Mulero v. Thompson

Dist. Ct. did not err in denying defendant's habeas petition alleging that her trial counsel was ineffective when, prior to giving defendant advice as to whether to enter guilty plea, counsel failed to interview one witness, and further failed to either obtain psychological evidence concerning whether defendant made voluntary confession to two murders or recognize that another witness had given inconsistent statements regarding identity of shooter. Defendant failed to establish any prejudice arising out of alleged shortcomings of counsel or demonstrate that counsel's advice to defendant about whether to plead guilty would have been any different had he done more investigation in case. Moreover, defendant's boastful display to television cameras following her confession essentially precluded any argument that defendant's confession was psychologically coerced.