Wilson v. Gaetz

Dist. Ct. erred in denying without evidentiary hearing defendant's habeas petition challenging his murder conviction on grounds that his trial counsel was ineffective in presenting insanity defense where defendant killed his boss while suffering from delusional disorder and where defense counsel did not heed expert's advice to obtain second opinion about defendant's sanity. Record showed that defense counsel did not sufficiently prepare for expert's testimony and failed to make defendant available to said expert to permit more accurate assessment of defendant's mental state. Moreover, evidentiary hearing was also required to determine whether said deficiencies were prejudicial to defendant's case.