State v. Thomas ( 2021 )

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
STATE OF DELAWARE, )
)
Plaintiff, )
) I.D.: 1505012411
v. )
)
DAMIAN THOMAS, )
)
Defendant. )
SUBMITTED: August 30, 2021
DECIDED: November 10, 2021
OPINION ON DEFENDANT’S AMENDED MOTION
FOR POST CONVICTION RELIEF
Sean P. Lugg, Deputy Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General, Carvel State
Office Building, 820 N. French Street, 7th floor, Wilmington, Delaware, Attorney for the
State of Delaware.
Christopher Koyste, Esquire, 709 Brandywine Boulevard, Bellefonte, Delaware, 19809,
Attorney for Defendant Damian Thomas.
Jones, J.
INTRODUCTION
On April 18, 2019, Defendant Damian Thomas (“Thomas”) filed a pro se
Motion for Post-Conviction Relief, Appointment of Counsel, and an Evidentiary
Hearing pursuant to Delaware Superior Court Criminal Rule 61 (“Rule 61 Motion”).
Counsel was appointed. On January 22, 2021, Mr. Thomas’ appointed counsel filed
an Amended Motion for Postconviction Relief. Briefing on these motions is
complete and the case is ready for a decision. For the reasons stated below,
Defendant’s Motions are DENIED.
BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On July 18, 2016, a New Castle County grand jury charged Thomas with First
Degree Murder, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
(“PFDCF”), Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (“PFBPP”) and
Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon (“CCDW”). Thomas was arrested the same
day.
On September 19, 2017, after a five-day trial, a Superior Court jury found
Thomas guilty of First-Degree Murder, PFDCF, and CCDW. The parties agreed to
sever the PFBPP charge and to waive a jury trial for the adjudication of that charge.
A bench trial followed the return of the jury’s trial verdict, and the trial judge found
Thomas guilty of the PFBPP charge.
2
On November 2, 2017, the Superior Court sentenced Thomas to serve the
remainder of his natural life in prison for his First-Degree Murder conviction and to
5 years incarceration followed by decreasing levels of probation for the remaining
three charges. Thomas appealed his conviction to the Delaware Supreme Court. The
Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court on March 26, 2019.
In Thomas’ direct appeal, the Delaware Supreme Court found the following:
The evidence against Thomas was considerable and, even
without Detective Curley's opinion testimony, more than
sufficient to support Thomas's conviction. Two other
eyewitnesses—Etta Reid and Leantaye Cassidy—testified
that they saw Thomas shoot Deshannon Reid before he fled
through the parking lot.18 Moreover, Thomas's former
cellmate, testified that Thomas told him that he retrieved a
gun and shot Deshannon following a drug-related argument.
Lastly, the jury had the ability to review on its own the
content of the surveillance videos and determine whether it
was Thomas on the tapes. This evidence—coupled with the
facts that Thomas fled from Delaware and his girlfriend of
seventeen years, remained at large for a year, and admitted
that he was wanted for murder in Delaware when police
apprehended him in New Jersey in 2016—is sufficient to
sustain Thomas's conviction. Thus, even if the Superior
Court erred in admitting the detective's opinion, such error
was harmless and does not warrant reversal.1
A third eyewitness, Monique Pruden was called by the State. As to Ms.
Pruden’s testimony, the Supreme Court had this to say:
A third purported eyewitness was apparently discredited
when the defense introduced evidence that she was
1
Thomas v. State, 2019 WL 1380051, at *4 (Del. 2019).
3
incarcerated on the night of the murder. The State
countered that the evidence suggested that the witness could
have been on work release at the relevant time, but the
Superior Court, in the absence of evidence supporting this
contention, precluded the State from arguing that point to
the jury.2
It is the testimony of Ms. Pruden that forms the basis of Thomas’ instant
Rule 61 motion.
GROUNDS FOR RELIEF
Thomas advances three arguments as to Pruden’s testimony. Thomas alleges
that (1) his conviction was tainted by the use of Pruden’s perjured testimony; (2) the
State committed prosecutorial misconduct by failing to correct Pruden’s perjured
testimony and by addressing this testimony in its closing and rebuttal arguments;
and (3) the State committed a Brady violation by failing to search for, uncover, and
disclose impeachment information pertaining to Pruden. In his fourth claim,
Thomas asserts that an evidentiary hearing is needed to “determine whether the State
suppressed material impeachment information in relation to Pruden’s June 16, 2015
statement to Detective Curley.”3
FACTS
The first statement of Monique Pruden was given pretrial to Detective Curley
on June 16, 2016. His summary of that interview indicates:
2
Id. at n. 18.
3
Amended Motion at 55, State v. Thomas, (No. 1505012411) (Del. Super. 2019). Hereinafter referenced as
“Amend. Mot.”
4
I conducted an interview with Pruden on 6/16/15 at the
Wilmington police station. This interview was recorded.
Pruden advised that she knows the victim, Shannon and
“Mutt.” She said Shannon was the weed man and “Mutt”
would buy weed off of him. She has since heard “Mutt”
owed Shannon money. She explained that she was near
Pete’s pizza when she heard the gunshots and then “Mutt”
ran past her onto Market Street. She did not see a gun in his
hand but stated he could have put it into his waistband by
then. Pruden was shown a six person photo line-up, and she
positively identified Damian Thomas as “Mutt.” She
arrived at the scene and there were people around the
victim. She explained that everyone was saying it was
“Mutt” who had just shot DeShannon.4
On September 15, 2017, the State sent an email to trial counsel in which it
said:
… Today we interviewed Monique Pruden. She was
previously interviewed by [sic] Detective Curley and her
interview was provided to you. A transcript of her previous
interview was also provided. When re-interviewing Ms.
Pruden she indicated she saw the shooting and that “Mutt
shot Shannon.” This second interview was recorded and I
received a copy of this interview this evening. Please let me
know the best way to get a copy of this interview to you
tomorrow. 5
On September 18, 2017, the State called Pruden to testify during its case-in-
chief.6 In relevant part, Pruden testified on direct examination that she was “present
on the block the night that Deshannon Reid was killed.”7 She admitted on direct
examination that her 2015 statement to Detective Curley would be inconsistent with
4
A50.
5
A73. Hereinafter, all references to (A) are to the Appendix filed by Thomas in the instant motion.
6
A166.
7
A168.
5
her soon-to-be-given-in-court testimony, explaining as to the reasons for the
inconsistencies that “at the time I was just afraid, and I didn’t want anything to do
with it.”8 In explaining what she allegedly saw, Pruden testified, “I was on 27th
Street. I was standing there by the church, and I heard Shannon and Mutt. They
were arguing. They were on the sidewalk in front of Shannon’s house --.”9 Ms.
Pruden thereafter identified Mr. Thomas as “Mutt” by pointing him out to the jury.10
Pruden then continued with her testimony, and the following exchange with the
DAG occurred:
A. They were arguing, and then they were arguing on the sidewalk.
Q. Where on the sidewalk?
A. Like, in front of Deshannon’s house, and then Deshannon spit on Mutt.
After that, they were - - he said, “Mother fucker, I’ll be back.
Q. Who said that?
A. Mutt, and then, I would say five minutes went by. He came back. They
were still arguing again.11
According to Pruden, “Mutt walked right by her in the direction of Market
Street” and was gone for “about five minutes” before he returned. 12 Pruden further
testified that Reid and Thomas resumed arguing, that Reid was “waving his hands
8
A168-69.
9
A169.
10
Id.
11
A170.
12
A170-71.
6
around” and that Thomas had a gun and “[w]hen Deshannon turned around, he
pulled it out and he started shooting.”13 She stated that she saw the gun come out,
heard the shots, and saw Mutt’s hand extended.14 Pruden testified that “after he shot
Deshannon Reid,” Mutt “ran through Pete’s parking lot.”15 She further averred that
she was familiar with Mutt before all of this happened, and that she had no problem
seeing any of the events that night and that she was testifying from what she saw
that night.16
On cross-examination, trial counsel asked Pruden, “It is your testimony today
that you saw everything?”17 Pruden responded “Yes.”18 Trial counsel then inquired
of Pruden, “It’s your testimony today that you were on 27 th & Market on October
the - - on April the 14th, 2015, correct?”19 Pruden responded “Yes.”20 She specified
that she was standing on 27th Street by the church, not exactly in front of the church,
but closer to Deshannon’s home, on the same side that Deshannon lives on.”21 Ms.
Pruden testified that she did not see Deshannon’s mother, Ms. Reid, outside that
13
A171.
14
A172.
15
Id.
16
A173.
17
A176.
18
Id.
19
Id.
20
Id.
21
Id.
7
day.22 Thereafter, the following exchange occurred between trial counsel and
Pruden:
Q. And you said earlier you told police you only heard the shooting,
but this time you’re saying that you saw the shooting, correct?
A. I saw it the first time. I didn’t want anything to do with it.
Q. Okay, and the testimony that you’re giving, you’re giving this
under oath, right?
A. Yes.
Q. And this is the hundred percent the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth?
A. Yes.
Q. And how sure are you of that?
A. Cause I was there.
Q. You were there. Is there anything that I could say to make you
think that you weren’t there?
A. I guess you will; won’t you?
Q. No, I’m just asking you.
A. No, you cannot.23
22
A179, 182.
23
A182-83.
8
Trial counsel then asked Pruden if she was in WCI on April 7, 2015, to which
Pruden responded yes.24 Trial counsel then requested a recess, at which point trial
counsel stated:
Your Honor, here’s where we are in this matter. Miss Pruden has testified
that she was present on April the 14th, 2015 at - - on Market Street and 27th.
We have evidence to show that on April the 24th, 201525 she was sentenced by
Judge Street to 3 months at Level V. Her release date would have, and it is,
4/27/15 - - 4/29/15, Your Honor.
I’ve shown the State a copy of the inmate locator. There’s an inmate locator
that is sent that shows every person that is incarcerated on a certain day in the
State of Delaware. I’ve pulled the date to show that on April the 13 th, 2015,
Ms. Pruden was in the custody of the Department of Correction in the Hazel
Plant Correctional Center at WCI on Baylor on February 13, 2015.
I pulled the date to show that Miss Pruden was also in custody at the
Department of Correction on April 15, 2015. I show - - I also pulled the date
that says that she was in custody on April the 29th, 2015, and I pulled the
records to show that she was no longer in custody on May 1st 2015.
I have the Sentencing Order, Your Honor. I have the Court’s commitment
paper, and I also have the violation report that was filed on 6/9/2015 that also
says that she was released from custody on May 1st, 2015 and was violated for
failure to report to Level III probation, that is currently pending, cause she
was out on capias since that time.26
24
A183.
25
It appears that trial counsel mistakenly said “April” when he meant February. See A246.
26
A185-86.
9
The DAG advised that they had never seen those records and needed time to
review them.27 The State also agreed to provide trial counsel with DELJIS records
that would show Pruden’s actual release date from custody.28 Upon returning from
recess, the DAG stated that “I believe everyone is on the same page now, that she
was at Hazel D. Plant Center. Mr. Armstrong will cross-examine her about that
facility and what inmates can or can’t do, and the State will redirect.”29
During trial counsel’s resumed cross-examination of Pruden, she refused to
acknowledge that she was in the custody of the Department of Correction (“DOC”)
on the day of the shooting. Instead, she insisted that she was working at Deal$ in
April 2015 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm and was living at 303 West 29th Street.30
Pruden further stated that she had been sentenced to probation, despite the sentence
order showing that she received Level V time and that trial counsel was wrong in
stating that she was released from custody on April 29, 2015.31 When trial counsel
asked Pruden whether, factoring in good time, she was released from custody on
April 29, 2015, she insisted he was incorrect stating that “It wasn’t April 29th.
You’re trying to say I was in jail when this went down, I was not.”32
27
A187.
28
Id.
29
Id.
30
A189, 192, 195-202.
31
A193-94, 196.
32
A195-96.
10
Trial counsel questioned Pruden on her violation paperwork which stated she
had been released from custody on May 1, 2015 and that she did not live at the
address she had provided at trial, 303 West 29th Street.33 When trial counsel
specifically asked, “I want to know if you were incarcerated on April the 14 th, 2015,”
Pruden responded, “No.”34 Trial counsel followed up this question by asking “Even
though the documents say that you were?” to which Pruden responded “Yes.”35
Regarding the rules of Hazel D. Plant pertaining to curfew and work release,
the following exchange occurred between trial counsel and Pruden:
Q. And you said you’ve been - - you’ve done Hazel Plant before?
A. Yes, I have.
Q. All right. Part of the rules is that there’s a curfew, right?
A. Yes.
Q. What time’s the curfew?
A. Well, 10:00.
Q. 10:00
A. But I never - - I wasn’t in at 10:00.
Q. So, you weren’t in there at 10:00?
33
A200-01.
34
A210-11.
35
A211.
11
A. No, I was not.
Q. And they also have phases in order for you to get and go on work
release, right?
A. Yes.
Q. All right, and when you were at Hazel Plant, did you ever make - - what
phase did you make in those two months that you were there?
A. It wasn’t work - - I had got - - I went home, because I had maxed up.
So, I didn’t have to end up making any phases.
Q. So, you never - - you went home after you maxed out on April 29 th,
2015; isn’t that correct? That’s when you maxed out, right?
A. If you say so.
Q. That’s exactly when you maxed out; isn’t it?
A. No, it’s not.36
On redirect examination, the DAG read a description of Hazel Plant which
noted that the facility has “work release as a component.”37
After the jury left for lunch recess, the State advised the Court that they were
“going to be looking for some information from the records that we just got from
Mr. Armstrong during break.”38 Subsequently, trial counsel advised the Court that
36
A211-12.
37
A214.
38
A221.
12
he may call someone from the Department of Correction as a defense witness.39 In
response to the Court questioning whether it could potentially be worked out by
stipulation between the parties, the State responded “hopefully,” and that it was
attempting to get in contact with someone at the facility but was not successful. This
was also confirmed by trial counsel who was also unsuccessful in his efforts to reach
someone at the facility.40 During closing arguments, the State stated:
Now, ladies and gentlemen, the State anticipates Mr. Armstrong is going
to discuss the inconsistencies in Etta, Taye and Monique’s statements,
talk about the inconsistencies in the distance of how far they were and
where exactly they were in the street.
He’s going to talk to you about Monique. Monique was emphatic that
she was out there. You heard Mr. Armstrong question her about her time
at Hazel D. Plant Center.
You are going to be instructed that you will be the sole judges of
credibility in this case….41
During closing arguments, trial counsel made the following comments
regarding Pruden’s testimony:
Then you have Monique Pruden. In the State’s opening, they truly
glossed over Monique, and then told you, well, even if you don’t believe
Monique, you still got three other witnesses. Monique’s testimony
conflicts with her previous statements, and the worst part of the whole
thing is she was in jail. She got up on that stand, told you what she said,
39
A224.
40
A225, 227.
41
A235.
13
collaborated everything everyone else said, and she was in jail.
Uncontrovertedly, she was in jail.
The question is: Is there a credibility question? Is there a
credibility gap? Are we really dealing with fake news?
….
Maybe that’s not enough reasonable doubt for you as well. Let’s
talk about Monique Pruden. That’s the elephant in the room. That’s the
person that everybody wants to just push aside. Prove to you she’s in jail
on April 14, 2015. Prove to you she’s in jail on April 14, 2015, and she
saw everything. Prove to you that she’s in jail on April 14, 2015.
Released from jail on May 1, 2015. Prove to you that she was released
from jail on May 1, 2015.
Court order sentenced her to three months in jail. What else do we
have? When she’s responding it was, it wasn’t me. We’ve got
institutional records showing that she was in jail from 2/7 to April 29,
and yet what do we get? Once again, wasn’t me. Institutional records
showing she was in jail on April 14, April 15 and April 29. Again, wasn’t
me.
….
Monique Pruden, we can toss her out of there. We know where
she was. We just don’t know why she said what she said and got up on
that stand and did what she did.42
Thereafter, during rebuttal argument, the DAG stated:
Mr. Armstrong says to you that it is without a doubt that Monique Pruden
was in jail. I think he writes jail up there five or six times. She’s
emphatic. She sits up there. She’s there. The State submits to you, the
records say she’s at Hazel D. Plant, not jail. Hazel D. Plant.43
42
Transcript of Trial at 72-73, 81-82, 88, State v. Thomas, No. 1505012411 (Del. Super. 2019).
43
A240.
14
Trial counsel immediately objected, arguing:
At this point, the State is trying to insinuate that Hazel D. Plant is not a
jail. It is actually a jail housed at WCI. That is a total misrepresentation
of the facts.44
Thereafter, the following exchange occurred.
THE COURT: Is the State suggesting, because it should know that she
was out on work release or was at liberty or not in custodial section?
DAG: I think the answer is no one knows. I think we can argue they put
into evidence that it’s a work release facility.
THE COURT: I know defense put that into evidence, but does the State
believe that she was at liberty in some fashion on April 14, 2015?
DAG: I do not know.
THE COURT: Well, I think it’s the State’s - - the State is in control of
the Department of Correction. I don’t think the State should be permitted
to suggest, just because this document was put into evidence, it was
partially a work release facility, which probably is - -
DAG: Your Honor, sorry to interrupt.
THE COURT: Go ahead.
44
Id.
15
DAG: On cross-examination she said she has a job at Deals on Miller
Road in April of 2015.
THE COURT: What has the State found out from the Department of
Correction as to where she was on April 14.
DAG: I do not have an answer. All I know is that she was at Hazel D.
Plant, and I don’t have a definitive answer. That’s what we were trying
to get, and I can’t get it.
MR. ARMSTRONG: That is a Level V facility, your Honor. The State
is now saying that it’s not. It’s a prison.
THE COURT: I think just because that document was put into evidence
and suggests that it can be a work release referral, it is incumbent on the
State, maybe just because a personnel at the department of Correction
weren’t there in the last couple days, when this 24 hours almost when
this came to light, I don’t think the State should be able to suggest that
she might have been able to leave without affirmative proof given the
seriousness of this that the defendant – I think it stated another way, I
think the State is bound by the weight of the facts developing this case,
that she was in prison on April 14, and I’m just going to preclude the
State from arguing to the contrary.
The State is the one on this important issue that should be able to tell the
Court whether or not she was in prison. If you say you can’t tell that one
way or the other, I’m not going to allow an argument to the contrary.45
The DAG stated that the State disagreed but would move on.46 However,
defense counsel requested that the record be corrected, noting “She has said that she
45
A240-41.
46
A241.
16
was not in jail; she was at Hazel D. Plant, which leads the jury to believe she is not
in jail. That needs to be corrected, Your Honor.47 The DAG disagreed. 48 However,
the Court concluded a correction was warranted, noting:
Well, then I think the State should have put on some evidence that she
was in the work release program or had the ability to leave, other than
this document. I have to find the question because the State never argued
until right now in rebuttal, that there was theoretical opportunity of her
to not have been at Hazel D. Plant.
I’m going to instruct the jury that Hazel D. Plant is a secure facility
because I think it was incumbent on the State, having called her as a
witness, found out the fact it did, to have shown one way or the other that
she was in the custodial situation at Hazel D. Plant or not.
So I’m going to instruct the jury that for the background facts, Hazel D.
Plant is a, in fact, a jail.49
Thereafter, the Court stated, “Members of the jury, I instruct you that Hazel
D. Plant facility is a jail.”50
PROCEDURAL BARS UNDER RULE 61(i)
“Postconviction relief is a collateral remedy which provides an avenue for
upsetting judgments that otherwise have become final. It is not designed as a
substitute for a direct appeal.”51 Superior Court Criminal Rule 61 governs motions
for postconviction relief, establishing the procedures by which a defendant may
47
Id.
48
Id.
49
Id.
50
Id.
51
William Henry Flamer v. State of Delaware, 585 A.2d 736, 745 (Del. 1990).
17
collaterally attack his conviction. The Court first must determine whether the claim
is barred under Superior Court Criminal Rule 61(i). Rule 61 contains several
procedural bars but only the “procedural default” bar is pertinent to this case.52
Specifically, Rule 61 (i)(3) prohibits a defendant from raising “any ground for relief
that was not asserted in the proceedings leading to the judgment of conviction…
unless the movant shows (A) cause for relief from the procedural default and (B)
prejudice from the violation of movant’s rights.”53 In order to show “cause for relief
from the procedural default,” Defendant must show that “‘some external
impediment’ prevented him from raising the claim.”54 To show “prejudice from
violation of the movant’s rights,” Defendant must show that there is a “substantial
likelihood” that if the issue had been raised on appeal, the outcome would have been
different.55
Thomas raises three claims relating to the verdict rendered against him by a jury.
In his first claim, Thomas argues that his “right to due process of law under the
Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, § 7 of the
Delaware Constitution was violated when his conviction was tainted by the use of
perjured testimony.”56 In his second claim, Thomas argues that “the State committed
52
The State concedes the other procedural bars in Rule 61 do not apply to the Thomas’ claims in his amended
motion.
53
Del. Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(i)(3).
54
Younger v. State, 580 A.3d 552, 556 (Del. 1990) (citing Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478, 492 (1986).
55
Flamer v. State, 585 A.2d at 748 (quoting United States v. Freddy, 456 U.S. 152, 172, 174 (1982)); see also
Perez, ID No. 1807009079, at 6.
56
Amend. Mot. at 21.
18
four key errors with respect to calling Monique Pruden as a witness in its case-in-
chief that cumulatively amounted to prosecutorial misconduct.”57 Thomas argues the
State failed to: (1) adequately review Pruden’s criminal record prior to trial; (2)
secure records or call witnesses after Thomas produced records indicating Pruden
was incarcerated at the time of the murder; (3) correct Pruden’s “nearly certain” false
testimony at trial; and (4) arguing from Pruden’s false testimony in closing and
rebuttal arguments.58 In his third claim, Thomas argues that “the State violated its
obligations under Brady v. Maryland by failing to search for and disclose crucial
impeachment information demonstrating the falsity of Ms. Pruden’s testimony,”
which violates Mr. Thomas’ right under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United
Sates Constitution and Article 1, § 7 of the Delaware Constitution.”59
The State asserts that Thomas’ claims are procedurally barred. Specifically,
Thomas failed to raise these claims “leading to the judgment of conviction.”60 To
overcome this procedural bar Thomas must show “cause for relief from the
procedural default and … prejudice from the violation of [his, as] the movant’s
rights.61 According to the State, Thomas cannot make this showing.
THOMAS FAILS TO SHOW “CAUSE” TO OVERCOME THE
PROCEDURAL BAR OF RULE 61
57
Id. at 38.
58
Id.
59
Id. at 47.
60
Del. Super. Ct. R. 61(i)(3).
61
Id.
19
Thomas argues that he has shown “cause” or “some external impediment”
which prevented him from raising his first three claims on direct appeal relating to
violation of his due process rights, the use of perjured testimony, and a Brady
violation by the State. “‘Cause’ for a procedural default on appeal ordinarily
requires a showing of some external impediment preventing counsel from
constructing or raising the claim.”62 Thomas argues that he could not have raised
these claims on direct appeal because “trial counsel could not have obtained the
documentation needed to conclusively show that Ms. Pruden was in custody at Hazel
Plant on April 14, 2015 and did not have the ability to leave the facility on work
release at that time.”63
Thomas contends that he has established cause because the record is now more
expansive then that on the direct appeal. He points to Pruden’s recantation, the
testimony establishing that Pruden was not working at Dollar Tree or Deal$ at the
time of the murder, and the conclusive proof that Pruden did not have the ability to
leave Hazel D. Plant on the day of the murder in support of this argument.
The record is clear that Thomas’ counsel, before trial, had access to inmate
locator sheets, Pruden’s docket sheet, sentencing order, the Court’s commitment
paper, and violation report “all of which raised strong suspicion that Ms. Pruden was
62
Younger v. State, 580 A.2d at 556 (citing Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478, 492 (1986)).
63
Amend. Mot. at 23, 45-46, 53.
20
in custody at Hazel Plant on April 14, 2015.”64 However, Thomas advances that
because the State continued to suggest to the jury, after trial counsel presented
documentation evidencing that Pruden was incarcerated, that she was at some liberty
to leave the facility, that trial counsel did not have documentation to “conclusively
refute” that. Thus, Thomas could not have raised these claims on his direct appeal.
This Court is satisfied that based on the documentation that was available to
trial counsel, and the use to which trial counsel put this material, that there was
sufficient evidence available for these claims to be raised on direct appeal. By the
time of the verdict, everyone was aware of the question of Pruden’s whereabouts at
the time of the murder and the arguments made by each side regarding Pruden. The
trial court went so far as to give an instruction regarding Hazel D. Plant facility and
prevented the State from arguing that Pruden was not incarcerated. On this record,
there was nothing preventing Thomas from raising these issues in his direct appeal.65
THOMAS FAILS TO SHOW THAT HE HAS SUFFERED PREJUDICE
Not only is cause lacking, but so is the conjunctive required showing of
prejudice under Rule 61(i)(3).
Claim I: Alleged Use of Perjured Testimony
In a Rule 61 motion, to show prejudice from violation of movant’s rights, a
defendant must show that there is a substantial likelihood that if the issue had been
64
Amend Mot. at 33-34.
65
The Dollar Tree records and the affidavit of Darren Carter is evidence that is merely cumulative to that presented
at trial during the cross examination of Pruden.
21
raised on appeal, the outcome would have been different.66 No such showing can
be made in this case.
In the direct appeal in this case, the Delaware Supreme Court clearly noted:
The evidence against Thomas was considerable and, even without
Detective Curley’s opinion testimony, more than sufficient to support
Thomas’s conviction. Two other eyewitnesses – Etta Reid and
Leantaye Cassidy – testified that they saw Thomas shoot Deshannon
Reid before he fled through the parking lot. Moreover, Thomas’s
former cellmate, testified that Thomas told him that he retrieved a gun
and shot Deshannon following a drug-related argument. Lastly, the jury
had the ability to review on its own the content of the surveillance
videos and determine whether it was Thomas on the tapes. This
evidence –coupled with the facts that Thomas fled from Delaware and
his girlfriend of seventeen years, remained at large for a year, and
admitted that he was wanted for murder in Delaware when police
apprehended him in New Jersey in 2016 – is sufficient to sustain
Thomas’s conviction. Thus, even if the Superior Court erred in
admitting the detective’s opinion, such error was harmless and does not
warrant reversal.67
This Court, joining in the Supreme Court’s analysis of the facts here,
concludes that, Thomas cannot overcome the hurdle of demonstrating that there is a
substantial likelihood that if the issues had been raised on appeal, the outcome would
have been different. In short, the issue of Pruden’s whereabouts were before the jury
and trial court, and the Delaware Supreme Court considered it as well. On this
record, it cannot be said that there is a substantial likelihood that the outcome would
66
Flamer v. State, 585 A.2d at 748 (quoting Untied States v. Freddy, 456 U.S. 152, 172, 174 (1982)); see also
Perez, ID No. 1807009079, at 6.
67
Thomas v. State, 2019 WL 1380051, at *4 (Del. 2019).
22
have been different when the issue was fully vetted and obvious at trial.68 The
evidence against Thomas was overwhelming. Moreover, the circumstances
surrounding Pruden’s whereabouts at the time of the murder was fully vetted at trial.
The issues surrounding Pruden were obvious.
In an effort to get past this hurdle, Thomas argues that a different test should
be employed by this Court in review of this matter. Citing to various United States
Supreme Court decisions including, Untied States v. Agurs,69 Giglio v. United
States,70 and Napue v. People of Ill.,71 Thomas asserts that the proper standard for
this Court to utilize to determine prejudice is whether “there is a reasonable
likelihood that the perjured testimony of Pruden could have affected the judgment
of the jury.”72
Thomas’ reliance on Agurs and Giglio is misplaced. In Agurs, the Court was
asked to determine whether the defendant was deprived of a fair trial under Brady
when the prosecutor failed to provide certain information to her about the victim that
would have supported her self-defense claim.73 The Court noted that Brady applied
68
This Court does not agree with Thomas’ argument that the record was incomplete on this issue. The record
contained sufficient information for the Supreme Court to address any issue surrounding whether perjured testimony
was offered in the trial court.
69
427 U.S. 97 (1976) (holding modified by United States v. Bagley, 472 U.S. 667 (1985)).
70
405 U.S. 150 (1972).
71
360 U.S. 264 (1959).
72
Amend. Mot. at 21.
73
Agurs, 427 U.S. at 98-99, 107.
23
in this situation where there was “discovery, after trial, of information which had
been known to the prosecution but unknown to the defense.”74
Similarly, in Giglio, the issue before the Court was whether the petitioner was
entitled to a new trial under Napue due process criteria.75 The basis of the petitioner’s
motion was newly discovered evidence that the Government had failed to disclose –
an alleged promise of leniency to a key witness in return for his testimony.76 The
witness in Giglio was an alleged co-conspirator of the petitioner and the only witness
that linked him to the crime.77
In Napue, the issue before the Court was whether the petitioner was denied
his due process rights when the prosecutor failed to correct testimony of a witness
that he knew to be false.78 The witness was the “principal witness,” and his testimony
“extremely important” because the circumstances made eyewitness identification
“very difficult and uncertain,” and other relevant witnesses were no longer in the
state.79 The witness testified that he had not been promised anything for his
testimony against the petitioner. After trial, the Assistant State’s Attorney filed a
petition alleging that he had promised the witness that he would make a
74
Id. at 103 (emphasis added).
75
Giglio, 405 U.S. at 151.
76
Id. at 150.
77
Id. at 764.
78
Napue, 360 U.S. at 265.
79
Id. at 265-66.
24
recommendation and effectuate a reduction of his sentence for his testimony against
the petitioner,80 prompting the petitioner to then file a post-conviction petition.
In the cases cited by Thomas, the petitioners made allegations regarding
newly discovered evidence after trial. At most, Thomas has alleged that trial counsel
was unable to successfully obtain evidence to “conclusively refute” the State’s
suggestion that Pruden was at liberty to leave Hazel Plant at the time of the murder.
All of the facts surrounding Pruden’s custody status at the time of the murder were
presented before the trial court. It is clear from the record that Pruden was in custody
at Hazel D. Plant on April 14, 2015. The State was not able to obtain any evidence
to support that Pruden was at liberty to leave the facility at the time of the murder.
As such, the trial court prevented the State from arguing to the contrary. The trial
judge further instructed the jury that Hazel Plant is a jail. Based on the evidence
available at the time of trial, trial counsel was able to effectively cross-examine
Pruden and discredit her testimony.81 On this record, this Court does not find that
Thomas suffered prejudice from the use of Pruden’s testimony.
Claim II: Alleged prosecutorial misconduct
80
Id. at 266.
81
Moreover, in Giglio and Napue, the witnesses who’s testimony was at issue were described as “key,” and
“principal.” In Giglio, the witness was the only witness linking the petitioner to the crime. The same is not true
regarding Pruden in the instant case. There were two other eyewitnesses to the shooting, as well as Thomas’ former
cellmate who testified that Thomas told him he shot Deshannon Reid. There was also a video for the jury to
consider. The Delaware Supreme Court also described the State’s evidence against Thomas as “considerable,”
without giving any weight to Pruden’s testimony.
25
Thomas argues that the prosecutors engaged in misconduct justifying relief under
Rule 61. At the outset, this Court must determine whether any actions by the State
constituted misconduct. Thomas first argues that the State’s failure to adequately
check Pruden’s criminal records prior to trial was “grossly negligent.”82 Thomas
additionally argues that even if the State did not have the responsibility to determine
Pruden’s custody status prior to trial, that the responsibility arose once Pruden’s
custody status was brought to the attention of the State.83
Thomas advances that the State knew about Pruden’s conviction for
Aggravated Menacing because the DAG actually questioned her about it on direct
examination. Based on “the docket sheet alone for Ms. Pruden’s Aggravated
Menacing case leads one to believe that Ms. Pruden was in custody.”84 This Court is
not persuaded that the State engaged in misconduct because it did not adequately
review Pruden’s criminal record prior to trial. There is simply no duty on the part of
a prosecutor to review a witness’s criminal history to determine custody status at the
time of a specific event, absent some prior notice of the relevance of this issue. As
this issue first appeared during Pruden’s cross examination, there was no misconduct
as to this issue.
82
Amend. Mot. at 39.
83
Id. at 40.
84
Id. at 39, A246.
26
This Court further concludes that when the whereabouts of Pruden became an
issue at trial, that the State did not engage in misconduct for failure to secure records
or call witnesses. After trial counsel’s cross examination of Pruden and the State’s
re-direct examination, the jury left for lunch recess.85 The State advised the Court
that they were “also going to be looking for some information from the records that
we just got from Mr. Armstrong during break.”86 These records included the inmate
locator sheet, sentencing order, the Court’s commitment paper, and Pruden’s
violation report.87 The Court questioned whether the issue could be worked out by
stipulation between the parties, to which the State responded “hopefully.” While the
State did attempt to contact someone at the facility, it was unsuccessful in doing so.
When the parties reconvened after the lunch recess, the State again explained that
they were in unsuccessful, despite its efforts, in reaching anyone at the facility with
the recess happening at lunch time. Trial counsel corroborated the State’s failed
attempts at reaching someone at the facility, noting he too was unsuccessful and was
told that, “Apparently the Deputy Warden who is in charge is not in today, or we
don’t know if we can get it or whatever.”88
Based on this record, it is clear that the State attempted to secure records when
trial counsel raised the issue of Pruden’s whereabouts at the time of the murder. The
85
A221.
86
Id.
87
A185-86.
88
A225, 227.
27
State, however, was unable to obtain those records which trial counsel did confirm
the State attempted to do. Thus, there was no misconduct on the part of the State.
What is more troublesome to this Court is that once the issue arose regarding
Pruden’s custody status at the time of the murder, and after an apparent agreement
had been reached as to how the issue would be handled, the State continued to
suggest in closing and rebuttal argument that Pruden was not incarcerated at the time
of the murder with no supporting evidence.
Specifically, the State during its closing said:
Now, ladies and gentlemen, the State anticipates Mr. Armstrong is
going to discuss the inconsistences in Etta, Taye and Monique’s
statements, talk about the inconsistencies in the distance of how far they
were and where exactly they were in the street.
He’s going to talk to you about Monique. Monique was emphatic that
she was out there. You heard Mr. Armstrong question her about her
time at Hazel D. Plant center.
You are going to be instructed that you will be the sole judges of
credibility in this case….89
Further, during rebuttal, the State said:
Mr. Armstrong says to you that it is without a doubt that Monique
Pruden was in jail. I think he writes jail up there five or six times. She’s
emphatic. She sits up there. She’s there. The State submits to you, the
records say she’s at Hazel D. Plant, not jail. Hazel D. Plant.90
89
A235.
90
A240.
28
It was then that trial counsel objected to this line of argument by the State and
which the trial court agreed. Specifically, the trial court stated that it would not
permit the State to argue the position that Pruden was at liberty to leave the facility
at the time of the murder without evidence to support it. The trial court further
provided an instruction to the jury that Hazel Plant is a jail. Based on the record, in
this Court’s view, the comments made by the State during closing and rebuttal could
very well constitute misconduct. However, Thomas must still establish prejudice
from the misconduct, which he cannot.91
Recently, in Trala v. State,92 the Delaware Supreme Court had occasion to review
and reaffirm the standards applicable in reviewing a prosecutorial misconduct
claim.93 In citing to its decision in Saavedra v. State,94 the Delaware Supreme Court
explained that where an objection is timely raised by defense counsel or the issue is
addressed sua sponte by a trial judge, the reviewing court must examine alleged
prosecutorial misconduct for harmless error.95
In the instant case, trial counsel immediately objected when the State continued
to suggest to the jury that Pruden was at liberty to leave Hazel Plant with no evidence
91
This Court has previously addressed why Thomas has failed to show cause to overcome the procedural bar.
Because Thomas has failed to show cause, whether he makes a showing of prejudice or not will not relieve him of
the procedural bar. However, this Court still determines that even if Thomas showed cause, he fails to show that he
suffered prejudice from the misconduct.
92
244 A.3d 989 (Del. 2020).
93
Id. at 998.
94
225 A.3d 364 (Del. 2020).
95
Trala, 244 A.3d at 998 (citing Saavedra, 225 A.3d at 373).
29
to support this position. As an objection was made, the proper test is harmless error
triggering the Hughes test.96 The Trala Court, citing to Baker v. State, describes this
analysis.
First, a court must determine whether misconduct occurred by reviewing the
record de novo.97 If no misconduct is found, then the analysis ends.98 If misconduct
is found, then a court must apply the three-factor Hughes test, since not all
misconduct warrants reversal.99 The Hughes factors are: (1) the closeness of the case,
(2) the centrality of the issue affected by the error, and (3) the steps taken to mitigate
the effects of the error.”100 These factors are not conjunctive and may impact cases
differently.101 The test is applied “in a contextual, case-by-case, and fact sensitive
manner.” 102
96
Thomas advances that this Court should engage in an analysis under Hunter v. State which is a misapprehension
of the law. In doing a plain error analysis, where a court finds that reversal is not warranted, it will continue its
analysis pursuant to Hunter.
[U]nder Hunter, even where we are unable to conclude that the prosecutor’s misconduct was so
prejudicial as to compromise the fairness of the trial process, we may yet reverse where the
misconduct is a part of a “persistent pattern of prosecutorial misconduct” over different trials such
that a failure to reverse would compromise the integrity of the judicial process. Trala v. State, 244
A.3d 989, 998 (Del. 2020) (citing Saavedra v. State, 225 A.3d 364, 373 (Del. 2020)).
The Delaware Supreme Court has made clear that a Hunter analysis is applicable only in instances of misconduct
that spread over a number of cases and not to multiple instances of misconduct in the same case as Thomas suggests.
As such, a Hunter analysis is not applicable to this case.
97
Trala v. State, 244 A.3d at 998.
98
Id.
99
Id. at 998-99.
100
Id. at 999.
101
Id.
102
Id.
30
In applying the Hughes test to the facts of this case, the Court finds that there was
no prejudice. As to the first factor, closeness of the case, it was not. Exclusive of
Pruden’s testimony, the Delaware Supreme Court described the State’s evidence as
“considerable.”103 The evidence included testimony of two eyewitnesses and
Thomas’ former cellmate. Additionally, the jury was able to review surveillance
video. This evidence, along with Thomas fleeing from Delaware and his longtime
girlfriend, admitting to being wanted for murder in Delaware when he was
apprehended by police in New Jersey, was “sufficient to sustain Thomas’s
conviction,” the Delaware Supreme Court concluded.104
Thus, this first factor weighs heavily in favor of the State.
The second factor, centrality of the issue, weighs in favor of Thomas. The
evidence put on by the State has been discussed above. The State bore the burden
at trial to prove each element of the offenses charged against Thomas beyond a
reasonable doubt. This included identification of Thomas as the person who
committed the offenses.105 “[T]he test to establish identity is whether ‘the [trier
of fact] could rationally [find] sufficient evidence to conclude beyond a
reasonable doubt’ that the defendant committed the crime charged.”106 Thus,
103
Thomas v. State, 2019 WL 1380051, at *4 (Del. 2019).
104
Id.105
See McDonald v. State, 2016 WL 4699155, at *2 (Del. 2016).
106
Id.31
identification of Thomas as the person who shot and killed Deshannon was
central to the State’s case against him.
As to the third factor, steps taken to mitigate the effects of the error, it weighs in
favor of the State. This Court has previously discussed the trial court’s response to
the State’s continued insinuations that Pruden was at liberty to leave Hazel Plant at
the time of the murder without evidence to support this position. When the State
attempted to do such, the trial judge precluded it.107 The trial judge then further
instructed the jury that “Hazel D. Plant is a, in fact, a jail.”108 As such, this Court
finds that the trial court’s actions did mitigate the effects of the errors by the State.
Weighing the factors set forth in Hughes, this Court finds that there was
insufficient prejudice to Thomas for him to overcome the Rule 61 procedural bar as
to this claim. This case was simply not that close. There was “considerable” evidence
to support Thomas’ conviction absent Pruden’s testimony. Lastly, the trial court
played an active role in correcting the State’s error by giving an instruction regarding
the Hazel D. Plant facility.
Claim III: Alleged Brady violation
According to Thomas, “the State violated its obligations under Brady v.
Maryland by failing to search and disclose crucial impeachment information
107
Id. at n. 18.
108
A241.
32
demonstrating the falsity of Ms. Pruden’s testimony.”109 To establish a Brady
violation, a defendant must show (1) evidence exists that is favorable to the accused,
because it is either exculpatory or impeaching; (2) that evidence is suppressed by the
State; and (3) its suppression prejudices the defendant.110
The State provided Thomas with the substance of Pruden’s 2015 conversation
with police investigators111 and her 2017 pre-trial interview.112 Armed with this
information, Thomas investigated Pruden’s whereabouts at the time of the homicide
and acquired documents showing her to be incarcerated at the time. Trial counsel
effectively used this information to undermine Pruden’s credibility, rendering her a
witness unworthy of credit.113 Where, as here, a defendant received and effectively
used impeachment material, there is no due process violation and Brady is not
contravened.114
Therefore, Thomas’ alleged Brady violation claim is moot.
109
Amend. Mot. at 47 (citing Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963)).
110
State v. Wright, 67 A.3d 319, 324 (Del. 2013).
111
Amend. Mot. at 7; A42, 50.
112
Amend. Mot. at 8; A73.
113
Thomas, 2019 WL 1380051, at *4.
114
See White v. State, 816 A.2d 776, 778 (Del. 2003). Having concluded that there is no Brady violation, because
the defense received and used the impeachment material effectively, there is no need for this Court to address the
question of whether the Department of Corrections is part of the prosecution’s team for purposes of a Brady
analysis.
33
THOMAS FAILS TO SHOW GOOD CAUSE FOR AN EVIDENTIARY
HEARING
Thomas’ final claim is a request for an evidentiary hearing. Thomas submits
“[a]n evidentiary hearing is needed… to determine whether the State suppressed
material impeachment evidence in relation to Ms. Pruden’s June 16, 2015 statement
to Detective Curley.”115 Thomas also maintains that a hearing is necessary to
determine whether Pruden struck a deal with the State to give favorable testimony
in exchange for a lighter sentence in a violation of probation against Pruden. “Under
Rule 61, the Superior Court has broad discretion when determining whether an
evidentiary hearing is necessary.”116 In determining whether an evidentiary hearing
is warranted, the stage of the proceedings should be considered by the Superior
Court.117 “‘[G]ood cause’ is a heavier burden than the showing needed for pretrial
discovery.”118 “Especially at the postconviction stage, ‘petitioners are not entitled to
go on a fishing expedition though the government’s files in hopes of finding some
damaging evidence.’”119
The record reveals that upon Thomas’ request, the State “provided
[postconviction counsel] with both the recording and transcript” of Pruden’s June
16, 2015 statement.120 And, in response to postconviction counsel’s question
115
Amend. Mot. at 55.
116
Winn v. State, 2015 WL 1469116, at *2 (Del. Mar. 30, 2015) (citing Del. Super. Ct. Crim.R. 61(h)).
117
Cabrera v. State, 173 A.3d 1012, 1033 (Del. 2017) (citing Dawson v. State, 673 A.2d 1186, 1198 (Del. 1996)).
118
Cabrera, 173 A.3d at 1033.
119
Id.
120
Amend. Mot. at 55.
34
concerning the completeness of the information provided, Detective Curley
confirmed with the State that there was no additional footage regarding Pruden’s
statement. On this record and in light of the Court’s findings in this decision, it views
the request for an evidentiary hearing as a “fishing expedition” which is contrary to
well settled Delaware law.
As for the allegations that there was a deal between Pruden and the State, there
is simply no evidence that has been produced to support such a charge other than
mere speculation on the part of the defense. Like the issue with Detective Curley,
this request appears to the Court to be another request to go on a fishing expedition.
The Court sees no reason for an evidentiary hearing, and therefore DENIES Thomas’
requests.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/S/ Francis J. Jones, Jr.
Francis J. Jones, Jr., Judge
Original to the Prothonotary
35