Knickerbocker v. Wolfenbarger , 212 F. App'x 426 ( 2007 )

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
File Name: 07a0007n.06
Filed: January 5, 2007
No. 05-1556
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
ROBERT KNICKERBOCKER, )
)
Petitioner-Appellant, ) ON APPEAL FROM THE
) UNITED STATES DISTRICT
v. ) COURT FOR THE EASTERN
) DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
HUGH WOLFENBARGER, Warden, )
) OPINION
Respondent-Appellee. )
_______________________________________)
Before: MERRITT and MOORE, Circuit Judges; COLLIER,* District Judge.
KAREN NELSON MOORE, Circuit Judge. Petitioner-Appellant Robert Knickerbocker
(“Knickerbocker”) appeals from the district court’s order denying his petition for a writ of habeas
corpus. The district court denied Knickerbocker’s two habeas claims based on newly discovered
evidence and dismissed the remaining four claims as untimely filed. The district court granted a
certificate of appealability only as to the latter four claims. Knickerbocker argues that the statute of
limitations should be equitably tolled as to those four claims because he has made a sufficient
showing of actual innocence based on newly discovered evidence. Because Knickerbocker has not
shown that it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror would find him guilty beyond a
*
The Honorable Curtis L. Collier, Chief United States District Judge for the Eastern District
of Tennessee, sitting by designation.
reasonable doubt, we do not apply the equitable-tolling doctrine, and we AFFIRM the judgment of
the district court dismissing the claims as time-barred.
I. BACKGROUND
A. Facts
On Sunday, August 26, 1990, Larry Hardyniec (“Hardyniec”) visited the home of Joe Melton
(“Melton”) and Harry Camp (“Camp”). Melton paid Hardyniec $500 for marijuana, and Hardyniec
arranged to meet Melton the next evening, August 27, ostensibly in order to arrange for a friend of
his to sell Melton two pounds of marijuana for $4,000. Petitioner Robert Knickerbocker and
Hardyniec planned instead to steal Melton’s $4,000; Knickerbocker was to act as if he were taking
Melton’s money to a house to buy marijuana, but never return.
On the evening of August 27, Knickerbocker was at home. Hardyniec arrived, and
Knickerbocker and Hardyniec left in Hardyniec’s girlfriend’s car. Meanwhile, Melton was at home
and had prepared $4,000. Hardyniec called to ask if Melton was ready and told Melton that he
would arrive shortly. When Hardyniec and Knickerbocker arrived at Melton’s home, Hardyniec
went inside. Soon after, Hardyniec and Melton came back outside, got in the car, and the three of
them drove away.
Melton was killed, although there is some dispute over the circumstances. In his statement
to the police, Knickerbocker said that he was driving and that from the back seat, Hardyniec wrapped
a red wire around Melton’s neck and choked him. Knickerbocker tried to stop Hardyniec, hitting
Hardyniec with his casted right forearm, and Hardyniec stuck a knife in Knickerbocker’s cast.
Knickerbocker stopped the car, jumped out, and ran off. Evidence was also introduced before
2
Knickerbocker’s jury, however, that Hardyniec was the driver and Knickerbocker was in the back
seat. Hardyniec told his brother, Marvin Valdez (“Valdez”), that Knickerbocker killed Melton.
Knickerbocker went home and changed clothes, and his brother did not notice anything out
of the ordinary. Hardyniec arrived at Knickerbocker’s home soon after, and the two of them drove
to Hardyniec’s home. Knickerbocker told the police that Hardyniec threatened him and told him to
keep his mouth shut.
Hardyniec’s girlfriend, Tracy Burk (“Burk”), awoke to hear Knickerbocker and Hardyniec
talking in the driveway at Hardyniec’s home. Knickerbocker asked her if she would give him a ride,
and she agreed after Hardyniec told her, “Sure, go ahead. Just hurry up.” District Court Docket
Entry 19 (“R.19") at 115-16 (Burk Test.). Burk drove Knickerbocker to a friend’s home, then to the
gas station, and finally dropped him off at another friend’s home. Later that evening, Knickerbocker
went to a bar with friends.
Burk, Valdez, and Valdez’s girlfriend, Sharon Mitchell (“Mitchell”), noticed that Hardyniec
was perspiring heavily and appeared upset when he returned home. Hardyniec was crying and,
according to Valdez, said, “We killed Joe,” and then soon after, said, “Did you ever see a man’s
throat cut wide open? I couldn’t, I couldn’t believe what Bobby did.” R.20 at 84-85 (Marvin Valdez
Test.).
Melton’s body was discovered in the driveway of a local cleaners the next morning. Melton
had marks encircling his neck consistent with strangulation with a wire, cuts and bruises to his face,
and a seven-inch open cut to his neck. The medical examiner determined that Melton died of
strangulation and received the cut to his neck post mortem.
3
Two days after the incident, on August 29, 1990, the police searched Knickerbocker’s home
pursuant to a valid search warrant. Among other items, police recovered a piece of red wire
consistent with Melton’s injuries. The police arrested Knickerbocker that same day. Knickerbocker
agreed to give a statement to the police, in which he disclaimed any knowledge of a plan to rob
Melton, gave a detailed account of Hardyniec killing Melton and Knickerbocker’s own efforts to stop
Hardyniec, and told the police that Hardyniec had been calling and threatening him during the
previous two days. After Knickerbocker had given his statement, Sergeant Gary Tomkiewicz told
him that Hardyniec had been in custody since the previous day and had no phone privileges, and thus
Knickerbocker was apparently lying about receiving threats. Knickerbocker began rocking in his
chair, sweating, and shaking. Sergeant Tomkiewicz also told Knickerbocker, falsely, that a witness
had told them that Hardyniec was driving the car when Knickerbocker and Hardyniec left
Knickerbocker’s home. Knickerbocker then told the police that he had forgotten to tell them that
he and Hardyniec had stopped and switched drivers because Hardyniec had a suspended license.
B. Procedural History
Knickerbocker and Hardyniec were tried in a joint trial before separate juries. Knickerbocker
was convicted of first degree felony murder and armed robbery.1 Knickerbocker moved for a
directed verdict and a new trial, which the trial court denied. The trial court sentenced him to
mandatory life in prison for first degree felony murder and 50-90 years in prison for armed robbery,
but vacated the armed robbery sentence to avoid potential double jeopardy problems. The Michigan
Court of Appeals affirmed Knickerbocker’s conviction on December 21, 1993, and the Michigan
1
The jury was instructed on both direct and aiding and abetting theories of guilt as to both
charges. Joint Appendix (“J.A.”) at 122-24 (Jury Instructions).
4
Supreme Court denied leave to appeal on July 29, 1994, People v. Knickerbocker, 521 N.W.2d 615(Mich. 1994).
Knickerbocker filed a Motion for Relief from Judgment, which was denied by the trial court
on October 22, 1997. On July 15, 1999, the Michigan Court of Appeals dismissed Knickerbocker’s
appeal because he failed to file it within the applicable time period. On February 29, 2000, the
Michigan Supreme Court denied leave to appeal. People v. Knickerbocker, 609 N.W.2d 189 (Mich.
2000).
In April 2001, Harry Camp signed an affidavit partially recanting his testimony at trial,
stating that although he had testified that Hardyniec drove the car from Melton’s home, he was
actually not sure who was driving. Knickerbocker attempted to file a second Motion for Relief from
Judgment on the basis of this newly discovered evidence, but the trial court returned his motion with
a letter dated August 20, 2002, stating that Knickerbocker was permitted to file only one such motion
under the Michigan Court Rules. Knickerbocker’s attorney attempted to refile, and the trial court
denied the motion on January 15, 2003. Knickerbocker filed a complaint for superintending control
with the Michigan Court of Appeals, which was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction on May 20, 2003,
because “[t]here is no appeal available from a circuit court order denying a subsequent motion for
relief from judgment.” R.28 (Mich. Ct. App. Superintending Control Order). Knickerbocker then
filed a delayed application for leave to appeal with the Court of Appeals, which dismissed his
application on August 18, 2003, on the same grounds. The Michigan Supreme Court denied leave
to appeal on April 30, 2004. People v. Knickerbocker, 680 N.W.2d 418 (Mich. 2004).
Knickerbocker filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in U.S. district court on May 11,
2004. Knickerbocker raised six claims: 1) that the trial court abused its discretion by refusing to
5
permit him to file his second Motion for Relief from Judgment; 2) that Knickerbocker was denied
due process and a fair trial by the use of Harry Camp’s perjured testimony at trial; 3) that he was
denied due process because the trial court erred in its jury instructions; 4) that he was denied a fair
trial because the prosecution did not disclose certain exculpatory evidence; 5) that the trial court
erred by not permitting Knickerbocker to elicit testimony from Mitchell that Hardyniec planned on
his own to rob Melton; and 6) that Knickerbocker’s trial counsel and appellate counsel were
ineffective. The district court determined that Knickerbocker’s first two claims, based upon newly
discovered evidence, were not barred by the statute of limitations, but denied those claims on the
merits. The district court denied a certificate of appealability as to those two claims. Knickerbocker
filed a motion in this court for a certificate of appealability as to his first two habeas claims, and we
denied his motion on December 19, 2005.
The district court dismissed Knickerbocker’s remaining four claims as barred by the statute
of limitations. The district court calculated that the one-year limitations period expired, at the latest,
on October 22, 1998. The court concluded that Knickerbocker’s two claims based upon unrelated
newly discovered evidence could not revive his four time-barred claims, and that Knickerbocker had
not made a sufficient showing of actual innocence to warrant equitable tolling. The court granted
a certificate of appealability as to these four claims, however, stating that “reasonable jurists could
find the Court’s dismissal of those claims on statute of limitations grounds debatable.” Joint
Appendix (“J.A.”) at 116 (Dist. Ct. COA Order at 2).
Knickerbocker filed a timely notice of appeal.
6
II. ANALYSIS
“‘This court applies de novo review to the decision of the district court in a habeas
proceeding.’” Souter v. Jones, 395 F.3d 577, 584 (6th Cir. 2005) (quoting Harris v. Stovall, 212
F.3d 940, 942 (6th Cir. 2000)). “Furthermore, ‘[t]he dismissal of a habeas petition by the district
court as barred by 28 U.S.C. § 2244’s statute of limitations is reviewed de novo.’” Id. (quoting Cook
v. Stegall, 295 F.3d 517, 519 (6th Cir. 2002)). We review a district court’s factual findings for clear
error. Id. The Supreme Court has indicated in this context, however, that the interpretation of the
evidence as a whole and its likely effect on reasonable jurors is primarily a question of law on which
we do not defer to the district court’s judgment:
Deference is given to a trial court’s assessment of evidence presented to it in the first
instance. Yet the [actual innocence] inquiry, we repeat, requires a holistic judgment
about “all the evidence” and its likely effect on reasonable jurors applying the
reasonable-doubt standard. As a general rule, the inquiry does not turn on discrete
findings regarding disputed points of fact, and “[i]t is not the district court’s
independent judgment as to whether reasonable doubt exists that the standard
addresses.”
House v. Bell, --- U.S. ---, 126 S. Ct. 2064, 2078 (2006) (quoting Schlup v. Delo, 513 U.S. 298, 328,
329 (1995) (internal quotation marks omitted)) (second alteration in original).
A. The Applicable Limitations Period
The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (“AEDPA”) established a one-
year limitations period for habeas petitions brought by prisoners challenging state-court convictions.
28 U.S.C. § 2244(d). Section 2244(d) states, in relevant part:
(1) A 1-year period of limitation shall apply to an application for a writ of habeas
corpus by a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court. The
limitation period shall run from the latest of—
(A) the date on which the judgment became final by the conclusion of direct
review or the expiration of the time for seeking such review;
7
....
(2) The time during which a properly filed application for State post-conviction or
other collateral review with respect to the pertinent judgment or claim is pending
shall not be counted toward any period of limitation under this subsection.
Id. Prisoners whose convictions became final prior to April 24, 1996, AEDPA’s effective date, are
given a one-year grace period in which to file their federal habeas petitions. McClendon v. Sherman,
329 F.3d 490, 493 (6th Cir. 2003).
Knickerbocker’s convictions became final prior to April 24, 1996. Accordingly, he had one
year from that date to file a habeas petition raising the four claims at issue,2 excluding any time
during which he had a properly filed application for state post-conviction or collateral review
pending. Knickerbocker concedes that his Petition, filed on May 14, 2004, was technically not
timely filed as to the four claims at issue, but argues that he is entitled to equitable tolling of the
statute of limitations because he has demonstrated that he is actually innocent.3
B. Equitable Tolling for Actual Innocence
Where an otherwise time-barred petitioner makes a sufficiently persuasive showing of actual
innocence, equitable tolling is appropriate, and the federal habeas court will review the merits of the
petitioner’s underlying constitutional claims. Souter, 395 F.3d at 602; see also House, 126 S. Ct.
at 2077-78. “‘To be credible, such a claim requires petitioner to support his allegations of
2
Knickerbocker had one year from “the date on which the factual predicate of the claim or
claims presented could have been discovered through the exercise of due diligence” to file the other
two claims that he raised below, 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1)(D), which are not before us on appeal.
3
Knickerbocker also declares that the four claims at issue were procedurally defaulted in state
court. Appellant Br. at 31. The district court concluded that these claims were time-barred, but did
not discuss whether they were procedurally defaulted. However, a sufficient showing of actual
innocence allows consideration of procedurally defaulted claims as well as time-barred claims, and
the same analysis applies. See Williams v. Bagley, 380 F.3d 932, 973 (6th Cir. 2004), cert. denied,
544 U.S. 1003 (2005).
8
constitutional error with new reliable evidence—whether it be exculpatory scientific evidence,
trustworthy eyewitness accounts, or critical physical evidence—that was not presented at trial.’”
Souter, 395 F.3d at 590 (quoting Schlup, 513 U.S. at 324). “[T]he habeas court must consider ‘all
the evidence,’ old and new, incriminating and exculpatory, without regard to whether it would
necessarily be admitted under ‘rules of admissibility that would govern at trial,’” House, 126 S. Ct.
at 2077 (quoting Schlup, 513 U.S. at 327-28 (internal quotation marks omitted)), “but with due
regard to any unreliability of it,” Schlup, 513 U.S. at 328 (internal quotation marks omitted). “Based
on this total record, the court must make ‘a probabilistic determination about what reasonable,
properly instructed jurors would do.’” House, 126 S. Ct. at 2077 (quoting Schlup, 513 U.S. at 329).
The Supreme Court has expressed a time-barred petitioner’s burden as follows:
A petitioner’s burden at the gateway stage is to demonstrate that more likely than not,
in light of the new evidence, no reasonable juror would find him guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt—or, to remove the double negative, that more likely than not any
reasonable juror would have reasonable doubt.
Id. Put another way, a petitioner must demonstrate that “it is more likely than not that no reasonable
juror viewing the record as a whole would lack reasonable doubt.” Id. at 2086. The Court has
emphasized that this standard is “demanding and permits review only in the extraordinary case,” id.
at 2077 (internal quotation marks omitted), but still provides a petitioner “a meaningful avenue by
which to avoid a manifest injustice.” Schlup, 513 U.S. at 327.
In support of his claim of actual innocence, Knickerbocker points to five pieces of evidence
that were not presented at trial. First, Harry Camp stated in an April 13, 2001 affidavit that he was
not sure who was driving, a departure from his testimony at trial that Hardyniec drove the car from
Melton’s home. Second, Monte LaClear stated in an April 19, 1996 affidavit that he was
9
incarcerated with Hardyniec in the weeks leading up to trial and that Hardyniec told him that
Knickerbocker “did not participate in nor had he any prior knowledge of the strangling of the
victim.” J.A. at 65 (LaClear Aff.). Third, Knickerbocker submitted to a polygraph examination in
November 2004. Fourth, Sharon Mitchell was not allowed to testify before Knickerbocker’s jury
that Knickerbocker was not present when Hardyniec and Marvin Valdez devised their plan to rob
Melton. Fifth, Dr. Joseph E. Talbot, a radiologist, submitted a letter in August 2001 stating that,
based on Knickerbocker’s initial emergency room report and first follow-up visit after breaking his
wrist, Knickerbocker would be expected to have “significant pain and swelling for 3-4 weeks and
limited strength and motion for at least 4-8 weeks.” J.A. at 67 (Talbot Letter). Knickerbocker
argues that this evidence shows that it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror would convict
him either of first-degree felony murder4 or of armed robbery.5
Camp’s affidavit is minimally persuasive evidence that Knickerbocker is actually innocent.
Affidavits by trial witnesses recanting their testimony are viewed with “extreme suspicion.” United
States v. Willis, 257 F.3d 636, 645 (6th Cir. 2001) (internal quotation marks omitted). Moreover,
4
Under Michigan law, first-degree felony murder includes, in relevant part, “[m]urder
committed in the perpetration of, or attempt to perpetrate, . . . robbery [or] . . . larceny of any kind.”
MICH . COMP. LAWS § 750.316(1)(b). The traditional common-law felony murder doctrine does not
apply in Michigan; the prosecution must prove “malice” in every murder case, defined as “the
intention to kill, the intention to do great bodily harm, or the wanton and willful disregard of the
likelihood that the natural tendency of defendant’s behavior is to cause death or great bodily harm.”
People v. Aaron, 299 N.W.2d 304, 326 (Mich. 1980). Proof of intent to commit the underlying
felony does not necessarily prove malice. Id.5
Under Michigan law, robbery is defined as, “in the course of committing a larceny of any
money or any other property that may be the subject of larceny, us[ing] force or violence against any
person who is present, or . . . assault[ing] or put[ting] the person in fear.” MICH . COMP. LAWS
§ 750.530(1). Armed robbery includes, in relevant part, “in the course of engaging in [a robbery],
possess[ing] a dangerous weapon or an article used or fashioned in a manner to lead any person
present to reasonably believe the article is a dangerous weapon.” MICH . COMP. LAWS § 750.529.
10
Larry Magier also testified that Hardyniec was driving, and Camp’s affidavit does not refute
Magier’s testimony, but merely states that Camp is now uncertain. Furthermore, Knickerbocker
admitted being in the car, and Camp’s affidavit has no bearing on whether Knickerbocker was guilty
of aiding and abetting6 the murder and armed robbery.
LaClear’s affidavit is also only minimally persuasive evidence in support of Knickerbocker’s
actual innocence claim. If believed, LaClear’s account of Hardyniec’s statements appears to
exonerate Knickerbocker of any guilt. However, LaClear’s statements are hearsay, MICH . R. EVID .
801, and thus presumptively less reliable than direct testimony.7 Moreover, other hearsay testimony
6
The Michigan Supreme Court has stated the standard for proving aiding and abetting under
Michigan law as follows:
To support a finding that a defendant aided and abetted a crime, the prosecutor must
show that (1) the crime charged was committed by the defendant or some other
person, (2) the defendant performed acts or gave encouragement that assisted the
commission of the crime, and (3) the defendant intended the commission of the crime
or had knowledge that the principal intended its commission at the time he gave aid
and encouragement.
People v. Carines, 597 N.W.2d 130, 135 (Mich. 1999).
7
LaClear’s account may or may not be admissible, depending on the trial court’s application
of Michigan Rule of Evidence 804(b)(3):
The following are not excluded by the hearsay rule if the declarant is unavailable as
a witness:
(3) Statement Against Interest. A statement which was at the time of its
making so far contrary to the declarant’s pecuniary or proprietary
interest, or so far tended to subject the declarant to civil or criminal
liability, or to render invalid a claim by the declarant against another,
that a reasonable person in the declarant’s position would not have
made the statement unless believing it to be true. A statement tending
to expose the declarant to criminal liability and offered to exculpate
the accused is not admissible unless corroborating circumstances
clearly indicate the trustworthiness of the statement.
MICH . R. EVID . 804(b)(3). However, the appropriate focus here is whether the evidence is reliable
regardless of whether the statements would be admitted, as the court “is not bound by the rules of
admissibility that would govern at trial.” Schlup, 513 U.S. at 327.
11
implicates Knickerbocker on both direct and aiding and abetting theories of guilt. According to both
Marvin Valdez and the police, Hardyniec stated that Knickerbocker strangled Melton, and both
Marvin Valdez and Sharon Mitchell reported that Knickerbocker helped plan the robbery.
Knickerbocker’s polygraph evidence is not persuasive evidence of actual innocence.
Polygraph results themselves are generally inadmissible as unreliable. See King v. Trippett, 192 F.3d
517, 523-24 & n.3 (6th Cir. 1999); People v. Jones, 662 N.W.2d 376, 382 (Mich. 2003).
Knickerbocker is correct that his willingness to submit to a polygraph examination may be
considered evidence of his credibility in some circumstances. See Murphy v. Cincinnati Ins. Co.,
772 F.2d 273, 277 (6th Cir. 1985). In these circumstances, however, it is difficult to see how his
willingness has any probative value, as he had no duty to report the results if he failed the test.
Moreover, Knickerbocker did not testify at trial, so his credibility is of little relevance.
Sharon Mitchell’s potential testimony is also not persuasive evidence of Knickerbocker’s
actual innocence, and may actually be stronger evidence of his guilt. Mitchell testified before
Hardyniec’s jury, but not Knickerbocker’s jury, that on the day before the murder, Hardyniec and
Martin Valdez devised a plan to rob Joe Melton. Knickerbocker argues that because he was not
present, Mitchell’s testimony is evidence that Knickerbocker was not aware of and did not
participate in the murder or robbery. However, Mitchell further testified that after devising the plan,
Hardyniec called Knickerbocker and “asked him if he wanted to help him pull the scam, to scam
Joe.” R.19 at 191 (Mitchell Test.).
Finally, the letter from Dr. Talbot is minimally persuasive evidence at best. Knickerbocker
argues that Dr. Talbot’s letter describing Knickerbocker’s probable pain and range of motion is
evidence that he did not murder Melton. First, this evidence does not refute the charge that
12
Knickerbocker aided and abetted the murder. Second, Knickerbocker’s treating physician testified
at trial as to his range of motion, stating that he would have “some weakness” but that he “would be
able to use the fingers to grip an object.” R.19 at 15 (Weingarden Test.). Thus, Dr. Talbot’s
potential testimony would be largely cumulative, and to the extent that it conflicts with the testimony
of Knickerbocker’s own treating physician, Dr. Talbot’s post hoc analysis is much less reliable
evidence.
In sum, Harry Camp’s affidavit and Dr. Talbot’s letter tend to show, albeit with only limited
probative value, that Knickerbocker did not have the opportunity or ability to strangle Melton.
LaClear’s hearsay affidavit is additional evidence, though again of only limited probative value, that
Knickerbocker did not strangle Melton. LaClear’s affidavit is also the only new evidence tending
to show that Knickerbocker did not aid and abet Melton’s murder. The prosecution’s other evidence
introduced at trial remains unrefuted, including Larry Magier’s statement that Hardyniec was driving,
Marvin Valdez’s testimony that Knickerbocker and Hardyniec planned to rob Melton, Marvin
Valdez’s testimony that Hardyniec reported that Knickerbocker killed Melton, a piece of red wire
consistent with Melton’s injuries found at Knickerbocker’s home, and Knickerbocker’s statement
to police that he was present when Melton was killed, together with inconsistencies in his statement
and his apparent nervous reaction when police pointed out those inconsistencies. Considering all
the evidence, we believe that Knickerbocker has not shown that it is more likely than not that no
reasonable juror would convict him beyond a reasonable doubt.
Other decisions in which habeas petitioners have established actual innocence under this
standard demonstrate that Knickerbocker’s showing falls short. In Souter v. Jones, we noted that
“[t]he only direct evidence linking Souter to [the victim’s] death is the bottle” that was allegedly
13
used to kill the victim. Souter, 395 F.3d at 597. Even at trial, there were doubts as to whether the
bottle was the murder weapon, as pieces of glass were found on the victim that did not match the
bottle. Id. at 596. Souter introduced significant further evidence in support of his innocence,
including evidence from the manufacturer that the bottle could not have shattered as alleged, the
opinion of two doctors that the bottle did not cause the victim’s injuries (recanting their own trial
testimony that it did), and pictures showing the victim covered in a substantial amount of blood
though no blood was ever found on Souter. Id. at 596-97. We concluded that Souter had “presented
new evidence which raises sufficient doubt about his guilt and undermines confidence in the result
of his trial.” Id. at 597.
Similarly, in House v. Bell, the Supreme Court concluded that House had undermined the
state’s only direct evidence linking House to the murder. At trial, the state asserted that semen on
the victim’s nightgown and panties came from House, but DNA testing years later conclusively
proved that it did not. House, 126 S. Ct. at 2078-79. The state also asserted at trial that blood from
the victim stained House’s jeans at the time of the murder, but House introduced testimony from a
medical examiner that degradation of the blood was consistent with a spill from samples, not blood
from the victim herself; that a vial and a quarter of blood samples were unaccounted for; and that
the blood spilled at least once during transport. Id. at 2083. Finally, House introduced evidence that
the victim’s husband had abused her and that he had admitted to two separate witnesses that he had
killed his wife. Id. at 2083-85. Of special importance to this case, the Court noted that the testimony
of those two hearsay witnesses had “more probative value than, for example, incriminating testimony
from inmates, suspects, or friends or relations of the accused.” Id. at 2085 (emphasis added). The
Court summarized:
14
[T]he central forensic proof connecting House to the crime—the blood and the
semen—has been called into question, and House has put forward substantial
evidence pointing to a different suspect. Accordingly, and although the issue is close,
we conclude that this is the rare case where—had the jury heard all the conflicting
testimony—it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror viewing the record as
a whole would lack reasonable doubt.
Id. at 2086. Therefore in House, the Court concluded that the state’s procedural-default rule did not
bar federal habeas corpus relief given House’s demonstration of “a compelling claim of actual
innocence.” Id. at 2068, 2086.
In contrast to the petitioners in both Souter and House, Knickerbocker admits that he was
present when the crime occurred. Knickerbocker attempts to argue that he did not have the physical
ability to strangle Melton because of his position in the car and his injured arm, but unlike in Souter,
the evidence remains strong that Knickerbocker could have been the killer. Knickerbocker attempts
to demonstrate that Hardyniec admitted that he was the sole killer, but unlike in House, Hardyniec’s
purported admission absolving Knickerbocker of guilt is of limited probative value and is countered
both by other hearsay evidence pointing to Knickerbocker as the killer and by evidence establishing
that Knickerbocker aided and abetted the robbery and murder.
Considering all the evidence, we conclude that Knickerbocker has not shown that it is more
likely than not that no reasonable juror would convict him either of first-degree felony murder or of
armed robbery. Accordingly, Knickerbocker is not entitled to equitable tolling of the statute of
limitations, and the four claims at issue are time-barred.
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III. CONCLUSION
Because Knickerbocker has not shown that it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror
would find him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, we do not apply the equitable-tolling doctrine, and
we AFFIRM the judgment of the district court dismissing the claims as time-barred.
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