Sanchez v. Commissioner of Correction

Summary

The court affirmed the denial of habeas relief, concluding that the petitioner failed to establish prejudice from trial counsel’s failure to call two witnesses who allegedly would have contradicted a state witness concerning motive and the disposal of the getaway van. Even assuming deficient performance, the court held that the consistent and corroborated prosecution evidence, together with the witnesses’ limited and noncredible testimony, did not create a reasonable probability of a different verdict. The court therefore did not decide whether the denial of certification to appeal constituted an abuse of discretion.