Moses Giger v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) ( 2016 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any Dec 12 2016, 6:59 am
court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Stephen T. Owens Gregory F. Zoeller
Public Defender of Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Vickie Yaser Justin F. Roebel
Deputy Public Defender Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Moses Giger, December 12, 2016
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
71A03-1602-PC-392
v. Appeal from the St. Joseph
Superior Court
State of Indiana, The Honorable Jerome Frese,
Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
71D03-0501-PC-7
Barnes, Judge.
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Case Summary
[1] Moses Giger appeals the post-conviction court’s denial of his petition for post-
conviction relief, which challenged his conviction and sentence for murder. We
affirm.
Issues
[2] Giger raises numerous issues, which we consolidate and restate as:
I. whether Giger was denied the effective
assistance of trial counsel; and
II. whether Giger was denied the effective
assistance of appellate counsel.
Facts
[3] The facts, as set out in Giger’s direct appeal, follow:
On February 2, 2002, Giger went to the home of his neighbor,
Angela Husband. Husband was a prostitute and Giger paid her
regularly with either money or drugs for sexual services. When
Giger arrived at Husband’s, he had only a small amount of crack
cocaine and told Husband he would return later if he could get
more cocaine with which to pay her.
Giger called James Thorpe (also known as “Cash”), a drug
dealer with whom Giger had regular contact and from whom
Giger had purchased drugs within the preceding week. Thorpe
asked Giger to drive him somewhere and Giger picked him up.
Giger drove Thorpe to a residence. Giger remained in the car
while Thorpe exited, presumably to approach the house. Thorpe
took Giger’s keys with him to make sure that Giger would not
leave him stranded at the house. Giger, in turn, held some of
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Thorpe’s drugs to make sure Thorpe would return. Giger claims
he saw Thorpe running down the street and Giger chased him
because Thorpe had Giger’s car keys. Giger claims that he fell
while chasing Thorpe. After falling, Giger saw a knife on the
ground and picked it up. He claims that he found Thorpe’s body
a few feet from the knife and was unable to rouse him.
Giger took the knife with him and drove home. He left the knife
by the front door. After noting that he had blood on his hands
and pants, he washed his hands and changed his pants. He later
returned to Husband’s house with a handful of cocaine packets.
Giger, Husband, and Husband’s mother consumed the cocaine.
After the cocaine was consumed, Giger left and returned with
more drugs.
Thorpe’s body was found in a pool of his blood on the morning
of February 3 at the corner of College and Sibley Streets in South
Bend. Thorpe had been stabbed twenty-one times with a knife,
puncturing both lungs, his aorta, and damaging his heart. The
wounds included several stabs to his back, stabs to his arms
suggesting defensive wounds and a cluster of stab wounds to the
chest at least two of which the pathologist classified as
perimortem or postmortem wounds.
Husband contacted the South Bend police stating that she
believed Giger may have killed Thorpe. The police recovered
several items from Giger’s home including the knife and two
pairs of Giger’s jeans. Thorpe’s blood was found on Giger’s car,
jeans, left shoe, and on the knife. Police officers also recovered
$359.95 in blood-covered currency in Giger’s possession. The
State performed DNA testing on items taken from Giger as well
as items recovered from the crime scene. The only recovered
DNA inconsistent with Giger or Thorpe was from the headband
of Thorpe’s baseball cap and the outside of Thorpe’s pockets.
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Giger v. State, No. 71A05-0306-CR-286, slip op. at 2-4 (Ind. Ct. App. Apr. 12,
2004).
[4] The State charged Giger with murder, and a jury found him guilty as charged.
The trial court sentenced him to sixty-five years in the Department of
Correction with five years suspended, thirty years of probation, and $3,500 in
restitution. Giger appealed his conviction and sentence. He challenged the
sufficiency of the evidence to sustain his conviction and his sentence, including
the probationary term and the restitution. We affirmed his conviction and
sixty-five-year sentence, but we reduced the probationary term and remanded
regarding the restitution order. Id. at 16.
[5] In 2005, Giger filed a petition for post-conviction relief, and he filed six
amended petitions. In general, Giger alleged that his trial counsel, Neil
Weisman, and appellate counsel, Sean Hilgendorf, were ineffective. After
evidentiary hearings on three dates in 2015 and 2016, the post-conviction court
issued findings of fact and conclusions of law denying Giger’s petition for post-
conviction relief. Giger now appeals.
Analysis
[6] Giger argues that the post-conviction court’s denial of his petition is clearly
erroneous. A court that hears a post-conviction claim must make findings of
fact and conclusions of law on all issues presented in the petition. Pruitt v. State,
903 N.E.2d 899, 905 (Ind. 2009) (citing Ind. Post-conviction Rule 1(6)). “The
findings must be supported by facts and the conclusions must be supported by
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the law.” Id. Our review on appeal is limited to these findings and
conclusions. Id. Because the petitioner bears the burden of proof in the post-
conviction court, an unsuccessful petitioner appeals from a negative
judgment. Id. (citing P-C.R. 1(5)). “A petitioner appealing from a negative
judgment must show that the evidence as a whole ‘leads unerringly and
unmistakably to a conclusion opposite to that reached by the trial court.’” Id.
(quoting Allen v. State, 749 N.E.2d 1158, 1164 (Ind. 2001), cert. denied). Under
this standard of review, “[we] will disturb a post-conviction court’s decision as
being contrary to law only where the evidence is without conflict and leads to
but one conclusion, and the post-conviction court has reached the opposite
conclusion.” Id.
I. Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel
[7] Giger raises numerous arguments that his trial counsel was ineffective. To
prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a petitioner must
demonstrate both that his or her counsel’s performance was deficient and that
the petitioner was prejudiced by the deficient performance. Ben-Yisrayl v. State,
729 N.E.2d 102, 106 (Ind. 2000) (citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668,
687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 2064 (1984)), cert. denied. A counsel’s performance is
deficient if it falls below an objective standard of reasonableness based on
prevailing professional norms. French v. State, 778 N.E.2d 816, 824 (Ind.
2002). To meet the appropriate test for prejudice, the petitioner must show that
there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the
result of the proceeding would have been different. Id. “A reasonable
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probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the
outcome.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S. Ct. at 2068. Failure to satisfy
either prong will cause the claim to fail. Grinstead v. State, 845 N.E.2d 1027,
1031 (Ind. 2006). Most ineffective assistance of counsel claims can be resolved
by a prejudice inquiry alone. Id.
A. Conflict of Interest
[8] Giger first argues that his trial counsel was ineffective because he had a conflict
of interest. Giger contends that, after filing an appearance for him in January
2002, his trial counsel appeared as a public defender for Demetric Johnson, a
witness in Giger’s case, in unrelated criminal charges. Johnson was then a
witness called by the State at Giger’s trial, which occurred after her charges
were resolved.
[9] The post-conviction court rejected Giger’s claim and found:
Petitioner claims that he was deprived of effective assistance of
counsel because Mr. Weisman also represented Demetric
Johnson, a witness in the case.
The evidence showed, however, that Mr. Weisman’s
representation of Ms. Johnson had ended long before Petitioner’s
trial was held. There was no indication that Mr. Weisman’s
prior representation of Ms. Johnson had touched on matters
relevant to Petitioner’s case at all.
More importantly, Mr. Weisman explained that he didn’t believe
there was any conflict because he did not view Ms. Johnson as
an adverse witness. Although she was called by the State, he
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testified that he would have called her as a defense witness if the
State had not called her. Mr. Weisman wanted to use Ms.
Johnson, not attack her.
Finally, this Court believes Mr. Weisman—and does not believe
Petitioner—on the issue of disclosure. Mr. Weisman testified
that he discussed the matter with Petitioner prior to trial.
Although this is disputed by Petitioner, this Court finds that
Petitioner has not carried his burden of proof on this issue.
Appellant’s App. Vol. III pp. 93-94.
[10] “The federal constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel necessarily
includes representation that is free from conflicts of interest.” Woods v. State,
701 N.E.2d 1208, 1223 (Ind. 1998) (citing Wood v. Georgia, 450 U.S. 261, 271,
101 S. Ct. 1097 (1981)), cert. denied. “To establish a violation of the Sixth
Amendment due to a conflict, a defendant who failed to raise the objection at
trial must demonstrate that trial counsel had an actual conflict of interest and
that the conflict adversely affected counsel’s performance.” Id. (citing Cuyler v.
Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 348, 100 S. Ct. 1708 (1980)). Once the two prongs of
Cuyler are met—actual conflict and adverse impact—prejudice is presumed. Id.
(citing Burger v. Kemp, 483 U.S. 776, 783, 107 S. Ct. 3114 (1987)).
[11] We first consider whether Giger established an actual conflict of interest. The
court in Woods described the difference between the possibility of a conflict and
an actual conflict:
“There is the possibility of a conflict, then, if the interests of the
defendants may diverge at some point so as to place the attorney
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under inconsistent duties. There is an actual, relevant conflict of
interests if, during the course of the representation, the
defendants’ interests do diverge with respect to a material factual
or legal issue or to a course of action.” Cuyler, 446 U.S. at 356 n.
3, 100 S. Ct. 1708 (Marshall, J., concurring in part).
Woods, 701 N.E.2d at 1223 n.25. Giger argues that his trial counsel had an
actual conflict because of his representation of Johnson. Trial counsel testified
at the post-conviction hearing that he discussed his prior representation of
Johnson with Giger but that he did not view it as a conflict. He testified that he
did not view Johnson as a witness against Giger; rather, he used her as a
witness against Greene, who claimed to have found the victim’s body. Trial
counsel testified, “It was to our benefit to use her to incriminate Mr. Greene
which in some way she did.” PCR Tr. p. 231.
[12] The post-conviction court found that Giger had been informed of his trial
counsel’s prior representation of Johnson, and we cannot reweigh that
evidence. See McKnight v. State, 1 N.E.3d 193, 199 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013) (“We
will not reweigh the evidence or judge the credibility of witnesses, and will
consider only the probative evidence and reasonable inferences flowing
therefrom that support the post-conviction court’s decision.”). Further, his trial
counsel’s representation of Johnson was unrelated to Giger’s case and ended
long before Giger’s trial. Trial counsel’s strategy to use Johnson to imply that
Greene committed the crime was a legitimate strategy, and we simply cannot
say there was anything more than the possibility of a conflict here.
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[13] Moreover, even if we were to assume that Giger’s and Johnson’s interests
diverged and that an actual conflict of interest occurred, Giger has failed to
demonstrate any adverse impact. An adverse effect on performance caused by
trial counsel’s failure to act requires a showing of: (1) a plausible strategy or
tactic that was not followed but might have been pursued; and (2) an
inconsistency between that strategy or tactic and counsel’s other loyalties, or
that the alternate strategy or tactic was not undertaken due to the conflict.
Woods, 701 N.E.2d at 1223. According to Giger, his trial counsel should have
informed the jury of Johnson’s connections to Thorpe and Greene, pointed out
discrepancies between her police report, deposition, and trial testimony, and
discussed her crimes of dishonesty. Giger implies that Johnson may have
played a role in Thorpe’s death and that his trial counsel’s strategy of using
Johnson to implicate Greene was ineffective.
[14] During the post-conviction proceedings, Giger presented absolutely no evidence
that Johnson was somehow involved in Thorpe’s death. There is also no
evidence that his trial counsel would have somehow implicated Johnson if not
for his prior representation of her. His unsubstantiated assertions of an actual
conflict and unsupported speculation as to Johnson’s involvement in the crime
are simply insufficient to demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel. The
post-conviction court’s finding is not clearly erroneous.
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B. Failure to Investigate and Cross-Examine Effectively
[15] Giger next argues that his trial counsel failed to effectively cross-examine and
investigate Angela Husband, George Greene, Mario Stewart, Adrian Vanison,
and Rebecca Tobey.
[16] Husband was Giger’s girlfriend, and she spent time with Giger on the night of
Thorpe’s murder. Husband reported her suspicions regarding Giger’s
involvement with the murder to the police. Giger argues that his trial counsel
failed to cross-examine Husband regarding inconsistencies between her initial
statements to police, her deposition testimony, and her trial testimony. Giger
also argues that his trial counsel should have questioned Husband regarding her
description of a garage with respect to an incident unrelated to the murder.
[17] Greene found Thorpe’s body. Giger argues that his trial counsel should have
cross-examined Greene regarding some inconsistencies between his statements
to the police and his trial testimony and regarding his criminal history. Giger
contends that his trial counsel missed opportunities to highlight “seemingly
helpful evidence.” Appellant’s Br. p. 42.
[18] Stewart was a jail house informant who claimed that Giger confessed to him
while they were housed together. Giger contends that his trial counsel was
ineffective for failing to correct or point out inconsistencies, failing to imply that
Stewart read newspaper coverage of Giger’s case, and failing to point out
benefits that Stewart received for his testimony.
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[19] Vanison was a friend of Thorpe and testified regarding Thorpe’s activities on
the evening of his death. Giger argues that Vanison’s testimony was different
than his deposition testimony and initial accounts and that his trial counsel
failed to investigate Vanison’s criminal history.
[20] Finally, Tobey was a DNA analyst. Giger argues that his trial counsel failed to
adequately cross-examine her regarding “extraneous possible alleles” found on
certain pieces of evidence. Appellant’s Br. p. 50.
[21] Giger also argues that he was “prejudiced by the jury’s lack of information
relative to the credibility of four witnesses: Husband, Green and Vanison had
pending cases and Johnson was on probation.” Appellant’s Br. p. 33.
[22] On the issue of trial counsel’s cross-examination and investigations, the post-
conviction court found:
Petitioner complains that his trial attorney, Mr. Neil Weisman,
did not adequately cross examine and impeach various trial
witnesses. In fact, a review of the trial record reveals that Mr.
Weisman DID cross examine the various witnesses, and DID
argue to the jury that the trial testimony of those witnesses was
suspect. Although Petitioner acknowledges that fact, he believes
that Mr. Weisman should have done MORE to impeach and
attack witnesses, and that his failure to do so amounted to
ineffective assistance.
This Court finds otherwise. Mr. Weisman was already an
experienced trial lawyer at the time of the trial. He explained
during his testimony at the PCR hearings that he had to
strategically pick and choose which battles to fight with witnesses
in front of the jury. He explained that the demeanor of witnesses
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could impact whether he allowed various portions of testimony
to go unchallenged during cross examination. He explained that
the defense theory of the case also required him to sift through
the witnesses’ trial testimony, asking the jury to accept some of
the testimony while rejecting other portions. This strategy would
have been incompatible with the sort of “no-holds-barred” cross
examination that Petitioner is now claiming to be essential. The
Court finds Mr. Weisman’s strategy and tactics—and
explanation for them—to be reasonable.
Further, it is essential to point out that Petitioner has not
demonstrated what the outcome or results of additional cross
examination would have been. Petitioner repeatedly insists that
trial counsel should have “explored” issues more fully (either pre-
trial or during cross examination), or that trial counsel should
have more fully “impeached” witnesses. But Petitioner has not
proved how the witnesses would have answered such cross examination
questions, or how the witnesses would have responded to increased
attacks on their credibility, or whether the State would have been able to
effectively counter such tactics. This Court declines the apparent
invitation to simply assume that the result of “further
exploration” of the issues suggested by Petitioner with trial
witnesses would have caused the witnesses to crumble in front of
the jury.
The Court finds Petitioner has not met the first prong of the
Strickland test with respect to Mr. Weisman’s cross examination
at trial. There was no deficient performance.
The Court further finds that Petitioner has not met the second
prong of the Strickland test on this issue. Even if the additional
cross examination matter suggested by Petitioner during the PCR
hearing were brought out in front of the jury, there is absolutely
no reason to believe that the outcome of the trial would have
been different. The core facts outlined above would have
remained the same. There was no possible prejudice.
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*****
One of the State’s witnesses, Angela Husband, made a statement
about a prior event that occurred in a garage. To be clear, the
murder did not happen in a garage or at the time of that alleged
prior event. Still, Petitioner claims that his trial counsel should
have located and presented witnesses (family members) who
could have contradicted that statement about the garage, and that
the failure to do so constituted ineffective assistance.
Petitioner has not demonstrated how his trial attorney should
have been responsible for doing that. He has not explained why
he did not give his attorney the information about his family
members or their possible value as witnesses. He has not
demonstrated poor performance and thus fails on the first
Strickland prong.
Petitioner also fails on the second Strickland prong. The
condition of the garage—and Angela Husband’s credibility on
that point—were extremely minor points. The relevance of these
topics was miniscule compared to the core facts of the case
outlined above. The outcome of the trial would not have been
different even if trial counsel had called family members to
describe the condition of the garage.
Appellant’s App. Vol. III pp. 88-91.
[23] “Counsel is afforded considerable discretion in choosing strategy and tactics,
and we will accord those decisions deference.” Smith v. State, 765 N.E.2d 578,
585 (Ind. 2002). “A strong presumption arises that counsel rendered adequate
assistance and made all significant decisions in the exercise of reasonable
professional judgment.” Id. “We recognize that even the finest, most
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experienced criminal defense attorneys may not agree on the ideal strategy or
the most effective way to represent a client.” Id. “Isolated mistakes, poor
strategy, inexperience, and instances of bad judgment do not necessarily render
representation ineffective.” Id. Whether a lawyer performed reasonably under
the circumstances is determined by examining the whole of the lawyer’s work
on a case. Brightman v. State, 758 N.E.2d 41, (Ind. 2001). “A defendant must
offer strong and convincing evidence to overcome the presumption that counsel
prepared and executed an effective defense.” Id.
[24] Giger essentially challenges his trial counsel’s strategy. His trial counsel
testified at the post-conviction hearing that his strategy was to portray Greene
as an alternate suspect for the crime. Giger’s trial counsel found Greene’s story
to be “pretty wild and unbelievable.” PCR Tr. p. 227. At the trial, Giger’s
counsel cross-examined the witnesses at issue and challenged their credibility.
Although Giger now argues that his trial counsel should have cross-examined
the witnesses more extensively on certain topics, his trial counsel had
significant discretion on strategy, and as a whole, his performance was not
deficient.
[25] Even if Giger could show that his trial counsel was deficient, he cannot
demonstrate prejudice from the alleged deficiencies. In his interview with
police after the murder, Giger admitted that he was with Thorpe on the night of
his death and that he was trying to get drugs from Thorpe. Giger claimed that
he was driving around with Thorpe and that they stopped at a house for
Thorpe. He claimed that he kept Thorpe’s drugs in the car and that Thorpe
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took the car keys into the house. According to Giger, he saw Thorpe running
down the street a few minutes later and followed him. He claims to have found
Thorpe dead and claims to have taken his car keys from Thorpe’s pocket.
Giger was found in possession of the murder weapon (a knife) and cash covered
in Thorpe’s blood, and he admitted to consuming Thorpe’s drugs. Thorpe’s
blood was also found on Giger’s car, clothing, and shoe. Thorpe had been
stabbed twenty-one times, including some postmortem injuries. Even if Giger’s
trial counsel was deficient for failing to cross-examine the witnesses more
extensively on certain topics, the overwhelming evidence supported Giger’s
conviction, and Giger has failed to demonstrate that he was prejudiced by trial
counsel’s alleged deficiencies.
C. Evidence of Peaceful Character
[26] Giger argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to present evidence
of his peacefulness. Giger argues that his trial counsel should have called
James Williams as a witness. At the post-conviction hearing, Williams testified
that he had known Giger well when they were children and, to a lesser extent,
as adults. Williams testified that, in his experience, Giger was a peaceful
person. However, Williams also testified that he was unaware of Giger’s drug
usage.
[27] On this argument, the post-conviction court found:
Petitioner complains that his lawyer should have called Pastor
James Williams (or anyone else) to testify to Petitioner’s
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“character for peacefulness” during the trial, and that the failure
to call such witnesses constituted ineffective assistance.
The substance of what James Williams would have been able to
testify to was explored at the January 2015 evidentiary hearing.
His basis for knowledge was limited, constituting mostly of
contact with Petitioner from decades earlier (although he had
some continued, albeit lesser, contact with Petitioner as adults.)
Mr. Williams lacked knowledge of much of Petitioner’s adult
lifestyle and activities, and Mr. Williams lacked knowledge of the
facts of the case.
Mr. Weisman testified that he successfully conveyed to the jury
through other witnesses the basic fact that Petitioner was “a good
guy” even though he didn’t specifically call a character witness
during trial. He further testified that in his experience, juries did
not respond well to defense character witnesses. Indeed, this
Court agrees that attempting to introduce character evidence on
behalf of a Defendant who smoked crack cocaine (acquired from
a dead man) with a prostitute after being stained with the dead
man’s blood would probably have backfired. There was no
deficient performance, and no possibility of prejudice.
Appellant’s App. Vol. III p. 91.
[28] Giger’s trial counsel testified at the post-conviction hearing that he did not
“normally bring three or four or five people up here to say, hey, he’s a good
guy. [He did not] find that effective.” PCR Tr. p. 479. He thought “it
sometimes can be taken as pandering to the jury,” so it was not usually his
course of action to present such evidence. Id. This was a strategic decision, and
trial counsel is afforded considerable discretion in choosing strategy. Smith, 765
N.E.2d at 585. Giger has failed to demonstrate that trial counsel’s performance
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was deficient. Further, given the overwhelming evidence against Giger, even if
trial counsel had presented Williams’s testimony, Giger has failed to
demonstrate that the result of the proceeding would have been different.
D. Failure to Redact Interrogation
[29] Giger argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to redact certain
portions of the police interrogation of him. Specifically, Giger complains about
the following statements by police during the interrogation:
 You expect I’m gonna sell this story to somebody that’s
gonna say now wait a minute, don’t we have some
problems here?
 How are we supposed to sell this story to somebody and
believe your story when the most important things about
this, you left out!
 Well I know you were at Angie’s house, you came in there
huffin and puffin and all sweating and out of god****
breath!
 And you had blood all over your pants.
 So all the blood they see on your hands and all the blood
they see on your pants, that come from you slipped on
your . . . .
 What would they lie about, why would they lie about you
coming in there being all sweaty, out of breath, thumping
thumping, acting like something was strange, acting like
something’s going on, got blood all over your pants, got
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blood all over your hands and you got a pocket full of
money and you’re flashing all this money at ‘em. You
gonna tell that they’re lying about that.
 You know what I see, you think I want to sell this story to
somebody else. I’ll tell you what story I’m gonna sell to
you, you put yourself in this, and I ain’t got . . . I’m
convinced that you ain’t telling me the truth. Ok. You
didn’t take nothing but the keys out of his pocket but the
money laying up on the god**** dresser’s got blood all
over it . . . .
 So the money you would have gotten would have come
from Chicago. Now you need to explain the fact that the
victim’s blood is on the . . . let me finish . . . is on the
money that you brought back from Chicago after you
changed clothes and washed your hands. Shouldn’t be
there!
 So you would have had to have blown $350.00 someplace.
 This is a hard one man, serious, I want to believe you, I
really do. But it’s just not adding up.
 I’m looking at this knife and it’s got blood on it and I’m
thinking to myself it can’t be this easy.
Appellant’s Br. pp. 53-54. Giger argues that his trial counsel should have
requested a redaction of the interrogation or sought a limiting instruction.
[30] The post-conviction court rejected Giger’s argument and found:
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Petitioner’s interview with police was admitted at trial.
Petitioner claims that his trial lawyer should have attempted to
have the interview recording redacted, or should have requested
a limiting admonishment, because the recording contained
“inadmissible and prejudicial comments made by police.”
Mr. Weisman testified during the PCR proceedings that he didn’t
believe that anything on the recording was especially egregious or
out of the ordinary, and thus that it didn’t require redaction or an
admonishment. He further testified that he believed that
allowing the jury to see and consider the interview in its
entirety—and without comment by the Court—was in
Petitioner’s best interest. He believed that Petitioner held up very
well in spite of strong pressure from police, and he wanted the
jury to see that in an unvarnished way.
This Court, especially under the deferential review required when
considering trial attorney’s performance, cannot find that this
was deficient performance.
Appellant’s App. Vol. III p. 92.
[31] Giger’s trial counsel testified at the post-conviction hearing that the “statements
by the police officers were pretty standard type stuff they are using to try and get
information or elicit more information or elicit a confession.” PCR Tr. p. 467.
He thought that Giger did “so well holding up to their . . . browbeating him that
[he] thought [the interrogation] did him more good than bad.” Id.
Additionally, Giger’s trial counsel used the interrogation statement regarding
the investigation being “easy” during his cross-examination of the detective to
point out that the detective did not look at other suspects after finding the blood
in Giger’s car. Trial Tr. p. 1006. The admission of the police interrogation was
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a matter of strategy, and Giger has failed to demonstrate that his performance
was deficient.
[32] To the extent that Giger’s counsel should have requested a limiting instruction,
we conclude that Giger was not prejudiced by the alleged deficiency. See
Washington v. State, 808 N.E.2d 617, 624-25 (Ind. 2004) (“[A]lthough a trial
court has no affirmative duty to consider giving an admonishment in the
absence of a party’s request, it is error to admit statements by an interrogating
officer without any limiting instruction or admonishment.”). As the State
points out, “most of the statements reflect evidence that was ultimately
produced at trial such as evidence of Petitioner’s shortness of breath and
statements about the blood evidence.” Appellee’s Br. p. 38. The statements at
issue merely challenge Giger’s credibility or discuss cumulative evidence. Giger
failed to demonstrate that, but for trial counsel’s failure to redact or request a
limiting instruction, the result of the proceeding would have been different.
E. Failure to Object to Instructions
[33] Giger contends that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to
certain jury instructions regarding direct and circumstantial evidence.
Specifically, Giger argues that his trial counsel should have objected to the
following instructions:
Circumstantial evidence means evidence that proves a fact from
which an inference of the existence of another fact may be
drawn. An inference is a deduction of fact that may logically and
reasonably be drawn from another fact or group of facts. You are
entitled to draw reasonable inferences from the evidence. It is not
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necessary that facts be proved by direct evidence. Both direct
evidence and circumstantial evidence are acceptable as a means
of proof. The State is not required to prove the essential elements of
murder by eyewitness observation. Circumstantial evidence may
establish the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt.
However, in a case such as this where the evidence is entirely
circumstantial, in order to convict, such circumstantial evidence
must be so conclusive a character and point so surely and
unerringly to the guilt of the accused as to exclude every
reasonable hypothesis of innocence.
Tr. p. 1378 (emphasis added). Giger takes issue with the portions of the
instructions in italics. According to Giger, the first and third italicized
sentences were objectionable “on the basis of repetition,” and the second
italicized sentence unnecessarily highlighted “the acceptability of the State’s
lack of eyewitness evidence.” Appellant’s Br. p. 56.
[34] Giger also challenges his trial counsel’s failure to object to the italicized
portions of the following instruction:
You are the only judges of the weight of both the physical
evidence and the testimony—believability, or “credibility”—of
each of the witnesses. In considering the testimony of a
witness—including the testimony of the defendant, who is a
competent witness in his own behalf—you may take into account
the witness’s ability and opportunity to observe those things he or
she testified to, the witness’s memory, manner and conduct while
testifying, any interest the witness may have in this case, any bias
the witness may have for or against any party to this suit, any
relationship with other witnesses or interested parties, and the
reasonableness of the witness’s testimony when viewed with all
of the other evidence in the case. The credibility of the defendant’s
testimony should be evaluated by you according to the same criteria that
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you use for any other witness. You should try to fit the evidence to
the presumption that the defendant is innocent. Each witness in
a trial takes an oath to testify truthfully. Therefore, you should
not disregard the testimony of any witness without a reason, and
then only after careful consideration. The testimony of a witness
does not have to be corroborated by other evidence for you to believe that
witness. However, if you find so much conflict between the
testimony of two or more witnesses that you cannot believe each
of them, then you must decide which witnesses you will believe
and which you will disbelieve. Or, if you decide that any witness’s
testimony is so unreasonable as to be unworthy of belief, you may
disbelieve that witness. Furthermore, you should evaluate the testimony
of each witness in light of all relevant physical evidence, and the
reasonable inferences drawn from such physical evidence. If you have
drawn reasonable conclusions about the physical evidence that prove
inconsistent with the testimony of any witness, then you should
reconsider both the physical evidence and that witness’s testimony in
order to resolve such apparent inconsistency. In other words, you must
decide in such a case whether your conclusions drawn from the physical
evidence are invalid, or whether you disbelieve the witness, or whether
you are unable to draw any conclusion.
In weighing the evidence to determine what or whom you will
believe, you should use your own knowledge, experience and
common sense gained from day to day living. You may find that
your determination of the truth is not controlled by the number
of witnesses who testify to a particular fact, or on one side or the
other, or the quantity of evidence on a particular point. You
should give the greatest weight to that evidence which convinces
you most strongly of its truthfulness.
Id. at 1378-81 (emphasis added). According to Giger, the instruction “pitted
testimonial evidence against physical evidence” and “did not allow for the jury
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to accept both the physical evidence pointing to Giger’s possible guilt but to
also believe Giger’s testimony that he was innocent.” Appellant’s Br. p. 58.
[35] On this issue, the post-conviction court found:
Petitioner complains that his trial counsel should have objected
to the final jury instructions regarding circumstantial evidence
and the jury’s responsibility to evaluate evidence. He claims that
these instructions were erroneous, and that therefore a good trial
lawyer should have kept the jury from being exposed to these
instructions.
Petitioner has waived this argument. He did not raise complaints
about the instructions on direct appeal. Collateral attacks
regarding the propriety of the instructions given should have been
raised on appeal. If an issue was known and available, but not
raised on direct appeal, it is waived. Timberlake v. State, 753
N.E.2d 591, 597 [(Ind. 2001)](citing Rouster v. State, 705 N.E.2d
999, 1003 (Ind. 1999)).
Secondly, although Petitioner complains that these instructions
were improper, he has not claimed that they incorrectly state the
law. He has instead complained that they are inappropriate or
confusing or repetitive. He has offered no on-point legal
authority supporting that assertion. This Court is not aware of
any binding precedent holding that the instructions at issue were
faulty as a matter of law. This Court continues to find that the
instructions were appropriate as a matter of law.
Without demonstrating that the instructions were faulty as a
matter of law, it is apparent that Petitioner’s claim of ineffective
assistance on this issue must fail. “Where a subject is properly
covered by a given instruction, it is not error to fail to give a
tendered instruction on the same subject.” McCurry v. State, 558
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N.E.2d [817, 819] (Ind. 1990). In fact, it is apparent that this
claim should be more appropriately addressed as a direct
challenge to the instructions rather than a complaint about
instructions that is couched in terms of “ineffective assistance.”
Appellant’s App. Vol. III pp. 89-90.
[36] We first address the post-conviction court’s finding that Giger waived this
argument by failing to raise an issue regarding the instructions on direct appeal.
Giger raises this issue in the context of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, not
a freestanding issue. Consequently, Giger’s argument is properly raised, and
the post-conviction court erred by finding that it was waived. See Wilkes v. State,
984 N.E.2d 1236, 1240 (Ind. 2013) (noting that claims of ineffective assistance
of counsel may be proper grounds for post-conviction proceedings).
[37] We conclude, however, that Giger has failed to demonstrate ineffective
assistance of counsel regarding this issue. The italicized portions of the
instructions merely expound on the concepts of weighing the evidence, drawing
inferences from the evidence, and judging a witness’s credibility. Giger has not
shown that the instructions misstated the law. Further, the instructions do not,
as Giger asserts, unnecessarily highlight certain pieces of evidence or require the
jury to choose between the physical evidence and Giger’s testimony. Giger has
also failed to demonstrate that, but for trial counsel’s alleged deficiency in
failing to object to these instructions, the result of the proceeding would have
been different. We cannot say that Giger’s trial counsel was deficient or that
Giger was prejudiced by any alleged deficiency, and Giger’s claim fails.
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F. Failure to Object to Prosecutorial Misconduct
[38] Giger argues that the deputy prosecutor committed misconduct during closing
argument by “urg[ing] conviction based on facts it knew or should have known
were false relative to the connection between Greene, Johnson and Thorpe, and
reenact[ing] the murder improperly appealing to the jury’s emotions rather than
their reasoning.” Appellant’s Br. p. 58. Giger does not explain how the deputy
prosecutor’s closing argument was false, cites no authority for the proposition
that the deputy prosecutor’s conduct during closing arguments was improper,
and fails to explain how Giger was prejudiced. Giger has waived this issue by
failing to support it with cogent argument. See Ind. Appellate Rule 46(A)(8);
Lyles v. State, 834 N.E.2d 1035, 1050 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005) (holding that an
argument was waived for failure to support it with cogent reasoning), trans.
denied.
G. Failure to Present Mitigating Evidence
[39] Giger argues that his trial counsel failed to present mitigating evidence at the
sentencing hearing. According to Giger, his trial counsel should have called
Giger’s family and Williams to testify at the sentencing hearing regarding
Giger’s difficult upbringing, kindness during his younger years, faithfulness,
and closeness to his family.
[40] The post-conviction court rejected the claim and found:
Petitioner presented evidence during the PCR hearings from his
family members and a family friend. They testified that if they
had been called to testify during sentencing, they would have
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talked about Petitioner’s good character, described him as a good
man or family man, and that they would have asked the Court to
have mercy. Petitioner claims that the failure to actually present
this evidence at his sentencing hearing meant that his trial
attorney was ineffective.
First, since the Court of Appeals has already reviewed the
aggravating and mitigating factors in this case and has found the
sentence to be appropriate, it appears that issues related to
sentencing might well be res judicata and thus off-limits for a
PCR.
Second, at sentencing this Court already considered Petitioner’s
connections to family, his employment history, and other
mitigating factors at sentencing. Having now heard and
evaluated the testimony available from Petitioner’s family
members, this Court concludes that such testimony would not
have made a difference in the sentence imposed.
Third, Petitioner has not demonstrated why this was his lawyer’s
responsibility. During his PCR hearing, he admitted that he had
not asked his lawyer to call these potential witnesses. This Court
informed him of his right to call such witnesses when the
sentencing hearing was set.
Appellant’s App. Vol. III pp. 92-93.
[41] The post-conviction court first found that the claim was barred by res judicata
because a sentencing claim was presented on direct appeal. Again, Giger raises
this claim in the context of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, not as a
freestanding issue. Consequently, the issue is properly raised, and we will
address it.
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[42] At the sentencing hearing, Giger’s trial counsel noted Giger’s “total lack of
criminal history,” his “solid work history,” and the fact that his income “helped
to support his mother.” Trial Sentencing Tr. p. 8. The trial court recognized
that Giger was very helpful to his family, had no prior criminal history, and had
been working; however, the trial court found the “particular circumstances of
the day and of the evening . . . to be extremely aggravating.” Id. at 25-26. The
trial court especially noted the fact that Giger was attempting to obtain cocaine
on the evening of the offense for himself and for Husband so that he could
obtain sexual favors. The trial court also noted that Thorpe was stabbed
twenty-one times, which he found was an “extreme aggravator.” Id. at 26. The
trial court then found that the “particularly vicious murder [was] a matter of
great aggravation which outweighs the mitigators . . . .” Id. at 27. On direct
appeal, we found that the trial court properly sentenced Giger. 1
[43] Even if Giger’s trial counsel had presented additional evidence regarding fifty-
one-year-old Giger’s childhood, kindness during his younger years, faithfulness,
and closeness to his family, it was unlikely to have resulted in a different
sentence. Each of the witnesses acknowledged that they had limited contact
with Giger during his later years and either suspected or were aware that he was
using illegal drugs. The trial court put great weight on the brutality of the
offense and on Giger’s criminal activity on the evening of the murder. Given
1
This court did find the probationary period and the restitution ordered by the trial court to be problematic
and reduced the probationary period and remanded regarding the restitution. See Giger, No. 71A05-0306-CR-
286, slip op. at 14-15.
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the viciousness of the murder, there is no reasonable probability of a different
sentence even if trial counsel had presented the testimony from Giger’s sisters
and Williams.
H. Cumulative Effect
[44] Giger next argues the cumulative effect of the alleged deficiencies discussed
above resulted in “denying him the advocacy on which our system depends and
that is promised by the Sixth Amendment.” Appellant’s Br. p. 59. The
cumulative effect of a number of errors can render counsel’s performance
ineffective. Grinstead, 845 N.E.2d at 1036. For the most part, however, Giger
has failed to demonstrate that his trial counsel’s performance was deficient.
Moreover, given the overwhelming evidence against Giger, any alleged
deficiency did not result in prejudice to Giger. Consequently, his claim of
cumulative effect fails. See id. at 1037 (“Most of Grinstead’s contentions of
deficient performance are not well taken, and the modest nature of counsel’s
one or two failings make them insufficient to overcome the strong presumption
that counsel performed adequately within the meaning of the Sixth
Amendment.”).
II. Ineffective Assistance of Appellate Counsel
[45] Giger next claims that he was denied the effective assistance of appellate
counsel. Ineffective assistance of appellate counsel claims generally fall into
three basic categories: (1) denial of access to an appeal; (2) waiver of issues; and
(3) failure to present issues well. Reed v. State, 856 N.E.2d 1189, 1195 (Ind.
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2006). Giger’s claim falls under the third category. Our supreme court has held
that “[c]laims of inadequate presentation of certain issues, when such were not
deemed waived in the direct appeal, are the most difficult for convicts to
advance and reviewing tribunals to support” for two reasons. Bieghler v. State,
690 N.E.2d 188, 195 (Ind. 1997), cert. denied.
First, these claims essentially require the reviewing tribunal to re-
view specific issues it has already adjudicated to determine
whether the new record citations, case references, or arguments
would have had any marginal effect on their previous decision.
Thus, this kind of ineffectiveness claim, as compared to the
others mentioned, most implicates concerns of finality, judicial
economy, and repose while least affecting assurance of a valid
conviction.
Id. Second, “an Indiana appellate court is not limited in its review of issues to
the facts and cases cited and arguments made by the appellant’s counsel.” Id.
As a result, “an ineffectiveness challenge resting on counsel’s presentation of a
claim must overcome the strongest presumption of adequate assistance.” Id. at
196. “Relief is only appropriate when the appellate court is confident it would
have ruled differently.” Id.
[46] According to Giger, his appellate counsel “misstated the record when he said
that Giger testified he had seen Thorpe run from the house” and failed to file a
reply brief to correct the State’s assertion that Giger “testified that he watched
Thorpe run from the house, he gave chase, and then he found Thorpe’s body.”
Appellant’s Br. p. 63. Giger asserts he actually testified that he saw Thorpe
walk to the side of the house and that he pulled the car around to the front
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where he smoked crack cocaine in his car. He then saw Thorpe running up the
street. After a few minutes, he followed Thorpe and found him on the ground.
This court’s direct appeal opinion stated:
Giger claims he saw Thorpe running down the street and Giger
chased him because Thorpe had Giger’s car keys. Giger claims
that he fell while chasing Thorpe. After falling, Giger saw a knife
on the ground and picked it up. He claims that he found
Thorpe’s body a few feet from the knife and was unable to rouse
him.
Giger, No. 71A05-0306-CR-286, slip op. at 3. Giger argues that “Appellate
counsel’s failure to correctly state the facts, correct the State’s inaccurate
version, and challenge the Appellee’s faulty conclusions prejudiced Giger
because the incorrect facts may have given rise to the false impression that the
evidence against Giger was overwhelming.” Id. at 64.
[47] The post-conviction court rejected Giger’s argument and found:
Petitioner has argued that appellate counsel was ineffective.
Petitioner has not offered any facts of testimony or evidence
regarding these claims, although there have been evidentiary
hearings held on three separate days over the time span of a year.
In all aspects, the law is with the State and against the Petitioner.
The Petitioner is entitled to no relief on any of his claims.
Appellant’s App. Vol. III p. 94.
[48] Both Giger’s direct appeal appellant’s brief and the State’s direct appeal
appellee’s brief summarize the facts and note that Giger saw Thorpe running
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down the street, which is supported by the evidence presented at the jury trial.
Moreover, in Giger’s statement to the police, he stated that Thorpe was running
from the house. Neither Giger’s appellate counsel nor the State misstated the
facts in their briefs. Even if Giger’s appellate counsel misstated the facts or
should have filed a reply brief to correct the alleged misstatement by the State,
we cannot say that Giger was prejudiced by the alleged deficiency. Giger’s
argument concerns a minor piece of evidence presented at the trial. Given
Giger’s possession of the bloody knife, the DNA evidence, and the other
evidence of his guilt, he has failed to prove that the outcome of the appeal
would have been different.
Conclusion
[49] The post-conviction court properly denied Giger’s claims of ineffective
assistance of trial counsel and ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. We
affirm.
Affirmed.
Riley, J., and Bailey, J., concur.
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