State v. Martini

• Decision Date: 05 February 1997
• Citation: 690 A.2d 603,148 N.J. 453
• Parties: STATE of New Jersey v. John MARTINI, Sr.
• Court: New Jersey Supreme Court

Page 453

148 N.J. 453

690 A.2d 603

STATE of New Jersey v. John MARTINI, Sr.

Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Feb. 5, 1997.

ORDER

The Office of the Public Defender, in support of its pending application for post-conviction relief, having claimed that the omission of certain mitigating evidence at the penalty phase of defendant's capital trial resulted in the unjust imposition of a sentence of death, that said evidence was not obtained or produced by either defense counsel or the State, and that these omissions constituted ineffective assistance of counsel and otherwise violated defendant's constitutional rights;

And defendant, by independent counsel, having opposed the claims of the Public Defender;

And the trial court, after an in camera inspection of the evidence, having, on November 13, 1996, determined that defendant has an interest in maintaining confidentiality in respect of the challenged evidence;

And the trial court on that basis having denied the motion of the Public Defender to introduce the evidence in support of the application for post-conviction relief;

And the Public Defender having sought leave to appeal the trial court's interlocutory order, and this Court having reviewed the record and written arguments of counsel;

And good cause appearing;

It is hereby ORDERED that the Public Defender's motion for leave to appeal is granted, the order of the trial court is vacated, and the matter is remanded to that court for further proceedings consistent with this Order; and it is further

ORDERED that the trial court in making its final determination on the pending application for post-conviction relief shall reconsider the issue of the omission of mitigating evidence from defendant's penalty-phase trial; shall hear any further evidence and arguments from the parties; and shall make detailed factual and legal conclusions that may clarify, amplify, supplement, or supersede its decision and interlocutory order that are the basis of this appeal; and it is further

ORDERED that the trial court's determination shall address the following issues:

1. Whether the evidence was mitigating;

2. If the evidence was mitigating, whether defense counsel's failure to obtain the evidence constituted ineffective assistance of counsel or whether the omission of the evidence constituted a manifest injustice and a violation of defendant's constitutional rights, entitling defendant to post-conviction relief;

3. If defendant is entitled to post-conviction...