Citations
- 566 F. Supp. 2d 1053
Full opinion text
DEATH PENALTY CASE
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER FOLLOWING EVIDENTIARY HEARING GRANTING PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS AS TO PETITIONER’S SENTENCE AND DENYING ALL CLAIMS AS TO HIS CONVICTION AND DEATH ELIGIBILITY
ANTHONY W. ISHII, District Judge.
Table of Contents
I. Factual Background.1057
II. Procedural Overview.1059
III. Standard of Review.1059
IV. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel During Penalty Proceedings (Claim 19).1060
A. Summary of the Relevant Facts.1061
1. Pre-Trial Interrogations.1061
a. Ben-Sholom’s First Custodial Interview.1061
b. Ben-Sholom’s Second Custodial Interview.1062
2. Pre-Trial Mental Health Assessments .1063
a. Dr. Richmond’s Summary.1064
b. Dr. Kleist’s Reports.1066
c. Dr. Glenn’s Report .1067
d. Dr. Geshuri’s Report.1069
e. Dr. Rienzi’s Report.1070
3. Pre-Trial, Trial, and Post-Trial Proceedings.1071
a. Summary of Testimony at the Suppression Hearing Regarding Ben-Sholom’s Inderal Use.1071
(1) Ben-Sholom’s Testimony.1071
(2) Phyllis Marshall’s Testimony .1072
b. Mr. Alexander’s Guilt Phase Opening Statement.1072
c. Mr. Alexander’s Guilt Phase Summation.1072
d. Pre-Penalty Phase Discussions.1073
e. Mr. Alexander’s Penalty Phase Opening Statement.1074
f. Penalty Phase Testimony.1074
(1) Phyllis Marshall.1074
(2) Faye Muldworf.1075
(3) Isaac Hull.1076
(4) JudyMayora.1076
(5) Henry Bethany.1077
(6) Ben-Sholom.1077
g. Penalty Phase Stipulated Evidence .1077
h. Mr. Alexander’s Penalty Phase Summation .1077
i. Penalty Phase Deliberations .1078
j. Ben-Sholom’s Motion for Modification of the Death Verdict.1079
4. Evidence Presented by Ben-Sholom at the Evidentiary Hearing.1080
a. Roger Alexander.1080
b. Anthony Casillas.1085
c. Gary Wynbrandt, M.D.1087
d. Phyllis Marshall. 1090
e. Beth Rienzi, Ph.D. 1091
f. Neil Pereira. 1093
g. Phillip Cherney . 1094
5. The Warden’s Response to Ben-Sholom’s Evidence. 1099
a. Yosef Geshuri, Ph.D. 1099
b. James Richmond, M.D. 1103
6. Ben-Sholom’s Rebuttal . 1107
a. Dr. Wynbrandt. 1107
b. Mr. Park. 1110
7. The Warden’s Evidence. 1113
a. Report and Declaration of Roger Alexander. 1113
b. Prosecution Trial Exhibit Photographs. 1114
c. Request for Judicial Notice. 1115
(1) Frierson Order. 1115
(2) Baranyi Transcript. 1115
8. Ben-Sholom’s Post Evidentiary Hearing Motion to Augment the Record. 1116
a. Dr. Froming’s Declaration in Response to the Warden’s Request for Judicial Notice. 1116
b. Defense Trial Exhibit Photographs . 1117
B. Analysis. 1117
1. Performance. 1117
a. Inadequate Investigation of Substantial Domination, Severe Mental and Emotional Disturbance, and Mental Disease or Defect . 1118
b. Failure to Provide Mental Health Experts with Social History Information Necessary to Secure a Competent Psychological Evaluation. 1122
c. Failure to Request Expert Opinions about Statutory Mitigating Factors . 1124
d. Failure to Present Non-Expert Testimony Supporting Possible Statutory Mitigating Factors. 1124
e. Failure to Present Expert Testimony to Explain Mitigating Factors and Concepts to the Jury. 1126
f. Failure to Request Jury Instructions on Statutory Mitigating Factors . CO