Skakel v. Commissioner of Correction

Summary

The court reversed the habeas court's judgment granting relief because trial counsel's challenged decisions were within the range of reasonable professional assistance and the petitioner failed to establish constitutionally deficient performance. The court held that counsel reasonably selected one third-party culpability defense, reasonably declined to pursue an unidentified potential alibi witness, and reasonably relied on cross-examination to impeach a deceased witness's testimony. The court also rejected the alternative grounds addressed in the visible portion of the opinion, including the claim concerning an unintroduced composite drawing, because the petitioner failed to establish prejudice.