Roberts v. State, 1073S202
| Docket Nº | No. 1073S202 |
| Citation | 263 Ind. 53, 324 N.E.2d 265 |
| Case Date | March 11, 1975 |
| Court | Supreme Court of Indiana |
Page 265
v.
STATE of Indiana, Appellee.
Harriette Bailey Conn, Public Defender, William B. Bryan, Deputy Public Defender, Indianapolis, for appellant.
Theodore L. Sendak, Atty. Gen., Walter F. Lockhart, Deputy Atty. Gen., Indianapolis, for appellee.
ARTERBURN, Justice.
On March 4, 1954, a jury convicted Appellant of First Degree Murder. On August 2, 1971, Appellant filed a petition for post-conviction relief. On June 6, 1973, the Wells Circuit Court denied the petition and on August 29, 1973, a Motion to Correct Errors was overruled. This appeal followed pursuant to Rule PC. 1, § 7 and Rule AP. 4 (A)(7).
The single issue presented for our consideration is the claim that Appellant was denied due process of law by reason of the ineffectiveness of his trial attorney. At the post-conviction hearing the Appellant testified, as summarized in his brief, that:
'(a) his attorney saw him only once befor trial; (b) his attorney would not discuss the case with him; (c) his attorney was concerned with nothing more than keeping the defendant out of the electric chair despite the defendant's protestations
Page 266
that he was innocent; (d) his attorney did not let the defendant take the witness stand although giving no reason other than assurance that everything would be alright; (e) his attorney did not call the defendant's alibi witnesses because it wouldn't 'look good'; and (f) his attorney did not present to the court at trial the fact that the defendant did not sign the 'confession' entered into evidence.'By the time of the post-conviction hearing the trial attorney had died. However, the state presented the testimony of the attorney who had assisted the principal trial attorney in the preparation and conduct of Appellant's defense. This attorney's testimony contradicted several of Appellant's allegations and demonstrated that an adequate defense was made on behalf of Appellant. Certain of Appellant's allegations are merely critiques of trial tactics and strategy which are not proper elements of an allegation of ineffectiveness of counsel. Greer v. State, (1975) Ind., 321 N.E.2d 842; Blackburn v. State, (1973) Ind., 291 N.E.2d 686; Robbins v. State, (1971) 257 Ind. 273, 274 N.E.2d 255. The state also cross-examined Appellant in regard to his credibility. After hearing all of the evidence, the trial court denied the post-conviction...
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Quinn v. Duckworth, S 83-255.
...conflict and leads unequivocally to the opposite result. Baker v. State, (1980) ___ Ind. ___, 403 N.E.2d 1069; Roberts v. State, (1975) 263 Ind. 53, 324 N.E.2d 265. The credibility of this witness was a matter for the trial judge to determine. Since the new trial was requested based on newl......
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Quinn v. State, 1081S293
...not reached by the trial court. Harris v. State, supra; Carroll v. State, (1976) 265 Ind. 423, 355 N.E.2d 408; Roberts v. State, (1975) 263 Ind. 53, 324 N.E.2d 265. The trial court here properly found there was not sufficient evidence to raise a reasonable doubt as to the effectiveness of a......
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Pedigo v. State, 2-379-A-72
...has reached the opposite conclusion will Pedigo prevail. Walker v. State, (1978) 267 Ind. 649, 372 N.E.2d 739; Roberts v. State, (1975) 263 Ind. 53, 324 N.E.2d The trial court obviously was not persuaded by Pedigo's evidence, finding: Page 135 (e) That the Petitioner makes no comment about ......
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Likens v. State, 3-1076A238
...mind acting on the evidence presented could have reached the conclusion arrived at by the court. PC 1, § 5; Roberts v. State (1975), 263 Ind. 53, 324 N.E.2d At the post conviction hearing Likens testified that his attorney advised him that upon his plea he would be sentenced to ten years "f......
-
Quinn v. Duckworth, S 83-255.
...conflict and leads unequivocally to the opposite result. Baker v. State, (1980) ___ Ind. ___, 403 N.E.2d 1069; Roberts v. State, (1975) 263 Ind. 53, 324 N.E.2d 265. The credibility of this witness was a matter for the trial judge to determine. Since the new trial was requested based on newl......
-
Quinn v. State, 1081S293
...not reached by the trial court. Harris v. State, supra; Carroll v. State, (1976) 265 Ind. 423, 355 N.E.2d 408; Roberts v. State, (1975) 263 Ind. 53, 324 N.E.2d 265. The trial court here properly found there was not sufficient evidence to raise a reasonable doubt as to the effectiveness of a......
-
Pedigo v. State, 2-379-A-72
...has reached the opposite conclusion will Pedigo prevail. Walker v. State, (1978) 267 Ind. 649, 372 N.E.2d 739; Roberts v. State, (1975) 263 Ind. 53, 324 N.E.2d The trial court obviously was not persuaded by Pedigo's evidence, finding: Page 135 (e) That the Petitioner makes no comment about ......
-
Likens v. State, 3-1076A238
...mind acting on the evidence presented could have reached the conclusion arrived at by the court. PC 1, § 5; Roberts v. State (1975), 263 Ind. 53, 324 N.E.2d At the post conviction hearing Likens testified that his attorney advised him that upon his plea he would be sentenced to ten years "f......