# Bonnell v. Mitchel

> District Court, N.D. Ohio · February 4, 2004 · 301 F. Supp. 2d 698

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/2511412

## Case

- **Full name:** Melvin BONNELL, Petitioner, v. Betty MITCHEL, Warden, Respondent
- **Court:** District Court, N.D. Ohio
- **Decided:** February 4, 2004
- **Citations:** 301 F. Supp. 2d 698; 2004 WL 214296
- **Precedential status:** Published
- **Opinion:** Opinion by Katz
- **Judges:** Katz
- **Cited by:** 33 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

- No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases.
- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/2511412

## Opinion text

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
KATZ, District Judge.
This matter is before the Court on Melvin Bonnell’s Petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 for Writ of Habeas Corpus By A Person In State Custody (Docket # 12) (the “Petition”). Bonnell alleges twenty grounds for relief in his Petition.
Also before the Court are Respondent’s Return of Writ (Docket #31) (“ROW”), Bonnell’s Traverse To Respondent’s Return Of Writ and request for evidentiary hearing (Docket # 54) (“Traverse”) and Respondent’s Sur Reply and opposition to evidentiary hearing (Docket # 56).
For the reasons which follow, the Court denies the Petition.
I. INTRODUCTION
Appellant, Bonnell, appeals from his convictions and sentence of death for the aggravated murder of Robert Eugene Bunner.
II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
The facts as stated by the Ohio Supreme Court are as follows:
Shirley Hatch, Edward Birmingham and Robert Eugene Bunner shared an apartment on Bridge Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. On November 28, 1987, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Hatch heard someone knock at the kitchen door of the apartment. Hatch asked who was at the door and a voice replied, “Charles.” Bunner opened the door and appellant, Melvin Bonnell, entered the apartment and closed the door behind him. Appellant uttered an expletive directed at Bunner and then proceeded to fire two gunshots at Bunner at close range. Bunner fell to the floor and Hatch, who had witnessed the shooting, ran to a bedroom where Birmingham was sleeping. Hatch heard two more gunshots, awoke Birmingham to tell him that Bunner had been shot, and then fled from the apartment to call paramedics. Birmingham went to the kitchen.
Upon entering the kitchen, Birmingham observed appellant who was on top of Bunner “ * * * pounding him in the face.” Birmingham also observed bullet holes in Bunner’s body. Birmingham grabbed appellant and ejected him from the apartment.
At approximately 3:40 a.m., two Cleveland police officers were patrolling Bridge Avenue in a police cruiser when they observed a blue vehicle being driven backwards on Bridge Avenue with its headlights off. The officers attempted to stop the vehicle, and a high-speed chase ensued when the driver of the vehicle failed to stop. During the chase, the officers never lost sight of the vehicle except, perhaps, for a few seconds. The officers never saw anyone in the vehicle except the driver. No one exited the vehicle during the chase. The chase ended when the driver of the blue vehicle crashed into the side of a funeral chapel. The officers removed the driver from the vehicle and placed him on the ground. Both officers identified appellant as the driver of the vehicle.
Shortly after the accident, Cleveland police Officers Stansic and Kukula arrived at the crash site and saw a man lying on the ground with police officers standing over him. However, Officers Stansic and Kukula left the accident scene almost immediately thereafter in response to a radio call regarding the shooting at the Bridge Avenue apartment.
Upon arriving at the apartment, officers Stansic and Kukula interviewed Hatch
*704
and Birmingham who provided the officers with a description of Bunner’s assailant. The officers recognized the witnesses’ description as meeting the description of the man they had observed at the accident scene. The officers asked Birmingham to accompany them to the hospital where the man had been transported following the accident. At the hospital, Birmingham identified appellant as Bunner’s assailant.
Bunner died as a result of a gunshot wound to the chest. An autopsy revealed that Bunner was shot twice, once in the chest and once in the pubic region. Both bullets were recovered from the body.
Police officers retraced the chase scene and found a .25 caliber automatic pistol which was later identified as appellant’s. The weapon was test-fired and the test bullets were compared to the bullets found in Bunner’s body. The test bullets and the bullets retrieved from Bun-ner’s body had the same characteristics, and test casings matched spent bullet casings found at the murder scene. Appellant was tried before a jury for the aggravated murder of Robert Bunner and for the commission of an aggravated burglary. The jury found appellant guilty on one count of aggravated burglary, one count of aggravated (felony) murder, and one count of aggravated murder ... with prior calculation and design, causing Bunner’s death. In addition, appellant was found guilty of a death penalty specification in connection with each count of aggravated murder. For each count of aggravated murder, the trial judge, following the jury’s recommendation, imposed a sentence of death. The court of appeals affirmed the convictions and death penalty.
State v. Bonnell,
61 Ohio St.3d 179 , 573 N.E.2d 1082 (1991).
III. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
After a trial, a Cuyahoga jury found Bonnell guilty of: one count of aggravated murder with a firearm specification; one count of felony murder, with firearm and aggravated burglary specifications; and one count of aggravated murder with firearm and aggravated burglary specifications, all counts arising from the shooting death of Bunner.
Following the sentencing phase of trial, the jury recommended, and the trial court imposed a death sentence for each of the aggravated murder counts.
A.
Direct Appeal
Bonnell’s direct appeal of his conviction and sentence to the Ohio Court of Appeals raised the following grounds of error:
I. THIS APPELLATE COURT HAS ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF APPELLANT BONNELL BY LIMITING THE APPELLANT’S BRIEF TO EIGHTY-FIVE PAGES THEREBY DENYING APPELLANT DUE PROCESS, EQUAL PROTECTION AND EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL AS GUARANTEED BY THE SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTIONS 2, 10, AND 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
II. THE VERDICT IN APPELLANT’S CASE WAS ERRONEOUS BECAUSE IT WAS AGAINST THE WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED AT TRIAL, THEREBY VIOLATING MR. BONNELL’S RIGHTS SECURED BY THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTION 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY DENYING BONNELL’S CRIMI
*705
NAL RULE 29 MOTION FOR ACQUITTAL WHERE THE EVIDENCE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT A CONVICTION, THEREBY VIOLATING DEFENDANT’S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS UNDER THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT AND SECTION 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
IV. THE VERDICT IN APPELLANT’S CASE AS TO THE FINDING OF GUILT FOR THE AGGRAVATED BURGLARY WAS ERRONEOUS BECAUSE IT WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED AT TRIAL, THEREBY VIOLATING MR. BON-NELL’S RIGHTS SECURED BY THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTION 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
V. THE SUPPLEMENTAL JURY CHARGE GIVEN DURING THE PENALTY PHASE OF APPELLANT BONNELL’S TRIAL DEPRIVED BONNELL OF HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED BY THE SIXTH, EIGHTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, SECTIONS 5, 6, AND 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION AND R.C. 2929.03.
VI. A JURY INSTRUCTION, GIVEN DURING THE PENALTY PHASE OF A CAPITAL TRIAL, STATING THAT JURORS “MUST NOT BE INFLUENCED BY ANY CONSIDERATION OF SYMPATHY * * VIOLATES THE EIGHTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTIONS 9 AND 10, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
VII. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF MELVIN BONNELL BY INSTRUCTING THE JURY AT THE CLOSE OF MITIGATION AS TO CERTAIN MATTERS. THE INSTRUCTIONS DESTROYED THE RELIABILITY OF THE SENTENCING PROCEDURE IN VIOLATION OF THE FIFTH, SIXTH, EIGHTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTIONS 2, 9, 10 AND 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
VIII. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF MELVIN BONNELL BY OFFERING COMMENTS AND INSTRUCTION TO THE JURY PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MITIGATING PHASE. THE COMMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS OFFERED, DESTROYED THE RELIABILITY OF THE SENTENCING PROCEDURE IN VIOLATION OF THE FIFTH, SIXTH, EIGHTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTIONS 2, 9, 10, AND 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
IX. THE ARRAIGNMENT IN MR. BONNELL’S CASE WAS CONDUCTED WITHOUT COUNSEL AND IN VIOLATION OF OHIO CRIM.R. 10, THE SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTION 10, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
X. THE TRIAL COURT’S AND THE PROSECUTOR’S REPEATED COMMENTS TO THE JURY THAT THE JURY’S VERDICT WAS JUST A RECOMMENDATION, COUPLED WITH A JURY INSTRUCTION THAT STATED THE SAME, DIMINISHED THE JURY’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS DECISION AND MISLED THE JURY CONCERNING ITS KEY ROLE IN SENTENCING AND WAS
*706
IN VIOLATION OF THE EIGHTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTIONS 9 AND 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
XI. THE STATE OF OHIO ERRED TO APPELLANT’S PREJUDICE WHEN IT FAILED TO PROVIDE THE DEFENSE WITH EXCULPATORY OR FAVORABLE EVIDENCE PRIOR TO TRIAL IN VIOLATION OF THE FIFTH, SIXTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTIONS 10 AND 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
XII. THE INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL WHICH APPELLANT RECEIVED THROUGHOUT HIS CAPITAL TRIAL RESULTED IN A DENIAL OF APPELLANT’S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL IN VIOLATION OF THE FIFTH, SIXTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTIONS 5, 10, AND 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
XIII. THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO COMPLY WITH RC. 2929.03 WHICH MANDATES WHAT THE TRIAL COURT MUST INCLUDE IN THE OPINION THAT IS FILED AFTER A DEFENDANT RECEIVES THE DEATH PENALTY. THIS FAILURE HAS DENIED APPELLANT HIS RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED BY THE EIGHTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTIONS 9 AND 10, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
XIV. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF APPELLANT BONNELL WHEN IT SENTENCED MR. BONNELL ON AN AGGRAVATED BURGLARY CONVICTION OUTSIDE THE PRESENCE OF APPELLANT AND HIS COUNSEL AND IN VIOLATION OF THE SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, SECTIONS 10 AND 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION AND CRIM.R. 43(A).
XV. THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT’S MOTION TO CORRECT THE RECORD, THEREBY DENYING APPELLANT A FULL REVIEW OF ALL ERRORS IN HIS CASE IN VIOLATION OF THE FIFTH, SIXTH, EIGHTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS AND SECTIONS 9, 10, AND 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
XVI. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT’S MOTION TO SUPPRESS EYE WITNESS IDENTIFICATION TESTIMONY THAT WAS THE RESULT OF AN UNNECESSARILY SUGGESTIVE SHOW-UP. THE DENIAL OF APPELLANT’S MOTION TO SUPPRESS AND THE USE OF THIS TESTIMONY DURING TRIAL DENIED APPELLANT HIS RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED BY THE FIFTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTION 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
XVII. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN REFUSING TO ADMIT EVIDENCE OFFERED BY MR. BON-NELL AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE GUILT PHASE OF THE PROCEEDINGS, THEREUPON VIOLATING MR. BONNELL’S RIGHTS SE
*707
CURED BY THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTION 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
XVIII. PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT OCCURRED DURING THE GUILT AND MITIGATION PHASES OF APPELLANT BONNELL’S CAPITAL TRIAL, DEPRIVING HIM HIS RIGHTS TO A FAIR TRIAL AND DUE PROCESS OF LAW AS GUARANTEED BY THE FIFTH, SIXTH, EIGHTH, AND FOÚRTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTIONS 9, 10, AND 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
XIX. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO GRANT A MISTRIAL DURING THE MITIGATING PHASE OF APPELLANT’S TRIAL WHEN A NOTE WAS RECEIVED FROM A JUROR STATING THE JURY WAS NOT GOING TO AGREE AND SHE WANTED TO GO HOME. THE TRIAL COURT’S FAILURE DENIED APPELLANT HIS RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED BY THE FIFTH, EIGHTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTIONS 5, 9, AND 16, ARTICLE I, OHIO CONSTITUTION.
XX. THE TRIAL COURT IN FAILING TO EXCUSE FOR CAUSE THREE JURORS THAT WERE BIASED AGAINST THE APPELLANT. THIS FAILURE DENIED APPELLANT A FAIR TRIAL BY AN IMPARTIAL JURY AS GUARANTEED BY THE FIFTH, SIXTH, EIGHTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTIONS 5, 10, AND 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
XXI. WHEN A CAPITAL DEFENDANT DECIDES TO PRECLUDE THE INTRODUCTION OF MITIGATION, IT IS THE TRIAL COURT’S OBLIGATION TO CONDUCT A COMPETENCY HEARING TO DETERMINE THE DEFENDANT’S COMPETENCE TO MAKE THIS DECISION. THE TRIAL COURT’S FAILURE TO CONDUCT SUCH A COMPETENCY HEARING IN MR. BONNELL’S CASE DEPRIVED [BONNELL] OF HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED BY THE FIFTH, EIGHTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTION 9, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
XXII. TO ALLOW A CAPITAL DEFENDANT TO PRECLUDE THE INTRODUCTION OF MITIGATION AT THE SENTENCING HEARING PREVENTS THE SENTENCER FROM MAKING AN APPROPRIATE DETERMINATION OF THE DEATH SENTENCE AS REQUIRED BY THE EIGHTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, SECTION 9, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION AND R.C. 2929.05, AND RESULTS IN STATE-ASSISTED SUICIDE.
XXIII. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF APPELLANT BONNELL IN SENTENCING MR. BONNELL TO TWO COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED MURDER WHEN ONLY ONE HOMICIDE WAS INVOLVED; SUCH SENTENCING VIOLATED R.C. 2941.25 AND DENIED MR. BONNELL HIS RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED BY SECTIONS 10 AND 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION, AND THE FIFTH AND FOURTEENTH AMEND
*708
MENTS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
XXIV. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PREJUDICIAL ERROR BY PERMITTING THE TESTIMONY OF THE VICTIM’S GIRLFRIEND AND ALLOWING THE INTRODUCTION INTO EVIDENCE OF A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE VICTIM AND HIS GIRLFRIEND. THIS VIOLATED MR. BONNELL’S RIGHTS UNDER THE EIGHTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTIONS 9 AND 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
XXV. THE FELONY-MURDER SPECIFICATION IN R.C. 2929.04(A)(7) FAILS TO NARROW THE CLASS OF PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR THE DEATH PENALTY AND THEREFORE VIOLATES THE EIGHTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTION 9, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
XXVI. THE TRIAL COURT’S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH CRIM. R.12(E) IN RULING ON APPELLANT’S MOTIONS TO SUPPRESS DEPRIVED APPELLANT OF THE MEANINGFUL APPELLATE REVIEW GUARANTEED BY R.C. 2929.05, THE EIGHTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTIONS 9 AND 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
XXVII. THE TRIAL COURT’S FAILURE TO RULE ON APPELLANT’S MOTIONS, PROFFERED PRIOR TO AND DURING TRIAL, VIOLATED APPELLANT’S DUE PROCESS RIGHTS UNDER THE FIFTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND SECTION 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION AND RIGHT TO ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL UNDER THE SIXTH AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTION 10, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION. XXVIII. THE DEATH SENTENCE IMPOSED IN APPELLANT BON-NELL’S CASE WAS INAPPROPRIATE AND DISPROPORTIONATE AND BONNELL WAS DEPRIVED OF HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED BY THE EIGHTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTIONS 9 AND 16 ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
XXIX. THE PROPORTIONALITY REVIEW THAT THIS COURT MUST CONDUCT IN THE PRESENT CAPITAL CASE PURSUANT TO OHIO REVISED CODE SECTION 2929.05 IS FATALLY FLAWED AND THEREFORE THE PRESENT DEATH SENTENCE MUST BE VACATED PURSUANT TO THE FIFTH, EIGHTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 5 AND 10 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION AND OHIO REVISED CODE 2929.05.
XXX. OHIO’S STATUTORY PROVISIONS GOVERNING THE IMPOSITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL UNDER THE FIFTH, SIXTH, EIGHTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SECTIONS 2, 9, 10, AND 16, ARTICLE I OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
The Ohio Court of Appeals affirmed the convictions and the sentence.
State v.
*709
Bonnell,
1989 WL 117828 (1989). The Ohio Supreme Court likewise affirmed Bonnell’s conviction and sentence.
State v. Bonnell,
61 Ohio St.3d 179 , 573 N.E.2d 1082 (1991). Before the Ohio Supreme Court, Bonnell raised the following claims of error:
Proposition of Law No. I:
R.C. 2929.04(A)(7) is unconstitutional on its face and as applied to appellant Bonnell.
Proposition of Law No. II:
The Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Section 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution require the state to present sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction. If sufficient evidence is not presented, the accused is to be acquitted of the charge.
Proposition of Law No. Ill:
A mistrial should be granted when a juror in a capital case can no longer follow her oath and continue deliberations.
Proposition of Law No. IV:
A supplemental charge given during the penalty phase of a capital trial that fails to inform jurors that it is okay to disagree and coerces a death verdict is unconstitutional.
Proposition of Law No. V:
In a capital case, a trial court must comply with the dictates of R.C. 2929.03 in filing its opinion imposing the death sentence.
Proposition of Law No. VI:
It is error to sentence a capital defendant to death twice for a single homicide. Further, the correct procedure would be an election of one of the counts to proceed on, not merger of the counts.
Proposition of Law No. VII:
In conducting the independent weighing of an aggravating circumstance against mitigating factors, an appellate court may not go outside the trial court record to support its findings.
Proposition of Law No. VIII:
The death sentence imposed in appellant Bonnell’s case was inappropriate and disproportionate.
Proposition of Law No. IX:
A defendant in a criminal case has a right to be present when, pursuant to a request from the jury during its deliberations, the judge communicates with the jury regarding his instructions.
Proposition of Lato No. X:
A guilt verdict contrary to the weight of the evidence requires an aggravated murder conviction to be overturned by the reviewing court. Failure to do so violates rights secured by the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 15, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
Proposition of Law No. XI:
A guilt verdict contrary to the weight of the evidence requires an aggravated burglary conviction to be overturned by the reviewing court.
Proposition of Law No. XII:
The suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused violates due process where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the good faith or bad faith of the prosecution.
Proposition of Law No. XIII:
Misconduct by a prosecutor throughout a capital case denies a capital appellant of his due process right of a fair trial.
Proposition of Law No. XIV:
Counsel’s performance will be deemed ineffective when counsel’s performance falls below an objective standard of reasonable representation and, in addition, prejudice arises from counsel’s performance.
Proposition of Law No. XV:
Errors in instructing the jury during the guilt-innocence and penalty phases of a capital case mandate a new trial on both phases.
Proposition of Law No. XVI:
When a capital defendant decides to preclude the
*710
introduction of mitigation, it is the trial court’s obligation to conduct a competency hearing to determine the defendant’s competence to make this decision.
Proposition of Law No. XVII:
To allow a capital defendant to preclude the introduction of mitigation at the sentencing hearing prevents the sentencer from making an appropriate determination of the death sentence as required by the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, Section 9, Article I of the Ohio Constitution, and R.C. 2929.05, and results in state-assisted suicide.
Proposition ofLaiu No. XVIII:
An identification of a defendant that is the product of an unnecessarily suggestive show up should be suppressed.
Proposition of Law No. XIX:
A defendant in a capital case has a right to a full and complete record of all proceedings, including sidebar conferences and jury questions.
Proposition of Law No. XX:
An arraignment is the critical stage in criminal proceedings at which the right to counsel attaches, therefore it is error to conduct an arraignment without counsel and in violation of Ohio Crim.R. 10.
Proposition of Law No. XXI:
A capital defendant is denied his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury when the trial court fails to excuse for cause jurors that are biased against the defendant.
Proposition of Law No. XXII:
A capital appellant is denied due process, equal protection, and effective assistance of counsel when arbitrary and disproportionate page limitations are imposed in the filing of appellant’s merit brief.
Proposition of Law No. XXIII:
Instructing a capital jury that their verdict is only a recommendation diminishes the jury’s responsibility for its decision and misleads the jury concerning its key role in sentencing.
Proposition of Law No. XXIV:
Crim.R. 12(E) requires a trial court to state its essential findings on the record when factual issues are involved in determining a motion.
Proposition of Law No. XXV:
The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution guarantee the accused the right to offer evidence in his defense at trial.
Proposition of Law No. XXVI:
The use of testimony and evidence which elicit sympathy for the victim by the state deprived Bonnell of his constitutional rights as guaranteed by the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Sections 9 and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
Proposition of Law No. XXVII:
A trial court has an obligation to rule on motions proffered prior to and during trial.
Proposition of Law No. XXVIII:
A trial court abuses its discretion when it grants a state’s motion to quash a defense subpoena duces tecum when the records required would have aided the defendant in the presentation of his defense.
Proposition of Law No. XXIX:
The Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10 and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution establish the requirements for a valid death penalty scheme. Ohio Revised Code Sections 2903.01, 2929.02, 2929.021, 2929.022, 2929.023, 2929.03, 2929.04, and 2929.05, Ohio’s statutory provisions governing the imposition of the death penalty, do not meet the prescribed requirements, and, thus, are unconstitutional both on their face and as applied to appellant Bonnell.
The U.S. Supreme Court denied Bonnell’s petition for a writ of certiorari.
*711
Bonnell v. Ohio,
502 U.S. 1107 , 112 S.Ct. 1205 , 117 L.Ed.2d 444 (1992).
B. Application for Delayed, Reconsideration
1. Ohio Court of Appeals
On November 27, 1992, in the Ohio Court of Appeals, Bonnell filed an application for delayed reconsideration (i.e., a Murnahan
1
petition). In his application, Bonnell identified the. following fifty-five acts and omissions, which he claimed rendered appellate counsel unconstitutionally ineffective:
a. Bonnell was deprived of his rights as guaranteed by the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution when the jury was improperly told that they had to first convict him of a death penalty specification before they would be permitted to consider the death penalty.
b. Bonnell was deprived of his constitutional rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution because the death verdict rested on a determination made by jurors who were led to believe during voir dire that the responsibility for determining the appropriateness of the death penalty.
c. Bonnell was deprived of his right as guaranteed by the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution when prospective jurors were repeatedly informed during voir dire that death verdicts were required if the aggravated circumstances outweighed the mitigating factors beyond a reasonable doubt.
d. Bonnell was denied his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury in a capital case, as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution by the trial court’s improper excusal for cause of all prospective jurors who voiced any opposition to the death penalty.
e. Misconduct by the government’s attorneys, during voir dire in Bonnell’s trial deprived Bonnell of his rights to due process, a fair trial, and a fair and reliable determination of his guilt and .sentence as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution.
f. The instructions during voir dire that the weighing process in mitigation involved [weighing] all the aggravating circumstances against
any
of the mitigating factors skewed this entire capital proceeding in favor of guilt verdicts and sentences of death in violation of the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution.
g. Bonnell was deprived of his rights to due process and against cruel and unusual punishment as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Con
*712
stitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution.
h. The trial court’s exclusion of Bonnell from participating in the judicial proceedings violated Bonnell’s rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution.
i. Bonnell was deprived of his constitutional rights as guaranteed by the Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution when prospective jurors were repeatedly not informed in voir dire that the burden of proof in the mitigation hearing was “beyond a-reasonable doubt.”
j. Bonnell was deprived of his constitutional rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution when prospective jurors in mitigation were informed that each count of aggravated murder had multiple aggravating circumstances.
k. Bonnell was deprived of his constitutional rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution when prospective jurors were misinformed about the weighing process in voir dire; that the mitigating factors must outweigh the aggravating circumstances for a life sentence to be imposed.
l. Ohio’s statutory provisions govern its capital punishment scheme violated Article VI of the U.S. Constitution and various international laws including, but not limited to, the Organization of American States Treaty and the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man.
m. Bonnell was denied his constitutional rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution because this Court failed to consider cases which a sentence of less than death was imposed when this Court conducted its proportionality review.
n. The trial court’s failure to properly instruct the jury in the sentencing phase of Bonnell’s trial that Bonnell enjoyed a presumption of life deprived Bonnell of his rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution.
o. The trial court mitigation instructions that wrongly informed the jury that each count of aggravated murder contained multiple aggravating circumstances ... violated]. Bonnell’s rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution.
p. The trial court’s mitigation instruction as to reasonable doubt which in the mitigation phase of the trial reduced the State’s burden of proof in violation of the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1. of the Ohio Constitution by omitting the term “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
q. The death sentence in Bonnell’s case was obtained in violation of the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1
*713
of the Ohio Constitution for the reason that the trial court’s penalty phase charge of reasonable doubt created an unconstitutional presumption in favor of the death sentence and effectively made that sentence mandatory.
r. The trial court’s mitigation charge which instructed the jury as to all the statutory mitigating factors including those factors not raised by Bonnell violated Bonnell’s rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution.
s. Bonnell’s rights to due process and against cruel and unusual punishment as guaranteed by the Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution were violated because the trial court instructed the jury its sentencing decision was merely a recommendation.
t. The trial court denied Bonnell his rights under the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution when the parole eligibility law was misstated during the mitigation instruction at Bonnell’s trial.
u. Bonnell was denied his constitutional rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution when the trial court, during penalty phase, commented to the jury that Bonnell’s mitigation testimony was not under oath and the prosecutor also made the same [remark].
v. The trial court’s instructions to the jury in the mitigation phase of Bon-nell’s trial which impermissibly mandated a sentence of death deprived Bonnell of his rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution.
w. The trial court’s mitigation instruction which failed to adequately define the term “outweigh,” which in turn failed to provide the jury any meaningful guidance from which to determine if the death penalty should be imposed [violated] Bonnell’s rights as . guaranteed, by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution.
x. Bonnell was denied his rights of due process and against cruel and unusual punishment for the reason that the trial court instructed the sentencing jury they could not consider sympathy in reaching a verdict in violation of the Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution.
y. The trial court’s mitigation instruction which informed the jury that it could consider “any other factors” that are relevant to the issue of which the offender should be sentenced to death [violated] Bonnell’s rights as guaranteed by ' the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution.
z. Bonnell was denied the effective assistance of trial counsel at the guilt-innocence phase as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution.
*714
aa. Bonnell was denied his rights to due process, equal protection, impartial jury, and the effective assistance of counsel as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution due to prose-cutorial misconduct during the trial phase of his capital trial.
bb. Bonnell was denied effective assistance of counsel as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution because counsel did not object to all errors so as to preserve the record for appellate purposes.
cc. Bonnell was denied his rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution when neither Bonnell nor his counsel were present when the court responded to a jury question.
dd. Bonnell was denied his rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution when the trial court in the trial phase instructed the jury as to the element of “purpose.”
ee. Bonnell’s right to due process as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution were violated because of the State’s use of tainted identification witnesses.
ff. The unreliable testimony of Shirley Hatch upon with the trier of fact based their verdicts deprived Bonnell of his rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
gg. The trial court denied Bonnell his due process, equal protection and impartial jury rights under the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
hh. The inaccurate testimony of Ed Birmingham upon which the trial of fact based their verdicts deprived Bonnell of his rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
ii. Bonnell was deprived of his rights of due process, effective assistance of counsel, and confrontation as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution because the State of Ohio failed to provide timely discovery.
jj. The trial court denied Bonnell his due process, equal protection, and impartial jury rights under the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution by admitting testimony that the witness had seen Bonnell carrying the gun that was unrelated to the present offense.
kk. The trial court’s instruction to the jury on the element of “prior calculation and design” was so vague it denied Bonnell his rights guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
*715
11. The conviction and sentence of Bon-nell violates his rights to due process and ... against cruel and unusual punishment as guaranteed by the Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution for the reason that the trial court’s definition of reasonable doubt allowed [a] finding of based upon a degree of proof that required a finding of guilt based on a degree of proof below that required by the due process clause.
mm. The trial court denied Bonnell’s rights to due process, equal protection, and an impartial jury under the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution when the trial court failed to instruct the jury on the lesser included offense of murder as to felony murder.
nn. Bonnell was denied his rights under the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2,. 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution when the trial court instructed the jury that it could infer that Bonnell had the requisite purpose to kill the . victim by the manner in which the wound was inflicted upon the victim.
oo. The trial court’s use of a general venire violated Bonnell’s rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
pp. The trial court’s denial of Bonnell’s Motion to Suppress his statement to the Cleveland Police department violated Bonnell’s rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
qq. Bonnell was denied the effective assistance of counsel in the mitigation phase of trial by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
rr. Misconduct by the government’s attorney at the penalty phase of Bon-nell’s capital trial deprived [Bonnell] of his rights to due process, a fair trial, and a reliable determination of his punishment as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
ss. Consideration by the jury of non-statutory aggravating circumstances at the penalty phase violated Bonnell’s rights to due process and a fair and reliable determination of his death sentence by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
tt. The admission of gruesome photographs which were cumulative] of each other as well of other evidence violated Bonnell’s ... constitutional rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution rights to a fair trial, due process and a reliable determination of his guilt and sentence.
uu. The trial court erred when it failed to instruct the jury that if it could not agree that the State had proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the aggravating circumstances, outweighed
*716
the mitigating factors that the jury-should impose a life sentence. As a result, Bonnell’s death sentence violated the Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
w. The trial court’s failure to properly instruct the jury as to the definition of “mitigating factors” deprived Bonnell of his rights as guaranteed by the Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
ww. The trial court denied Bonnell to his rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution when the trial court placed improper restrictions on the mitigation evidence at Bonnell’s trial.
xx. Bonnell’s death sentence is disproportionate to the non-capital sentences received by other Cuyahoga County persons who were convicted of aggravated murder involving either white or African-American victims by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
yy. The trial court’s failure to instruct the jury as to all of the elements of each of the capital specifications in violation of Bonnell’s rights as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
zz. The trial court erred when it charged the jury that it could consider the arguments of counsel as evidence in the mitigation phase in violation of the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
aaa. The trial court erred in the mitigation charge when it failed to instruct the jury that it could consider residual doubt in the sentencing phase by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution.
bbb. Bonnell was deprived of his rights to due process, confrontation, and against cruel and unusual punishment as guaranteed by the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16, Article I of the Ohio Constitution because the State failed to provide complete discovery of exculpatory evidence to defense counsel.
ecc. Bonnell was denied his rights under the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Sections 2, 9, 10, 16, Article I and Section 39, Article II of the Ohio Constitution because he was denied the assistance of experts in the mitigation [and] guilt phases of his capital trial.
On May 6, 1994 and following an thorough investigation of Bonnell’s claims, the Court of Appeals denied Bonnell’s application for delayed reconsideration. (App. V pp. 80-107) Bonnell appealed.
2.
Ohio Supreme Court
Before the Ohio Supreme Court, Bonnell argued the following four claims:
(1) the application of the doctrine of res judicata denies meaningful consideration of Appellant’s claims of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel in violation of the Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Arti
*717
cle I, Sections 9, 10, and 16, of the Ohio Constitution;
(2) the Court’s failure to order that the Court of Appeals record be delivered in Appellant’s direct appeal of right in the above captioned case violated Appellant’s rights under the Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article I, Sections 2, 9, 10, and 16 of the Ohio Constitution;
(3) the Court'of appeals improperly addressed the merits of four claims without permitting briefing by the Appellant and without having a complete record in violation of Appellant’s rights to the effective review under the Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, Article I, Sections 2, 10, and 16, of the Ohio Constitution, and Ohio Rev.Code Ann. sections 2929.05; and
(4) the failure to exercise reasonable professional judgment in raising and preserving constitutional issues in the direct appeals of capital cases denies Mr. Bonnell the effective assistance of appellate counsel guaranteed by the Due process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
(App. V p. 200)
The State Supreme Court affirmed denial of the application on December 20, 1994,
State v. Bonnell,
71 Ohio St.3d 223 , 643 N.E.2d 108 (1994), and, on February 1, 1995, denied reconsideration.
State v. Bonnell,
71 Ohio St.3d 1459 , 644 N.E.2d 1031 (1995).
C. Post-Conviction Proceedings
Bonnell then filed a post-conviction petition with the trial court. His petition, which included 53 claims for relief based on 311 numbered paragraphs with over 500 pages of supporting information, was summarily dismissed without an evidentia-ry hearing. Bonnell appealed that decision to the Ohio Court of Appeals raising the following claims of error:
I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING MR. BONNELL’S POST-CONVICTION CLAIMS CONCERNING THE STATE’S SUPPRESSION OF EXCULPATORY EVIDENCE IN VIOLATION OF MR. BONNELL’S RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED BY THE SIXTH, EIGHTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES' CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 2, 5, 9, 10, AND 16 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DISMISSING MR. . BONNELL’S POST-CONVICTION PETITION WITHOUT GRANTING MR. BON-NELL’S REQUEST FOR ACCESS TO THE EVIDENCE ADMITTED AT HIS TRIAL [AND] VIOLATES [THE] SIXTH, EIGHTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 2, 5, 9, 10, AND. 16 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT’S MOTIONS TO STRIKE THE STATE’S UNTIMELY FILINGS IN VIOLATION OF APPELLANT’S EQUAL PROTECTION AND DUE PROCESS RIGHTS UNDER THE FIFTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 2 AND 16 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION, OHIO REV.CODE 2953.21, OHIO R'.CIV. 6 AND 7, AND LOC.R. 11.
IV. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO GRANT APPELLANT’S MOTION FOR JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS AS TO APPELLANT’S
*718
THIRTEENTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF, THEREBY VIOLATING APPELLANT’S RIGHTS UNDER THE FIFTH, SIXTH, EIGHTH, NINTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 1, 2, 9, 10, 16, AND 20 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
V. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT GRANTED APPELLEE’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN VIOLATION OF THE FIFTH, SIXTH, EIGHTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 2, 5, 9, 10, AND 16 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION, AND OHIO R.CIV. P. 56.
VI. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT DENIED APPELLANT’S MOTION TO DISQUALIFY THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE IN VIOLATION OF THE FIFTH, SIXTH, EIGHTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 2, 10, AND 16 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
VII. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ITS APPLICATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF
RES JUDICATA
IN VIOLATION OF MR. BONNELL’S RIGHTS UNDER THE FIFTH, SIXTH, EIGHTH, NINTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 1, 2, 9, 10, 16, AND 20 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION, AND OHIO R.CIV.P. 12(B).
VIII. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING APPELLANT’S PETITION TO VACATE OR SET ASIDE SENTENCE IN VIOLATION OF THE FIFTH, SIXTH, EIGHTH, NINTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 2, 5, 9, 10 AND 16 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
IX. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT DENIED APPELLANT BONNELL AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING IN VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHTS UNDER THE FIFTH, SIXTH, EIGHTH, NINTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 1, 2, 9, 10, 16, AND 20 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
X. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO ISSUE SUFFICIENT FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW IN VIOLATION OF APPELLANT’S RIGHTS UNDER THE FIFTH, SIXTH, EIGHTH, NINTH, AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE I, SECTIONS 1, 2, 9, 10, 16, AND 20 OF THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.
The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s denial of post-conviction relief on August 27, 1998. The Ohio Supreme Court dismissed Bonnell’s appeal on January 20, 1999, see
State v. Bonnell,
84 Ohio St.3d 1469 , 704 N.E.2d 578 (1999), and the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari on October 4, 1999.
Bonnell v. Ohio,
528 U.S. 842 , 120 S.Ct. 111 , 145 L.Ed.2d 94 (1999).
D. Habeas Corpus
On March 2, 2000, Bonnell filed this Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. (Docket # 12) In his petition, Bonnell identified twenty general areas of alleged constitutional violation.
2
Those are:
*719
1. The State’s suppression of exculpatory evidence violated Petitioner’s rights as guaranteed by the Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
2. The misconduct by a prosecutor throughout a capital case denied Petitioner the due process right of a fair trial as required by the Fourteenth Amendment.
3. Improper and prejudicial closing argument of the prosecutor at both the culpability and penalty phases violated Petitioner’s right under the Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
4. Petitioner’s conviction and sentence of death should be vacated because the state failed to preserve exculpatory evidence from the crime scene.
5. Petitioner’s conviction and sentence should be vacated because the state repeatedly created materially false impressions concerning evidence at the culpability and penalty phases.
6. Trial counsel was ineffective at the culpability and penalty phases of Petitioner’s trial.
7. Errors in instructing the jury during the culpability and penalty phases of this case mandate a new trial on both phases.
8. The trial court interfered with Petitioner’s right to a fair and impartial culpability and penalty deliberations ... violating the Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
9. Ohio Revised Code Annotated § 2929.04(A)(7) is unconstitutional on its face and as applied to Petitioner.
10. Petitioner was denied a fair trial in violation of the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment when the trial court failed to suppress unnecessarily suggestive show-up.
11. Petitioner’s Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated when he did not receive an arraignment with counsel.
3
12. The State obtained involuntary statements from Petitioner in violation of the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution (withdrawn in Bonnell’s Traverse).
13. The Ohio Appellate Court violated Petitioner’s Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights when it conducted an independent weighing of an aggravating circumstance against mitigating factors that were outside the trial court record to support its findings.
14. The trial court erred when it charged the jury that it could consider the arguments of counsel as evidence in the penalty phase in violation of the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution (withdrawn in Bonnell’s Traverse).
15. The failure to adequately define specific intent, prior calculation and design, and purpose for the jury denied Petitioner of his rights under the Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
16. The trial court erred when it instructed the jury that they had to be unanimous in rejecting the death penalty before considering the life sentences (withdrawn in Bonnell’s Traverse).
17. The trial court denied Petitioner a fair trial in violation of the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment when it granted the State’s mo
*720
tion to quash a defense subpoena duces tecum when the records requested would have aided Petitioner in the presentation of his defense.
18. Petitioner’s rights under the Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution were violated by errors occurring in the voir dire of his trial.
19. Petitioner should be acquitted of the charges as required by the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution because the State failed to present sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction.
20. The Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution establish the requirements for a valid death penalty scheme. Ohio Revised Code Ann. §§ 2903.01, 2902.02, 2929.21, 2929.22, 2929.23, 2929.03, 2929.04, and 2929.05, Ohio’s statutory provisions governing the imposition of the death penalty, do not meet the prescribed requirements and, thus, are unconstitutional both on their face and as applied to Petitioner.
IV. INITIAL CONSIDERATIONS
A. Standard of Review: The AEDPA
A federal court’s consideration of a petition for a writ of habeas corpus filed by a prisoner imprisoned under the judgment of a state court is governed by 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (a). Section 2254 permits the state prisoner to challenge his custody “only on the ground that he is in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.”
Id.
Federal habeas corpus relief “does not lie for errors of state law.”
Lewis v. Jeffers,
497 U.S. 764, 780 , 110 S.Ct. 3092 , 111 L.Ed.2d 606 (1990). Thus, “it is not the province of a federal habeas court to re-examine state-court determinations of state-law questions.”
Estelle v. McGuire,
502 U.S. 62, 67-68 , 112 S.Ct. 475 , 116 L.Ed.2d 385 (1991).
The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, Pub.1.No. 104-132, 110 Stat. 1214 (1996) (“AEDPA”), signed into law on April 24, 1996, amended Title 28 of the United States Code and applies to all habeas petitions filed on or, after its April 24,1996 effective date.
Barker v. Yukins,
199 F.3d 867, 871 (6th Cir.1999) (citations omitted);
Herbert v. Billy,
160 F.3d 1131, 1134 (6th Cir.1998). The AED-PA made significant changes in habeas law, including increasing the restrictions on which issues can be appealed and heightening the respect for state court factual and legal determinations. Because Bonnell filed this habeas petition March 1, 2000, long after the AEDPA effective date, the AEDPA applies to this petition. See, e.g.,
Williams v. Coyle,
167 F.3d 1036, 1040 (6th Cir.1999). Having determined that the AEDPA applies to the petition, the Court will next address the appropriate standard of review.
Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (d) (enacted as a part of the AEDPA), a petition for writ of habeas corpus:
shall not be granted with respect to any claim that was adjudicated on the merits in State court proceedings unless the adjudication of the claim
(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.
Id.; Staley v. Jones,
239 F.3d 769, 775 (6th Cir.2001).
The United States Supreme Court recently had occasion to interpret § 2254(d) in
Williams v. Taylor,
529 U.S. 362 , 120
*721
S.Ct. 1495, 146 L.Ed.2d 389 (2000).
4
With respect to the first clause of § 2254(d), the Court explained that the phrases “contrary to” and “unreasonable application of” must be given independent meanings.
First, a state-court decision is contrary to this .Court’s precedent if the state court arrives at a conclusion opposite to that reached by this Court on a question of law. Second, a state-court decision is also contrary to this Court’s precedent if the state court confronts facts that are materially indistinguishable from a relevant Supreme Court precedent and arrives at a result opposite to ours.
Terry Williams,
529 U.S. at 405 , 120 S.Ct. 1495 (citing
Green v. French,
143 F.3d 865, 869-70 (4th Cir.1998), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1090 , 119 S.Ct. 844 , 142 L.Ed.2d 698 (1999)). The Supreme Court construed the second clause of § 2254(d) as follows:
First, a state-court decision involves an unreasonable application of this Court’s precedent if the state court identifies the correct governing legal rule from this Court’s cases but unreasonably applies it to the facts of the particular state prisoner’s case. Second, a state-court decision also involves an unreasonable application of this Court’s precedent if the state court either unreasonably extends a legal principle from our precedent to a new context where it should not apply or unreasonably refuses to extend that principle to a new context where it should apply.
Terry Williams,
529 U.S. at 407 , 120 S.Ct. 1495 .
The Court pointed out that, in determining the reasonableness of the state court’s decision, the federal court must employ an objective, not subjective, test.
5
When viewing the objective reasonableness of the state court decision, however, a federal court may not find an application to be unreasonable merely because it finds that the state court decision was erroneous or incorrect.
Terry Williams,
529 U.S. at 410-412 , 120 S.Ct. 1495 ;
Maranian v. Jackson,
No. 99-2017, 2001 WL 700856 (6th Cir. Jun.11, 2001).
The
Terry Williams
Court also clarified that “clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States” refers to “the holdings, as opposed to the dicta, of [the Supreme Court’s] decisions as of the time of the relevant state-court decision.” 529 U.S. at 412 , 120 S.Ct. 1495 . The Sixth Circuit later held that this holding “prevents the district court from looking to lower federal court decisions in determining whether the state court decision is contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law.”
Harris v. Stovall,,
212 F.3d 940, 944 (6th Cir.2000) (quoting
Herbert v. Billy,
160 F.3d 1131, 1135 (6th Cir.1998),
cert. denied,
532 U.S. 947 , 121 S.Ct. 1415 , 149 L.Ed.2d 356 (2001)). A habeas court may thus only rely on that class of Supreme Court precedent that would qualify, as an “old rule” under
Teague v. Lane,
489 U.S. 288 , 109 S.Ct. 1060 , 103 L.Ed.2d 334 (1989).
6
Terry Williams,
529 U.S. at 412 , 120 S.Ct. 1495 .
*722
Under the AEDPA, state determinations of factual issues are presumed to be correct. 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (e)(1). This presumption of correctness is rebuttable only by clear and convincing evidence otherwise.
Id.
The AEDPA standard of review applies even when there is no state court decision on the merits to evaluate.
Id.
at 940 . When the state court does not explain its ruling, habeas review is not de novo but remains deferential, since this Court cannot grant relief unless the state court’s result is not in keeping with the AEDPA.
Id.
at 943 .
Put simply, the Court may review federal claims that were evaluated on the merits by a state court. Claims that were not so evaluated, either because they were never presented to the state courts (i.e., exhausted) or because they were not properly presented to the state courts (i.e., were procedurally defaulted), are generally not cognizable on federal habeas review.
B. Exhaustion
The process of presenting a constitutional claim to the state’s highest court is called exhaustion. Under the AEDPA, as under the former habeas statute, a prisoner must exhaust his available state court remedies before petitioning for a writ of habeas corpus. 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (b)(1)(A). Habeas relief cannot be granted based on claims that have not been exhausted.
7
Id.;
see also
Rose v. Lundy,
455 U.S. 509 , 102 S.Ct. 1198 , 71 L.Ed.2d 379 (1982). A state cannot be deemed to have waived the exhaustion requirement unless the state, through counsel, expressly waives it. 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (b)(3).
Here, although not expressly waiving the exhaustion requirement, Ohio concedes that Bonnell has exhausted all of his habe-as claims.
In the instant case, Respondent does not waive the requirement that Bonnell “exhaust” his state court remedies. However, Bonnell has sought review of his convictions and sentences on direct appeal; has completed one complete round of state post-conviction litigation; and has sought unsuccessfully to reopen his direct appeal. Accordingly, it appears that Bonnell has satisfied the exhaustion requirement. See Rule 5 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases (“The answer shall respond to the allegations of the petition. In addition it shall state whether the petitioner has exhausted his state remedies ... ”). Therefore, Respondent does not assert lack of exhaustion as a defense.
(ROW 76) The Court concludes that the asserted grounds for relief have been exhausted.
C. Procedural Default
Federal courts “will not review question[s] of federal law decided by a state court if the decision of that court rests upon a state law ground that is independent of the federal question and adequate to support the judgment.”
Coleman v. Thompson,
501 U.S. 722, 729 , 111 S.Ct. 2546 , 115 L.Ed.2d 640 (1991). “Applied to the habeas context, the doctrine of procedural default acts to -bar federal review of federal claims that a state court has declined to address because of the Petitioner’s noncompliance with a state procedural requirement.” See
Wainwright v. Sykes,
*723
433 U.S. 72, 87 , 97 S.Ct. 2497 , 53 L.Ed.2d 594 (1977). “In these cases, the state judgment rests on independent and adequate state procedural grounds.”
Coleman,
501 U.S. at 730 , 111 S.Ct. 2546 .
For example, under Ohio law, all claims that were known, or should have been known at the time of trial or direct appeal must be raised on direct appeal from the judgment of conviction. Ohio provides an avenue of relief, namely post-conviction review, for those claims that were unknown, or could not reasonably have been known, to the defendant until after the judgment of conviction. Ohio’s post-conviction relief statute, Ohio Rev.Code Ann. § 2953.21(A), provides in pertinent part:
Any person convicted of a criminal offense or adjudged delinquent claiming that there was such a denial or infringement of his rights as to render the judgment void or voidable under the Ohio Constitution or the Constitution of the United States, may file a petition at any time in the court which imposed sentence, stating the grounds for relief relied upon, and asking the court to vacate or set aside the judgment or sentence or to grant other appropriate relief. The petitioner may file such supporting affidavit and other documentary evidence as will support his claim for relief.
This statute has long been interpreted to bar post-conviction consideration of any issue that was or could have been fully litigated before conviction or on direct appeal from that conviction and was not. See
State v. Perry,
10 Ohio St.2d 175 , 226 N.E.2d 104 (1967), syllabus para. 7;
State v. Combs,
100 Ohio App.3d 90 , 652 N.E.2d 205 (1994). The
Perry
Court stated:
Under the doctrine of res judicata, a final judgment of conviction bars a convicted defendant who was represented by counsel from raising and litigating in any proceeding' except an appeal from that judgment any defense or any claimed lack of due process that was raised or could have been raised by the defendant at the trial, which resulted in that judgment of conviction, or on an appeal from that judgment.
Perry
at syllabus para. 9.
Under
Perry ,
res judicata has been consistently applied by Ohio state courts to bar consideration of federal claims that were not timely asserted in state court proceedings. See, e.g.,
Morales v. Coyle,
98 F.Supp.2d 849, 860-61 (N.D.Ohio 2000). Further, this state procedural bar has routinely been observed by federal courts reviewing habeas petitions and is generally deemed an independent and adequate state ground foreclosing federal habeas review. See, e.g.,
Byrd v. Collins,
209 F.3d 486, 521 (6th Cir.2000).
8
Returning to the issue of procedural default generally, if the district court concludes that the state prisoner has pro
*724
cedurally defaulted his federal claims in state court, federal review is barred unless the prisoner can demonstrate “cause for the default and actual prejudice as a result of the alleged violation of federal law, or demonstrate that failure to consider the claims will result in a fundamental miscarriage of justice.”
Coleman, 501
U.S. at 749, 111 S.Ct. 2546 .
9
Demonstrating “cause” requires showing that some factor external to the defense impeded counsel’s efforts to comply with the State procedural rule.
Murray v. Carrier,
477 U.S. 478, 488 , 106 S.Ct. 2639 , 91 L.Ed.2d 397 (1986). Demonstrating “prejudice” requires showing a disadvantage “infecting” the trial with constitutional error. Un
ited States v. Frady,
456 U.S. 152, 168 , 102 S.Ct. 1584 , 71 L.Ed.2d 816 (1982).
Absent cause and prejudice, federal courts may not review issues that are procedurally defaulted unless the petitioner shows that his conviction is the result of a fundamental miscarriage of justice. A fundamental miscarriage of justice is a conviction of one who is “actually innocent.” See
Coleman,
501 U.S. at 750 , 111 S.Ct. 2546 ;
Murray,
477 U.S. at 496 , 106 S.Ct. 2639 . The Supreme Court requires the petitioner to demonstrate not merely a reasonable doubt in light of new evidence, but rather that “it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror would have convicted [the Petitioner] in light of the new evidence.”
Schlup v. Delo,
513 U.S. 298, 327 , 115 S.Ct. 851 , 130 L.Ed.2d 808 (1995). The Petitioner fails to meet his burden if “at least one juror, acting reasonably and properly instructed would have found” him guilty.
10
Id.
at 329 , 115 S.Ct. 851 .
V. CLAIMS OF ERROR
PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT
Bonnell has consistently claimed that he did not murder Bunner. Rather, Bonnell argues, prosecutorial misconduct before and during the trial improperly compounded to convince the jury that Bonnell, rather than other individuals (Butcher,
11
Egnor
12
) murdered Bunner on November 28,
*725
1987.
13
The Court therefore considers closely Bonnell’s claims of prosecutorial misconduct and evidence individually and cumulatively to determine whether sufficient evidence supported Bonnell’s conviction and sentence to death.
“[T]he touchstone of due process analysis in cases of alleged prosecutorial misconduct is fairness of trial, not the culpability of the prosecutor.”
Smith v. Phillips,
455 U.S. 209, 219 , 102 S.Ct. 940 , 71 L.Ed.2d 78 (1982). Therefore, a death sentence should not be reversed on constitutional grounds even if the prosecutor’s actions are undesirable or even universally condemned, unless those actions “so infected the trial with unfairness as to make the resulting conviction a denial of due process.”
Darden v. Wainwright,
477 U.S. 168, 181 , 106 S.Ct. 2464 , 91 L.Ed.2d 144 (1986) (citing
Donnelly v. DeChristoforo,
416 U.S. 637 , 94 S.Ct. 1868 , 40 L.Ed.2d 431 (1974)). A prosecutor’s actions are to be viewed in context; inappropriate prosecutorial comments, standing alone, will not justify reversal of a conviction obtained in an otherwise fair proceeding.
United States v. Young,
470 U.S. 1 , 105 S.Ct. 1038 , 84 L.Ed.2d 1 (1985).
United States v. Bond,
22 F.3d 662 (6th Cir.1994).
The Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has adopted a two part analysis for determining when prosecutorial misconduct warrants a new trial.
United States v. Carter,
236 F.3d 777, 783 (6th Cir.2001) (citing
United States v. Carroll,
26 F.3d 1380, 1385-87 (6th Cir.1994)). Using this analysis, a court must determine: (1) whether the prosecutor’s conduct and remarks were improper, and if so, the court must (2) consider and weigh four factors in determining whether the impropriety was flagrant and thus warranted reversal.
Id.
The four factors include: (a) whether the conduct and remarks of the prosecutor tended to mislead the jury or prejudice the defendant; (b) whether the conduct or remarks were isolated or extensive; (c) whether the remarks were deliberately or accidentally made; and (d) whether the evidence against the defendant was strong.
Id.
(citing
Carroll,
26 F.3d at 1385 ). See also
Sizemore v. Fletcher,
921 F.2d 667, 670 (6th Cir.1990).
Although Bonnell makes five claims of prosecutorial misconduct and one claim of insufficiency of the evidence, many of Bon-nell’s claims are overlapping and difficult to differentiate. After careful analysis, the Court finds that Bonnell’s claims of prose-cutorial misconduct can properly be considered as falling within the following four categories:
Brady
claims (Habeas claim 1),
Failure to preserve exculpatory evidence (Habeas claim 4),
Other prosecutorial misconduct (Habeas claim 2), and
Improper prosecutorial argument (Ha-beas claims 3 and 5).
14
Claim 1: Brady claims
In these claims,, Bonnell argues that the state withheld affirmative evidence demonstrating his innocence, evidence rebutting the State’s case, and general information. In. .particular, Bonnell argues that the State improperly withheld a forensic lab report which reported a
*726
negative gun powder residue test on the jacket Bonnell wore the night of the murder. As well, Bonnell argues that the State improperly withheld evidence that Darryl Butcher and John Egnor may have committed the murder. (Pet.9-10)
Bonnell also raises a large number of undisclosed police reports and statements that would have revealed key testimonial inconsistencies which he alleges violate
Brady v. Maryland,
373 U.S. 83 , 83 S.Ct. 1194 , 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963). Those police reports and statements indicate that:
The police testified, incorrectly, that they followed Bonnell from the Bridge Avenue apartment to where he was arrested;
Birmingham, Hatch, and Norwood gave inconsistent versions of the timing and events the night of the murder;
Norwood reported overhearing Birmingham say to Campbell “something about setting this guy up” and swearing Campbell to secrecy; Ciesla seemingly confirmed that conversation; and
The prosecution improperly failed to disclose a deal for Hatch’s testimony.
To establish a claim under
Brady ,
Bonnell must establish that: (1) the prosecutor suppressed evidence; (2) such evidence was favorable to the defense; and (3) the suppressed evidence was material.
Carter v. Bell,
218 F.3d 581, 601 (6th Cir.2000) (citing
Moore v. Illinois,
408 U.S. 786, 794-95 , 92 S.Ct. 2562 , 33 L.Ed.2d 706 (1972)). “The inquiry is objective, independent of the intent of the prosecutors.”
Id.
(citing
Brady,
373 U.S. at 87 , 83 S.Ct. 1194 .) “[E]vidence is material only if there is a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been different. A ‘reasonable probability’ is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome of the proceeding.”
United States v. Bagley,
473 U.S. 667, 676 , 105 S.Ct. 3375 , 87 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985). Furthermore, there is no
Brady
violation “where a defendant knew or should have known the essential facts permitting him to take advantage of any exculpatory information or where the evidence is available ... from another source, because in such cases there is really nothing for the government to disclose.”
Coe v. Bell,
161 F.3d 320, 344 (6th Cir.1998),
cert. denied,
528 U.S. 842 , 120 S.Ct. 110 , 145 L.Ed.2d 93 (1999) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
Recently, the Supreme Court explained the “reasonable probability” prong of
Brady .
In
Strickler v. Greene,
527 U.S. 263, 296 , 119 S.Ct. 1936 , 144 L.Ed.2d 286 (1999), the Court found that, although the prosecutor had violated the first two prongs of
Brady
by failing to provide exculpatory information to the defense, the petitioner did not sufficiently demonstrate that “there [was] a reasonable probability that his conviction or sentence would have been different had these materials been disclosed.” In that case, a principal witness positively identified the petitioner during trial. In fact, she provided specifics of the petitioner’s abduction of the victim and how she was able to remember such detail.
Id.
at 272, 119 S.Ct. 1936 . Upon obtaining the initial interviewing detective’s handwritten notes, however, the witness’ credibility was undercut significantly. The Court determined that, even had the witness’s testimony been impeached entirely, there was sufficient other evidence to convict, and, thus, provide the Court with the assurance that the wrongfully excluded evidence would not have upset the trial’s outcome.
Id.
at 296 , 119 S.Ct. 1936 .
In this case and on post-conviction appeal, the state intermediate appellate court ruled as follows on Bonnell’s
Brady
claims (reordered as presented above):
Regarding the negative test result of the gun nitrates on the defendant’s jack
*727
et, there is no reasonable probability that the outcome of the trial would have been different had this test result been admitted. As the forensic scientist in this case testified regarding another matter, a negative test result does not make a positive finding. “It simply means that laboratory wise we have no evidence.” (Tr.912). Furthermore, the results of scientific tests are considered to be work product and, therefore, exempt from disclosure pursuant to R.C. 149.43(A)(2)(c).
State ex rel. Williams v. Cleveland
(Dec. 24, 1992), Cuyahoga App. No. 61762, unreported at 4;
State ex. rel. Apanovitch v. Cleveland
(Feb. 6, 1991), Cuyahoga App. No. 58867, unreported at 19-20.
Regarding evidence involving uncharged suspects: [t]his Court in
State ex. rel Bonnell v. Cleveland
(Aug. 26, 1993), Cuyahoga App. No. 64854, unreported at 2-3, held that the report regarding uncharged suspects was not discoverable pursuant to R.C. 149.43(A)(1) and (A)(2)(a). Therefore, this issue is barred by
res judicata.
Any evidence concerning the investigation of Butcher and Egnor as possible suspects [was] not discoverable as they were never charged. See R.C. 149.43(A)(2)(a)
State ex. rel Williams v. Cleveland
(Dec. 24, 1992), Cuyahoga App. No. 61762, unreported at 8-9;
State v. Williams
(Jan. 18, 1996), Cuyahoga App. No. 68613, unreported at 9.
[Additionally,] Defendant had access to all the State’s witnesses, including the detectives whose reports he now claims he should have had. Defendant was not prevented from discussing the case with these witnesses. Moreover, the evidence that defendant now claims he should have had was either already known by defense counsel or was of such nature that it was in no way material to guilt or innocence. Defendant has not shown that any of the evidence was material or would have changed the outcome of the case....
[Defendant claims that the State withheld exculpatory evidence which cast doubt on the outcome of the trial. This claim was asserted, in one form or another, in 29 separately stated claims for relief in defendant’s petition for relief. In his appellate brief, defendant boils this down to fifteen episodes involving 64 line items or more. To illustrate the inconsistencies between withheld statements given to police and trial testimony, defendant supplies the following chart which we use for example only:
11/28/87 Statement prepared by [Detectives] Goldstein and McKibben [6 Post-Conviction “A”, Exhibit K]_Trial Transcript_
-Hatch was in bed talking -Hatch was on the couch in the living room _talking. Tr. 956_
-Hatch heard a knock, followed by a voice -Hatch heard a knock, Hatch goes to door, calling out the name “Charles” asks who it is and voice responds “Charles”. _Tr. 956-958_
-Hatch was standing behind Gene when shot -Hatch was beside Gene when he was shot. _Tr. 960_
-Hatch heard a pop_-Hatch saw Gene shot twice. Tr. 960_
-Hatch ran to bedroom and hid in closet -Hatch went to bedroom and shut the bed-_room door. Tr. 961_
-The assailant tried to enter the closet -The Assailant pounded on the bedroom door. Tr. 961
*728
-Ed rose from bed on his own initiative -Hatch woke Ed after the assailant stopped pounding on door. Tr. 961_
Hatch had never previously seen suspect prior to the homicide -Hatch had previously seen suspect. Tr. 965-966
Even a cursory review of this kind of “evidence” displays its lack of materiality. Minor inconsistencies which may impeach the accuracy of a witness’ recollection of a drunken traumatic episode do not warrant grounds for overturning a murder verdict. We will attempt nonetheless to address the issues presented.
Thé pretrial statements made by Birmingham that are contairied in the police reports that the defendant claims should have been provided to him are for the most part immaterial. The fact that the officers wrote in their report that Birmingham was too drunk to give a statement is not material when viewed in light of the whole trial. Birmingham was vigorously cross-examined regarding his drunken state and the jury therefore knew how much he had drunk. (Tr.941). Therefore, the officers’ report regarding this was not material. The fact that Birmingham had initially denied knowing the defendant was also brought out on cross-examination and the defendant’s oral statement transcribed by the detective in which he denied knowing the defendant was also entered into evidence. (Tr.947). Therefore, the police report regarding this point was immaterial. Defendant also argued this issue on direct appeal and therefore it is barred by
res judicata.
The other statements made by Birmingham that the defendant claims are material consist of minor inconsistencies surrounding the event,
ie.,
who was at the apartment; minor differences in his description of the assailant, etc. In light of all the evidence presented implicating the defendant, these minor details would not have had an effect on the outcome of the trial.
State v. Apanovitch,
107 Ohio App.3d 82 , 667 N.E.2d 1041 (“We find the evidence is not material because there is no probability that had the evidence been disclosed at trial, the result would have been different. * * * The evidence is devoid of exculpatory content.”);
State v. Williams
(Jan. 18, 1996), Cuyahoga App. No. 68613, unreported at 4 (“These conflicts in details concerning the events surrounding the events are not material inconsistencies, and thére is no reasonable probability that the outcome of the trial would have been different if the statements had been disclosed.”)
The statements in the police reports respecting Campbell corroborating the conversation that Birmingham’s downstairs neighbors heard Birmingham tell Campbell that he had “set-up” the murder was an issue presented on direct appeal and is therefore
res judicata. State v. Bonnell
(Oct. 5, 1989), Cuyahoga App. No. 55927, unreported at 12-13.
The statements made by Shirley Hatch contained in the police reports are also, for the most part, immaterial. Hatch admitted on cross-examination that she initially told the police that she did not know the defendant. (Tr. 978-980) So, any evidence in the police reports was immaterial given the jury was aware of this. This issue was also raised on direct appeal and is therefore barred by
res judicata.
The defendant’s list of the other minutiae to which Hatch inconsistently testified amounted to immaterial details surrounding the event.
State v. Williams, supra.
As stated before, even a cursory review of the evidence displays its immateriality ...
*729
The fact that blood was found on the back porch hand railing and on a green pillow on the back porch is not material. Birmingham had testified that he witnessed the defendant punching the victim and that blood was all over the place. He then picked up the defendant and threw him out the back door onto the back porch. (Tr. 785-786, 921, 923, 928, 938). It is conceivable that the blood was transferred to these areas by the defendant. Therefore, since there is no reasonable probability that this evidence would have affected the outcome of the trial, it was not material.
In conclusion, we find that the cumulative effect of all the non-disclosed evidence that defendant alleges was material would not have impacted the result of the trial
Bonnell,
1998 WL 546589 at *4-7.
Under the AEDPA, these findings are entitled to the presumption of correctness. 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (e)(1). Moreover, a comprehensive independent record review by this Court reveals no error in the state court’s finding. Certainly nothing in that Court’s decision on Bonnell’s
Brady
claims is contrary to or an unreasonable application of U.S. Supreme Court precedent. See, e.g.,
Williams,
529 U.S. at 405-412 , 120 S.Ct. 1495 . Bonnell’s
Brady
claims are therefore denied.
Claim k- Failure to Preserve Exculpatory Evidence
In this claim, Bonnell argues that the State improperly failed to preserve exculpatory evidence from the crime scene, including blood droppings from the back porch and back porch railing. Additionally, Bonnell argues that his conviction and sentence are unconstitutional because the following evidence from the crime scene was not preserved or tested:
a. Vomit found near the victim’s body;
b. Crime scene fingerprints;
c. Foreign substances on Bonnell’s hands;
d. The contents of Bonnell’s car;
e. Substances on Bonnell’s pants.
Unlike the
Brady
rules governing failure to disclose exculpatory evidence, the failure to preserve potentially material, exculpatory information violates constitutional due process only if the failure to preserve the evidence resulted from bad faith by the police. This is so because:
[T]he Due Process Clause requires a different result when we deal with the failure of the State to preserve evidentiary material of which no more can be said than it could have been subject to tests, the results of which might have exonerated the defendant. Part of the reason for the difference in treatment is found in the observation made by the Court in
California v. Trombetta,
[ 467 U.S. 479 ] at 486, 104 S.Ct. 2528 , 81 L.Ed.2d 413 [1984], that “[w]henever potentially exculpatory evidence is permanently lost, courts face the treacherous task of divining the import of materials whose contents are unknown and, very often, disputed.” Part of it stems from our unwillingness to read the “fundamental fairness” requirement of the Due Process Clause, see
Lisenba v. California,
314 U.S. 219, 236 , 62 S.Ct. 280 , 86 L.Ed. 166 (1941), as imposing on the police an undifferentiated and absolute duty to retain and to preserve all material that might be of conceivable evidentiary significance in a particular prosecution.
Arizona v. Youngblood,
488 U.S. 51, 57-58 , 109 S.Ct. 333 , 102 L.Ed.2d 281 (1988).
The post-conviction trial court found: “A review of the facts fails to show that the State acted in bad faith in preserving the evidence in this case.” That finding is presumed correct under the AEDPA and is neither contrary to nor an unreasonable
*730
application of clearly established U.S. Supreme Court law.
Trombetta,
467 U.S. at 486 , 104 S.Ct. 2528 .
Moreover, Bonnell has failed to establish that the unpreserved or untested evidence is exculpatory. Fingerprint evidence and evidence of foreign substances on Bonnell’s hands, pants, and in his car might have proved Bonnell’s presence at the apartment and involvement in the murder.
Finally, as to at least the foreign substances on Bonnell’s hands and pants and the contents of his car, Bonnell “knew or should have known the essential facts permitting him to take advantage of any exculpatory evidence” so that there was “really nothing for the government to disclose.”
Coe v. Bell,
161 F.3d at 344 .
This claim for relief is therefore denied.
Claim 2: Other Misconduct
In this claim, Bonnell argues that various matters introduced throughout the trial severely prejudiced his trial, including during voir dire, the guilt phase (implying that the back porch green pillow belonged to Bonnell, calling Michelle Janies and Charles Rowland as witnesses), and during the penalty phase (listing all statutory mitigating factors.)
The claim is without merit and must be dismissed.
With regard to these claims of error, the State intermediate appellate court ruled on direct appeal as follows:
During the testimony of the seriologist, she stated that she received a pillow that was the property of defendant. She also stated that the victim’s blood was found on the pillow. (Tr. 903.) There was no foundation laid to demonstrate that the pillow actually was defendant’s property. The state later withdrew the pillow from evidence.
Absent a foundation concerning ownership of the pillow, it should not have been introduced at trial. However, there was only one reference to the pillow during the entire trial. We do not consider this singular reference to the pillow sufficient to taint the entire guilt phase of trial in light of the other evidence against defendant. See
State v. DePew,
[ 528 N.E.2d 542, 553 (Ohio 1988)].
Defendant next argues that the state engaged in misconduct when it presented the testimony of Michelle Janies and Charles Rowland. Janies was defendant’s former girlfriend; Rowland was Janies’ then-current boyfriend. There was testimony from both Janies and Rowland that defendant would attempt to see Janies by crawling through her window. Rowland stated that defendant had threatened their lives.
Assuming that the testimony was offered to show motive, it was presumptively admissible pursuant to Evid.R. 404(B). Indeed, given the facial and physical similarities between Rowland and decedent, and given defendant’s apparent animosity to Rowland based upon Rowland’s relationship with defendant’s former girlfriend, the state could theorize that defendant mistakenly believed decedent was Rowland. The court, however, sustained objections to the testimony of Janies and Rowland, thus foreclosing any inquiry into motive. We find no improper purpose in this line of inquiry that would rise to the level of prosecuto-rial misconduct. In any event, by sustaining the objection, the court effectively eliminated the prejudicial effect of that inquiry. Accordingly, we find that the elicitation of evidence from Janies and Rowland did not constitute misconduct since defendant was not deprived of a fair trial.
Upon review of the entire record, the Court agrees that there is nothing in Bon-
*731
nell’s claims of prosecutorial misconduct that deprived Bonnell of a fair trial. There was only one mention of the green pillow and the pillow was later withdrawn from evidence. Moreover, the State court sustained Bonnell’s objection to Janies’ and Roland’s testimony. Bonnell offers no proof that this evidence, all of which was immediately withdrawn from the jury’s consideration, denied him a fair trial. There is simply no reason to believe that the jury, in violation of the judge’s instruction, considered that evidence. The Ohio court’s ruling is neither contrary to nor an unreasonable application of U.S. Supreme Court law. See, e.g.,
Estelle v. McGuire,
502 U.S. 62 , 112 S.Ct. 475 , 116 L.Ed.2d 385 (1991).
Claim 8: Improper Prosecutorial Argument
In this claim, Bonnell argues that throughout trial, the prosecutor improperly:
a. Apologized for having to call Birmingham and Hatch as witnesses;
b. Indicated during opening argument that he would introduce the murder weapon;
c. Asserted that the prosecution would “hold nothing back”;
15
d. Bolstered and vouched for the credibility of Birmingham, while suppressing many of Birmingham’s contrary statements to the police;
e. Argued that bad blood existed between Bonnell and Rowland;
f. Transferred the burden of proof to Bonnell;
g. Argued that the evidence was “clear and convincing” that Bonnell murdered Bunner;
h. Argued that “while he was lying on the table, Bonnell was reliving how he had pulled the trigger and taken Gene’s life;”
i. Commented on defense counsel’s failure to make an opening statement;
j. Implied that the state had turned over all exculpatory evidence;
k. Misstated facts;
l. Speculated reasons that officers failed to see a gun thrown from Bon-nell’s car window;
m. Engaged in name calling;
n. Speculated on the motive for Bon-nell’s acts;
o. Argued that he could prove Bon-nell’s flight and subsequent police chase alone proved guilt beyond a reasonable doubt;
p. Argued that evidence implicating Birmingham had to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
q. Argued the murder and the manner of killing were aggravating circumstances;
r. Argued the death penalty was appropriate because the killing occurred in the privacy of a home;
s. Argued that none of the statutory mitigating factors had been proved;
t. Argued that residual doubt was not a mitigating factor because all guilt issues had already been decided;
u. Argued that Bonnell showed no remorse;
v. Argued that the mitigating factors had to outweigh the aggravating circumstances for the jury to impose a life sentence.
“[I]t is notable how often courts cite improper argument by a prosecutor and how seldom they reverse convictions because of it.”
United States v. Bess,
593 F.2d 749, 757 (6th Cir.1979). In determin
*732
ing whether improper prosecutorial conduct was a due process violation that has rendered a trial fundamentally unfair, the Sixth Circuit considers four factors:
(1) The likelihood that the remarks would mislead the jury or prejudice the accused;
(2) Whether the remarks were isolated or extensive;
(3) Whether the remarks were deliberately or accidentally presented to the jury; and
(4) Whether other evidence against the defendant was substantial.
Washington v. Hofbauer,
228 F.3d at 708 (citing
Boyle v. Million,
201 F.3d 711, 717 (6th Cir.2000)).
Most of the arguments Bonnell complains of occurred during the closing remarks of Bonnell’s trial. They thus occurred during a, single,.very short period at the end of a long trial. The statements complained of were made once, were not repeated, and do not appear to have been intended to confuse or mislead the jury. (Sub-claims a, k, 1. p, v) Several of the state’s alleged improper statements were not improper because they fairly summarized the evidence, the law, what occurred at trial, and involved issues Bonnell raised in his unsworn statement. (Sub-claims b, e, f, h, i, n, q, r, s, u) Some of the allegedly improper statements were corrected by the trial judge’s later, proper instructions. (Subclaims g, o) Others have been dealt with earlier in this order. (Subclaims c, j)
The remaining claims are without merit:
d. The prosecutor’s comment on Birmingham’s credibility was not improper as it was made in the context of showing that other evidence corroborated that testimony, see, e.g.,
Carmell v. Texas,
529 U.S. 513, 556-557 , 120 S.Ct. 1620 , 146 L.Ed.2d 577 (2000);
m. The prosecutor engaged in name-calling, specifically, calling the defendant “crazy.” Bonnell misstates the prosecutor’s statement. The prosecutor did not call Bonnell crazy; he said that the defendant’s story of falling asleep in the car and not remembering anything until he woke up at the hospital was crazy. Moreover, this statement was made only once, in closing argument, and was unlikely to have affected the outcome of Bonnell’s trial and sentencing.
t. The prosecutor argued that residual doubt was not a mitigating factor because all guilt issues had already been decided. This is a correct statement of Ohio law, see, e.g.,
Frazier v. Huffman,
343 F.3d 780, 795-797 (6th Cir.2003) and cases therein cited, and is not contrary to nor an unreasonable application of U.S. Supreme Court law. See, e.g.,
Franklin v. Lynaugh,
487 U.S. 164 , 173 & n. 6, 108 S.Ct. 2320 , 101 L.Ed.2d 155 (1988).
These claims therefore raise no constitutional error and are denied.
Cumulative Prosecutorial Misconduct and Sufficiency of the
Evidence
16
Because Birmingham was unable initially to positively identify Bonnell as Bunner’s assailant, because Officer Wisnnievski was unable to identify fingerprints on the gun, ammunition, clip, and casings, because the State did not test Bonnell’s hands for gun shot residue and/or trace metal or blood, and because of the cumulative effect of the prosecutor’s misconduct,
*733
Bonnell argues that insufficient evidence supported his conviction and sentence.
When a defendant challenges the sufficiency of evidence, “the relevant question is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution,
any
rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Jackson v. Virginia,
443 U.S. 307, 319 , 99 S.Ct. 2781 , 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979);
State v. Jenks,
61 Ohio St.3d 259 , 574 N.E.2d 492 (1991), paragraph two of the syllabus. A verdict will not be disturbed unless the appellate court finds that reasonable minds could not reach the conclusion reached by the trier of fact.
Id.
at 503.
This inquiry requires an examination of the entire record and a determination of whether the evidence produced attains the high degree of probative force and certainty required of a criminal conviction. This inquiry is separate from the examination for sufficiency. The question is whether there is
substantial
evidence upon which a jury could reasonably conclude that all the elements have been proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
State v. Eley,
56 Ohio St.2d 169 , 383 N.E.2d 132 (1978), at syllabus ....
After reviewing the entire record, weighing the evidence and all reasonable inferences, taking into consideration Birmingham’s multiple descriptions of and identification of Bonnell as Bunner’s murderer, the eyewitness evidence, recovery of the murder weapon and its subsequent identification as Bonnell’s, corroborating evidence that a blue car (like that driven by Bonnell) left the apartment driveway shortly after the gunshots, and considering the jury’s determination of the credibility of the police and lay witnesses, the Court concludes that the jury did not lose its way, that a manifest miscarriage of justice did not occur, and that Bonnell’s convictions were not based on insufficient evidence. Accordingly, the Court finds that a rational jury, considering the evidence when viewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution, could find Bonnell guilty of aggravated burglary and Bunner’s murder.
JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT
Claim 11. Petitioner’s Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated when he did not receive a arraignment with counsel.
17
On December 15, 1987, Bonnell was arraigned in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court as follows:
THE CLERK: Melvin Bonnell. The charges are on the red ticket.
THE COURT: Melvin Bonnell, do you have an attorney to represent you?
MR. BONNELL: No, sir.
THE COURT: Therefore, you are indigent. Have you read your indictment and do you understand it?
MR. BONNELL: Yes
THE COURT: How do you plead?
MR. BONNELL: Not guilty
THE COURT: You plead not guilty?
MR. BONNELL: Yes.
THE COURT: Counsel will be appointed for you in your case. The Honorable James J. McMonagle — wait a minute. Bond is $200,000, set.
(Supp. T.)
Bonnell was then reindicted and was arraigned again on January 8, 1988. The following occurred at this arraignment.
MR. KOZUB: Melvin Bonnell. Your Honor, this is a reindictment of a
*734
chair case. He was arraigned 12-15-87. Judge James J. McMonagle is assigned the case. I don’t know who his attorneys are.
THE DEFENDANT: Mr. McGinty and Ron Walsh (sic).
MR. KOZUB: Richard Walsh?
THE DEFENDANT: Yeah. Richard Walsh.
MR. KOZUB: Your honor, I don’t know, I think they just may be—
THE PROSECUTOR: I think they were assigned.
MR. KOZUB: Yeah, they were assigned. They added another count of aggravated murder on this one.
THE PROSECUTOR: Still get the same ticket.
MR. KOZUB: Everything should be the same.
THE COURT: Okay. You still do not have any means to hire an attorney?
THE DEFENDANT: No.
THE COURT: Okay. Have you received a copy of your indictment?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
THE COURT: Have you read the indictment?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
THE COURT: You want to waive the 24-hour notice and have me enter a not guilty plea for you, at this time?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay. Bond is set at $200,000. Declared indigent. Counsel will be assigned. Same counsel?
MR. KOZUB: I would advise you.
THE COURT: Okay. Original counsel will be reassigned, at this time. William McGinty and Richard Walsh. Case assigned to Judge James McMo-nagle. Okay.
(T. 3-5)
Based on
Kirby v. Illinois,
406 U.S. 682, 688 , 92 S.Ct. 1877 , 32 L.Ed.2d 411 (1972) and
Powell v. Alabama,
287 U.S. 45, 69 , 53 S.Ct. 55 , 77 L.Ed. 158 (1932), Bonnell argues that the right to counsel attaches once adversarial judicial proceedings have commenced, and so that while he had no right to counsel at his first arraignment, he had a right to counsel at the second arraignment.
The Ohio Supreme Court ruled as follows:
In his twentieth proposition of law, appellant claims that it was
“per se
” constitutional error to arraign him on capital charges in the absence of his appointed counsel. Appellant relies primarily on
Hamilton v. Alabama,
368 U.S. 52 , 82 S.Ct. 157 , 7 L.Ed.2d 114 (1961). We find that appellant’s reliance on
Hamilton
is misplaced.
Hamilton
stands for the proposition that prejudice can be presumed from the absence of counsel at an arraignment on capital charges. However, the decision in
Hamilton
was based upon the crucial nature of arraignment under Alabama law. In
Dean [v. Maxwell],
174 Ohio St. 193 , 187 N.E.2d 884 [ (1963)], this court explained the difference between Alabama law and Ohio law and rejected a contention similar to the one set forth by appellant herein. Based upon our holding in
Dean,
appellant must demonstrate that he was prejudiced by the absence of counsel at the arraignment.
In an attempt to show prejudice, appellant claims that the requirements of former Crim.R. 10(A) and (C)
18
were not
*735
properly followed at his arraignment. Upon review of the record, we find that appellant suffered no prejudice in this regard. At his arraignment, appellant pled not guilty, made no incriminating statements, and lost no crucial rights. Accordingly, we reject appellant’s twentieth proposition of law.
State v. Bonnell,
61 Ohio St.3d 179 , 573 N.E.2d 1082, 1085-1086 (1991). The Court agrees. As this circuit reiterated in
Vitoratos v. Maxwell,
7 Ohio Misc. 106 , 351 F.2d 217 (6th Cir.1965):
arraignment in Ohio is not always a ‘critical stage’ of the trial process.
(Dean v. Maxwell,
... 174 Ohio St. 193 , 187 N.E.2d 884 (1963)) ...
In Ohio, as contrasted with some other states (see:
Hamilton v. Alabama,
368 U.S. 52 , 82 S.Ct. 157 , 7 L.Ed.2d 114 (1961);
White v. Maryland,
373 U.S. 59 , 83 S.Ct. 1050 , 10 L.Ed.2d 193 (1963)), an accused may change his plea ‘for good cause shown’ at any time prior to commencement of trial (§ 2943.03, Ohio Revised Code), and denial of a motion to change plea following appointment of counsel ‘would constitute such good cause that a subsequent refusal by the trial court to permit a change of plea would constitute an abuse of discretion’ reviewable as such
(Dean,
187 N.E.2d at 886). As explained at 887 ‘where an indigent accused pleads to an indictment without the benefit of counsel, the subsequent appointment of counsel to act on his behalf places the accused, for practical legal purposes in the same position he was in prior to his arraignment.’
But even if it be assumed that the arraignment was a ‘critical stage’ of this non-capital case (cf.
Hamilton v. Alabama,
368 U.S. at 52 , 82 S.Ct. 157 ), appellant did not plead guilty (cf.
White v. State of Maryland,
373 U.S. at 59, 83 S.Ct. 1050 ). Neither is it contended that any incriminating statements were elicited in the absence of counsel (cf.
Escobedo v. Illinois,
378 U.S. 478 , 84 S.Ct. 1758 , 12 L.Ed.2d 977 (1964);
Crooker v. California,
357 U.S. 433 , 78 S.Ct. 1287 , 2 L.Ed.2d 1448 (1958) ...), nor that appellant was put to trial without counsel (cf.
Gideon v. Wainwright,
372 U.S. at 335, 83 S.Ct. 792 ). We may therefore borrow the words of Chief Judge Murrah in
Johnson v. United States,
333 F.2d 371, 373 (10th Cir.1964), involving the Sixth Amendment right to assistance of counsel at arraignment in the Federal Courts, to say:
‘We think * * * the trial Court adequately protected the right of appellant to the assistance of counsel when it directed the entry of a plea of not guilty. No statement was made against the accused. He made no incriminating statement whatsoever, and was not called upon to waive assistance of counsel or any other constitutional right. He cannot, therefore, complain of the deprivation of
*736
any constitutional right at this (arraignment) stage of the proceedings.’
In
Crooker,
357 U.S.at 439-40, 78 S.Ct. 1287 , Mr. Justice Clark announced for the Court the common-sense rule that:
‘State refusal of a request to engage counsel violates due process * * * if the accused is deprived of counsel * * * for any part of the pretrial proceedings, provided that he is so prejudiced thereby as to infect his subsequent trial with an absence of ‘that fundamental fairness essential to the very concept of justice.’ * * * The latter determination necessarily depends upon all the circumstances of the case.’....
[T]he quoted rule is in keeping with the spirit of Rule 52(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure which directs that: ‘Any error, defect, irregularity or variance which does not affect substantial rights shall be disregarded.’
As Bonnell pleaded not guilty at both arraignments, he has not shown that he was prejudiced by being arraigned either time in the absence of counsel. There was thus, no constitutional error.
Claim 17. The trial court denied Petitioner a fair trial in violation of the due process clause of the ■ Fourteenth Amendment when it granted the State’s motion to quash a defense subpoena duces tecum when the records requested would have aided Petitioner in the presentation of his de
fense,
19
Here as in his January 20, 2000 motion, Petitioner claims that the trial court erred when it denied him a hearing on access to Cleveland Police Detective’s Welch’s personnel file. Petitioner sought access to the file because Detective Welch provided “an alibi for Joe Popil [Egnor] and Detective Welch’s involvement in the drug deal for which the victim was in hiding.” On August 24, 2000, the Court denied Bonnell’s request because “[there] are no facts in dispute”. What Petitioner presents is a pure legal question for resolution — did the state court err in denying Petitioner access to Welch’s file? It did not.
The post-conviction remedy statute, R.C. 2953.21(C), states in pertinent part:
(C) Before granting a hearing, the court shall determine whether there are substantive grounds for relief. In making such a determination, the court shall consider, in addition to the petition and supporting affidavits, all the files and records pertaining to the proceedings against the petitioner, including, but not limited to, the indictment, the court’s journal entries, the journalized records of the clerk of the court, and the court reporter’s transcript....
Very simply, Bonnell has not shown any evidence, in any of his state court hearings or before this court, that any reason exists leading the Court to believe that examination of Detective Welch’s personnel file will demonstrate substantive grounds for relief. Detective Welch’s personnel records are not generally discoverable under Ohio law without a clear indication of what the defendant expects to find. See, e.g.,
Columbus v. Robinson,
33 Ohio App.3d 151 , 514 N.E.2d 919 (1986). Moreover, although Popil was never charged with this murder, see, e.g.,
State ex rel Jenkins v. Cleveland,
82 Ohio App.3d 770 , 613 N.E.2d 652 (1992) (defendant denied access to records regarding persons never charged with the crime alleged) he did testify at trial (T. 1220-1244) and Bonnell had full access to
*737
Popil’s police records. That Welch “knew the cast of characters involved or connected with this homicide” and that “there maybe more evidence in there (the file) that is important to our defense” adds nothing to Bonnell’s request. What is clear is that Bonnell’s attempt to access Welch’s personnel file is nothing more than a prohibited “fishing expedition.” See, e.g., Rule 6 of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases in the United States District Courts and
Ward v. Whitley,
21 F.3d 1355, 1367 (5th Cir.1994).
Under these circumstances, the state court did not err in granting the prosecutor’s motion to quash Petitioner’s request to access Detective Welch’s files.
INSTRUCTIONAL ERROR
Petitioner next claims that he was denied due process because several of the trial judge’s instructions to the jury at both the guilt and penalty phases of his trial were constitutionally infirm. The standard we apply on habeas review regarding jury instructions is highly demanding. Indeed, “the fact that the instruction was allegedly incorrect under state law is not a basis for habeas relief.”
Estelle v. McGuire,
502 U.S. 62, 71-72 , 112 S.Ct. 475 , 116 L.Ed.2d 385 (1991). Rather, the sole question on habeas is “ ‘whether the ailing instruction by itself so infected the entire trial that the resulting conviction violates due process.’ ”
Id.
at 72 , 112 S.Ct. 475 (quoting
Cupp v. Naughten,
414 U.S. 141, 147 , 94 S.Ct. 396 , 38 L.Ed.2d 368 (1973)). Moreover, the Supreme Court has cautioned that it has “defined the category of infractions that violate ‘fundamental fairness’ very narrowly.”
Dowling v. United States,
493 U.S. 342, 352 , 110 S.Ct. 668 , 107 L.Ed.2d 708 (1990). Petitioner has not met this standard here.
Claim 7. Errors in instructing the jury during the culpability and penalty phases of this case mandate a new trial on both phases.
20
In this claim, Bonnell argues that the trial court improperly instructed the jury in the following ways:
a. The trial court improperly instructed the jury that it had to acquit of the greater offense before considering a lesser offense;
b. Failure of jury to find an element of an aggravating circumstance, which makes defendant death eligible, violates
In re Winship;
c. The trial court’s instruction at mitigation that the jury must be “firmly convinced of the truth of the charge” created a presumption of death;
d. The trial court improperly listed each of the statutory mitigating factors;
e. The mitigation instructions were improper, incomprehensible, and unconstitutional;
f. The use of “outweigh” lessened the State’s burden of proof from beyond a reasonable doubt to a preponderance of evidence; and
g. Ohio Rev.Code Ann. § 2929.04(B)(7) invites the jury to consider non-statutory aggravating factors.
The Court will consider each claim of mis-instruetion individually.
a. The trial court improperly instructed the jury that it had to acquit of the greater offense before considering a lesser offense.
21
Bonnell requested, and was given, an instruction with regard to Count 3 (aggra
*738
vated murder with prior calculation and design) to the lesser included offense of murder. The court instructed as follows:
Now, the third count of the indictment refers to aggravated murder and also has a gun specification and a felony murder specification. Now, in this count, aggravated murder, it is defined as purposefully causing the death of another with prior calculation and design. Before you can find the Defendant guilty on the third count you must find beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about the 28th day of November, 1987, in Cuya-hoga County, Ohio, the Defendant purposely caused the death of Robert Bun-ner with prior calculation and design. I have defined purposely for you.
No person may be convicted of aggravated murder unless he is specifically found to have intended to cause the death of another. Prior calculation and design means the purpose to kill was reached by the Defendant through the Defendant’s process of reasoning and in advance of the killing, which process of reasoning must have included a mental plan involving studied consideration of the method and means with which to kill another or the instrument or weapon used to kill another. No definite period of time must elapse and no particular amount of consideration must be given to the prior calculation and design to kill.
Acting on the spur of the moment or after momentary consideration of the purpose to kill is not sufficient to constitute the kind of prior calculation and design that is required for aggravated murder.
In determining the amount of prior calculation and design, if you find that the State has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the Defendant actually formed a purpose to kill, and that his purpose was arrived at with prior calculation and design before he performed the act, that is sufficient for this element in the third count.
Now, if you are satisfied that, as I have defined those crimes themselves, that the Defendant, the State of Ohio has sustained their burden of proof on each and every element beyond a reasonable doubt, you should find the defendant guilty.
If you are satisfied that they have not sustained their burden of proof on any individual element of any individual count, then you should find the Defendant not guilty.
The Defendant may be found guilty in one count and not guilty in another count. Obviously each count shall be considered independently by you, the Jury.
*
* x X
Hi
X
Ladies and gentlemen, under the third count of the indictment which refers to the aggravated murder with prior calculation and design, you may also proceed to consider, if you find that the State failed to prove prior calculation and design, you must find the Defendant non guilty of aggravated murder under that third count. However, you will proceed with your deliberations and decide whether or not the State has proved beyond a reasonable doubt the elements of the lesser offense of murder
Now, the offense of murder is distinguished from aggravated murder by the failure to prove the existence of prior calculation and design. To constitute murder it must be established that on or about the 28th day of November, 1987, and in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, the Defendant purposely caused the death of Robert Bunner
Purpose and causation have been defined for you previously.
*739
If you find the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt all of the essential elements of the lesser offense of murder, then under those circumstances you would go ahead and consider the specifications, the specifications which are in the indictment.
If you find that he is not guilty of murder, then obviously you will find not guilty on the specification.
(Tr. 1519-1521, 1530-1531) (Emphasis added).
On habeas review, Bonnell argues that the instruction impermissibly required the jury to unanimously acquit Bonnell of aggravated murder before considering his guilt of murder. The Court disagrees.
This claim is governed by this circuit’s decision in
Weese v. Turner,
No. 99-3431, 1999 WL 427151 (6th Cir. June 15, 1999). Accord,
Mills v. Maryland,
486 U.S. 367 , 108 S.Ct. 1860 , 100 L.Ed.2d 384 (1988) and
McKoy v. North Carolina,
494 U.S. 433 , 110 S.Ct. 1227 , 108 L.Ed.2d 369 (1990).
In
Weese ,
this Circuit declined to overturn Weese’s conviction of aggravated burglary and the lesser included offense of burglary because the verdict form “suggested” that the jury must unanimously acquit Weese of aggravated burglary before considering the lesser included offense of burglary. The court, assuming that the verdict form improperly required an “acquittal first” instruction, nevertheless determined that the ailing instruction by itself did not so infect the entire trial that the resulting conviction violated due process. The circuit court reasoned as follows:
Petitioner was charged with aggravated burglary and theft in connection with the robbery of a house-trailer near his mother’s trailer. Petitioner had been staying with his mother for approximately one week prior to the robbery.
One of the key issues in the state case was whether petitioner knew or had reason to suspect that the occupants of the trailer would be gone during the robbery. Under the Ohio law in effect at the time, the element that distinguished aggravated burglary from the lesser included offense of burglary was whether or not a person was present or likely to be present in the occupied structure at the time of the offense.
See
Ohio Revised Code § § 2911.11, Historical and Statutory Notes. Testimony was introduced at the state trial suggesting that petitioner had been in a position to overhear the two occupants of the trailer discussing their plans to go out to dinner with family members on the evening that the robbery took place. However, the testimony also suggested that at the time the occupants were discussing their evening plans, petitioner was too drunk to hear or comprehend them. Under
Keeble v. United States,
412 U.S. 205, 208 , 93 S.Ct. 1993 , 36 L.Ed.2d 844 (1973), an instruction on the lesser included offense of burglary would be required if supported by the evidence. In the present case, it is not contested that the evidence was sufficient to warrant an instruction on the lesser included offense of burglary and that the state trial court orally gave such an instruction to the jury....
At trial, the state court gave aggravated burglary instructions, which stated that for conviction of aggravated burglary petitioner had to be aware that a person was present or likely to be present in the occupied structure. The state court also gave an instruction for the lesser included offense of burglary, the instruction provided that if the robber knew the occupied structure was empty, he was guilty only of the lesser included offense of burglary. According to petitioner, the trial court properly instructed the jury to consider the lesser included offense of burglary if the jury found
*740
that the state had failed to prove all the elements of aggravated burglary, or if the jury was unable to agree on a verdict on the aggravated burglary charge.
Petitioner contends, however, that the jury verdict form incorrectly required the jury to acquit petitioner of the aggravated burglary charge before the jury could consider the lesser included offense of burglary. Petitioner argues that the trial court gave the following instruction with respect to the second jury verdict form:
The next verdict form says, “[W]e, the jury, being duly impaneled and sworn, find the defendant Paul F. Weese, Jr., not guilty of aggravated burglary but guilty of the lesser included offense of burglary.”
Petitioner argues that this statement constitutes an “acquittal first” instruction, which is prohibited under Ohio law....
In a federal habeas action, errors in jury instructions are generally not cognizable unless they deprive petitioner of a fundamentally fair trial.
See Henderson v. Kibbe,
431 U.S. 145, 154 , 97 S.Ct. 1730 , 52 L.Ed.2d 203 (1977);
Wood v. Marshall,
790 F.2d 548, 551-52 (6th Cir.1986). To warrant federal ha-beas corpus relief based on instructions that were allegedly erroneous under state law, petitioner must demonstrate that the error violated a federal constitutional right.
See Cupp v. Naughten,
414 U.S. at 146 , 94 S.Ct. 396 . The issue in the present case is thus not whether the verdict form instruction was undesirable or erroneous under Ohio law, but rather whether the verdict form instruction, by itself, so infected the entire trial that the resulting conviction violated due process. In the present case, the district court accepted the finding of the Ohio Court of Appeals that the wording of the verdict form constituted error under Ohio law....
The jury was correctly instructed on how to proceed with deliberations. There is no reason to believe that the jury even had occasion to refer to the second jury verdict form, the form at issue here, after it concluded petitioner was guilty of aggravated burglary, the subject of the first verdict form. The purpose of the forms is to provide the jury with a means to record their verdict.
There are no words indicating that the decision about the greater offense had to be unanimous. At no time did the trial court instruct the jury that it must unanimously acquit on the greater charge before moving on to the lesser charge. There is no indication that the jury failed to follow the trial court’s correct oral instructions given to it that, if it could not agree about aggravated burglary, it was to move on to the lesser included offense.
Weese,
1999 WL 427151 at **2-4.
As in
Weese ,
nothing in the trial court instructions in Bonnell’s case suggested that Bonnell must be unanimously acquitted of aggravated murder before considering his guilt on the lesser included offense of murder. To the contrary, the trial court made plain throughout its instructions that unanimity was required only to render a verdict of guilt in any of the charged offenses. There was no impermissible “acquittal first” instructions in this trial court’s instructions. Therefore, this claim is denied.
b. Failure of jury to find an element of an aggravating circumstance [principal offender], which makes defendant death eligible, violates
In re Winship
In this claim, Bonnell argues that the failure of the judge to find that Bonnell was the “principal” offender in Burner’s
*741
death, renders imposition of the death penalty unconstitutional. Ohio Rev.Code § 2929.03(c)(2). (Traverse 42-45) The Court agrees with the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision which is neither contrary to nor involved an unreasonable application of Supreme Court precedent. Here, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled:
Appellant contends that the trial court erred by failing to instruct the jury that appellant must be found to be the principal offender of the aggravated murder offense in order for appellant to be found guilty of the R.C. 2929.04(A)(7) death penalty specification. Additionally, appellant argues that because the verdict forms do not indicate that the jury found appellant to be the principal offender, the state failed to prove an essential element of its case.
We find no reversible error. The evidence in this case does not reasonably suggest that Bunner’s murder was committed by more than one offender. Thus, appellant was either the principal offender, or he committed no offense at all. We conclude that, under these circumstances, any error in failing to instruct the jury on the principal offender issue was not outcome determinative.
Bonnell,
573 N.E.2d at 1087 .
A court need not instruct the jury on statutory elements where no evidence would allow the jury to convict on that element. Here, the judge properly instructed the jury on Ohio Rev.Code § 2929.03(C)(2) (prior calculation and design). (T. 1519-1529) That was all that was required by the evidence in the case. This allegation of error is thus denied.
c. The trial court’s instruction at mitigation that the jury must be “firmly convinced of the truth of the charge” created a presumption of death.
Bonnell argues that the judge created a presumption of death based on the following language (taken out of context) from the judge’s preliminary sentencing charge: “Reasonable doubt is present when, after you have carefully considered and compared all the evidence, you cannot say you are firmly convinced of the truth of the charge” (T. 1573). There is no error.
Taken in context, the judge correctly instructed the jury that to find the death penalty appropriate, they had to find that the aggravating factors presented outweighed the mitigating factors beyond a reasonable doubt. The judge charged as follows:
Now, it is your duty now to determine the sentence, if you find it is justified or what you find is justified from the evidence. Now, the sole criteria for imposing the death penalty is that the Prosecutor must persuade a unanimous jury beyond a reasonable doubt that the aggravating circumstances which I just read to you, the circumstances of which the Defendant was found guilty outweigh the mitigating circumstances that may be present in it.
Reasonable doubt is present when, after you have carefully considered and compared all the evidence, you cannot say you are firmly convinced of the truth of the charge.
Reasonable doubt is a doubt based on reason and common sense. Reasonable doubt is not mere possible doubt, because everything relating to human affairs or depending on moral evidence is open to some possible or imaginary doubt.
Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is proof of such character that an ordinary person would be willing to rely and act upon it in the most important of his own affairs.
*742
The foregoing is the proper definition of reasonable doubt.
(T. 1572-1573)
Later, the judge reiterated:
Now, the structure is a little bit different right now because at this stage the attorney for the Defendant will be given an opportunity to open and close these arguments. Now, that should not be construed by anyone as indicating there is a burden of proof upon the shoulders of the Defendant. There is not.
Now, what your duty is going to be is this, that you, the Trial Jury, must consider all the relative evidence raised at trial, the testimony and other evidence, the statement of the Defendant, Melvin Bonnell, and the arguments of counsel. Then you will determine whether or not the aggravating circumstances which Melvin Bonnell was found guilty of committing was sufficient to outweigh the mitigating factors that are present in this case. You will weigh the aggravating circum

[Text truncated at 120,000 characters. The full text is on the page linked above.]

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/2511412. Public record. Not legal advice.