murders. Defense counsel testified that he, Hannon, and his family “decided that [changing tactics] wasn’t what it was going to be because Mr. Hannon was adamant. I can’t tell you how much he was adamant he wasn’t there.” Neither Han-non nor any of his family members suggested any mitigation matters for the penalty phase. Rather, Hannon, his parents, and his sister consistently urged the strategy that counsel ultimately adopted and pursued; that is, “keep[ing] a consistent defense and a consistent position.”
Defense counsel presented further evidence that Hannon did not have the type of character to commit these murders through the penalty phase testimony of Toni Acker and Hannon’s mother and father. Acker testified that Hannon was “a good-time guy, carefree, liked to have fun”; that Hannon had cared for her child; and that Hannon was incapable of conduct such as these murders. Hannon’s mother testified that Hannon had never hurt anyone in his entire life and that Hannon could not hurt any animal or person. Hannon’s mother also pleaded with the jury, “Please, you’ve taken away his freedom for something he didn’t do. Don’t take away his life. Give us a chance, please, to prove that he never did anything like this. He couldn’t.” Hannon’s father testified that Hannon had never been a violent person, and that he was always a
*1206
“teddy bear.” Hannon’s father also testified that “[Hannon] says he’s innocent. I believe he’s innocent, and I think he ought to be given a chance to prove that he is innocent. That’s it.” The record supports trial counsel’s postconviction evidentiary hearing testimony that his penalty phase strategy was to establish that Hannon did not have the type of character to commit the murders.
Defense counsel testified at the postconviction evidentiary hearing that he was fully aware that lingering doubt was not a statutory mitigator. He testified that he believed providing evidence during the penalty phase that Hannon did not have the type of character to commit the murders, and continuing to support the underlying innocence defense, would have a real and practical jury effect that would mitigate in favor of the jury sparing Hannon’s life. Defense counsel considered this character evidence to be non-statutory mitigation, which Hannon now claims is “invalid” lingering double argument.
Attorney Norgard testified that he recognized that lingering doubt, although not a valid mitigating factor, nevertheless may be a factor in the jury’s death recommendation vote and admitted that the consistent approach had a practical and real impact on a juror’s vote in terms of whether to vote for life imprisonment or death. (App. D13/2558-1597).
Defense counsel’s continued reliance on Hannon’s claim of innocence during the penalty phase has been approved as a reasoned, strategic decision. For example, in
Chandler v. United States,
218 F.3d 1305, 1320 (11th Cir.2000), trial counsel focused on obtaining an acquittal and then, at sentencing, on lingering doubt. The Eleventh Circuit specifically found that this strategy was a reasonable one and the federal appellate court relied, in part, on
Tarver v. Hopper,
169 F.3d 710, 715-716 (11th Cir.1999) which cited a “law review study concluding that ‘the best thing a capital Defendant can to do improve his chances of receiving a life sentence ... is to raise doubt about his guilt.’ ”
Although Attorney Norgard testified about the 1990-1991 standards of penalty phase mitigation in a death penalty case, nothing in his testimony demonstrates that the outcome of Hannon’s case would have been different had trial counsel performed according to the standards set out by Attorney Norgard.
Strickland
does not require defense counsel to present mitigating evidence at sentencing in every case.
See Wiggins,
539 U.S. at 533 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 . Counsel’s decision not to present mitigation evidence may be a tactical decision properly within counsel’s discretion.
See Brown v. State,
439 So.2d 872, 875 (Fla. 1983) (“The choice by counsel to present or not present evidence in mitigation is a tactical decision properly within counsel’s discretion.”);
Valle v. State,
705 So.2d 1331 , 1335 n. 4 (Fla.1997) (same);
Gorham v. State,
521 So.2d 1067, 1070 (Fla.1988) (same). When evaluating claims that counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate or present mitigating evidence, a defendant must show that counsel’s ineffectiveness “deprived the defendant of a reliable penalty phase proceeding.”
Asay v. State,
769 So.2d 974, 985 (Fla.2000) (quoting
Rutherford v. State,
727 So.2d 216, 223 (Fla.1998)). Further, as the United States Supreme Court recently stated in
Wiggins :
[C]ounsel has a duty to make reasonable investigations or to make a reasonable decision that makes particular investigations unnecessary____ [A] particular decision not to investigate must be directly assessed for reasonableness in all the circumstances, applying a heavy measure of deference to counsel’s judgments.
*1207
[0]ur principal concern in deciding whether- [counsel] exercised “reasonable professional judgmen[t]” is not whether counsel should have presented a mitigation case. Rather, we focus on whether the investigation supporting counsel’s decision not to introduce mitigating evidence ... was itself reasonable. In assessing counsel’s investigation, we must conduct an objective review of their performance, measured for “reasonableness under prevailing professional norms,” , which, includes a context-dependent consideration of the challenged conduct as- seen “from counsel’s perspective at the time.”
539 U.S. at 521-23 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 (citations omitted).
See Strickland,
466 U.S. at 688-89, 691 , 104 S.Ct. 2052 .
Investigating and presenting mental health mitigation is not always, but certainly at times, may be inconsistent with presenting an innocence defense during the penalty phase. The question is whether trial counsel’s particular decision in Hannon’s case not to investigate and develop mitigation was reasonable under the circumstances.
See Wiggins,
539 U.S. at 521-22 , 123 S.Ct. 2527 . Based on the record in this case, Hannon has not and cannot demonstrate that his trial counsel was deficient during the penalty phase because, under these circumstances, Hannon’s trial counsel at the time had specific tactical and calculated reasons for the alibi and innocence strategy adopted at the guilt phase and continued into the penalty phase.
Trial counsel strategically relied on an innocence defense and Hannon agreed with this strategy. Hannon’s trial judge expressly noted that “[i]f Mr. Hannon knowingly and intelligently waives his right to present mitigating evidence or circumstances, he has that right under the law.”
The Eleventh Circuit has made abundantly clear, “it would not matter if a petitioner [Hannon] could assemble affidavits from a dozen attorneys swearing that the strategy used at his trial was unreasonable. The question is not one to be decided by plebiscite, by affidavits, by deposition, or by live testimony.”
Provenzano v. Singletary,
148 F.3d 1327, 1332 (11th Cir.1998).
Hannon’s claims that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to present a voluntary intoxication defense and for failing adequately to investigate and prepare for trial do not warrant relief. Hannon has failed to demonstrate that the state trial court or the Florida Supreme Court acted contrary to, or unreasonably applied established federal law in rejecting these claims.
Ground Two does not warrant federal habeas corpus relief.
Ground Three
The State withheld evidence which was material and exculpatory in nature and/presented misleading evidence in violation of the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution
Hannon alleges that the State withheld evidence that was material and exculpatory and/or presented misleading evidence, in violation of
Brady
and/or
Giglio,
regarding the testimony of Ron Richardson and Judith Bunker. Amended Petition at 8 (Doc. 13); Supporting Facts at 8 (Doc. 13-2); Memo at 45-46 (Doc. 10).
Hannon’s Claim as to Ronald Richardson
Hannon contends that while the State argued at Hannon’s’ trial that Richardson was going to spend time in prison for his role in this case, Richardson received a suspended sentence and never spent a day in jail for this offense. According to Han-non, the Prosecution’s failure to disclose
*1208
that Richardson’s testimony was presented in exchange for lenient treatment was a violation of
Brady v. Maryland, 373
U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194 , 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963). Additionally, he argues that the prosecution presented false testimony regarding Richardson’s prison time in violation of
Giglio v. United States,
405 U.S. 150 , 92 S.Ct. 763 , 31 L.Ed.2d 104 (1972).
In its order denying postconviction relief, the state trial court summarily denied Hannon’s
Brady/Giglio
claim regarding Richardson’s plea “deal” and sentence, finding that the claim had no merit. (App. D6/1094-1095). The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the state trial court’s rejection of Hannon’s
Brady/Giglio
claim.
Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1140-41 .
To demonstrate a
Brady
violation, Hannon must allege specific facts that, if accepted as true, establish a prima facie case that (1) the State possessed evidence favorable to the accused because it was either exculpatory or impeaching; (2) the State willfully or inadvertently suppressed the evidence; and (3) the defendant was prejudiced.
See Strickler v. Greene,
527 U.S. 263, 281-82 , 119 S.Ct. 1936 , 144 L.Ed.2d 286 (1999);
Allen v. State,
854 So.2d 1255, 1259 (Fla.2003).
To establish a
Giglio
violation, Hannon must demonstrate that (1) the testimony given was false; (2) the prosecutor knew the testimony was false; and (3) the statement was material.
See Guzman v. State,
868 So.2d 498, 505 (Fla.2003);
Ventura v. State,
794 So.2d 553, 562 (Fla.2001).
Hannon’s claim fails because he has not alleged any facts to show that there was either a
Brady
or a
Giglio
violation with regard to Richardson’s testimony. The fact that Richardson did not serve five years in Florida State Prison due to gain time awarded by the Department of Corrections does not prove that the State suppressed evidence or presented false testimony. The award and forfeiture of statutory gain time is a function of the Department of Corrections, not the Court.
See Harvey v. State,
616 So.2d 521 (Fla. 2d DCA 1993).
There is no indication that the State suppressed evidence relating to its agreement with Richardson. The record reveals that Richardson approached the State to negotiate an agreement, the State came to an agreement with Richardson on a Sunday evening, and the next morning the State informed Hannon’s trial counsel and the state trial court of the plea agreement. The record facially reflects that Hannon’s trial counsel knew of the agreement at the time of the trial. These facts conclusively refute the contention that
a Brady
violation occurred.
See Tompkins v. State,
872 So.2d 230, 239 (Fla.2003) (“Because defense counsel knew of the report ... a
Brady
violation is conclusively refuted.”);
see also Foster v. State,
810 So.2d 910, 916 (Fla.2002);
Bryan v. State,
748 So.2d 1003, 1008 (Fla.1999).
Hannon also fails to demonstrate a
Giglio
violation with regard to Richardson’s testimony relating to what occurred on the night of the murders. Hannon simply asserts that Richardson’s testimony was fabricated without additional facts, or any facts that the State knew Richardson’s testimony was false. Hannon has not provided a factual basis to demonstrate that the State instructed Richardson to lie with regard to what occurred on the night of the murders, or that Richardson did lie.
There is no basis for a finding that the state courts either ignored or unreasonably applied prevailing federal law in the rejection of Hannon’s
Brady/Giglio
claims. Moreover, Hannon has not rebutted, by clear and convincing evidence, the state court’s dispositive factual finding that “the record facially supports the conclusion” that the jury was in fact informed that
*1209
with his gain time, Richardson might not actually spend five years in prison. In this ease, Hannon failed to show that the State suppressed “any evidence that Richardson might not serve time in jail after his gain time was calculated or that it misrepresented to the jury the length of time Richardson was expected to actually serve for his participation in the murders.”
Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1140-1141 . Hannon has not demonstrated that the Florida courts either ignored or unreasonably applied prevailing federal law in the rejection of Han-non’s
Brady/Giglio
claims.
Hannon’s Claim as to Judith Bunker
Hannon claims that the State presented unreliable testimony and evidence through Judith Bunker, the State’s blood-spatter expert. According to Hannon, Bunker’s qualifications as an expert in the field of blood spatter were misrepresented. (Hannon alludes to Ground Two). He claims that, to the extent that the State failed to disclose this information and/or presented misleading testimony, the State violated
Brady
and
Giglio .
The state trial court summarily denied postconviction relief on the issue of Judith Bunker’s qualifications, stating:
Third, Defendant claims the State presented unreliable testimony and evidence through Judith Bunker, whom the Court qualified as a blood-spatter expert. Specifically, Defendant claims Ms. Bunker’s “qualifications” as an expert in the field of blood spatter were misrepresented. However, Defendant has failed to prove that the State was aware that Ms. Bunker misrepresented her qualifications. Moreover, the Florida Supreme Court in
Correll v. State,
698 So.2d 522 (Fla.1997), held that Ms. Judith Bunker’s exaggeration of her credentials did not warrant relief. The Florida Supreme Court in
Correll
stated that “the discrepancies between the level of education, training, and experience Bunker testified to at trial and the asserted level of education, training, and experience she actually had were not so great as to make any difference in the outcome of the case.”
Id.
at 524 .
On July 19, 1991, in Defendant’s case, Ms. Judith Bunker testified to [sic] regarding her extensive training, education, and experience. (See Trial Transcript, Volume X, pages 1076-1083, attached). Similar to
Correll ,
this Court finds that Ms. Judith Bunker’s exaggeration of her credentials is not prejudicial when Ms. Bunker’s testimony was based on her extensive experience in the field of blood spatter analysis. (See Trial Transcript, Volume X, pages 1076-1126, attached). As such, no relief is warranted upon this portion of claim III.
(App. D6/1099).
The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial of postconviction relief as to Hannon’s
Brady/Giglio
claim regarding Judith Bunker, stating:
Hannon further claims that the trial court erred in summarily denying the following claims with regard to Bunker: trial counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate Bunker’s background, the State presented unreliable and nonscientifie blood spatter testimony through Bunker, and the State’s failure to disclose Bunker’s qualifications and misrepresentations of Bunker’s qualifications as an expert in the field of blood spatter constituted a
Brady
and
Giglio
violation. A criminal defendant alleging a
Brady
violation bears the burden to show prejudice, i.e., to show a reasonable probability that the undisclosed evidence would have produced a different verdict.
See Strickler v. Greene,
527 U.S. 263 , 281 n. 20, 119 S.Ct. 1936 , 144 L.Ed.2d 286 (1999). To demonstrate prejudice under
Giglio
it must be established that “there is any reasonable likelihood that
*1210
the false testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury.”
United States v. Agurs,
427 U.S. 97, 103 , 96 S.Ct. 2392 , 49 L.Ed.2d 342 (1976). Han-non has failed to demonstrate prejudice relating to any aspect of Bunker’s testimony sufficient to establish either a
Brady
or
Giglio
violation. Therefore, the trial court’s rejection of these claims was not improper.
Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1124 .
The state trial court found that Ms. Bunker’s exaggeration of her credentials was not prejudicial when her testimony was based on her extensive experience in the field of blood spatter analysis. Trial counsel confirmed that her testimony was not harmful to Hannon, and his “tactical decision not to challenge or impeach Bunker’s blood spatter testimony was reasonable because it [her testimony] did not implicate Hannon in the murders, nor was it even an element in the State’s case against Hannon.”
Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1122 . If there were any error caused by withholding evidence of Bunker’s credentials or presenting “false testimony” as to her credentials, the error was harmless under
Brecht .
No violation of any clearly established federal law has been demonstrated, and this claim fails under AEDPA.
Ground Three does not warrant federal habeas corpus relief.
Ground Four
Mr. Hannon was denied due process when unreliable and unscientific evidence was presented at trial in violation of the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and in violation of
Frye v. United States
Hannon asserts that he was denied “due process” when allegedly unreliable and “non-scientific” blood stain pattern evidence was presented at trial in violation of
Frye v. United States,
293 F. 1013 (D.C.Cir.1923). Hannon also summarily cites to
Brady, Giglio,
and
Bagley,
as well as noting a subsidiary IAC complaint. Amended Petition at 9 (Doc. 13); Supporting Facts at 9-10 (Doc. 13-2); Memo at 47-48 (Doc. 10).
Hannon contends that trial counsel failed properly to voir dire Bunker, and as a result, she was qualified as a blood stain pattern expert. Hannon contends that because trial counsel failed to object to her qualifications, the trial court had no reason to question whether Bunker’s reasoning or methodology underlying her testimony was scientifically valid and whether that reasoning or methodology properly could be applied to the facts in issue.
Hannon contends that Bunker should never have been qualified as an expert because she lacked the scientific training, knowledge and skills to perform blood stain pattern analyses. The reliability of her materially inaccurate testimony undermined the reliability of Hannon’s convictions and sentence especially because her testimony provided the basis for the heinous, atrocious, and cruel aggravating factor. Hannon claims that had the jury known that Bunker’s testimony was false and/or misleading, that she was not an expert in any field, and that her conclusions were without any scientific basis, the jury could have reached a different result as to Hannon’s guilt.
Hannon admits that no
Frye
objection was raised at trial and that this claim was not raised on direct appeal. Amended Petition at 10 (Doc. 13). Therefore, Hannon’s
Frye
claim is procedurally barred. Hannon attempts to show cause and prejudice to overcome the procedural default in his reply to Respondent’ response to the federal habeas petition. Hannon alleges that the claim could not have been raised on direct appeal because trial counsel did not preserve it for review and the ineffective assistance of trial coun
*1211
sel in failing to preserve this claim for direct appeal constitute cause that excuses the procedural default.
Hannon’s argument for overcoming the procedural default is not persuasive because Bunker’s testimony with regard to the blood spatters did not link Hannon to the crime scene.
See Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1123 n. 7. Trial counsel testified at the postconviction evidentiary hearing that (1) he chose not to question Bunker’s credentials at trial to avoid giving the jury the impression that he was attempting to present an inconsistent defense; and (2) Bunker’s testimony did not adversely impact Hannon’s defense because Bunker was never able to confirm that any of the victims’ blood was on Hannon.
In addition, Hannon’s argument that the state trial court did not address the significant effect of Bunker’s testimony on the penalty phase of the trial and thus overlooked the relevance of Bunker’s testimony as it pertained to the HAC aggravator is not persuasive. The state trial court upheld the application of the HAC aggravator as to both murders without relying on Bunker’s blood spatter testimony.
See Hannon,
638 So.2d at 43 .
Hannon has not shown that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to raise a
Frye
issue. Therefore, trial counsel’s failure to preserve this claim for review on direct appeal cannot serve as cause or prejudice to overcome the procedural default.
Intertwined Claims
In his state postconviction proceedings, Hannon also raised various intertwined
Brady
and IAC claims predicated on his underlying complaint that the State allegedly presented “unreliable and nonscientifie” blood spatter evidence. In summarily denying Hannon’s intertwined claims for postconviction relief (state postconviction claims III, IV, and V), the state trial court found that Hannon failed to prove that the State was aware that Bunker misrepresented her qualifications. The state trial court also pointed out that the Florida Supreme Court, in
Correll v. State,
698 So.2d 522 (Fla.1997), held that Bunker’s exaggeration of her credentials did not warrant relief. The
Correll
Court stated that “the discrepancies between the level of education, training, and. experience Bunker testified to at trial and the asserted level of education, training, and experience she actually had were not so great as to make any difference in the outcome of the case.”
Id.
at 524 .
(App. D6/1099)
The Florida Supreme Court found that Bunker’s testimony relating to the blood splatter evidence was presented to assist the jury in understanding the facts before it. The clothing was admitted into evidence and used by Bunker to explain how the murders occurred. The splatter evidence was consistent and tied in with other evidence detailing the manner of commission of the crime.
Hannon v. State,
638 So.2d 39, 43 (Fla.1994). Therefore, the Florida Supreme Court found Bunker’s testimony admissible.
Id.
“A trial court’s ruling regarding the admissibility of evidence will not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion.”
Hannon v. State,
638 So.2d 39, 43 (Fla. 1994) (citing
Blanco v. State,
452 So.2d 520, 523 (Fla.1984),
cert. denied,
469 U.S. 1181 , 105 S.Ct. 940 , 83 L.Ed.2d 953 (1985)). The Florida Supreme Court, on direct appeal, found that this Court did not abuse its discretion in admitting Ms. Bunker’s testimony regarding blood spatter analysis.
Id.
at 43. Therefore, Defendant’s claims regarding the admissibility of Ms. Bunker’s testimony are without merit.
The state trial court found, on postconviction, that Hannon had failed to prove either a
Brady
violation or a
Giglio
violation because he failed to prove that evidence was suppressed by the State or that
*1212
the State presented false testimony. (App. D6/1103-1105).
The state trial court reserved ruling on Hannon’s IAC claim, but found that Han-non’s remaining postconviction claims related to the presentation of unreliable testimony and non-scientific evidence were without merit. (App. D6/1125-1127). On postconviction appeal, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the state trial court’s summary denial of Hannon’s challenge to the blood spatter testimony and intertwined
Brady/Giglio
claims finding that Hannon had failed to demonstrate prejudice relating to any aspect of Bunker’s testimony sufficient to establish either a
Brady
or
Giglio
violation.
Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1123-1124 .
After the postconviction evidentiary hearing, the state trial court issued a final order on Hannon’s postconviction claims and stated that Hannon was not entitled to relief on ineffective assistance of counsel claim related to his intertwined IAC/blood spatter claims:
Defendant claims counsel failed to adequately challenge Ms. Bunker’s testimony through cross-examination, counsel failed to depose Ms. Bunker, counsel failed to retain experts to testify in rebuttal, and counsel failed to object to the errors outlined in claim V. With respect to counsel’s alleged failure to adequately challenge Ms. Bunker’s testimony through cross-examination, at the February 18, 2002 evidentiary hearing, Mr. Episcopo testified that attacking Ms. Bunker would not have helped the defense because her testimony was irrelevant and did not hurt Defendant’s case. (See February 18, 2002 Transcript, pages 40 and 46, attached). Moreover, Mr. Episcopo testified that Ms. Bunker did not have anything against Defendant, she did not put- any of the victims’ blood on Defendant, the State did not need her for their case, and he had no intention of attacking her. (See February 18, 2002 Transcript, page 113, attached). Consequently, Defendant has failed to meet the first prong of
Strickland
in that he has failed to prove how counsel acted deficiently when he made a strategic decision to not extensively challenge Ms. Bunker’s testimony through cross-examination. Since Defendant has failed to meet the first prong of
Strickland ,
it is unnecessary to address the prejudice component.
See Downs v. State,
740 So.2d 506 , 518 n. 19 (Fla.1999). As such, no relief is warranted upon this portion of claim V.
With respect to counsel’s alleged failure to depose Ms. Bunker, at the February 18, 2002 evidentiary hearing, Mr. Episcopo testified that although he received Ms. Bunker’s Curriculum Vitae prior to trial, he did not recall deposing Ms. Bunker prior to trial. (See February 18, 2002 Transcript, page 35, attached). However, Mr. Episcopo testified that he never questioned Ms. Bunker’s credentials because he didn’t want to give the jury the impression that he was impeaching a witness that was not relevant to the alibi defense, and questioning her extensively would have had nothing to do with the alibi defense. (See February 18, 2002 Transcript, pages 34-35, attached).
Moreover, Mr. Episcopo testified that Ms. Bunker did not have anything against Defendant, she did not put any of the victims’ blood on Defendant, the State did not need her for their case, and he had no intention of attacking her. (See February 18, 2002 Transcript, page 113, attached). Consequently, Defendant has failed to meet the first prong of
Strickland
in that he has failed to prove how counsel acted deficiently when he made a strategic decision not to depose Ms. Judith Bunker. Since Defendant has failed to meet the first prong of
*1213
Strickland ,
it is unnecessary to address the prejudice component.
See Downs v. State,
740 So.2d 506 , 518 n. 19 (Fla. 1999). As such, no relief is warranted upon this portion of claim V.
With respect to counsel’s alleged failure to retain experts to testify in rebuttal, at the February 18, 2002 evidentiary hearing, Mr. Episcopo testified that attacking Ms. Bunker would not have helped the defense because her testimony was irrelevant and did not hurt Defendant’s case. (See February 18, 2002 Transcript, pages 40 and 46, attached). Moreover, Mr. Episcopo testified that Ms. Bunker did not have anything against Defendant, she did not put any of the victims’ blood on Defendant, the State did not need her for their case, and he had no intention of attacking her. (See February 18, 2002 Transcript, page 113, attached). Consequently, Defendant has failed to meet the first prong of
Strickland
in that he has failed to prove how counsel acted deficiently when he made a strategic decision not to retain experts to testify in rebuttal. Since Defendant has failed to meet the first prong of
Strickland ,
it is unnecessary to address the prejudice component.
See Downs v. State,
740 So.2d 506 , 518 n. 19 (Fla.1999). As such, no relief is warranted upon this portion of claim V.
With respect to counsel’s alleged failure to object to the errors outlined in claim V, based on the Court’s ruling on the remainder of claim V, no relief is warranted upon this portion of claim V.
(App. D10/2016-2017).
The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial of relief on this claim, stating:
Hannon further claims that the trial court erred in summarily denying the following claims with regard to Bunker: trial counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate Bunker’s background, the State presented unreliable and nonseientific blood spatter testimony through Bunker, and the State’s failure to disclose Bunker’s qualifications and misrepresentations of Bunker’s qualifications as an expert in the field of blood spatter constituted a
Brady
and
Giglio
violation. A criminal defendant alleging a
Brady
violation bears the burden to show prejudice,
ie.,
to show a reasonable probability that the undisclosed evidence would have produced a different verdict.
See Strickler v. Greene,
527 U.S. 263 , 281 n. 20, 119 S.Ct. 1936 , 144 L.Ed.2d 286 (1999). To demonstrate prejudice under
Giglio
it must be established that “there is any reasonable likelihood that the false testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury.”
United States v. Agurs,
427 U.S. 97, 103 , 96 S.Ct. 2392 , 49 L.Ed.2d 342 (1976). Han-non has failed to demonstrate prejudice relating to any aspect of bunker’s testimony sufficient to establish either a
Brady or Giglio
violation. Therefore, the trial court’s rejection of these claims was not improper.
Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1123-1124 .
Hannon’s
Frye
claim could have been raised at trial and on direct appeal. It was not and is now procedurally barred.
See Coleman v. Thompson,
501 U.S. 722, 750 , 111 S.Ct. 2546 , 115 L.Ed.2d 640 (1991). In rejecting Hannon’s intertwined
Brady/Giglio
claims, the state trial court and the Florida Supreme Court found that Hannon failed to establish that any evidence was suppressed by the State or that the State knowingly presented any material false testimony. At trial, and even in the present petition, Hannon does not seriously dispute that the victims’ blood actually was spattered at the crime scene. Downstairs, Brandon Snider was stabbed until his “guts” literally were “hanging out” and, then, Snider was nearly decapitated. Upstairs, Robbie Carter was shot six times in the torso, at close range.
*1214
However, as defense counsel emphasized at trial, and reiterated in postconviction testimony, the blood spatter expert did not link Hannon to the murders. Consequently, defense counsel concluded that Judith Bunker’s testimony was irrelevant and that a
Frye
hearing was not necessary.
5
(App. Dll/2092).
To establish that there was a
Brady
violation, Hannon must prove that: (1) the government possessed evidence favorable to him; (2) he did not possess the evidence and could not have obtained it with reasonable diligence; (3) the government suppressed the favorable evidence; and (4) the evidence was material.
LeCroy v. Sec’y, Fla. Dep’t of Corr.,
421 F.3d 1237, 1268 (11th Cir.2005). To satisfy Brady’s materiality standard, Hannon must demonstrate a reasonable probability that, had the allegedly favorable evidence been disclosed, the result of the proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability of a different result is shown when the government’s evidentiary suppression “ ‘undermines confidence in the outcome of the trial.’ ”
Kyles v. Whitley,
514 U.S. 419, 434 , 115 S.Ct. 1555 , 131 L.Ed.2d 490 (1995) (quoting
United States v. Bagley,
473 U.S. 667, 678 , 105 S.Ct. 3375 , 87 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985)). Hannon has not identified any specific error in the state court’s comprehensive and fact-specific analyses nor has he otherwise supported his conclusory assertions. The facts as found by state trial court affirmatively refute the allegation that the State failed to disclose exculpatory, material evidence or presented material false evidence. No United States Supreme Court precedent was misapplied in the state court’s rejection of this claim.
Ground Four does not warrant habeas corpus relief.
Ground Five
Mr. Hannon’s trial counsel was operating under a conflict of interest that rendered his representation of Mr. Hannon unconstitutional and violated Mr. Hannon’s rights under the Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and the corresponding provisions of the Florida Constitution
Hannon asserts that trial counsel, Joe Episcopo, was operating under a purported conflict of interest. Amended Petition at pp. 10-11 (Doc. 13-2);. Memo at 49 (Doc. 10). Hannon claims Episcopo pursued co-defendant Richardson in an attempt to represent both co-defendant Richardson and Hannon, although Episcopo knew that co-defendant Richardson was represented by another attorney.
6
In summarily denying this postconviction claim, the state trial court specifically found that the facts that formed the basis for the alleged “conflict of interest” claim were known to Hannon at the time of his trial, and therefore, could have been raised on direct appeal. In fact, they were apparent on the face of the record. The conflict of interest claim was not raised at trial or on direct appeal. (App. D6/11291132).
*1215
The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the state trial court’s summary denial of postconviction relief, finding that this claim was procedurally barred because the alleged conflict of interest was known to Hannon at the time of his trial and, therefore, could have been, and should have been, raised on direct appeal.
Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1141 .
Ground Five was procedurally barred in state court and is procedurally barred in this Court. Hannon has not shown cause and prejudice to overcome the procedural bar. Nor has he shown that a miscarriage of justice will occur if this Court does not reach the merits of this claim.
See O’Sullivan v. Boerckel,
526 U.S. 838, 848 , 119 S.Ct. 1728 , 144 L.Ed.2d 1 (1999);
Parker v. Secretary for the Department of Corrections,
331 F.3d 764, 770-71 (11th Cir.2003).
Even if the claim were not procedurally barred, Hannon’s conflict of interest claim has no merit. To prove a claim that an actual conflict of interest existed between a Defendant and his counsel, the Defendant must show that his counsel actively represented conflicting interests and that the conflict adversely affected counsel’s performance.
Quince v. State,
732 So.2d 1059, 1063 (Fla.1999).
Also, to show a violation of the right to conflict-free counsel, a defendant must establish that an
actual conflict
of interest adversely affected his lawyer’s performance.
Cuyler v. Sullivan,
446 U.S. 335, 350 , 100 S.Ct. 1708 , 64 L.Ed.2d 333 (1980);
Freund v. Butterworth,
165 F.3d 839 (11th Cir.1999) (en banc). “Until a defendant shows that his counsel
actively represented
conflicting interests,” he has not established a violation of the Sixth Amendment.
Cuyler v. Sullivan,
446 U.S. at 350 , 100 S.Ct. 1708 .
7
In
Mickens v. Taylor,
535 U.S. 162 , 122 S.Ct. 1237 , 152 L.Ed.2d 291 (2002), the Supreme Court again emphasized that until “a defendant shows that his counsel
actively represented conflicting interests,
he has not established the constitutional predicate for his claim of ineffective assistance.” 535 U.S. at 175, 122 S.Ct. 1237 (quoting
Cuyler v. Sullivan,
446 U.S. at 350 , 100 S.Ct. 1708 ).
More importantly, “[t]here is no Supreme Court decision holding that any kind of presumed prejudice rule applies outside the multiple representation context.”
Schwab v. Crosby,
451 F.3d 1308, 1327 (11th Cir.2006).
8
Attorney Episcopo never represented co-defendant Richardson; therefore, this case did not involve any issue of concurrent multiple representation. Episcopo never actively represented Richardson during his representation of Hannon.
Hannon claims that counsel was blinded to pursuing avenues of investigation that
*1216
might have pointed to the co-defendant Richardson’s role in the killings. However, Hannon has failed to specifically allege what evidence may have been available to show that co-defendant Richardson’s role was more significant than Hannon’s.
Hannon also claimed that counsel’s attempting to represent co-defendant Richardson clouded counsel’s ability to effectively cross-examine Richardson. A review of Episcopo cross-examination reflects that Episcopo impeached Richardson several times with prior statements Richardson made. Moreover, Episcopo was able to get Richardson to testify that he had changed his story and had previously lied about where he was at the time of the murders. The trial transcript demonstrates that defense counsel effectively cross-examined Mr. Richardson. (App. A10/1193-1218).
Hannon’s claim of purported conflict was known by him at the time of trial and was not raised, and therefore, was deemed procedurally barred on postconviction by the state trial court. That decision was affirmed by the Florida Supreme Court. Hannon’s alleged “conflict of interest” claim is procedurally barred for federal review because the last state court rendering judgment found the claim to be procedurally defaulted, and Hannon fails to demonstrate cause and prejudice to excuse the default.
See, Harris v. Reed,
489 U.S. 255, 262 , 109 S.Ct. 1038 , 103 L.Ed.2d 308 (1989). Additionally, Hannon’s speculative claim of alleged conflict of interest is meritless. Hannon has not identified any actual conflicting interest under which Episcopo operated at any time at trial, nor has he identified any possible prejudice.
Ground Five does not warrant habeas corpus relief.
Ground Six
The State’s use of jailhouse informants violated Mr. Hannon’s Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights and counsel’s failure to object constituted prejudicially ineffective representation
Hannon contends that the State’s use of “jailhouse informants” allegedly violated Hannon’s Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Amended Petition at pp. 12-14 (Doc. 13-2); Memo at 50 (Doc. 10).
Hannon claims that Keith Fernandez told a “police officer” that Fernandez could get information “out of Hannon,” and that Fernandez was sent to jail to do that. Hannon also alleges that Jonathan Ring was a jailhouse informant who testified against Hannon in exchange for the restoration of his gain time while Ring was out of prison for Hannon’s trial. Hannon contends that trial counsel was ineffective because he did not discover any evidence of the undisclosed “deals,” and specifically that counsel was ineffective for failing to discover that state investigator Scott Hopkins wrote a letter on September 6, 1991 to the superintendent of the prison where Ring was house requesting that gain time Ring lost while waiting to testify be reinstated.
Hannon failed to provide a factual basis for his allegation that the State made undisclosed concessions or guarantees of favors to either Fernandez or Ring in return for information against Hannon, or that either Fernandez or Ring were agents of the State. Based on the record, the trial court properly found that Hannon was not entitled to relief and therefore, summary denial of postconviction relief was appropriate. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the state trial court’s denial of relief on this claim.
See Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1142 .
Furthermore, Hannon’s claim is insufficiently pled. Aside from a single,
*1217
perfunctory citation to
Maine v. Moulton,
474 U.S. 159 , 106 S.Ct. 477 , 88 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985), Hannon does not fairly identify, in his petition, any prevailing federal law from the United States Supreme Court which was allegedly ignored or misapplied by the state courts’ rejection of this issue. The cases that were summarily cited on pages 89-90 of Hannon’s initial postconviction brief in state court were
United States v. Henry,
447 U.S. 264 , 100 S.Ct. 2183 , 65 L.Ed.2d 115 (1980),
Massiah v. United States,
377 U.S. 201 , 84 S.Ct. 1199 , 12 L.Ed.2d 246 (1964),
9
and
Maine v. Moulton,
474 U.S. 159, 176 , 106 S.Ct. 477 , 88 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985). These cases are not on point or are factually different from Hannon’s case.
Hannon has not refuted, by clear and convincing evidence,
10
the state trial court’s factual findings that “Defendant has failed to prove any inmate was offered anything in exchange for their [sic] testimony. Moreover, Defendant has failed to prove the State encouraged the jailhouse informants to testify falsely.” (App. D6/1137). The record affirmatively refutes his claim as to state trial court error. Furthermore, Hannon has not shown that counsel was ineffective under the
Strickland
standard. Since Fernandez and the other inmate witnesses were not agents of the State, counsel was not ineffective for failing to raise this nonmeritorious issue. See
Parker v. State,
611 So.2d 1224, 1227 (Fla.1993).
Ground Six does not warrant habeas corpus relief.
Ground Seven
The State’s use of misleading testimony and improper argument undermined the reliability of the outcome of Mr. Hannon’s capital trial in violation of his rights under the Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and the corresponding provisions of the Florida Constitution
Hannon asserts that two of the prosecutor’s comments during closing argument were improper and that the State allegedly presented false testimony and comments regarding the amount of time that Han-non’s co-defendant, Ron Richardson, would spend in prison. Amended Petition at 14-15 (Doc. 13-2), Memo at 50 (Doc. 10).
Prosecutor’s Comments at Trial
Hannon asserts that the following “slaughterhouse” arguments made by the State during the guilt phase closing argument and were not supported by any factual basis:
If I had to think of a name for this case, something to summarize what this case is all about, the name I would choose would be “The Slaughterhouse. The Slaughterhouse.” Because on January 10, 1991, a man sitting in this very courtroom, turned the home of Brandon Snider and Robbie Carter into a slaughterhouse.
Hannon worked at a slaughterhouse. Hannon had access to knives. He had access to knives. He used knives in the past to kill. He testified on the stand that he killed before, killed animals before.
11
(App. A12/1457,1479)
Additionally, Hannon asserts that trial counsel’s failure to object to the following
*1218
argument made by the State during closing argument was unreasonable:
“[SJometimes you need to make a deal with a sinner in order to get the devil. That’s what we did in this case. Ron Richardson did wrong. He was a sinner. We dealt with him to get the devil.”
(App. A12/1613)
Hannon admits that he did not challenge the prosecutor’s comments at trial and on direct appeal. Amended Petition at 15 (Doc. 13-2). Therefore, any claims concerning the prosecutor’s comments at trial are procedurally barred.
See, Coleman v. Thompson,
501 U.S. 722, 750 , 111 S.Ct. 2546 , 115 L.Ed.2d 640 (1991). Hannon has not shown cause and prejudice to overcome the procedural default and has not shown that a fundamental miscarriage of justice will occur if this Court does not reach the merits of this claim.
Hannon did raise a similar claim in the state court in his postconviction proceedings, under the guise that the State allegedly presented false evidence and misleading argument. The Florida Supreme Court rejected, on the merits, Hannon’s dual claims that the prosecutor’s comments were improper and that the prosecutor misrepresented Richardson’s sentence. The Florida Supreme Court found that there was testimony regarding Han-non’s work with knives in a slaughterhouse to support the State’s analogy of Hannon’s case to a slaughterhouse. The Florida Supreme Court also found that the State’s comment during closing argument “that they made a deal with the sinner to get the devil was not so prejudicial as to undermine our confidence in the case.”
Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1142-1144 .
Even if the prosecutor’s comments and argument were not procedurally barred because they were not objected to at trial and not raised on direct appeal, they would not warrant habeas relief. The Florida Supreme Court’s ruling that the prosecutor’s comments were proper when read in context is entitled to great deference. Hannon has failed to meet his burden under AEDPA of showing that the state court’s ruling on this matter was contrary to any clearly established law as determined by the United States Supreme Court or was an unreasonable application of such clearly established law.
False Testimony as to Richardson’s Prison Sentence
The Court previously discussed this issue. See Ground Three above. The claim has no merit.
*1219
Ground Seven does not warrant habeas corpus relief on either the State’s improper argument claim or the misleading testimony claim.
Ground Eight
The avoid arrest aggravator is vague and improperly applied at Mr. Han-non’s trial in violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution
Hannon asserts that the “avoid arrest” aggravator is vague and was improperly applied at his trial. Amended Petition at 15-17 (Doc. 13-2); Memo at 50-51 (Doc. 10). The state trial court found this aggravating factor as to victim Carter, only: that Carter’s murder was committed to avoid or prevent a lawful arrest. § 921.141(5)(e), Fla. Stat. (1991).
Hannon,
638 So.2d at 41 .
Vagueness Challenge
Hannon admits that his
vagueness
challenge to the “avoid arrest” aggravator was not raised at trial and on direct appeal. Amended Petition at 16 (Doc. 13-2). Therefore, that claim is procedurally barred.
Coleman v. Thompson,
501 U.S. 722, 750 , 111 S.Ct. 2546 , 115 L.Ed.2d 640 (1991). Hannon has not shown cause and prejudice to overcome the procedural default and has not shown that a fundamental miscarriage of justice will occur if this Court does not reach the merits of this claim.
Furthermore, the Florida Supreme Court stated:
Procedural bar notwithstanding, this claim is meritless because this Court has previously upheld the constitutionality of the standard jury instruction for the avoid arrest aggravator.
See Griffin v. State,
866 So.2d 1, 16 (Fla.2003);
Sweet v. Moore,
822 So.2d 1269, 1274 (Fla. 2002);
see also Whitton v. State,
649 So.2d 861 , 867 n. 10 (Fla.1994) (concluding that the standard jury instruction for avoid arrest aggravator is not unconstitutionally vague and did not require a limiting instruction to make this aggravator constitutionally sound). Therefore, this claim is denied.
Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1146-1147 .
Application Challenge
On direct appeal, Hannon did challenge
the application of the avoid arrest aggravator,
but only on the ground that the evidence allegedly did not support the aggravating circumstance that the murder of Carter was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing lawful arrest.
See Hannon,
638 So.2d at 44 . On direct appeal, the Florida Supreme Court stated: “the finding that Carter was murdered for the purpose of avoiding or preventing lawful arrest is fully supported by the record.”
Id.
The Eleventh Circuit has long recognized that deference must be given to the Florida courts’ application of their own law, including the application of the “avoid arrest” aggravator.
See Funchess v. Wainwright,
772 F.2d 683, 692 (11th Cir. 1985). The Florida Supreme Court’s findings are undeniably entitled to deferential review under § 2254. Hannon has not cited any United States Supreme Court case with materially indistinguishable facts, and Hannon has failed to demonstrate that the Florida Supreme Court’s ruling was contrary to or an unreasonable application of any clearly established federal law.
Ground Eight does not warrant federal habeas corpus relief.
Ground Nine
Mr. Hannon was denied his rights under the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution when the court found the automatic aggravating factor that the murder occurred during the commission of a felony
*1220
Hannon’s next claim is that the jury-instruction on the aggravating factor of “during the course of a felony,” constituted an “automatic” aggravator. Amended Petition, pp. 17-18 (Doc. 13-2); Memo, 51-52 (Doc. 10). In sentencing Hannon to death, the trial judge found three aggravating circumstances that were applicable to the murders of Brandon Snider and Robbie Carter: (1) previous conviction of a violent felony (the contemporaneous killings); (2) the murders were committed during the commission of a burglary; and (3) the murders were heinous, atrocious, or cruel (HAC). § 921.141(5)(a), (d), and (h), Fla. Stat. (1991).
Hannon,
638 So.2d at 41 .
Hannon admits that his “automatic aggravator” claim was not raised at trial and was not raised on direct appeal. Amended Petition at 17 (Doc. 13-2). Accordingly, the claim is procedurally barred.
See, Mills v. Singletary,
161 F.3d 1273 (11th Cir.1998) (holding that Mills had procedurally defaulted his “automatic aggravator” claim, and further noting that the Eleventh Circuit has considered this [automatic aggravator] argument previously and found it to be meritless.)
Id.
at 1287 (citing
Johnson v. Dugger,
932 F.2d 1360, 1368-70 (11th Cir.),
cert. denied,
502 U.S. 961 , 112 S.Ct. 427 , 116 L.Ed.2d 446 (1991));
Bertolotti v. Dugger,
883 F.2d 1503, 1527-28 (11th Cir.1989),
cert. denied,
497 U.S. 1032 , 110 S.Ct. 3296 , 111 L.Ed.2d 804 (1990).
In his state postconviction motion, Han-non sought to resurrect this procedurally barred claim by asserting that the state trial court erroneously found one of the aggravators to be that the murder occurred during the commission of a felony, and that the finding was an automatic aggravating factor.
See Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1118 . Hannon also argued that the failure to raise an “automatic aggravator” objection at trial constituted ineffective assistance of trial counsel.
In affirming the trial court’s summary denial of postconviction relief, the Florida Supreme Court explained:
The trial court summarily denied Hannon’s claims that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to object to what he contends were constitutional errors. Hannon now asserts the following: (1) the burden of proof was improperly shifted to Hannon during the penalty phase; (2) Hannon’s jury was repeatedly instructed by the court and the prosecutor that its role was advisory and simply a recommendation, diminishing the jury’s sense of responsibility in violation of
Caldwell v. Mississippi,
472 U.S. 320 , 105 S.Ct. 2633 , 86 L.Ed.2d 231 (1985); and (3) instructing the jury that they could find as an aggravating circumstance the fact that Hannon was engaged in the commission of the crime of burglary based upon the State’s alternative theory of felony murder rendered him automatically eligible for the death penalty. The trial court properly denied this claim because all of the individual assertions fail because they are procedurally barred or without legal merit.
See Power v. State,
886 So.2d 952, 956 (Fla.2004);
Freeman v. State,
761 So.2d 1055, 1067 (Fla.2000);
Blanco v. State,
706 So.2d 7, 11 (Fla.1997);
Johnson v. State,
660 So.2d 637, 647-48 (Fla.1995). All of these claims were properly denied by the trial court.
Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1144 .
Hannon has failed to establish any basis to excuse his procedural default.
See, e.g., Mills, supra.
Moreover, Hannon has not cited to any United States Supreme Court case with materially indistinguishable facts, and Hannon has failed to demonstrate that the Florida Supreme Court’s ruling was contrary to or an unreasonable application of any clearly established federal law. In fact, as noted in
*1221
Mills ,
the Eleventh Circuit previously considered the “automatic aggravator” claim and found it to be meritless, and the United States Supreme Court has expressly rejected this claim.
See Lowenfield v. Phelps,
484 U.S. 231, 246 , 108 S.Ct. 546 , 98 L.Ed.2d 568 (1988) (fact that one aggravator duplicates an element of the crime does not make sentence constitutionally infirm as long as narrowing of eligible class is otherwise accomplished). Should this claim ever be decided otherwise, the change would amount to a new rule which could not be applied retroactively on habeas review under
Teague v. Lane,
489 U.S. 288 , 109 S.Ct. 1060 , 103 L.Ed.2d 334 (1989).
Finally, Hannon’s two death sentences each rely on other additional aggravating factors, including Hannon’s prior violent felony convictions, the “HAC” aggravator; and, as to victim Carter, the additional “avoid arrest” aggravator. The presence of these multiple and additional aggravators guided the jury’s discretion and narrowed the eligibility for the death penalty as constitutionally required. Inasmuch as no United States Supreme Court decision is violated on these facts, no habeas relief is warranted under the AEDPA. Ground Nine is procedurally barred, and without merit.
Ground Nine does not warrant habeas corpus relief.
Ground Ten
The application of the heinous, atrocious and cruel aggravating factor violated Mr. Hannon’s Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights because it did not apply in Mr. Hannon’s case and was unconstitutionally vague
See Amended Petition at 18-19 (Doc. 13-2); Memo at 52 (Doc. 10). This claim is procedurally barred and without merit. On direct appeal,
Hannon,
638 So.2d at 43 , the Florida Supreme Court held that Hannon’s unpreserved
vagueness
challenge to the HAC instruction was procedurally barred. The vagueness claim was barred because, at trial, defense counsel objected to the instruction’s being given, on the facts of the case, but did not object to the wording of the instruction, or to any vagueness in the wording or terms.
Hannon,
638 So.2d at 43 .
See Ponticelli v. State,
941 So.2d 1073 (Fla.2006). Alternatively, the Court stated that failure to give an adequate instruction on the aggravating factor was harmless error.
Hannon,
638 So.2d at 43 .
On direct appeal, the Florida Supreme Court pointed out that the facts of Han-non’s case supported the “heinous, atrocious, or cruel” aggravating factor. The Court found that the heinous, atrocious or cruel aggravating factor applied to Snider’s murder because Snider was brutally stabbed numerous times, and Hannon “slit Snider’s throat.”
Id.
The Florida Supreme Court also stated that it was appropriate to find Carter’s murder to be heinous, atrocious, or cruel because he suffered great fear and terror prior to being murdered.
Id.
The Florida Supreme Court has consistently upheld findings of heinous, atrocious, or cruel under similar circumstances.
Trotter v. State,
576 So.2d 691, 694 (Fla.1990);
Campbell v. State,
571 So.2d 415, 418 (Fla.1990).
On his subsequent postconviction appeal, Hannon sought to resurrect his challenge to the application of the HAC aggravator, and the Florida Supreme Court again applied a procedural bar. The Florida Supreme Court held:
Hannon asserts that the facts of the instant case do not support the finding of heinous, atrocious, or cruel. On direct appeal, this Court rejected this claim.
See Hannon,
638 So.2d at 43 . Accordingly, we hold that this claim is
*1222
procedurally barred because it was addressed and denied on direct appeal.
Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1147 .
The state court’s findings, including that of harmless error, were not contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law. The Florida Supreme Court is the final arbiter of Florida law; federal courts must respect that law absent a constitutional violation. Under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 , a writ of habeas corpus disturbing a state-court judgment may issue only if it is found that a prisoner is in custody “in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 2241 (c)(3)(1976) A federal court may not issue the writ on the basis of a perceived error of state law ... “even if an error of state law could be sufficiently egregious to amount to a denial of equal protection or of due process of law guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment.”
Pulley v. Harris,
465 U.S. 37, 41-42 , 104 S.Ct. 871 , 79 L.Ed.2d 29 (1984). No such circumstances have been demonstrated in this case.
No constitutional error has occurred in this case; however, any possible error would clearly be harmless based on the facts and the record. The Florida Supreme Court has recognized that an inadequate jury instruction on the HAC aggravating factor does not affect the outcome of a case when the acts perpetrated by a defendant were heinous, atrocious or cruel under any definition.
See, State v. Stewart,
636 So.2d 16 (Fla.1994). The Florida Supreme Court found that Hannon’s murders fit within the constitutional definition of heinous, atrocious, or cruel.
Hannon has failed to demonstrate that the state court’s rejection of this claim applied law contrary to established United States Supreme Court precedent or in a manner which was objectively unreasonable in light
of
such precedent.
Ground Ten does not warrant habeas corpus relief.
Ground Eleven
Mr. Hannon’s sentencing jury was misled by comments, questions, instructions that unconstitutionally and inaccurately diluted the jury’s sense of responsibility towards sentencing in violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Trial counsel failed to object to this constitutional error
In his petition, Hannon asserts:
Mr. Hannon’s jury was repeatedly instructed by the court and prosecutor that its role was “advisory” and just a “recommendation.” (R 1785-1789) As a result, the jury’s sense of responsibility was diminished in violation of
Caldwell v. Mississippi
472 U.S. 320 [ 105 S.Ct. 2633 , 86 L.Ed.2d 231 ] (1985). Counsel’s failure to object without a tactic or strategy rendered Mr. Hannon’s sentencing unreliable.
Amended Petition at 20-21 (Doc. 13-2); Memo at 52 (Doc. 10). Although Hannon refers to “comments and questions,” his reference is vague and the Court cannot determine the comments or questions he refers to except as they apply to the jury instruction.
Hannon’s claim should have been raised at trial and on direct appeal. Han-non admits that it was not. Amended Petition at 20 (Doc. 13-2). Therefore, the claim is procedurally barred under state law.
See, Thompson v. State,
759 So.2d 650, 665, n. 10 (Fla.2000). Hannon has not shown cause and prejudice to overcome the procedural default and has not shown that a fundamental miscarriage of justice will occur if this Court does not meet the merits of the claim.
Hannon belatedly raised this claim in his state postconviction motion. In summarily
*1223
denying postconviction relief, the state trial court ruled that Hannon’s jury instruction claim was procedurally barred and, additionally, without merit. (App. D 6/1151 — 1153).
On postconviction appeal, the Florida Supreme Court agreed that the trial court properly summarily denied Hannon’s jury instruction claims, including his
Caldwell
claim, because all of the individual assertions were procedurally barred or without legal merit.
Hannon,
941 So.2d at 1144 .
Even if Hannon’s
Caldwell
claim, that comments and instructions to his jury unconstitutionally diminished its sense of responsibility, was not procedurally barred, see
O’Sullivan,
526 U.S. at 848 , 119 S.Ct. 1728 , the claim provides no basis for federal habeas relief. In order to establish constitutional error under
Caldwell ,
a petitioner must show that the comments or instructions to the jury “improperly described the role assigned to the jury by local law.”
Romano v. Oklahoma,
512 U.S. 1, 9 , 114 S.Ct. 2004 , 129 L.Ed.2d 1 (1994). The Eleventh Circuit has long recognized that comments describing the jury’s role in Florida as making an advisory recommendation and the judge as the final sentencing authority do not present
Caldwell
error.
Johnston v. Singletary,
162 F.3d 630 (11th Cir.1998),
cert. denied,
528 U.S. 883 , 120 S.Ct. 198 , 145 L.Ed.2d 167 (1999);
Provenzano v. Singletary,
148 F.3d 1327, 1334 (11th Cir.1998).
The Florida Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed that the standard jury instructions properly describe the jury’s role in Florida.
Archer v. State,
673 So.2d 17, 21 (Fla.),
cert. denied,
519 U.S. 876 , 117 S.Ct. 197 , 136 L.Ed.2d 134 (1996) (Florida standard jury instructions adequately describe role to jury);
Pope v. Wainwright,
496 So.2d 798, 805 (Fla.1986),
cert. denied,
480 U.S. 951 , 107 S.Ct. 1617 , 94 L.Ed.2d 801 (1987). No federal cases were ignored or misapplied in the state courts’ rejection of this issue as both procedurally barred and, alternatively, without legal merit.
Ground Eleven does not warrant habeas corpus relief.
Ground Twelve
Mr. Hannon’s death sentence violated the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution because the law shifted the burden to Mr. Hannon to prove that death was inappropriate. Trial counsel failed to object to this constitutional error
Hannon alleges that the prosecutor and court’s comments shifted to Hannon, “the burden of proving whether he should live or die.” Amended Petition at 21-22 (Doc. 13-2); Memo at 52-53 (Doc. 10).
Hannon admits that he did not raise any “burden shifting” claim at trial and on direct appeal. Amended Petition at 21. (Doc. 13-2). Accordingly, this claim is proced
This text is long and has been trimmed here. Open the source document for the complete record.