CARLSON, Presiding Justice, for the Court:
¶ 1. Jeffrey Keith Havard (Havard) was found guilty of capital murder (murder during the commission of sexual battery) of six-month-old Chloe Britt. The jury also found that Havard's sentence should be death, and the Adams County Circuit Court imposed the death sentence upon Havard. This Court affirmed Havard's conviction and sentence on direct appeal. Havard v. State, 928 So.2d 771 (Miss.2006). His motion for rehearing was subsequently denied, as was his motion for post-conviction relief filed May 25, 2007. Havard v. State, 988 So.2d 322 (Miss.2008). Havard is currently seeking habeas relief in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi; however, that case has been stayed pending the outcome of Havard's second motion for post-conviction relief now before this Court. Finding no merit in Havard's successive motion for post-conviction relief, the Court denies his successive petition.
¶ 2. Havard was living in Adams County with his girlfriend, Rebecca Britt, the mother of the victim, six-month-old Chloe Britt. Havard was not Chloe's father. Havard and Britt had been dating for a few months when Britt and Chloe moved in with Havard. On February 21, 2002, at approximately 8:00 p.m., Havard gave Britt some money and asked her to get supper from the grocery store. When Britt returned home, she found that Chloe had been bathed and was asleep. Havard told Britt he had given Chloe her bath and put her to bed. Havard had also stripped the sheets off the bed and told Britt he was washing them. Britt testified that, before that night, Havard had never bathed Chloe or changed her diaper.
¶ 3. Britt testified that she checked on Chloe and she seemed fine. Havard then insisted that Britt go back out to the video store to rent some movies. Britt further testified that when she returned, Havard was in the bathroom with the door shut. She then went to check on Chloe and found the baby was blue and no longer breathing. Britt attempted to resuscitate Chloe by CPR before Britt and Havard drove Chloe to Natchez Community Hospital, where Britt's mother worked. The child was pronounced dead at the hospital later that night.
¶ 4. The pathologist who prepared Chloe's autopsy report testified that some of Chloe's injuries were consistent with penetration of the rectum with an object. Chloe's other injuries included abrasions and bruises inside her mouth. The baby also had internal bleeding inside her skull that was consistent with shaken-baby syndrome.
¶ 5. Havard was later charged with capital murder with sexual battery being the underlying felony. Two days after Chloe's death, Havard gave a videotaped statement, in which he denied committing sexual battery on Chloe. He claimed that he accidentally dropped her against the commode after giving her a bath, shook her in a panic, and then rubbed her down with lavender lotion before putting her to bed.
¶ 6. DNA evidence collected from the bed sheets matched the DNA of both Havard and Chloe. A sexual assault kit testing for any of Havard's DNA in Chloe's rectum or vagina produced negative results. The only explanation offered by Havard regarding Chloe's injuries was that he possibly wiped her down too vigorously when preparing her for bed. Havard was indigent at trial and had appointed counsel at trial and on direct appeal.
¶ 7. We set out here the five issues as presented in Havard's Motion for Relief From Judgment or for Leave to File Successive Petition for Post-Conviction Relief:
¶ 8. Before advancing directly to Havard's claims, we state here our standard of review when confronted with successive motions for post-conviction relief:
Knox v. State, 75 So.3d 1030, 1036 (Miss. 2011).
¶ 9. Additionally, filings for post-conviction relief in capital cases are to be made within one year after conviction. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-5(2)(b) (Rev.2007). Again, absent an applicable exception, an untimely filed motion for post-conviction relief is procedurally time-barred.
¶ 11. Prior to trial, Rebecca Britt gave a videotaped statement to law enforcement officials. Havard claims that the video was uncovered during the discovery phase of his federal habeas corpus proceedings. Havard alleges that, in violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), the prosecution withheld the videotape at trial despite his trial counsels' request for all exculpatory evidence.
¶ 12. In Brady, the United States Supreme Court held "that the suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon request violates due process where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the good faith or bad faith of the prosecution." Brady, 373 U.S. at 87, 83 S.Ct. 1194. In King v. State, 656 So.2d 1168, 1174 (Miss.1995), this Court articulated a four-part test to assess whether a Brady violation had occurred. Under the test, it is the defendant's burden to prove: "(a) that the State possessed evidence favorable to the defendant (including impeachment evidence); (b) that the defendant does not possess the evidence nor could he obtain it himself with any reasonable diligence; (c) that the prosecution suppressed the favorable evidence; and (d) that had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, a reasonable probability exists that the outcome of the proceedings would have been different." Manning v. State, 929 So.2d 885, 891 (Miss.2006).
¶ 13. Despite the State's argument that Havard fails all four prongs of this test, the Court need only look to the third prong to determine that this issue must fail. In its response, the State has provided an affidavit from Gus Sermos, Havard's lead trial counsel, in which he states that, prior to trial, he did watch the videotaped interview of Rebecca Britt that was conducted the day after Chloe's murder at the Adams County Sheriff's Office. Sermos also states that Tom Rosenblatt, the Assistant District Attorney who prosecuted Havard, along with Lt. Manley, were present at the time he watched Britt's videotaped interview.
¶ 14. Corroborating Sermos's affidavit is the affidavit of Tom Rosenblatt, in which Rosenblatt states that he viewed the videotaped interview of Rebecca Britt conducted by the Adams County Sheriff's office while in the presence of Gus Sermos and Lt. Manley. Given the sworn affidavits from Havard's trial counsel and the prosecutor in his case, we find no merit in Havard's claim of a Brady violation, because he has not shown that the evidence was suppressed.
¶ 15. Havard asserts that the State solicited testimony from Rebecca Britt at trial that it knew to be false. His contention is based on Britt's videotaped statement given the day after Chloe's murder at the Adam's County Sheriff's Office. Havard maintains that Britt's videotaped statement and her trial testimony differed and that the State allowed the disparity to go uncorrected.
¶ 17. Assuming arguendo that Britt's videotaped statement was newly discovered evidence not reasonably discoverable at the time of trial, it would have to be "of such nature that it would be practically conclusive that, if it had been introduced at trial, it would have caused a different result in the conviction or sentence." Id. Britt's videotaped statement does not meet that threshold.
¶ 18. This Court has held that
Rubenstein v. State, 941 So.2d 735, 768 (Miss.2006). To prevail on the merits, Havard must first demonstrate that Britt did, in fact, give false testimony. Only then can this Court determine the reasonable likelihood that the false testimony affected the jury's judgment.
¶ 19. Havard claims that, in her videotaped statement to law enforcement officials, Britt expressed that Havard "was actively involved in the care of Chloe Britt before the night of her death; that Mr. Havard had changed Chloe's diapers on prior occasions; and that Mr. Havard loved Chloe." He maintains that Britt's videotaped statement is in "stark contrast" to Britt's trial testimony, in which she testified as follows:
Britt further testified:
¶ 20. When comparing Britt's videotaped statement with the portion of her trial testimony Havard claims is conflicting, the only discernable disparities are her responses regarding whether Havard had ever changed Chloe's diaper and whether she was surprised that Havard had bathed Chloe. In her videotaped statement, she told law enforcement officials that Havard sometimes had changed
¶ 21. Havard asserts that Britt also testified differently regarding his interactions with Chloe. At trial, Britt was asked if Havard had "extensive interaction, playing with [Chloe], that sort of thing, for that length of time" to which Britt respond that he had not. Although not entirely clear from the record, from the context of the questioning, it appears that what the prosecutor meant by ". . . for that length of time" was a reference to the length of time that Britt was away running errands while Havard was home alone with Chloe the night she died. Nowhere in her videotaped statement was Britt asked about the length of time Havard had spent with the baby.
¶ 22. All indications from her videotaped statement are, however, that Havard did not spend great lengths of time with Chloe. Britt portrayed Havard as someone who was unemployed and slept most of the day while she was out job hunting. Chloe went to daycare during the day, which was paid for by Chloe's grandmother. In her videotaped statement, Britt told law enforcement officials that Havard was "always doing bottles for me or cleaning up while I'm taking care of her." She also told law enforcement that Havard would sigh or turn and walk away when Chloe was "fussy."
¶ 23. Other than Britt's trial testimony regarding whether Havard had ever changed Chloe's diapers and her reaction to Havard bathing Chloe, there is no disparity between Britt's videotaped statement to law enforcement and her testimony at trial. Regardless of her reaction and assuming her trial testimony that Havard did not change diapers was false, given all the evidence in this case, there is no reasonable likelihood that it affected the judgment of the jury.
¶ 24. This issue is procedurally barred by time and the successive-writ bar. Miss. Code Ann. §§ 99-39-5(2)(b), 99-39-27(9) (Rev.2007). Notwithstanding the procedural bars, this issue has no merit.
¶ 25. As an alternative to Havard's Brady violation claim discussed first supra, Havard claims that his trial counsel were ineffective by failing to utilize the videotaped statement if the State did disclose or produce it. Specifically, Havard asserts that his "trial counsel were ineffective for (a) not informing Petitioner of the existence of the statement, (b) not utilizing the statement to support [Havard]'s defense to the charge of capital murder and the underlying felony of sexual battery, and (c) not utilizing the statement to cross-examine or impeach Rebecca Britt's trial testimony where it differed from what she told the investigators in the statement.. . ."
Foster v. State, 687 So.2d 1124, 1129-30 (Miss.1996) (emphasis removed).
¶ 26. This issue is procedurally barred because it fails to meet an exception to the time bar and the successive-writ bar. Miss.Code Ann. §§ 99-39-5(2)(b), 99-39-27(9). Notwithstanding the procedural bars, Havard's claim also fails to pass the standard set forth in Strickland.
¶ 27. Havard has failed to present any argument on this matter other than bare assertions. In his motion for post-conviction relief, Havard merely asserts that counsel were deficient and then claims that "[f]or the same reasons set forth in Claim 2, Petitioner was prejudiced by this ineffective assistance of counsel and there is a reasonable probability that, but for this ineffectiveness, the result of the proceedings would have been different." Referring again to the affidavit of Gus Sermos, he states that, to the best of his knowledge, belief, and memory, Britt's videotaped statement contained nothing exculpatory in nature and that Britt's trial testimony was consistent with her videotaped statement.
Bennett v. State, 990 So.2d 155, 158 (Miss. 2008). Trial counsel's decision not to use the videotaped statement clearly falls within the realm of trial strategy. However, even if we assume, for the sake of argument, that Sermos was deficient in failing to use the statement, Havard does not explain how the statement could have been used to support his defense. Further, the only discrepancy between Britt's videotaped statement and her trial testimony was whether Havard ever had changed Chloe's diaper before the night Chloe died. As discussed supra, there is no reasonable likelihood that Britt's testimony, if false, affected the judgment of the jury. Havard cannot demonstrate how he was prejudiced.
¶ 28. This issue is procedurally barred. Miss.Code Ann. §§ 99-39-5(2)(b), 99-39-27(9) (Rev.2007). Not withstanding the procedural bars, the issue also is without merit.
¶ 29. Pursuant to a discovery order entered in Havard's federal habeas corpus proceedings, Dr. Steven Hayne was deposed to explore his opinions regarding sexual battery in Havard's case. Havard contends that the deposition was ordered in light of concerns that were raised in the habeas petition regarding the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the State's allegation of sexual battery and the effectiveness
¶ 30. In a document with the heading "Declaration of Dr. Steven T. Hayne" signed by Dr. Hayne and submitted in the federal court proceedings, Dr. Hayne stated that "[b]ased upon the autopsy evidence available regarding the death of Chloe Britt, I cannot include or exclude to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that she was sexually assaulted." He also stated that the contusion found on Chloe's anus "could have a variety of causes, and is not sufficient in and of itself to determine that a sexual assault occurred." Dr. Hayne also stated that he found no tearing of Chloe's rectum, anus, anal sphincter, or perineum.
¶ 31. Havard puts the most emphasis, however, on Dr. Hayne's statement that "[d]ilated anal sphincters may be seen on persons who have died, as well as on a person prior to death without significant brain function. My experience as well as the medical literature recognizes that a dilated anal sphincter is not, on its own, evidence of anal sexual abuse, but must be supported by other evidence."
¶ 32. In his deposition, Dr. Hayne acknowledged that, prior to conducting the autopsy of Chloe, he was specifically asked to determine whether a sexual assault had occurred. There is no mention of sexual battery in the Final Report of Autopsy, because Dr. Hayne "could not come to final conclusion as to that." Dr. Hayne stated: "There was one injury that I indicated would be consistent with the penetration of the anal area, but that, in and of itself, I didn't feel was enough to come to a conclusion that there was a sexual assault in this particular death." Dr. Hayne confirmed that he found no tearing of the rectum, anus, anal sphincter, or perineum and that he would have noted such tearing if it had been present. He also opined that such tearing could not have healed between the time Chloe was in the emergency room and her autopsy one day later.
¶ 33. Dr. Hayne testified about the single contusion he found on Chloe's rectum, and the absence of abrasions and lacerations. He testified that the contusion was found in an area that is easily injured and that a rectal thermometer like that used in the emergency room to check Chloe's temperature could cause such a contusion, but he did not think it was likely. He also stated that he could not exclude that possibility.
¶ 34. Havard asserts that his expert, Dr. James Lauridson, and Dr. Hayne both have opined that it is possible that a dilated anus can occur in a person who is dead or even a person who is clinically alive but lacks significant brain function. Dr. Hayne testified that signs of brain death include flaccidness, unconsciousness, muscle relaxation, lack of breathing, dilated and fixed pupils, lack of muscle tone, and an asystole heart. Havard points out that medical records, testimony from emergency-room treaters, and Dr. Hayne's autopsy findings found those conditions in Chloe leading up to and following her death.
¶ 35. Some specific deposition testimony of Dr. Hayne on which Havard relies is as follows:
¶ 36. Dr. Hayne testified that a dilated anus is a recognized post-mortem finding, and an increased likelihood of such a finding is possible in children who die of brain injuries. He stated that flaccid or limp muscle condition can contribute to anal dilation. Dr. Hayne also testified that a dilated anal sphincter was not, standing alone, evidence of sexual abuse.
¶ 37. The issue before this Court is whether Havard has newly discovered evidence that would exempt him from the procedural time-bar and the successive-writ bar. The new evidence must be "evidence, not reasonably discoverable at the time of trial, that is of such nature that it would be practically conclusive that, if it had been introduced at trial, it would have caused a different result in the conviction or sentence." Miss.Code Ann. § 99-39-27(9) (Rev.2007). In this task, Havard fails.
¶ 38. First, Dr. Hayne testified at Havard's trial, and he was subjected to cross-examination. In his recent deposition testimony, Dr. Hayne testified that his deposition testimony was consistent with his trial testimony. Although Dr. Hayne's trial testimony was limited regarding sexual battery, nothing in his deposition testimony was inconsistent with his trial testimony. Additionally, at his deposition, Dr. Hayne testified that he had seen no new facts that would cause him to change his testimony at trial.
¶ 39. There is no indication that the deposition testimony provided by Dr. Hayne was undiscoverable at the time of trial. The fact that Havard's counsel now asks questions in more detail than did Havard's trial counsel on cross-examination does not qualify the answers as newly discovered evidence within the meaning of Mississippi Code Section 99-39-27(9).
¶ 40. Havard tries to compare his case to that of Williams v. State, 35 So.3d 480 (Miss.2010), in which the defendant was convicted on two counts of sexual battery, one against each of his two daughters. Williams challenged the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the sexual-battery charge in Count II against his younger, ten-month-old daughter. This Court reversed Count II because the only evidence against the defendant on that count was
¶ 41. Havard relies on the following deposition testimony of Dr. Hayne:
With regard to Havard's assertion that the rectal thermometer used to take Chloe's temperature in the emergency room could have been the object that caused the contusion, Dr. Hayne testified:
¶ 42. Havard's case is distinguishable from Williams, most significantly because Dr. Hayne's testimony was not the only evidence supporting the sexual-battery allegation. Unlike Williams, numerous emergency-room personnel witnessed Chloe's physical condition and gave testimony at Havard's trial. See Havard, 988 So.2d 322, 332. Additionally, Williams denied sexually abusing his daughters. Although Havard denies that he sexually assaulted Chloe, he gave the following statement to the police:
¶ 43. There is no merit to Havard's claim that newly discovered evidence exists that supports his innocence. This issue is procedurally barred by time and as a successive writ. Miss.Code Ann §§ 99-39-5(2)(b), 99-39-27(9) (Rev.2007).
¶ 44. Havard claims that the deposition testimony of Dr. Hayne, taken
¶ 45. This claim is an attempt to rehabilitate failed claims that already have been addressed by this Court. On direct appeal, Havard claimed that his trial counsel were ineffective for failing to secure a pathologist to investigate the case and develop a defense strategy. Havard, 928 So.2d at 788. Havard's counsel did request an independent review of the autopsy report, but the trial court denied the motion, because no basis for need was shown when Dr. Hayne was available. Id. Havard argued that it was his attorneys' failure to present the trial court with a basis for the request that constituted ineffective assistance. Id. To support this claim, Havard relied on the affidavit of Dr. Lauridson and a medical journal article in an attempt to show the substantial need that he claimed his attorneys failed to show. Id. at 789. The Court refused to consider the documentation on direct appeal, because it was outside of the record. Id. Ultimately, the Court found that Havard's counsels' actions were not ineffective and that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying Havard's motion for an independent evaluation. Id.
¶ 46. Subsequently, in his original post-conviction-relief motion, Havard again raised the issue that his counsel were ineffective in failing to secure an expert witness to aid in research and the development of a defense strategy. The Court reconsidered the issue, in light of Dr. Lauridson's affidavit. Havard also submitted the affidavit of an attorney unrelated to Havard's case, who opined Havard's trial counsel were ineffective.
¶ 47. The Court considered, for the sake of argument, that even if Havard's counsel performed deficiently, meeting the first prong under Strickland, Havard could not show prejudice. Havard, 988 So.2d at 331. Although the Court's reasoning is more fully explained in that opinion, suffice it to state here that this Court found Dr. Lauridson's affidavit and reports did not contain evidence that would create a reasonable probability that the outcome of Havard's trial would have been different. Id. at 333.
¶ 48. In our discussion, we quoted Dr. Lauridson as follows:
Id. at 332.
¶ 49. Havard pits the Court's aforementioned statement against Dr. Hayne's deposition
¶ 50. Havard contends that Dr. Hayne's deposition testimony negates this Court's previous rejection of Dr. Lauridson's opinions concerning post-mortem anal dilation. Without conceding Havard's argument, even if true, the Court was addressing his claim that counsel were ineffective. The Court's statement about Chloe still being alive when the dilation of her anus was first observed was not the only basis for denying Havard's ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim. The Court noted and summarized the testimony of the numerous experienced emergency-room doctors and nurses describing the baby's injuries as indicative of sexual penetration. The Court held that Havard could not show prejudice, even it were to assume, for the sake of argument, that Havard's counsel was deficient in failing to secure an independent pathologist.
¶ 51. Havard now asserts that his attorneys were ineffective because, after failing to secure an independent pathologist, they failed to have any pretrial interaction with Dr. Hayne. He relies on Dr. Hayne's deposition testimony that follows:
¶ 52. This new line of questioning is not "newly discovered evidence" within the meaning of Mississippi Code Section 99-39-27(9). The newly discovered evidence must be "practically conclusive that, if it had been introduced at trial, it would have caused a different result in the conviction or sentence." Havard is trying to revitalize
¶ 53. Havard now offers the deposition testimony of Dr. Hayne to show: a) that Dr. Hayne has an opinion in line with Dr. Lauridson's and b) that Havard's trial attorneys never interviewed Dr. Hayne prior to trial to learn of his opinion. In the original post-conviction-relief proceedings, Havard presented Dr. Lauridson's report and documentation in an attempt to show that his trial counsel were ineffective in their failure to secure an independent pathologist. This Court considered Dr. Lauridson's report and what it had to offer had it been introduced at trial. Havard's ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim did not pass the standard set forth in Strickland. Havard, 988 So.2d at 333. Dr. Hayne's deposition testimony is that he does not remember meeting with Havard's trial counsel. However, even assuming that Dr. Hayne was not interviewed by Havard's trial counsel, the remainder of his deposition testimony that Havard seeks to have this Court consider is duplicative of Dr. Lauridson's report, which was considered and rejected in the original post-conviction proceeding. Furthermore, Havard offers no explanation as to why this information could not have been discovered prior to filing his original motion for post-conviction relief. This issue is procedurally barred. Notwithstanding the procedural bars, the issue is without merit.
¶ 54. Havard has failed to demonstrate an exception to the procedural bars. Accordingly, for the reasons discussed, Havard's Motion for Relief From Judgment or For Leave to File Successive Petition for Post-Conviction Relief is denied as time-barred and as a successive writ. Miss.Code Ann. §§ 99-39-5(2)(b), 99-39-27(9) (Rev.2007).
¶ 55.
WALLER, C.J., DICKINSON, P.J., RANDOLPH, LAMAR, KITCHENS, CHANDLER, PIERCE AND KING, JJ., CONCUR.