State v. Perkins ( 2023 )

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
STATE OF DELAWARE, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
)
v. ) Cr. ID. No. 1507018423A & B
)
)
GARY PERKINS, )
)
Defendant. )
Submitted: December 19, 2022
Decided: March 23, 2023
COMMISSIONER’S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION THAT
DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR POSTCONVICTION RELIEF
SHOULD BE DENIED AND
POSTCONVICTION COUNSEL’S MOTION TO WITHDRAW
SHOULD BE GRANTED
Carolyn S. Hake, Esquire, Deputy Attorney General, Department of Justice,
Wilmington, Delaware, Attorney for the State
Patrick J. Collins, Esquire, and Kimberly A. Price, Esquire, Collins & Associates,
Wilmington, Delaware, Postconviction Attorneys for Defendant Gary Perkins
Anthony A. Figliola, Jr. Esquire, Wilmington, Delaware, Trial Attorney for
Defendant Gary Perkins
SALOMONE, Commissioner
This 23rd day of March 2023, upon consideration of Gary Perkins’
(“Defendant” or “Perkins”) Motion for Postconviction Relief, it appears to the Court
as follows:
BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Perkins was arrested on July 23, 2015 in connection with the murder of Jaime
Murphy.1 On October 26, 2015, he was indicted for Murder First Degree, Possession
of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony (“PDWDCF”), Possession
of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited (“PDWBPP”), and Criminal Contempt.2
On January 19, 2017, the Defendant filed a motion to sever the PDWBPP and
criminal contempt charges from the Murder First Degree and PDWDCF charges.3
The Court granted the motion on May 11, 2017.4
Trial commenced on the charges of Murder First Degree and PDWDCF (the
“A” case) on October 23, 2017.5 Following a four-day trial, on October 26, 2017, a
Superior Court jury convicted Perkins of both charges for his role in the stabbing
1
Delaware Superior Court Docket, ID No. 1507018423A at 1 (hereinafter, “DI __”) (Affidavit
of Probable Cause, July 23, 2015).
2
DI 3.
3
DI 32.
4
DI 47.
5
DI 66.
1
death of Jaime Murphy.6 After the jury’s verdict, the Court conducted a bench trial
on the severed charges of PDWBPP and criminal contempt (the “B” case) and found
the Defendant guilty of both charges.7 On January 25, 2018, the State filed a motion
to declare Perkins a habitual offender pursuant to 11 Del. C. § 4214(a) for the
PDWBPP conviction, which was granted by the Court prior to sentencing on March
9, 2018.8 Thereafter, the Superior Court sentenced Perkins to be incarcerated for his
natural life plus an additional 36 years.9 The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed his
conviction and sentence on appeal.10
On March 12, 2019, Perkins filed a pro se motion for postconviction relief
and accompanying motion for the appointment of counsel pursuant to Superior Court
Criminal Rule 61 (“Rule 61”).11 On May 6, 2019, Perkins filed a second pro se
motion for postconviction relief, raising virtually identical claims as set forth in his
6
DI 73.
7
Delaware Superior Court Docket, ID No. 1507018423B at 13 (hereinafter, “DI(B) __”).
8
DI(B) 16, 18.
9
DI 79 (Transcript of Sentencing, March 9, 2018 at 16-17).
10
Perkins v. State, 2019 WL 327959 (Del. Jan. 23, 2019). Counsel raised only one issue on direct
appeal, claiming that the outburst from the gallery during opening statements was so prejudicial
that it should have resulted in a mistrial. DI 117-118 (Appendix to Memorandum in Support of
Motion to Withdraw at 786-796) (All references to the Appendix provided by Rule 61 Counsel are
hereinafter referred to as “A___”).
11
DI 90-91.
2
first motion, and reiterated his request for the appointment of counsel.12 On June 19,
2019, the Court granted the motion for appointment of counsel.13
Having found no meritorious grounds for relief, Rule 61 counsel filed a
motion to withdraw on February 19, 2021.14 Perkins requested a continuance on
March 3, 2021 to more fully prepare his response to the motion to withdraw, which
the Court granted on March 11, 2021.15 On April 21, 2021, Perkins filed a request
for substitute counsel and/or an extension of time to respond, which extension was
granted by the Court on April 26, 2021.16 On May 23, 2021, Perkins filed responses
to the motion to withdraw.17 On July 27, 2021, Perkins’ trial and appellate counsel
responded to the allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel asserted by the
Defendant.18 Thereafter, in August 2021, Perkins filed a series of letters and
12
DI 95-96.
13
DI 98.
14
DI 116-118.
15
DI 119-121.
16
DI 126-127.
17
DI 128.
18
DI 130.
3
supporting documentation with the Court in support of his responses to the motion
to withdraw.19
The State filed its response to counsel’s motion to withdraw and Perkins’
claims of ineffective assistance of counsel on August 27, 2021.20 The record was
then further expanded to allow counsel who had withdrawn prior to the case going
to trial to respond to the allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel, which
affidavit was filed on December 10, 2021.21 Thereafter, Perkins filed numerous
motions with the Court requesting, among other things, (i) extensions of time to file
his reply, (ii) a stay of all proceedings, (iii) an evidentiary hearing and (iv) the
appointment of substitute Rule 61 counsel.22 The Court stayed the proceedings until
November 30, 2022 to allow Perkins adequate time to retain substitute Rule 61
19
DI 131, 133, 135, 136, 137. On August 2, 2021, a letter dated July 27, 2021 from Perkins was
filed with the Court in which Perkins indicated that his letter dated May 23, 2021 to Rule 61
counsel, Patrick Collins, Esq., was not his “actual” Motion for Postconviction Relief but rather a
letter to Mr. Collins that he drafted hoping Mr. Collins would review it and see that his claims
“had merit, rearticulate them and properly substantiate and submit them.” DI 131. Despite his
objection to the May 23, 2021 letter being forwarded to the Court, Perkins makes a number of
assertions in his letter which are considered and addressed by the Court for completeness.
20
DI 138-139.
21
DI 143-44. Eugene Maurer, Jr., Esq. served as counsel to the Defendant before the Court granted
his motion to withdraw on January 23, 2017. See DI 36. The State was permitted to supplement
its response to Rule 61 counsel’s motion to withdraw and Defendant’s ineffective assistance of
counsel claims after Mr. Mauer filed his affidavit responding to the ineffective assistance of
counsel claims, but Mr. Maurer’s affidavit did not prompt any further briefing by the State and by
letter dated January 5, 2022 the State indicated it was relying on its filing from August 27, 2021.
DI 145.
22
DI 148, 149, 150, 152-157.
4
counsel.23 Having failed to retain substitute Rule 61 counsel in the allotted time,
Perkins filed his pro se brief in support of his Motion for Postconviction Relief and
in opposition to Rule 61 counsel’s motion to withdraw on November 22, 2022, with
related documents being filed on December 16, 2022 and December 19, 2022,
respectively.24
RELEVENT FACTS
On the morning of July 23, 2015, the body of Jamie Murphy was found on top
of the slide platform in the playground area of Canby Park.25 She had been stabbed
30 to 40 times in the face, neck and chest areas and the wounds had produced such
heavy blood loss that it flowed down the slide and puddled underneath it.26
Likewise, the surrounding playground equipment was smeared and spattered with
her blood.27 Adjacent to her body on the slide platform, the police found a purse
containing her photo ID and a green grocery bag.28 In addition, two McDonald’s
23
DI 161.
24
DI 167, 169, 172-173.
25
A230-33, A236-38, A248-49, A289. Canby Park is located in Wilmington, DE. All referenced
locations contained herein are to various places and establishments in and around the City of
Wilmington.
26
A438, A448-49, A237, A268-71.
27
A268-71, A278-84, A530-34, A540-41.
28
A267-68, A287-89.
5
cups were found near Ms. Murphy’s body.29 The evidence implicating Perkins in
Ms. Murphy’s death quickly mounted.
Surveillance video retrieved by police from the McDonald’s located in
Elsmere near Canby Park showed Jamie Murphy and the Defendant purchasing two
drinks at the restaurant on the evening of July 22, 2015 around 7:30 p.m.30 The video
also showed Perkins carrying a green grocery bag consistent with the bag found at
the scene.31 The police also procured surveillance video from the McDonald’s
located on 4th Street in the early morning hours of July 23rd which showed the
Defendant wearing orange sweatpants and speaking to an associate by the name of
Thomas Underwood.32
Underwood advised the police that he had spoken to Perkins (who he referred
to as “G”) the day before Jamie Murphy was killed and stated that Perkins was angry
with Ms. Murphy because he believed that she had given him a venereal disease.33
Perkins also told Underwood that if she had given him a venereal disease that he was
29
A275-78, A291-92, A573.
30
A298-03, A573-75.
31
A298-301 (See State Exhibit 5).
32
A314, A577 (See State Exhibit 7)
33
A310-14, A317, A321, A576. Underwood met Perkins through a mutual friend named Ellis
Whiteman, who is known as “Jimmy.” A310.
6
going to beat her up or kill her.34 Underwood also confirmed that he saw Perkins
again on the morning of July 23rd at the McDonald’s on 4th Street.35 At that time,
Perkins admitted to Underwood that he had seen Ms. Murphy the night before on
the bus.36 Underwood also observed blood stains between Perkins’ fingers and
thumb and told the police that the Defendant always carried a pocketknife.37
Perkins was also seen on the morning of July 23rd by a Wilmington police
officer while wearing bright orange sweatpants.38 The officer knew Perkins from
prior contact and was aware that he was in a relationship with a white female named
Jaime.39 However, he did not stop Perkins because he was unaware of the murder
at that time.40
Later that day, when the officer learned that Perkins was a suspect in the death
of Ms. Murphy, he located Perkins at a bus shelter at the intersection of 10th and
King Streets.41 As the officer approached, Perkins tried to hide among the people in
34
A312-13, A317.
35
A311-13, A576.
36
A312.
37
A311-12, A331-332, A576.
38
A350.
39
A347-48, A355.
40
A356.
41
A350-52, A356-57.
7
the shelter but was nevertheless taken into custody.42 As he was patted down, the
police noticed that Perkins was wearing a pair of blue sweatpants underneath his
orange sweatpants.43 After pulling the orange sweatpants partially down, police saw
that the blue sweatpants were covered in blood.44 Inside the pocket of the blue
sweatpants was fresh blood and a pen knife.45
The clothing worn by Perkins at the time of his arrest was collected by the
police.46 The inventory taken included a surfboard keychain with a small knife that
had a blade of approximately two inches, both of which appeared to have dried blood
on them.47 The police also found blood on Perkins blue sweatpants, grey long-
sleeved shirt, blue short-sleeved shirt, and Timberland boots.48 The blood on both
the sweatpants and boots appeared to be spattered, indicating he was likely at the
scene when the stabbing occurred.49
42
A352-54, A357-58.
43
A352-53.
44
A353.
45
A353.
46
A361.
47
A361-62, A401, A414-15, A577
48
A405-11.
49
A536-37, A546-47, A550-53. A557, A590.
8
After being read his Miranda rights, Perkins agreed to speak with the police.50
Perkins initially denied seeing or speaking with Jamie Murphy for several weeks but
when confronted with the fact that the police had video footage of him at
McDonald’s with her, he admitted he had seen her on the evening of July 22, 2015.51
Perkins claimed the two parted ways after leaving McDonald’s and that he spent the
night in the 10th Street Park.52 Perkins also told police that he had gotten a rash after
having sex with Ms. Murphy the week before and had gone to the hospital to be
tested for a venereal disease.53 Medical records confirmed that Perkins was
examined at Christiana Hospital for a sexually transmitted disease on July 21,
2015.54
Perkins’ clothing as well as the evidence found at the crime scene were tested
for DNA evidence.55 One of the McDonald’s cups found on the playground had Ms.
Murphy’s fingerprints and DNA on it and the other cup had Ms. Murphy’s and the
Defendant’s DNA on it.56 The blood from Perkins’ grey long-sleeved shirt produced
50
A131-72.
51
A143-45, A158, A160.
52
A146, A161.
53
A136, A150-54, A157-58.
54
A583-84.
55
A473.
56
A412-13, A478, A482-83.
9
a mixed DNA profile of at least two individuals from which the Defendant was
excluded but Ms. Murphy was included.57 Likewise, the blood from Perkins’ blue
sweatpants and left boot produced mixed DNA profiles of at least two individuals
with Ms. Murphy being the major contributor.58 The blood on the blade of the knife
taken from Perkins’ pocket at the time of his arrest and the blood found on one of
his boots also produced a single source profile that was consistent with Ms.
Murphy’s DNA.59 The knife handle swab also produced a mixed DNA profile from
which Ms. Murphy was excluded but Perkins was a possible contributor.60
In addition to the DNA evidence, the State retained a private forensic
consultant and blood stain pattern analyst who performed a pattern analysis on the
physical evidence and looked for blood-like stains.61 The consultant observed a stain
on the blue sweatpants that correlated with the DNA report. 62 Similarly, the
consultant identified blood on the orange sweatpants, although those pants were not
57
A485-89.
58
A485-89
59
A478-81.
60
A484.
61
A523-524.
62
A546-47.
10
specifically tested for DNA and blood.63 And, the medical examiner confirmed that
Ms. Murphy’s death was the result of the multiple stab wounds to her neck, which
he opined were caused by a sharp object consistent with the knife found on Perkins
at the time of his arrest.64
Perhaps the most damning of all the evidence presented at trial was the
recording of the 911 call made from the victim’s cell phone at 4:01 a.m. on July 23,
2015, which call captured the killing of Jaime Murphy.65 As the 911 operator
attempted to engage the caller, gasping, moaning and wheezing could be heard on
the open line as well as a male voice saying, among other things, “die bitch,” “this
is the last fucking day here,” “But now you got what you want. Close your eye. I
told Jim I was gonna kill your mother fucking ass,” and “don’t fuck with G.”66 The
male voice can also be heard saying “You dying right now” and “You ain’t living
no God damn more.”67 Perkins’ probation officer, who knew Perkins from speaking
63
A554-55.
64
A437, A449-54.
65
A173-75, A366-69, A372-73, A717 (See State Exhibit 108).
66
A173-75.
67
A174.
11
with him both in person or by phone on a weekly basis, identified the Defendant as
the mail voice on the 911 call.68
APPLICABLE LAW FOR POST CONVICTION RELIEF
Rule 61 and Procedural Bars to Relief
Rule 61 governs the procedures by which an incarcerated individual may seek
to have his conviction set aside on the ground that the court lacked jurisdiction or
any other ground that is a sufficient factual and legal basis for a collateral attack
upon the conviction.69 That is, it is a means by which the court may correct
Constitutional infirmities in a conviction or sentence.70 “Rule 61 is intended to
correct errors in the trial process, not allow defendants unlimited opportunities to
relitigate their convictions.”71
Given that intent, before considering the merits of any claims for
postconviction relief, the Court must first determine whether there are any
procedural bars to the Rule 61 Motion.72 Rule 61(i) establishes four procedural bars
68
A392-96. The probation officer was not, however, identified to the jury as Perkins’ probation
officer.
69
Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(a)(1).
70
Harris v. State, 410 A.2d 500 (Del. 1970).
71
Ploof v. State, 75 A.3d 811,820 (Del. 2013).
72
Younger v. State, 580 A.2d 552, 554 (Del. 1990).
12
to postconviction relief.73 Rule 61(i)(1) requires that a motion for postconviction
relief must be filed within one year of a final judgement or conviction. 74 Rule
61(i)(2) bars successive motions for postconviction relief unless certain conditions
are met.75 Pursuant to Rule 61(i)(3) and (4), any ground for relief that was not
previously raised is deemed waived, and any claims that were formerly adjudicated,
whether in the proceedings leading to the judgment of conviction, in an appeal, in a
postconviction proceeding, or in a federal habeas corpus proceeding, are thereafter
barred.76 However, ineffective assistance of counsel claims cannot be raised at any
earlier stage in the proceedings and are properly presented by way of a motion for
postconviction relief.77
73
Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(i)(1)-(4).
74
Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(i)(1).
75
Rule 61(i)(2) bars successive or subsequent motions for postconviction relief unless the movant
is able to “pled with particularity” that (i) “new evidence exists that creates a strong inference that
the movant is actually innocent in fact of the acts underlying the charges of which he was
convicted” or (ii) “a new rule of constitutional law, made retroactive to cases on collateral review
by the United States Supreme Court or the Delaware Supreme Court, applies to the movant’s case
and renders the conviction or death sentence invalid.” Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(d)(2).
76
See Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(i)(5) and (d)(2)(i), (ii).
77
Sabb v. State, 2021 WL 2229631, at *1 (Del. May 28, 2021); Green v. State, 238 A.3d 160, 187-
188 (Del. 2020); Whittle v. State, 2016 WL 2585904, at *3 (Del. Apr. 28, 2016); State v. Evan-
Mayes, 2016 WL 4502303, at *2 (Del. Super. Aug. 25, 2016).
13
This is Defendant’s first motion for postconviction relief and it was timely
filed.78 No procedural bars prevent the Court from considering his ineffective
assistance of counsel claims on the merits but procedural bars do exist with respect
certain of his claims.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims
In order to prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the
defendant must satisfy the two-prong standard set forth in Strickland v.
Washington.79 This test requires the defendant to show: (a) counsel’s deficient
performance, i.e., that his attorney’s performance “fell below an objective standard
of reasonableness,”80 and (b) prejudice.
The first prong requires the defendant to show by a preponderance of the
evidence that defense counsel was not reasonably competent.81 Judicial scrutiny
under the first prong is highly deferential. Courts must ignore the distorting effects
of hindsight and proceed with a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct was
reasonable.82 The Strickland Court explained that a court deciding an actual
78
See Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(i)(1) (motion must be filed within one year of when conviction
becomes final); Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(m)(2) (If the defendant files a direct appeal, the judgment
of conviction becomes final when the mandate is issued).
79
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984).
80
Id. at 688.
81
Id. at 687-88, 694.
82
Id. at 689.
14
ineffectiveness claim must judge the reasonableness of counsel’s challenged conduct
on the facts of the particular case, viewed as of the time of counsel’s conduct.83
Under the second prong, in order to establish prejudice, the movant must show
that “there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors,
the result of the proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability is
a probability sufficient to undermine the confidence in the outcome.”84 In other
words, not every error that conceivably could have influenced the outcome
undermines the reliability of the result of the proceeding.85 The court must consider
the totality of the evidence and must ask if the movant has met the burden of showing
that the decision reached would reasonably likely have been different absent the
errors.86 “The benchmark for judging any claim of ineffectiveness must be whether
counsel’s conduct so undermined the proper functioning of the adversarial process
that the trial cannot be relied on as having produced a just result.”87
The burden of proving ineffective assistance of counsel is on the defendant.88
Mere allegations of ineffectiveness or conclusory statements will not suffice;
83
Id. at 690.
84
Id. at 694.
85
Id. at 693.
86
Dale v. State, 2017 WL 443705, * 2 (Del. 2017); Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 695-
696 (1984).
87
Cooke v. State, 977 A.2d 803, 840 (Del. 2009) (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 686).
88
Oliver v. State, 2001 WL 1751246 (Del.).
15
instead, a defendant must make and substantiate concrete allegations of actual
prejudice.89 The court must be persuaded that the alleged errors were so serious that
counsel was not functioning as the “counsel” guaranteed to the defendant by the
Sixth Amendment.90 The test is not whether the defendant can demonstrate that the
error had some “conceivable effect” on the outcome but rather whether the error
undermined the reliability of the result of the proceeding.91
Although not insurmountable, the Strickland standard is highly demanding
and leads to a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct fell within a wide range of
reasonable professional assistance.92 Moreover, there is a strong presumption that
defense counsel’s conduct constituted sound trial strategy.93
The Strickland test applies equally to the performance of appellate counsel.94
Importantly, appellate counsel is not constitutionally required to raise all possible
issues on appeal.95 “A defendant can only show that his appellate counsel
89
Younger v. State, 580 A.2d 552, 556 (Del. 1990).
90
State v. Gonzalez, 2019 WL 1762976, *1 (Del.).
91
Id.92
Albury v. State, 551 A.2d 53, 59 (Del. 1988); Salih v. State, 2008 WL 4762323, at *1 (Del.
2008).
93
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689 (1984).
94
Flamer v. State, 585 A.2d 736, 753 (Del. 1990).
95
Neal v. State, 80 A.3d 938, 946 (Del. 2013).
16
ineffectively represented him where the attorney omits issues that are clearly
stronger than those the attorney presented” on appeal.96 Even where a defendant is
successful in demonstrating the foregoing, he must then establish a reasonable
probability that, but for appellate counsel’s failure to raise the issue, the defendant
would have prevailed on appeal.97
Motion to Withdraw
On February 19, 2021, assigned Rule 61 counsel filed a Motion to Withdraw
as Postconviction Counsel pursuant to Superior Court Criminal Rule 61(e)(6).
Superior Court Criminal Rule 61(e)(6) provides that:
If counsel considers the movant’s claim to be so lacking in
merit that counsel cannot ethically advocate it, and counsel
is not aware of any other substantial ground for relief
available to the movant, counsel may move to withdraw.
The motion shall explain the factual and legal basis for
counsel’s opinion and shall give notice that the movant
may file a response to the motion within 30 days of service
of the motion upon the movant.
In the motion to withdraw, Rule 61 counsel represented that, after undertaking
a thorough analysis of the record to evaluate the Defendant’s claims, counsel has
determined that the claims are so lacking in merit that counsel cannot ethically
96
Ploof, 75 A.3d at 832.
97
Neal at 947.
17
advocate any of them.98 Counsel further represented that, following a thorough
review of the record, counsel was not aware of any other substantial claim for relief
available to the Defendant. Rule 61 counsel represented to the Court that there are
no potential meritorious grounds on which to base a Rule 61 motion and has
therefore sought to withdraw as counsel.99
In order to evaluate Perkins’ Rule 61 motion and to determine whether his
Rule 61 counsel’s motion to withdraw should be granted, the Court should be
satisfied that Rule 61 counsel made a conscientious examination of the record and
the law for claims that could arguably support Perkins’ Rule 61 motion. In addition,
the Court should conduct its own review of the record to determine whether
Defendant’s Rule 61 motion is so totally devoid of any, at least, arguable
postconviction claims.100
With this backdrop in mind, the Court turns to Perkins’ specific
postconviction claims.
98
DI 115-118. (See Motion to Withdraw as Counsel along with the accompanying Memorandum
in Support of Motion to Withdraw and Appendix).
99
Id.100
Matos v. State, 2015 WL 5719694, *2 (Del.).
18
PERKINS’ RULE 61 CLAIMS
In his initial Rule 61 Motion, Perkins asserts six claims for relief as follows:
(1) Ground One: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel. In his first claim,
Perkins alleges that counsel failed to prepare a defense, failed to provide him with
discovery until 18 days before trial, and failed to communicate with him.
(2) Ground Two: “Perjury in the First Degree.” In his second claim,
Perkins alleges that the State’s witnesses provided false testimony.
(3) Ground Three: Prosecutorial Misconduct. Perkins contends that the
State mislead the jury and was untruthful during trial.
(4) Ground Four: “Use of False Evidence.” Perkins argues that because
some of his clothing was never tested for DNA that the use of that clothing by the
forensic consultant in his testimony was tantamount to providing false evidence.
(5) Ground Five: Violation of His Miranda Rights. Perkins contends
that the “police did not explain it was a law for me to not answer questions until I
had my counsel present when they interviewed me.”
(6) Ground Six: Violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
Perkins contends that trial counsel violated Section 1.4(a)(4) of the Delaware Rules
of Professional Responsibility by failing to promptly comply with his requests for
legal information before trial and during his direct appeal.
19
Through his supplemental pro se filings, Perkins further elaborates on his
initial claims and raises additional claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel.
Those claims regarding the purported failings of trial counsel can be fairly
summarized to include the following:
(i) failing to impeach or otherwise object to the testimony of certain
police officers at trial;101
(ii) failing to file a motion to suppress the clothing he was wearing
that was not tested for DNA and/or failing to present evidence
that some of the clothing he was wearing was not tested for DNA;
(iii) failing to call a voice authentication expert to testify that the
voice on the 911 call was not Perkins’ voice;
(iv) failing to cross examine the officer who testified regarding the
911 call with a transcript of the call “allowing the jury to see that
there was inconsistency with his statement”;
(v) failing to object to the testimony of Thomas Underwood;
(vi) failing to refute the statements about the Defendant having a
venereal disease; and
(vii) failing to move to suppress evidence taken from Perkins at the
time of his arrest because the Defendant was taken into custody
without a warrant in violation of his Fourth and Fourteenth
Amendment rights.
101
Perkins claims that Detective Bucksner made false statements during his August 26, 2015
preliminary hearing. DI 167, 169.
20
Perkins further contends that appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to
raise each of the prosecutorial misconduct, “perjury” and suppression claims in his
appeal.102
For the reasons set forth below, all of the claims raised in Perkins’ Rule 61
Motion are either procedurally barred or without merit.
102
In his pro se Brief in Support of Motion for Postconviction Relief pursuant to Superior Court
Criminal Rule 61, dated November 15, 2022, Perkins seems to abandon certain claims and/or
attempts to whittle down the foregoing into five claims as set forth below:
Claim One – Petitioner’s rights under the United States and Delaware Constitutions were
violated by trial counsel’s failure to investigate, failure to move to suppress and present evidence
of Detective Bucksner[‘s] false statements made during Petitioner’s August 26, 2015 preliminary
hearing;
Claim Two – Petitioner was deprived of a fair trial because the State knowing[ly] presented
and/or failed to correct false testimony at his trial; to the extent trial counsel could have objected
and presented evidence of prosecutorial misconduct an[d] perjury in the first degree;
Claim Three – Petitioner’s rights under the United States and Delaware Constitutions were
violated by trial counsel’s failure to investigate and arrange for a voice expert to attend Petitioner’s
trial allowing the use of false evidence to be presented;
Claim Four – Petitioner’s rights under the United States and Delaware Constitutions were
violated by trial counsel’s failure to object to Thomas Underwood[‘s] testimony and failure to
request a self-serving instruction where State’s witness had offenses that were never explored; and
Claim Five – The cumulative effect of two or more of the above-described violations of
Petitioner’s rights deprived Petitioner of a fair trial and, thus, due process of law under the United
States and Delaware Constitutions.
DI 168 at i-ii. Rather than treat the foregoing five claims as the only operative ones, the Court has
addressed all claims it was able to discern from Perkins’ numerous pro se filings for completeness.
21
ANALYSIS OF PERKINS’ POSTCONVICTION CLAIMS
A. Ground One: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel and
Ground Six: Violation of Section 1.4(a)(4) of the Delaware Rules of
Professional Conduct
Perkins contends in ground one of his initial Rule 61 Motion that trial counsel
(i) failed to prepare a defense, (ii) failed to send him discovery until 18 days before
his trial commenced and (iii) failed to communicate with him.103 Similar to the third
allegation, ground six contends that trial counsel failed to “promptly comply” with
Perkins’ reasonable requests for legal information before trial and during his appeal
in violation of Section 1.4(a)(4) of the Delaware Rules of Professional Conduct.104
Because of the similarity between the ineffective assistance of counsel claims and
the claim regarding the violation of the professional rules of conduct, ground one
and ground six will be addressed together.
1. Failure to Provide a Defense
Perkins’ claim that counsel failed to prepare a defense for trial is a conclusory
statement that is legally insufficient to prove an ineffective assistance of counsel
claim.105 Accordingly, the claim should be dismissed.
103
A802, A807.
104
A803, A808. Rule 1.4(a)(4) provides that “A lawyer shall promptly comply with reasonable
requests for information.” Del. Prof. Cond. R. 14.
105
See Jordan v. State, 1994 WL 466142, at *1 (Del. Aug. 25, 1994) (holding that conclusory
allegations are legally insufficient to prove ineffective assistance of counsel) (citing Younger, 580
A.2d at 556).
22
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the record does not support Perkins’ claim.
After consultation with the Defendant, trial counsel pursued an identify defense as
Perkins asserted that he was not the individual who killed Jaime Murphy.106 Trial
counsel hired a private investigator to attempt to substantiate Perkins’ claim that
another person at Canby Park killed Ms. Murphy and he merely came upon her after
the attack, but the private investigator found no evidence to support his
allegations.107 Despite the lack of evidence to support these assertions, trial counsel
nevertheless argued in both his opening and closing statement that Perkins was not
the killer.108 Counsel introduced the possibility that Perkins may have tried to help
Ms. Murphy in order to explain the reason Perkins was covered in her blood.109
To further try to establish reasonable doubt, trial counsel also questioned
witnesses about other people who were seen in Canby Park that day as well as the
other 911 calls that were placed around the park area in the early morning hours of
July 23, 2015.110 Another 911 call was placed seven seconds after the one placed
106
A82, A86-87, A101-04, A108, A120-22, A123-25. See also Appendix to State’s Response to
Defendant’s Pro Se Motion for Postconviction Relief, Counsel’s Motion to Withdraw, and
Defendant’s Response to Motion to Withdraw at 90-91) (All references to the Appendix provided
by the State are hereinafter referred to as “B___”).
107
B90.
108
A218-19, A656, A658.
109
Id.110
A599-610; A378-81.
23
from Ms. Murphy’s cell phone and, based on this evidence, trial counsel presented
the jury with the theory that the other caller could have been the killer.111
The record reflects that trial counsel prepared and presented Perkins’ chosen
defense, despite the overwhelming evidence against him presented by the State. The
fact that the chosen strategy did not yield an acquittal does not make trial counsel’s
performance legally ineffective under Strickland.
2. Failure to Provide Discovery Until 18 Days Before Trial
Perkins alleges that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to provide him
with discovery until 18 days before trial.112 This claim is without merit because trial
counsel was complying with the protective order issued by the Court.
Pursuant to Superior Court Criminal Rule 16(d), “the court may at any time
order that discovery or inspection be denied, restricted, or deferred, or make such
other order as is appropriate.”113 Rule 16(d) permits the Court to issue a protective
order that limits a defendant’s ability to review certain discovery material.114 In this
case, the Court issued a protective order that prevented trial counsel from disclosing
111
A382-88; A659-62.
112
A802; A807.
113
Del. Super. Ct. Crim. R. 16(d).
114
State v. Melton, 2018 WL 3096636, at *2 (Del. Super. June 21, 2018).
24
identifying information regarding witnesses to Perkins, his family or associates
without leave of Court.115 Even though Perkins did not receive certain discovery
until close to trial, the State provided trial counsel with that discovery to be used in
preparation for trial. Trial counsel, however, was bound by the Court’s order.
The Delaware Supreme Court has made clear that a defendant cannot establish
a case for ineffective assistance of counsel under Strickland based on trial counsel’s
failure to provide the defendant with discovery materials where a protective order
prevents him from doing so.116 As such, Perkins has failed to show that counsel’s
actions in providing discovery within 18 days of trial falls below an objective
standard of reasonableness. Nor has he established prejudice. Perkins fails to
identify any information contained in the discovery that would have aided his
defense had he personally received it sooner. His claim is without merit.
3. Failure to Communicate
Perkins alleges that trial counsel failed to communicate with him and did not
promptly comply with his requests for legal information.117 Like his claim for failure
115
A78.
116
State v. Melton, 2018 WL 3096636, at *2 (Del. Super. Ct. June 21, 2018); see also State v.
Lewis 2018 WL 5843464, at *6-7 (Del. Super. Ct. Nov. 5, 2018).
117
A802-03, A807-08.
25
to prepare a defense, this statement is conclusory and fails to meet either prong under
Strickland.118 Moreover, the record reflects that this assertion is factually untrue.
Trial counsel communicated with Perkins at court appearances, through
letters, and in-person meetings.119 Trial counsel reviewed the evidence with Perkins
on numerous occasions.120 Discussion took place regarding trial strategy121 and,
immediately prior to trial, counsel communicated with Perkins regarding witness
statements that implicated him in the killing as well as all the evidence the State
intended to present at trial.122 The notion that trial counsel failed to “respond
promptly” is likewise not reflected in the record. Perkins may have wanted
responses more quickly from his counsel but nothing in the record suggests that they
were derelict in their duty.
Mere allegations of failing to communicate are insufficient under Strickland.
Perkins must demonstrate how counsel’s performance was deficient and show that
he suffered prejudice as a result. He has failed to do either.
118
See McNeill, 2016 WL 5940323, at *5 (holding that vague allegations that trial counsel failed
to communicate with the defendant did not meet the standard necessary to show that trial counsel’s
performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness or that defendant was prejudiced).
119
See e.g. B97-98, B103, B150-51, B156.
120
A102-04.
121
B89-91, A82, A86-86, A101-05, A108, A120-25.
122
B90-91.
26
B. Ground Two: Perjury in the 1st Degree;
Ground Three: “Prosecutorial Misconduct” and
Supplemental Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Claims Related Thereto
In his initial Rule 61 Motion, Perkins asserts without any support in ground
two that the State’s witnesses swore falsely and gave false statements during their
testimony.123 In ground three, he likewise makes the conclusory statement that the
prosecution misled the jury with “untruthfulness” during trial.124 As best as can be
discerned, Perkins attempts to expand on these claims in his subsequent pro se filings
by providing some specificity regarding the purported perjury and prosecutorial
misconduct.
Perkins conducts a painstaking review of the aspects of the record he deems
to be inaccurate or untruthful statements. He attempts to point out inconsistencies
between prior statements and testimony at trial and argues that the prosecution was
aware of these inconsistencies and allowed the witnesses to perjure themselves and,
in so doing, engaged in prosecutorial misconduct. Perkins takes particular issue with
the testimony of Detective Bucksner, who Perkins’ claims provided false testimony
by (i) testifying inaccurately at Perkins’ preliminary hearing about a number of
123
A802, A807.
124
A802, A807.
27
subjects including, but not limited to, Underwood’s statements to him about Perkins’
intentions with respect to Ms. Murphy as well as the blood observed by Underwood
on Perkins’ fingers after the murder; (ii) testifying that when Perkins was taken into
custody he had blood on his grey long-sleeve t-shirt, dark blue t-shirt and orange
sweatpants, which Perkins claims is contradictory to the testimony of another officer
and (iii) testifying at trial inaccurately about the statements made by the male voice
on the 911 call.125 Perkins further contends that the statements made by Detective
Bucksner at the preliminary hearing constitute perjury because Underwood stated
during his police interview on the day of the murder that Perkins was going to “beat
her up” but did not say Perkins intended to kill her.126 He further claims that the
State committed prosecutorial misconduct by not correcting the alleged false
testimony and perjury of which he claims the State was aware.127 Perkins then
claims that trial counsel was ineffective for not impeaching Detective Bucksner’s
credibility and both trial and appellate counsel were ineffective for failing to raise
the perjury and prosecutorial misconduct claims.128
125
B80-82; A83-88, DI 167.
126
B84-85, DI 167 at (i), 3-5. Detective Bucksner testified at Perkins’ preliminary hearing held
on August 26, 2015 as follows: “The witness also stated that on July 22nd they had a conversation
with Perkins in which Mr. Perkins stated he was going to kill Murphy.” A41.
127
B80-82, B83-88, DI 167.
128
Id.28
However, the direct claims asserting false statements, perjury and
prosecutorial misconduct are procedurally barred under Rule 61(i)(3) for failing to
raise them in the proceedings leading to his judgement of conviction.129 To
overcome this bar, Perkins would have to demonstrate (i) cause for relief and
prejudice from the violation of his rights130 or (ii) that an exception applies pursuant
to Rule 61(i)(5). With respect to the latter, Perkins makes no challenge based on
jurisdiction, offers no new evidence of his actual innocence or a new rule of
constitutional law that would overcome this procedural default.131 As to the former,
he cannot demonstrate cause for relief or prejudice because the ineffective assistance
of counsel claims relating to the purported perjury and prosecutorial misconduct fail
on the merits.
Trial counsel acted reasonable under the circumstances and was not
ineffective for failing to object to alleged instances of perjury and prosecutorial
misconduct because the record does not support those allegations. Under Delaware
law, a person commits perjury if he “swears falsely.”132 “A person ‘swears falsely’
129
See Ruffin v. State, 2019 WL 719038, at *2 (Del. Feb 19, 2019) (holding that claims of
prosecutorial misconduct not raised on direct appeal are procedurally barred under Rule 61(i)(3));
see also Reeder v. State, 2006 WL 1210986, at *2 (Del. May 3, 2006) (holding that perjury claims
raised for the first time on a motion for postconviction relief are procedurally barred under Rule
61(i)(3)).
130
Super Ct. Crim R. 61(i)(3).
131
Super Ct. Crim R. 61(d)(2)(i) and (ii).
132
11 Del. C. §§ 1221-1223.
29
when the person intentionally makes a false statement . . . knowing it to be false or
not believing it to be true, while giving testimony under oath. . .” 133 Discrepancy
alone is not enough to prove perjury and mere contradictions in witness testimony
“may not constitute knowing use of false or perjured testimony.”134 Rather, such
contradictions are credibility questions for the jury.135
Nothing in the record indicates that Detective Bucksner intentionally lied at
any stage of the proceedings. Detective Bucksner testified at Perkins’ preliminary
hearing that two witnesses advised him that the Defendant “constantly talked about
harming” Ms. Murphy and Perkins further told one witness that “he was going to
kill Murphy” the day before her murder.136 Underwood likewise testified at trial that
Perkins stated that he was going to kill Ms. Murphy if she gave him a venereal
disease.137 Trial counsel recognized that Underwood’s trial testimony was
inconsistent with the statement he gave to police on the day of the murder in which
Underwood indicated that Perkins was going to “beat her up” but did not use the
133
11 Del. C. § 1224.
134
Romeo v. State, 2011 WL 1877845, at *3 (Del. May 13, 2011); Lambert v. Blackwell, 387 F.3d
210, 249 (3d Cir. 2004).
135
Romeo, 2011 WL 1877845, at *3.
136
A41, A28.
137
A312, A317, A322.
30
word “kill.”138 Counsel successfully admitted Underwood’s prior statement under
11 Del. C. § 3507, but under cross examination, Underwood insisted that he had told
Detective Bucksner that Perkins said he was going to kill Ms. Murphy.139 Detective
Bucksner later testified that he did not recall Underwood telling him during the
interview that Perkins was going to kill Ms. Murphy but did recall Underwood
stating that Perkins was going to harm Ms. Murphy if she gave him a venereal
disease.140
These inconsistencies do not establish perjury but rather are credibility
questions left to the jury. Moreover, given that trial counsel had the prior statement
admitted into evidence and cross examined the witnesses about these allegedly
inconsistent statements, trial counsel was the antithesis of deficient. Trial counsel
did precisely what was expected of him under such circumstances.
Likewise, there is no credible claim for perjury with respect to the testimony
given by Detective Bucksner regarding the 911 call. Perkins claims that Bucksner
committed perjury because he testified that the male voice on the 911 call referred
to himself as “G” during the killing.141 It appears that the transcript of the 911 call
138
A320-21, B43.
139
A322.
140
A330-321.
141
A578.
31
prepared by O’Rourke Investigative Services at the request of defense counsel does
not show the male speaker identifying himself as “G” in the text.142 However, the
jury was not shown the transcript of the 911 call, but rather, heard the actual 911 call
numerous times and were free to draw their own conclusions regarding what the
male voice said during the call.143 In light of the foregoing, the Court cannot
conclude that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to cross examine Detective
Bucksner with an unofficial transcript of the 911 call. Nor can Perkins show
prejudice for trial counsel’s failure to cross examine Detective Bucksner with that
transcript given that Perkins’ probation officer identified him as the male voice on
the 911 call.
Based on the record, all of Perkins’ claims regarding perjury and prosecutorial
conduct are without merit. Counsel is not obligated to assert meritless or frivolous
claims. Moreover, there is no reasonable probability that the outcome of the trial
would have been different if such claims had been raised given the overwhelming
nature of the evidence against the Defendant.
142
A173-75, B105-09, B159-64. The transcript referenced by Perkins in his Rule 61 Motion was
not an exhibit used during trial by either side.
143
A205-06, A365, A394. See Weston v. State, 2001 WL 265964, at*10 (Del. Mar. 7, 2001)
(“Inconsistencies in testimony alone are insufficient to establish the State’s knowing use of
perjury, ‘especially where, as here, the jury as been exposed to all inconsistencies.’”).
32
C. Ground Four: “The Use of False Evidence” and
Supplemental Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Claims Related Thereto
In his fourth claim, Perkins takes issue with the “forensic consultant
producing clothing evidence that was never tested for DNA.”144 He seems to argue
that because certain clothing evidence that the forensic consultant testified about was
not tested for DNA, the use of such evidence at trial is tantamount to “the use of
false evidence.”145 As a free-standing claim, Perkins’ “use of false evidence”
assertion is procedurally barred under Rule 61(i)(3) because he failed to raise it in
the proceedings leading to his conviction and, as such, should be summarily
dismissed.
In his subsequent pro se filings, however, Perkins attempts to couch the same
“use of false evidence” argument into one of ineffective assistance of counsel by
claiming that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to (i) present evidence that
some of his clothing was not tested for DNA; (ii) object to police testimony that his
blue shirt and keychain had blood stains on them; (iii) object to police testimony that
he was wearing orange sweatpants over his blood stained blue sweatpants; and (iv)
144
A808, A803.
145
A808, A803; B80-82, B83-88.
33
file a motion to suppress with respect to certain evidence.146 As previously
discussed, he similarly appears to claim that the 911 call constituted the “use of false
evidence” because he disputes that the male voice on the call was his and takes issue
with the testimony of his probation officer who identified his voice.147 Perkins goes
on to assert that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate and arrange
for a voice expert to refute that evidence and testify that the voice on the 911 call
was not his.148 As claims for ineffective assistance of counsel, these “false evidence”
claims are meritless.
DNA claims
The State called two witnesses with respect to the DNA evidence: (i) Sarah
Lindauer, a forensic DNA analyst for the State of Delaware and (ii) Paul Kish, a
private forensic consultant and blood stain pattern analyst. Numerous swabs and
physical evidence were submitted for DNA testing and Lindauer created a report
which documented the evidence she tested and the results.149 Specifically, she tested
each of the following items for the presence of blood: (i) the keychain with knife;
(ii) long-sleeve thermal t-shirt; (iii) blue sweatpants; (iv) Timberland boots; (v) the
146
B80-82, B83-88.
147
B83-88.
148
B83-88; DI 168.
149
A181-89.
34
two McDonald’s cups and straws; (vi) nail clippings; (vii) hand swabs and (viii) a
swab from the playground safety panel for blood.150
Following the preliminary testing for the presence of blood, Lindauer tested a
number of the items for DNA, including the knife blade, boot stains, McDonald’s
cup stains, McDonald’s cup straws, long-sleeve thermal t-shirt stains and blue
sweatpants.151 One of the McDonald’s cup had Ms. Murphy’s DNA on it and the
other had both Murphy’s and Perkins’ DNA on it.152 The blood stain on the long-
sleeve thermal shirt produced a mixed DNA profile of at least two individuals from
which Perkins was excluded but Ms. Murphy was included.153 The blood stain from
the blue sweatpants and left boot produced mixed DNA profiles of at least two
individuals with Ms. Murphy being a major contributor.154 The blood on the knife
blade found in Perkins’ pocket at the time of his arrest produced a single source
profile that was consistent with Ms. Murphy’s DNA profile, as did the blood stain
on one of Perkins’ boots.155 The knife handle swab produced a mixed DNA profile
150
A475-76.
151
A477-90.
152
A478, A482-83.
153
A484-85, A495.
154
A485-89.
155
A478-81.
35
of at least three individuals from which Ms. Murphy was excluded but Perkins was
a possible contributor.156
Perkins seems to argue that the State was required to test every piece of his
clothing for DNA in order to use it as evidence at trial but that is not the law.
“Delaware law does not require that the State perform any specific testing on the
physical evidence it gathers.”157 Nor was trial counsel deficient for failing to present
evidence that some of his clothing was not tested for DNA given that Lindauer
testified with specificity regarding which items were tested for DNA.158
Nor can Perkins establish prejudice for counsels’ failure to do so. The
clothing and knife were recovered from Perkins’ person at the time of the arrest. The
DNA tests were to determine whether the blood stains belonged to Ms. Murphy not
to determine whether the clothing belonged to Perkins.
The State did not elicit “false evidence” through the testimony of the police
officers or Kish because each testified regarding what they personally observed with
respect to the physical evidence. The officer who collected the clothing worn by
Perkins at the time of his arrest testified that there appeared to be dried blood on the
156
A485.
157
Dennis v. State, 2013 WL 1749807, at *3 (Del. Apr. 23, 2013 (citing Anderson v. State, 1999
WL 504332, at *3 (Del. Mar. 18, 1999).
158
A473-97.
36
keychain, knife blade, long-sleeve thermal t-shirt, blue t-shirt, blue sweatpants and
boots.159 The fact that the blue t-shirt, which Perkins was wearing under the long-
sleeve thermal t-shirt, was not tested for blood or DNA does not mean that the police
officer cannot testify to what he observed. Trial counsel would have no basis to
object to such testimony.
Likewise, Kish testified regarding his observations after examining the orange
sweatpants for blood stains. The fact that the orange sweatpants were not tested for
blood or DNA does not prohibit Kish, a blood stain pattern analyst, from testifying
regarding what he observed on the orange sweatpants. As such, Kish’s testimony
does not constitute “false evidence.” The same is true for the arresting officer who
testified that Perkins was wearing orange sweatpants over his blue sweatpants at the
time of his arrest. He observed “blood all over the blue sweatpants” when he pulled
the orange sweatpants down slightly and saw “a bunch of blood, fresh blood, [not]
dried up blood,” in Perkins’ pocket.160 The officer’s testimony regarding his
observations does not constitute “false evidence” and, again, trial counsel would
have no basis to object to such testimony.
159
A400-10.
160
A353.
37
Finally, trial counsel would have had no basis to file a motion to suppress with
respect to the blue sweatpants, long-sleeve thermal t-shirt or McDonald’s cups.
Perkins seems to believe that the DNA report proved that his DNA was not found
on any of the foregoing items, but that is factually incorrect.
911 call
The issue regarding the admissibility of the testimony of Perkins’ probation
officer regarding his identification of Perkins’ voice on the 911 call was previously
adjudicated by this Court and is therefore barred by Rule 61(i)(4).161 No Rule 61
exceptions apply.
Nor has Perkins established that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to
refute the testimony of the probation officer with an expert witness in the field of
voice analysis. Perkins asserts that expert testimony would have “prove[d] the use
of false evidence, since John French is the only witness claiming it’s my voice who
isn’t a voice expert and I claim it is not my voice.”162
There is no dispute that Delaware Rule of Evidence 901(b)(5) provides that a
witness may provide voice identification “based on hearing the voice at any time
under circumstances that connect it with the alleged speaker” including “firsthand
161
B66-79; A90.
162
B83-88.
38
or through mechanical or electronic transmission or recording.”163 Opinion
testimony about the identity of a speaker is permissible if the moving party can show
that the witness has, at some point, heard the voice of the alleged speaker. 164 Here,
it is undisputed that the probation officer was familiar with Perkins’ voice from
speaking with him in person or by phone on a weekly basis over the course of
approximately six months.165 His experience with Perkins was sufficient to identify
him in the audio recording of the 911 call and, as such, his testimony was properly
admitted by the Court.
This Court had determined that the decision not to call a witness to provide
conflicting voice identification testimony is well within trial counsel’s discretion.166
In this case, the decision not to call a voice identification witness fails under
Strickland because it is unlikely that such a witness would have changed the result
of the trial. Even without the testimony of Perkins’ probation officer, a reasonable
jury could have reached the conclusion that the male voice on the 911 call was
Perkins from the other evidence presented at trial.
163
D.R.E. 901(b)(5).
164
See Vouras v. State, 452 A.2d 1165, 1169 (Del. 1982).
165
A393-96.
166
See State v. Anderson, 2021 WL 1424302, at *12 (Del. Super. Apr. 12, 2021).
39
Again, the jury heard the audiotape of the 911 call and heard the speaker refer
to himself as “G.” Underwood testified that he knew Perkins as “G” and he met
Perkins through a mutual friend who was known as “Jimmy.”167 The male speaker
also makes reference to a “Jim” on the 911 call. In addition, after his arrest, Perkins
was interviewed by Detective Bucksner and portions of the recorded interview were
played for the jury.168 So, in this case, the members of the jury had the opportunity
to hear the Defendant’s voice firsthand. A reasonable jury was capable of putting
these pieces together and concluding that Perkins was the male voice on the 911 call
without the voice identification testimony of the probation officer.
D. Violation of Miranda Rights: “To Remain Silent”
Perkins contends that the “police did not explain it was a law for me to not
answer questions until I had my counsel present when they interviewed me.”169 This
claim is procedurally barred under Rule 61(i)(3) because Perkins failed to raise it at
any earlier stage of the proceedings.170 It is also factually inaccurate.
167
A310-12, A576.
168
A581.
169
A808, A803.
170
Nor does Perkins assert any exception applies pursuant to Rule 61(i)(5). He makes no claim
regarding lack of jurisdiction, cites no new rule of constitutional law nor presents any new evidence
of his actual innocence. See Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(d)(2), (i)(5).
40
Prior to questioning on July 23, 2015, Perkins was read his Miranda rights by
the Wilmington police and effectively waived those rights.171 The record reflects that
the detective recited the well-known phrase verbatim:
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can
and will be used against you in the court. You have the
right to speak with an attorney and have him or her present
while being questioned. If you cannot afford to hire an
attorney, one will be appointed to represent you if you
wish. Do you understand the rights I’ve just explained to
you?172
In response thereto, Perkins stated “yes.”173 The detective then inquired as to
whether Perkins wanted to speak with him in view of these rights and he again
responded in the affirmative.174
Perkins’ waiver was voluntary, unequivocal, and made with the full awareness
of the right being abandoned and the consequences of doing so.175 Contrary to
Perkins’ assertion, a defendant need not consult with counsel prior to waiving his
rights.176 This claim is procedurally barred and has no merit.
171
A133.
172
A133 (emphasis added).
173
A133.
174
A134.
175
See Rambo v. State, 939 A.2d 1275, 1278-79 (Del. 2007) (explaining the two necessary
components of a proper waiver of Miranda rights).
176
Bryan v. State, 571 A.2d 170, 176 (Del. 1990).
41
E. Additional Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims Raised Pro Se
Perkins raises three additional claims for ineffective assistance of counsel in
his supplemental filings. First, Perkins claims that trial counsel was ineffective for
failing to refute the statements regarding his having a venereal disease.177 Second,
Perkins claims that trial counsel was ineffective by failing to seek a jury instruction
regarding the veracity of Underwood’s testimony in light of his criminal past.178
Third, Perkins claims that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to file a motion to
suppress on the grounds that he was taken into custody without a warrant in violation
of his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights.179 Both of these claims are without
merit.
1. Venereal Disease
Perkins asserts that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to refute the
statements about his having a venereal disease by presenting evidence from
laboratory reports taken while he was at the Department of Corrections which stated
his test results were “basically within normal limits.”180 This claim misses the mark.
177
B83.
178
D167.
179
B83-88.
180
B99-102, B152-55. The laboratory tests to which the Defendant refers were taken at the
Department of Corrections on August 20, 2015 and May 3, 2016, but the exact nature of what the
Defendant was tested for is unclear from the documents presented. The only thing that can be
discerned is that whatever the tests were for that his results were “basically within normal limits.”
42
Evidence was presented at trial through Underwood’s testimony, that in the
days leading up to the murder of Jaime Murphy, Perkins was angry with her because
he believed she had given him a venereal disease.181 Perkins told Underwood if she
had, in fact, given him a venereal disease that he was going to harm her.182 Perkins
also advised the police that he developed a rash after having sex with Ms. Murphy
the week before her death and sought treatment at Christiana Hospital related to the
rash just two days before Ms. Murphy was killed.183 Perkins’ medical records from
Christiana Hospital were admitted into evidence at trial and confirmed he was treated
for exposure to a sexually transmitted disease184
Perkins’ belief that Ms. Murphy had given him a venereal disease was
presented by the State as his motive for the killing. None of the evidence presented
at trial established that Perkins had, in fact, contracted a venereal disease. The fact
that Perkins may have tested “normal” after the date of the murder has no bearing
on his belief or state of mind at the time of murder. Trial counsel would have had
no logical basis upon which to introduce the results of the laboratory tests taken
181
A312-13, A317, A321, A567.
182
A312-13, A317.
183
A136, A150-54, A157-58.
184
A583-84, State Ex 75.
43
while the Defendant was incarcerated. It cannot be said that the failure to do so was
objectively unreasonable nor was Defendant prejudiced by that failure.
2. Failure to Request Proper Jury Instruction
Perkins contends that trial counsel was ineffective for failing “to object to
Thomas Underwood[‘s] testimony and failure to request self serving instruction
where State’s witness had offenses that were never explored.” Based on the
foregoing, it seems that Perkins’ believes that trial counsel should have further
explored Underwood’s criminal past to impeach his credibility on cross examination
and then request a jury instruction that would caution the jury regarding the
credibility of his testimony.185
On direct examination, the State asks Underwood if he was ever convicted of
(i) failure to register as a sex offender in each of 2012 and 2015 and (ii) a sex offense
loitering charge in 2017.186 Underwood admits to the failure to register convictions
185
D167 at 37-38. Perkins asserts that trial counsel should have requested the following jury
instruction in accordance with Hoffa v. United States, 385 U.S. 293, fn14 (1966): “You should
carefully scrutinize the testimony given and the circumstances under which each witness as
testified, and every matter in evidence which tends to indicate whether the witness is worthy of
belief. Consider each witness’ intelligence, his motives, state of mind, his demeanor and manner
while on the stand. Consider also any relation each witness may bear to either side of the case . .
. All evidence of a witness whose self-interest is shown from either benefits received, detriments
suffered, threats or promises should be considered with caution and weighed with care.”
186
A313.
44
and seemingly to the loitering conviction.187 The record does not reflect any further
inquiries into these matters by trial counsel.
Perkins argues “had counsel requested and the jury been given proper
instruction they would have been fully aware of why a perfect stranger would testify
falsely about a murder case.”188 Perkins’ claim regarding lack of a proper jury
instruction is without merit. The jury was adequately instructed on how to consider
and assess the credibility of witnesses.189 The Court instructed the jury on how to
consider conflicting testimony of witnesses, to assess the credibility and the weight
to be given their statements, and to assess the motivations and interests of the
witnesses.190 The fact that the Court did not use the exact words set forth in Hoffa
v. United States does not render the instruction improper.
Perkins also seems to contend that counsel was ineffective for failing to
impeach Underwood by further cross examining him regarding his past crimes. The
jury was aware of Underwood's crimes because the State brought them to light on
direct examination and, as such, could consider such facts in accessing his
187
Id.188
DI 167 at 37.
189
A693-95.
190
Id.45
credibility. It is not clear to the Court how much value would have come from any
further questioning of Underwood by defense counsel in that regard.
The decision as to whether or not to call a witness, and how to examine and/or
cross examine a witness is a tactical decision.191 Great weight and deference is given
to tactical decisions made by trial counsel and there is a strong presumption that
defense counsel’s conduct constituted sound trial strategy.192 Perkins has failed to
overcome this strong presumption as he has failed to establish that the outcome of
the trial would have been different as a result of any alleged shortcoming of trial
counsel in the cross examination of Underwood.
3. Motion to Suppress Evidence Obtained at Time of Arrest
Perkins contends that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to move to
suppress the use of the evidence obtained at the time of his arrest and that appellate
counsel was likewise ineffective for failing to raise this issue on direct appeal.193
Perkins asserts he was taken into custody without a valid warrant in violation of his
Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights because at the time he was taken into
191
Outten v. State, 720 A.2d 547,557 (Del. 1998).
192
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689 (1984).
193
B83-88, DI 167.
46
custody the search warrant was not executed.194 Accordingly, he argues that the
evidence was illegally seized.195 This contention is also without merit.
The record reflects that the police had probable cause to arrest Perkins based
on the evidence it had established linking Perkins to Ms. Murphy’s death and to
search him incident to that arrest. Trial counsel recognized the same and advised
Perkins’ that there was no colorable basis for filing a motion to suppress.196 An
ineffective assistance of counsel claim based on the failure to file a motion is without
merit if trial counsel lacked a legal or factual basis to do so.197 Likewise, appellate
counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for failing to raise a meritless issue on appeal.
Under the facts and circumstances of this case, both appellate and trial
counsel’s actions were objectively reasonable. Even if those actions were somehow
judged to be unreasonable, there is no reasonable probability that, but for those
actions, the result of trial or Perkins’ direct appeal would have been different.
194
A29-30. Perkins was arrested at approximately 5:30 p.m. (or 1730 hours) and the search
warrant was not executed until 7:57 p.m. (or 1957 hours).
195
B87-88, DI 167.
196
B98.
197
State v. Exum, 2002 WL 100576, *2 (Del. Super.), affirmed, 2012 WL 2017230, *1 (Del.).
47
CONCLUSION
The evidence presented at trial implicating Perkins in the death of Jaime
Murphy was overwhelming. It included, among other things, (i) an audiotape of the
911 call made from the victim’s phone during the attack on July 23rd in which her
killer’s voice is heard and then identified as being Perkins’ voice at trial, (ii)
surveillance video of the victim and the Defendant together the evening before she
was killed, (iii) DNA evidence of the victim found on the murder weapon and
Perkins’ clothes and (iv) witness testimony implicating Perkins in the crime and
establishing motive. The Court finds no professional errors on the part of trial or
appellate counsel much less any errors that would meet the exacting standards set
forth in Strickland or otherwise convince the Court that the trial cannot be relied on
as having produced a just result.198
Perkins has failed to establish that either his appellate counsel or trial counsel
were deficient in any regard or that he suffered actual prejudice as a result thereof.
The Court has reviewed the record carefully and has concluded that Defendant’s
Rule 61 motion is without merit and devoid of any other substantial claims for relief.
The court is also satisfied that appointed Rule 61 counsel made a conscientious effort
198
Having found no meritorious claims for postconviction relief, the Court need not address
Perkins’ claim based on “the cumulative effect of two or more of the . . . violations of petitioner’s
rights.” DI 167 at 39-40.
48
to examine the record and the law and has properly determined that Perkins does not
have a meritorious claim to be raised in his Rule 61 motion.
For all of the foregoing reasons, Perkins’ Motion for Postconviction Relief
should be DENIED and Rule 61 counsel’s motion to withdraw should be
GRANTED. Any and all other motions related to the Rule 61 Motion filed by the
Defendant and not previously ruled upon by the Court are hereby DENIED.
IT IS SO RECOMMENDED.
/s/ Janine M. Salomone
The Honorable Janine M. Salomone
oc: Prothonotary
cc: Carolyn S. Hake, Esquire
Patrick J. Collins, Esquire
Kimberly A. Price, Esquire
Anthony A. Figliola, Jr. Esquire
Gary Perkins (SBI #285925)
49