Robert Anthony Carter v. Gary L. Johnson, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division

110 F.3d 1098, 1997 U.S. App. LEXIS 6601, 1997 WL 169401

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Decided: April 9, 1997
• Docket: 96-20334
• Status: Published

Opinion

JERRY E. SMITH, Circuit Judge:

Robert Carter appeals the denial of his petition for a writ of habeas corpus filed under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (1996). We affirm the judgment and vacate the stay of execution.

I.

Carter was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in March 1982. His case, which has languished in the Texas courts for over a decade, now approaches its conclusion.

A.

Carter was arrested in 1981 and charged with the murder of Sylvia Reyes, who was fatally wounded during the robbery of a service station. 1 On June 27, 1981, Carter confessed in great detail to the murder but stated that the shooting had been accidental and denied any intent to kill Reyes. Pursuant to this confession, the police obtained the murder weapon identified by Carter, and ballistics experts confirmed that the revolver had been used in the murder.

B.

At trial, a witness identified as “David Josa” testified that he was entering the station on June 24, 1981, when he heard gunshots inside the station and observed two individuals leave it immediately thereafter. The first fled from the station but returned when the police arrived. The second, a young black man fitting Carter’s description, emerged from the store with “a wad of money” in his left hand and fled. Josa observed this person for only a few seconds but did not see a gun, nor was he able subsequently to identify Carter as the second man.

Another witness, Arthur Mallard, corroborated Josa’s testimony. Mallard identified himself as the first person out of the station and testified that he had observed a man fitting Carter’s description reach across the counter to take money from the cash register. When the station attendant resisted, Mallard heard a gunshot and fled the store. He was unable to identify Carter as the man he had seen.

The defense offered no evidence to rebut the state, and the jury returned a verdict of guilty to capital murder. At the penalty stage, the state called witnesses to establish that Carter had committed another murder six days prior to the charged offense. Although none of the witnesses directly observed the second murder, one identified Carter as the man she observed fleeing the scene. Finally, the state introduced Carter’s confession, in which he confessed to the second murder, once again.

In rebuttal, defense counsel offered the testimony of three witnesses — -Carter, his mother, and a family friend — to establish Carter’s good character. Carter testified that he had not intentionally killed the two victims and pledged to rehabilitate himself if sentenced to life imprisonment rather than death. Finally, in response to the character evidence, detective L.B. Smith testified that Carter’s reputation as a peaceful and law-abiding citizen was “bad.” After brief deliberation, the jury affirmatively answered the three special issues submitted pursuant to Tex.Code Grim. Proc. Ann. art. 37.071 (Vernon 1981), and the trial court imposed the death sentence.

C.

The instant appeal is before this court on Carter’s first application for a federal writ of habeas corpus, following several fruitless attempts to obtain relief in the state courts. In March 1990, Carter filed his first application for a state writ of habeas corpus. In August 1995, the state trial court recommended that state habeas relief be denied, and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied this first habeas petition in December 1995.

In August 1995, while the original state habeas petition was pending, Carter filed his second state habeas application, alleging that the length of time between his sentencing and his scheduled execution rendered his death sentence cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. The state trial court recommended that habeas relief be denied, and the Court of Criminal Appeals denied this second application in January 1996.

Having finally exhausted his state remedies, Carter filed the instant federal habeas petition in January 1996, followed soon thereafter by a motion for discovery, a motion for an evidentiary hearing, and an application for stay of execution. On March 20, 1996, the court entered final judgment, denying habeas relief. Carter appealed, and the district court issued a certificate of probable cause (“CPC”) on April 19,1996.

II.

The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, Pub.L. No. 104-132,110 Stat. 1214 (1996) (“AEDPA”), significantly altered the landscape of federal habeas corpus jurisprudence. First, the AEDPA imposed a jurisdictional prerequisite upon appeal from a final order in a habeas corpus proceeding in federal court, prohibiting the appeal unless a circuit justice or judge issues a “certificate of appealability.” See AEDPA § 102 (to be codified at 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)). Second, the AEDPA amended the procedures governing collateral review of state convictions in federal court. See AED- PA §§ 101-106 (to be codified at 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241-2255). And finally, the AEDPA provided for expedited procedures governing federal habeas petitions in capital eases. See AEDPA § 107 (to be codified at 28 U.S.C. §§ 2261-2266).

Before reaching the merits of the instant case, consequently, we must consider the provisions of the AEDPA governing this appeal. First, it is incumbent upon this court to determine whether we have jurisdiction to entertain the appeal. Although neither party has challenged our jurisdiction, we are obliged to raise the issue of appellate jurisdiction sua sponte. 2

The AEDPA became effective April 24, 1996, five days after the CPC was issued. Under similar circumstances, we recently held that the COA requirement of the AED-PA does not apply to habeas applicants who obtained CPC’s prior to the statute’s effective date. See Brown v. Cain, 104 F.3d 744, 749 (5th Cir.1997). Accordingly, we have jurisdiction. 3

III.

The amended standards of review established in the AEDPA governing federal habeas petitions are procedural in nature and therefore apply immediately to all habeas petitions pending on the effective date of the AEDPA. See Drinkard v. Johnson, 97 F.3d 751, 764-66 (5th Cir.1996), cert. denied, — U.S.-, 117 S.Ct. 1114, 137 L.Ed.2d 315 (1997). Section 104(3) of the AEDPA, which amended the standard of review governing collateral federal review of state court convictions, provides as follows:

(d) An application for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of a person in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court shall not be granted with respect to any claim that was adjudicated on the merits in State court proceedings unless the adjudication of the claim—

(1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or

(2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding.

AEDPA § 104(3) (to be codified at 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)).

Whereas the second subsection specifies the standard of review governing questions of fact, the first specifies distinct standards of review governing questions of law and mixed questions of law and fact. Drinkard, 97 F.3d at 767-68. When reviewing a pure question of law, a federal court may grant habeas relief only if the state court decision was “contrary to” clearly established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court. In contrast, when reviewing mixed questions of law and fact, a federal court may grant habeas relief only if the state court decision “involved an unreasonable application of’ clearly established federal law, as announced by the Supreme Court. Id. 4

B.

Although we have held that the amended standard procedures of the AEDPA apply immediately to all pénding habeas petitions, we have also previously determined that the State of Texas has not yet qualified for the expedited procedures governing habeas corpus petitions in capital cases. See Mata v. Johnson, 99 F.3d 1261, 1267 (5th Cir.1996), vacated in part on other grounds, 105 F.3d 209 (5th Cir.1997). 5 Accordingly, we need not consider those procedures here.

IV.

Carter alleges that the state introduced the fraudulent testimony of an “imposter witness” at trial, thereby incriminating him and undermining the integrity of the verdict. To succeed on such a claim, Carter must establish three elements: first, that false testimony was presented at trial; second, that the prosecution had actual knowledge that the testimony was false; and third, that the testimony was material. May v. Collins, 955 F.2d 299, 315 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 504 U.S. 901, 112 S.Ct. 1925, 118 L.Ed.2d 533 (1992). Carter cannot satisfy this standard.

The sole evidence Carter offers to establish the first element is the affidavit of David Josza. Josza, who was identified as an eyewitness during the murder investigation, avers that he did not testify at Carter’s trial. Nevertheless, the trial transcript indicates that an individual identified as “David Josa” testified for the prosecution, offering substantially the same testimony as the statement given by Josza during the investigation. Therefore, Carter concludes that the witness who testified at trial must have been an imposter. Even if we assume, arguendo, that the testimony was fraudulent, the introduction of fraudulent testimony is insufficient by itself to entitle Carter to habeas relief. 6

The Fourteenth Amendment is implicated by the introduction of fraudulent or perjured testimony only if the prosecution has actual knowledge of the perjury. See, e.g., United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 103, 96 S.Ct. 2392, 2397, 49 L.Ed.2d 342 (1976); Napue v. Illinois, 360 U.S. 264, 269, 79 S.Ct. 1173, 1177, 3 L.Ed.2d 1217 (1959); accord Spence v. Johnson, 80 F.3d 989, 996 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 117 S.Ct. 519, 136 L.Ed.2d 407, and cert. denied, — U.S. -, 117 S.Ct. 519, 136 L.Ed.2d 407 (1996). We have consistently stated that this requirement imposes a strict burden of proof on a federal habeas petitioner. See, e.g., May, 955 F.2d at 315; Koch v. Puckett, 907 F.2d 524, 531 (5th Cir.1990). Carter cannot satisfy this burden.

Garter relies exclusively upon circumstance and inference, arguing that an “imposter witness” could not possibly testify at trial without the substantial complicity of the prosecution. To rebut this inference, the state introduced the affidavit of then-prosecutor Brian Rains, which the state court found to be credible, averring that he would not knowingly or intentionally present an imposter witness at trial. After weighing this competing evidence, the state court concluded there was no evidence that the state had knowingly or intentionally presented an “imposter witness” at trial.

We are obliged to honor this factual finding unless it constitutes an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the prior state court proceeding. See AEDPA § 104(3) (to be codified at 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(2)). The state court reasonably determined that Carter had not satisfied his burden to prove that the prosecution knowingly or intentionally presented perjured testimony at trial.

C.

Finally, both the state habeas court and the federal district court dismissed the perjury claim on the ground that the alleged perjury was not material to the outcome of the trial. For the perjury to be material, Carter must show that “there was any reasonable likelihood that the false testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury.” Agurs, 427 U.S. at 103, 96 S.Ct. at 2397; accord Johnson, 80 F.3d at 997; see also Kyles v. Whitley, 514 U.S. 419,-n. 7, 115 S.Ct. 1555, 1565 n. 7, 131 L.Ed.2d 490 (1995) (approving the materiality test of Agurs). Under the circumstances of this case, Carter cannot make such a showing.

Given that the star witness for the prosecution was Carter, whose confession was introduced into evidence, there is no reasonable likelihood that Josa’s allegedly false testimony affected the verdict. The prosecution did not rely upon Josa’s testimony to establish the essential elements of the offense, but merely to corroborate the confession. Moreover, the contested evidence was cumulative of other evidence introduced at trial, particularly Mallard’s testimony.

Carter has failed to establish that the prosecution knowingly and intentionally presented material false evidence to the jury. Therefore, the determination of the state court represented neither an unreasonable interpretation of the facts nor an unreasonable application of clearly established federal law.

V.

Carter contends that the district court erred by failing to conduct a nunc pro tunc evidentiary hearing to determine his competency to stand trial. We disagree.

The trial and conviction of a defendant while he is mentally incompetent constitute a denial of due process. See Cooper v. Oklahoma, — U.S. -, -, 116 S.Ct. 1373, 1376, 134 L.Ed.2d 498 (1996). The constitutional standard for competency to stand trial is whether the defendant “has sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding — and whether he has a rational as well as a factual understanding of the proceedings against him.” Dusky v. United States, 362 U.S. 402, 402, 80 S.Ct. 788, 789, 4 L.Ed.2d 824 (1960); accord Godinez v. Moran, 509 U.S. 389, 396, 113 S.Ct. 2680, 2685, 125 L.Ed.2d 321 (1993). Carter claims that he adduced sufficient evidence in the state courts to warrant a federal nunc pro tunc evidentiary hearing on the question of whether he was incompetent in fact. 7 .

A habeas petitioner is entitled to a nunc pro tunc evidentiary hearing for the purpose of proving that he was incompetent at the time of trial only “when he makes a showing by clear and convincing evidence to raise threshold doubt about his competency.” Lokos v. Capps, 625 F.2d 1258, 1261 (5th Cir.1980). In order for him to raise such doubt, he must present facts sufficient “to positively, unequivocally and clearly generate a real, substantial and legitimate doubt” concerning his mental capacity. United States v. Williams, 819 F.2d 605, 609 (5th Cir.1987), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 1017, 108 S.Ct. 726, 98 L.Ed.2d 675 (1988); Bruce v. Estelle, 483 F.2d 1031, 1043 (5th Cir.1973), subsequent opinion, 536 F.2d 1051, 1058-59 (5th Cir.1976), ce rt. denied, 429 U.S. 1053, 97 S.Ct. 767, 50 L.Ed.2d 770 (1977). This threshold burden of proof is “extremely heavy.” Johnson v. Estelle, 704 F.2d 232, 238 (5th Cir.1983), ce rt. denied, 465 U.S. 1009, 104 S.Ct. 1006, 79 L.Ed.2d 237 (1984); accord Williams, 819 F.2d at 609. “When federal habeas is sought on the ground that the defendant was in fact incompetent at the time of trial, the petitioner’s initial burden is substantial.” Enriquez v. Procunier, 752 F.2d 111, 114 (5th Cir.1984), cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1126, 105 S.Ct. 2658, 86 L.Ed.2d 274 (1985).

Both the state habeas court and the federal district court concluded that a nunc pro tunc evidentiary hearing was not required to decide whether Carter was incompetent at trial. Indeed, the state habeas court expressly concluded that Carter was competent: “The Court finds that the applicant’s testimony during the punishment stage of the trial shows, a factual, as well as rational understanding of the proceedings against him.” Moreover, the state habeas court entered the following conclusion: “The applicant fails to show that he was legally incompetent to stand trial, i.e., that he was unable to consult with counsel with a reasonable degree of rational understanding or that he lacked a factual, as well as rational, understanding of the proceedings against him.” These findings are more than adequate to justify the district court’s conclusion that “the state court found that there was no evidence that Petitioner was actually incompetent to stand trial.” 8

In federal habeas proceedings, factual determinations of the state courts are entitled to a presumption of correctness. See AED-PA § 104(3) (to be codified at 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1)). 9 The petitioner must rebut this presumption by clear and convincing evidence, and a federal court may not issue a writ unless the state decision was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence. See AEDPA § 104(3) (to be codified at 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(2)).

Furthermore, a competency determination is a factual finding, entitled to the presumption of correctness. 10 Therefore, the factual determination of the state habeas court, finding that Carter failed to establish he was legally incompetent to stand trial, must be afforded that presumption. 11

Given the combined weight of the presumption of correctness and the high burden of proof necessary to justify a nunc pro tunc evidentiary hearing on the question of competency, Carter has failed to demonstrate that the state habeas court erred in denying his allegation of incompetency. Carter relies primarily upon the affidavit of Dr. Dorothy Lewis, his board-certified psychiatrist, who concluded that a history of head injuries, mental retardation, and brain damage impaired his ability to make mature judgments, appreciate the consequences of his behavior, and reflect in advance on the appropriateness of his actions. Although neither the state habeas court nor the district court discussed this expert opinion, it does not overcome the presumption of correctness afforded the factual findings under § 2254(e)(1).

First, Lewis did not offer her opinion that Carter was unable to consult with his lawyers with a reasonable degree of rational understanding or was unable to command a rational or factual understanding of the proceedings against him — the minimum standard for a finding that he was incompetent. Therefore, it was not unreasonable for the state habeas court to find this expert testimony unpersuasive.

Furthermore, the state habeas court is entitled to find a defendant competent, despite the introduction of psychiatric testimony diagnosing the defendant as incompetent, without ordering an evidentiary hearing. See,' e.g., Maggio v. Fulford, 462 U.S. 111, 103 S.Ct. 2261, 76 L.Ed.2d 794 (1983). Therefore, we previously have found similar expert psychiatric testimony insufficient to satisfy the petitioner’s extremely heavy burden of proving a “real, substantial and legitimate doubt” concerning his competency, as required to warrant a nunc pro tunc eviden-tiary hearing. See, e.g., Williams, 819 F.2d at 607-09. Hence, the Lewis affidavit is not sufficient, without more, to establish the requisite “clear and convincing evidence” necessary to overcome the presumption of correctness, nor does it demonstrate the “real, substantial and legitimate doubt” necessary to warrant a nunc pro tunc evidentiary hearing on the question of competency.

To the contrary, the state habeas court expressly found that Carter’s testimony established that he possessed a rational and factual understanding of the proceedings against him. Such a conclusion by a state court, based upon a defendant’s testimony, is entitled to a presumption of correctness. See Holmes v. King, 709 F.2d 965, 968 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 984, 104 S.Ct. 428, 78 L.Ed.2d 362 (1983).

Finally, Carter corroborates his claim of ineompeteney with evidence of physical abuse and neglect and with anecdotal comments made by the prosecutor and defense counsel at trial. Nevertheless, the state habeas court found credible and persuasive the affidavits offered by Carter’s court-appointed trial counsel, who stated that they believed Carter was competent to stand trial and did not believe his prior head injuries had impaired his mental competency during the trial. These factual findings are entitled to the presumption of correctness, and the anecdotal evidence is insufficient to overcome this presumption by clear and convincing evidence.

VI.

Carter did not contest the voluntariness of his confession, and it was thus admitted into evidence without objection. Nevertheless, he now collaterally attacks the admissibility of the confession on the ground that it was involuntary. His claim is meritless.

Historically, a federal court entertaining a collateral challenge to the voluntariness of a confession was obliged to afford a presumption of correctness to state court findings of fact if fairly supported in the record but was authorized to exercise de novo review over the ultimate conclusion of whether, under the totality of the circumstances, the confession was “voluntary.” 12 With the advent of the AEDPA, however, this standard of review has been altered dramatically.

Although, as explained, we continue to afford a presumption of correctness to the factual determinations of the state courts, federal habeas courts are no longer authorized to exercise de novo review over the ultimate issue of voluntariness, a mixed question of law and fact. Instead, we are obliged to respect the judgment of the state court, provided it does not constitute an “unreasonable application” of clearly established federal law as determined by the Supreme Court. See AEDPA § 104(3) (to be codified at 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1)); see also Drinkard, 97 F.3d at 767-68 (construing the standard of review for mixed questions of law and fact under the AEDPA).

This new standard of review for mixed questions of law and fact demands considerable deference to the decisions of state courts, akin to the “clearly erroneous” standard. Mata, 99 F.3d at 1267. If reasonable jurists could disagree, the state court decision on a mixed question of law and fact is not “an unreasonable application of federal law,” and thus the decision is immune from federal habeas attack. Drinkard, 97 F.3d at 769. “In effect, a reasonable, good faith application of Supreme Court precedent will immunize the state court conviction from federal habeas reversal, even if federal courts later reject that view of the applicable precedent.” Mata, 99 F.3d at 1268.

Pursuant to Jackson v. Denno, 378 U.S. 368, 84 S.Ct. 1774, 12 L.Ed.2d 908 (1964), the trial court conducted a hearing on the voluntariness of the confession and entered factual findings pursuant to that hearing, concluding that the confession was freely and voluntarily made. Therefore, we must accept as conclusive the factual determination that the police offered Carter no improper inducements to obtain his confession, nor did they threaten him in order to coerce it. The determination of whether officers engaged in coercive tactics to elicit a confession is a question of fact, and the state court’s factual findings are entitled to deference if supported in the record. 13

Likewise, the state habeas court entered extensive factual findings concerning the vol-untariness of the confession, finding, inter alia, that Carter was timely advised of his Miranda rights; that he understood his rights, yet declined to request the presence of either an attorney or a family member while in custody; that he was offered no inducements to confess and suffered no threats or coercion to extract a confession while in custody; that he was mentally competent and cooperative at the time he made his confession; and that he acknowledged that his statement was made voluntarily. These factual findings are entitled to the presumption of correctness under AEDPA § 104(3).

To overcome the presumption, Carter must rebut these factual findings by clear and convincing evidence. Id. This he cannot do.

Carter sought to overcome the factual findings by raising charges of coercion, intimidation, and mental retardation in his federal habeas petition. The district court found, however, that his allegations of coercion and duress were conelusionary and were unsupported by the evidence adduced at trial or presented by affidavit, and likewise found that the allegation of mental retardation was without merit. This factual determination is adequately supported by the record. Therefore, we must accept as conclusive the state court factual determination that the challenged confession was given voluntarily, not as a product of coercion or intimidation.

Accepting these subsidiary facts as true, we must reach the ultimate question of whether the challenged confession was voluntary or constitutionally infirm. The state trial and habeas courts concluded that Carter’s confession was voluntary. Mindful that we must honor this determination unless it constitutes an “unreasonable application” of clearly established federal law, we conclude that Carter’s confession was voluntary.

Coercive police conduct is a necessary prerequisite to the conclusion that a confession was involuntary, and the defendant must establish a causal link between the coercive conduct and the confession. See Colorado v. Connelly, 479 U.S. 157, 163-67, 107 S.Ct. 515, 519-22, 93 L.Ed.2d 473 (1986). Although the defendant’s mental condition may be a significant factor in the voluntariness calculus, “this fact does not justify a conclusion that a defendant’s mental condition, by itself and apart from its relation to official coercion, should ever dispose of the inquiry into constitutional ‘voluntariness.’” Id. at 164, 107 S.Ct. at 520. 14 Consequently, in the absence of any evidence of official coercion, Carter has failed to establish that his confession was involuntary. See United States v. Raymer, 876 F.2d 383, 386 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 870, 110 S.Ct. 198, 107 L.Ed.2d 152 (1989).

The state trial and habeas courts did not err in concluding that, pursuant to Supreme Court precedent, Carter could not establish that his confession was involuntary. Therefore, there is no need for an evidentiary hearing on this question.

VII.

Carter raises a litany of ineffective assistance claims, urging that his court-appointed trial counsel were constitutionally defective at both the guilt and punishment stages of the trial. Carter is unable, however, to overcome the rigorous burden of proof required to demonstrate ineffective assistance.

A habeas petitioner alleging ineffective assistance of counsel must demonstrate both constitutionally deficient performance by counsel and actual prejudice as a result of such ineffective assistance. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 2064, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984); see also Motley v. Collins, 18 F.3d 1223, 1226 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 960, 115 S.Ct. 418, 130 L.Ed.2d 333 (1994) (summarizing the Washington standard of review). Failure to prove either deficient performance or actual prejudice is fatal to an ineffective assistance claim. Washington, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. at 2064.

To establish deficient performance, the petitioner must prove that the performance of counsel fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. Id. at 688, 104 S.Ct. at 2064-65. Therefore, courts may not fall prey to “the distorting effect of hindsight” but must be “highly deferential” to counsel’s performance. Id. at 689-90, 104 S.Ct. at 2065-66. Hence, there is a strong presumption that the performance “falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance.” Id. at 689, 104 S.Ct. at 2065. Carter has the burden to overcome this presumption.

Moreover, even if counsel’s performance was deficient, Carter must affirmatively demonstrate actual prejudice. To do so, he must establish that the attorneys’ errors were so deficient as to render the verdict fundamentally unfair or unreliable. See Lockhart v. Fretwell, 506 U.S. 364, 369, 113 S.Ct. 838, 842-43, 122 L.Ed.2d 180 (1993); Washington, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. at 2064. In evaluating claims of ineffective assistance during the guilt stage of the trial, the petitioner must show a “reasonable probability” that the jury would have otherwise harbored a reasonable doubt concerning guilt. Regarding the sentencing phase, the petitioner must establish a “reasonable probability” that the jury would not have imposed the death sentence in the absence of errors by counsel. Id. at 695, 104 S.Ct. at 2068. “A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id. at 694, 104 S.Ct. at 2068.

For purposes of federal habeas review, state court findings of fact made in the course of deciding an ineffectiveness claim are entitled to a presumption of correctness. See AEDPA § 104(3) (to be codified at 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1)); see also Washington, 466 U.S. at 698, 104 S.Ct. at 2070 (noting that findings of fact are afforded deference); Motley, 18 F.3d at 1226 (same). Unless Carter rebuts them by clear and convincing evidence, therefore, we are required to accept, as conclusive, both the factual findings and the credibility choices of the state courts. See Carter v. Collins, 918 F.2d 1198, 1202 (5th Cir.1990).

The ultimate determination whether counsel was constitutionally ineffective is a mixed question of law and fact that federal habeas courts have traditionally reviewed de novo. See, e.g., Salazar v. Johnson, 96 F.3d 789, 791 (5th Cir.1996); United States v. Faubion, 19 F.3d 226, 228 (5th Cir.1994). Pursuant to the amended standards of review codified in the AEDPA, however, federal ha-beas courts must now honor the conclusions of state courts regarding the constitutional effectiveness of counsel, unless such determinations constitute an “unreasonable application” of established federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court. See AEDPA § 104(3); see also Moore v. Johnson, 101 F.3d 1069, 1075-76 (5th Cir.1996) (holding that ineffective assistance claims are reviewed under the “unreasonable application” standard).

1.

Carter avers that his trial counsel were ineffective because they failed to challenge his competency to stand trial. The state habeas court, however, accorded credibility to counsel’s affidavits averring that they had no reason to believe that Carter was mentally incompetent at the time of trial. Furthermore, the state habeas court found there was insufficient evidence to conclude that Carter was mentally incompetent at the time of trial.

These findings of fact and credibility determinations are entitled to a presumption of correctness, and Carter has not introduced the'requisite clear and convincing evidence to prove that they are erroneous. Therefore, because the factual determination that Carter was competent to stand trial is conclusive and binding on us, it necessarily follows that his trial counsel were not constitutionally in effective in their failure to contest the competency of the defendant to stand trial. “There can be no deficiency in failing to request a competency hearing where there is no evidence of incompetency.” McCoy v. Lynaugh, 874 F.2d 954, 964 (5th Cir.1989).

2.

Carter alleges that his counsel might have exposed the alleged “imposter witness” if they had interviewed David Josza prior to trial. Carter did not raise this argument explicitly in the district court, but argues that it is subsumed within his argument that counsel were ineffective in failing to interview government witnesses and adequately prepare for trial. This vague allegation was not sufficient to place the district court on notice of the claim that Carter now urges, however, and thus the claim is deemed abandoned. See Nichols v. Scott, 69 F.3d 1255, 1285 (5th Cir.1995), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 116 S.Ct. 2559, 135 L.Ed.2d 1076 (1996); United States v. Smith, 915 F.2d 959, 964 (5th Cir.1990).

Furthermore, Carter’s argument that his trial counsel “might” have exposed the alleged “imposter witness” is pure speculation, insufficient to overcome the strong presumption of competency and the high burden of actual prejudice required to prove ineffective assistance of counsel. Indeed, given that the contested testimony was merely cumulative and immaterial to the outcome of the trial, 15 we cannot conclude that there is a reasonable probability that the jury would have harbored a reasonable doubt about guilt, even if the alleged “imposter witness” had been “exposed” by trial counsel. The voluntary confession precluded any such reasonable doubt, so Carter is entitled to no relief on this claim.

3.

Carter alleges that his trial counsel were ineffective in failing to challenge the admissibility of his confession. But, as we noted previously, the state habeas court accorded credibility to counsel’s affidavits finding that they were justified in their conclusion that the confession had been given voluntarily and that there were no grounds to object to admissibility. Moreover, both the state trial court and the state habeas court found that Carter’s confession was given voluntarily. The presumption of correctness attaches to these factual findings and credibility determinations, and Carter cannot overcome it. At a minimum, we cannot conclude that the performance of counsel was “objectively unreasonable.” See Washington, 466 U.S. at 688, 104 S.Ct. at 2064-65. Therefore, counsel did not render ineffective assistance of counsel by failing to object, when objection would have been futile.

4.

Carter claims that his trial counsel were defective in their presentation of the “accidental death” defense, whereby they argued that Carter had not actually intended to kill Reyes but had accidentally discharged the weapon during a brief struggle at the cash register. First, Carter contends that his counsel denigrated the “accidental death” defense during their closing arguments. Furthermore, he argues that his counsel were deficient for failing to propose a jury instruction on the question of accident. These allegations were not adequately presented to the district court, however, and they are deemed waived. See Nichols, 69 F.3d at 1285; Smith, 915 F.2d at 964.

5.

Carter claims that his defense counsel were deficient in failing adequately to investigate the facts of the case and Carter’s background, claiming that such an investigation would have produced numerous character witnesses who would have testified during the punishment stage of the trial, as well as expert testimony concerning Carter’s mental incapacity. Therefore, Carter contends, the deficient performance of counsel deprived him of mitigating evidence that would have significantly influenced the jury’s decision whether to impose the death penalty. The state habeas court found, however, that the testimony of such character witnesses would have been cumulative and would not have been sufficient to change the verdict. We have no reason to question this conclusion.

Given his confession to the crime of murder, we can hardly conclude that the testimony of character witnesses to his reputation as a “good and peaceful person” would have sufficiently impressed the jury to avoid the sentence of death. Consequently, the conclusion of the state habeas court that Carter failed to demonstrate prejudice resulting from the absence of such character witnesses did not constitute an unreasonable application of the clearly established federal law governing ineffective assistance claims, and it is entitled to deference by this court.

As to the allegation that defense counsel were deficient in their failure adequately to investigate mental capacity and to secure expert witnesses who would offer mitigating evidence at the punishment stage, that claim is foreclosed by the factual conclusion that defense counsel were justified in believing that Carter was mentally competent at the time of trial. 16 Furthermore, the state habeas court found that there was insufficient evidence to warrant the conclusion that Carter was incompetent in fact at the time of trial, necessarily foreclosing any claim of ineffective assistance predicated on the failure to investigate such alleged incompetency. See McCoy, 874 F.2d at 964.

The duty of trial counsel to investigate is tempered by the information provided to counsel by the defendant. When the defendant has given counsel reason to believe that certain investigations would be fruitless or harmful, as in this case, the failure to pursue such investigations may not later be challenged as unreasonable. “In any ineffectiveness ease, a particular decision not to investigate must be directly assessed for reasonableness in all the circumstances, applying a heavy measure of deference to counsel’s judgments.” Washington, 466 U.S. at 691, 104 S.Ct. at 2066. Given that the state courts have concluded that Carter was mentally competent at the time of trial, it necessarily follows that the failure to investigate his mental competency in preparation for trial, or to elicit expert testimony concerning his mental state during the punishment phase of trial, was not ineffective assistance of counsel.

6.

Carter argues that his defense counsel were defective in failing to object to the admissibility of his confession to the murder of R.B. Scott, an extraneous offense that was introduced by the prosecution during the punishment stage of trial to justify the imposition of the death penalty. Carter claims that there was insufficient evidence to corroborate this confession and insists that it would have been excluded from the jury on a proper objection. Carter concedes, however, that he did not raise this issue in the district court. Therefore, it is deemed waived. See Nichols, 69 F.3d at 1285; Smith, 915 F.2d at 964. 17

7.

Carter claims that his trial counsel were deficient in failing to instruct the jury that “deliberate” conduct requires proof of something more than “intentional” conduct under Texas law. 18 Carter failed to raise this issue before the district court, however, thereby abandoning it. See Nichols, 69 F.3d at 1285; Smith, 915 F.2d at 964.

8.

Finally, Carter charges that defense counsel demonstrated a personal antipathy toward him during their closing arguments in the punishment phase of the trial, thereby prejudicing the jury against him. 19 The state habeas court, however, summarized in great detail counsel’s closing arguments, noting that counsel pleaded for mercy and compassion, summarized the arguments against the death penalty, and urged the jury to sentence Carter to life imprisonment rather than death. Therefore, defense counsel did not abdicate their role as advocates, and the state habeas court concluded that their closing arguments did not transgress the “objective standard of reasonableness.” Washington, 466 U.S. at 688, 104 S.Ct. at 2064. Having reviewed the record, we agree.

In considering whether counsel’s closing argument was ineffective, we consider the closing statements in their entirety. Teague v. Scott, 60 F.3d 1167, 1173 (5th Cir.1995). Furthermore, counsel may make strategic decisions to acknowledge the defendant’s culpability and may even concede that the jury would be justified in imposing the death penalty, in order to establish credibility with the jury. 20 Although, at the penalty phase, Carter’s attorneys acknowledged his culpability and the need for punishment, they also pleaded for mercy and urged the jury to sentence him to life imprisonment rather than death. Consequently, the argument fell within “the wide range of reasonable professional assistance,” id. at 689, and did not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel.

VIII.

Carter argues that execution of his death sentence, over fourteen years after his conviction, would violate the Eighth Amendment. We have previously held, however, that such a delay does not offend the Constitution. 21 Therefore, the district court did not err by refusing to issue the writ of habeas corpus.

IX.

Concluding that the district court correctly refused to issue the writ of habeas corpus, we AFFIRM the judgment and VACATE the stay of execution.

1 . The first opinion of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in this case summarizes the facts at length. See Carter v. State, 717 S.W.2d 60, 62-66 (Tex.Crim.App.1986), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 970, 108 S.Ct. 467, 98 L.Ed.2d 407 (1987).

2 . See, e.g., United States v. Brewer, 60 F.3d 1142, 1143 (5th Cir.1995); Pemberton v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 996 F.2d 789, 791 (5th Cir.1993).

3 . See also Else v. Johnson, 104 F.3d 82, (5th Cir.1997) (holding that a CPC may be treated as a COA for purposes of appeal).

4 . The “unreasonable application” standard requires more than a mere disagreement with the decision of the state court, which would amount to the functional equivalent of de novo review. Therefore, "an application of law to facts is unreasonable only when it can be said that reasonable jurists considering the question would be of one view that the state court ruling was incorrect. In other words, we can grant habeas relief only if a state court decision is so clearly incorrect that it would not be debatable among reasonable jurists.” Drinkard, 97 F.3d at 769. Subsequently, we have characterized this standard as "a somewhat hybrid standard of review that is probably most closely akin to the traditional 'clearly erroneous’ standard than to any other established standard of review.” Mata, 99 F.3d at 1267.

5 . See also AEDPA § 107(a) (establishing special habeas procedures in capital cases).

6 . Concluding that it was impossible to verify the identity of the challenged witness ten years after the fact, neither the state habeas court nor the federal district court found that David Josza did actually testify at trial. Because we hold that Carter failed to establish either knowledge or prejudice, however, we need not determine whether the contested testimony indeed was fraudulent.

7 . The issue of competency may arise in two distinct contexts. See United States v. Williams, 819 F.2d 605, 607-09 (5th Cir.1987), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 1017, 108 S.Ct. 726, 98 L.Ed.2d 675 (1988); Lokos v. Capps, 625 F.2d 1258, 1261-62 (5th Cir.1980). We must distinguish between them for purposes of the present case.

First, a habeas petitioner may allege that state procedures were inadequate to ensure that he was competent to stand trial. A trial court must conduct an inquiry into the defendant's mental capacity sua sponte if the evidence raises a bona fide doubt as to competency. Pate v. Robinson, 383 U.S. 375, 86 S.Ct. 836, 15 L.Ed.2d 815 (1966). If the trial court receives evidence, viewed objectively, that should raise a reasonable doubt as to the defendant’s competency, yet fails to make further inquiry, this constitutes a denial of a fair trial. See Lokos, 625 F.2d at 1261.

If a Pate violation is established, the federal habeas court must next consider whether a meaningful hearing can be held nunc pro tunc to determine retrospectively the petitioner's competency as of the time of trial. Id. at 1262. If so, the petitioner bears the burden of proving his incompetence by a preponderance of the evidence; if not, the habeas writ must issue, subject to retrial at the state's discretion. Id. This Pate procedural guarantee is not before the court in the present case, having been expressly abandoned by Carter on appeal.

Second, a habeas petitioner may collaterally attack his state conviction by directly alleging incompetence at the time of trial, thereby claiming a violation of the substantive right not to be tried and convicted while incompetent, rather than of the procedural guarantee of a competency hearing in the event that a bona fide doubt arises at trial as to competency:

It is always open for the defendant to later assert his actual incompetence at trial in a subsequent collateral proceeding, but the substantive claim should not be confused with a defendant’s procedural rights trader Pate to a hearing whenever a bona fide doubt as to competence surfaces at trial.

Reese v. Wainwright, 600 F.2d 1085, 1093 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 983, 100 S.Ct. 487, 62 L.Ed.2d 410 (1979).

Although Carter originally claimed both that the state trial court violated his due process rights by failing to conduct an evidentiary hearing on his competency to stand trial sua sponte, and that the federal district court should conduct a nunc pro tunc evidentiary hearing to determine his competency at the time of trial, Carter has abandoned the former claim on appeal. Therefore, the issue before us is restricted to the question of whether the district court erred by failing to conduct a nunc pro tunc evidentiary hearing on the question of competency at the time of trial.

8 .Carter claims that the state habeas court entered findings of fact and conclusions of law exclusively on the procedural Pate claim, not the substantive incompetency claim, thereby forfeiting the presumption of correctness afforded state court factual findings under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1) for the latter claim. Although the findings of fact are not exhaustive, it is significant that the findings entered by the state habeas court are not limited to the narrow question of whether a bona fide doubt existed at trial concerning Carter’s competency, but also support the conclusion that he was "competent in fact" at the time of trial.

9 . Compare 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) (1988) (providing the prior version of the presumption of correctness in federal habeas jurisprudence).

10 . See Maggio v. Fulford, 462 U.S. 111, 117, 103 S.Ct. 2261, 2264, 76 L.Ed.2d 794 (1983) (assuming that competency is a factual determination entitled to the presumption of correctness); see also Miller v. Fenton, 474 U.S. 104, 113, 106 S.Ct. 445, 451, 88 L.Ed.2d 405 (1985) (citing Maggio for the proposition that competency is a question of fact entitled to the presumption of correctness); Flugence v. Butler, 848 F.2d 77, 79 (5th Cir.1988) (same); Williams, 819 F.2d at 607-08 (same).

11 . The mere fact that the state court dismissed the habeas petition on the basis of affidavits, without granting an evidentiary hearing, does not disturb the presumption of correctness under § 2254(e)(1). We have consistently recognized that a state court need not hold an evidentiary hearing to be entitled to the presumption of correctness; to the contrary, findings of fact based exclusively on affidavits are generally sufficient to warrant the presumption. See May v. Collins, 955 F.2d 299, 309-15 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 504 U.S. 901, 112 S.Ct. 1925, 118 L.Ed.2d 533 (1992); see also Sawyers v. Collins, 986 F.2d 1493, 1504-05 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 508 U.S. 933, 113 S.Ct. 2405, 124 L.Ed.2d 300 (1993) (affording a presumption of correctness to factual findings rendered solely on the basis of affidavits); Carter v. Collins, 918 F.2d 1198, 1202 (5th Cir.1990) (same); Buxton v. Lynaugh, 879 F.2d 140, 143-47 (5th Cir.1989), cert. denied, 497 U.S. 1032, 110 S.Ct. 3295, 111 L.Ed.2d 803 (1990) (same).

Furthermore, although our prior decisions have characteristically involved cases in which the state habeas judge was the same judge who presided at trial, see, e.g., May, 955 F.2d at 314; Buxton, 879 F.2d at 146, we have never held that this is a prerequisite to according the presumption of correctness to factual findings based solely on affidavits. To the contrary, we have recognized that “it is necessary to examine in each case whether a paper hearing is appropriate to the resolution of the factual disputes underlying the petitioner’s claim.” May, 955 F.2d at 312. In the instant case, we are satisfied that the facts were adequately developed in the record and the affidavits, and the state habeas court was entitled to render a factual determination based solely on the affidavits.

12 . Thompson v. Keohane, - U.S. -, -, 116 S.Ct. 457, 465, 133 L.Ed.2d 383 (1995); Miller v. Fenton, 474 U.S. 104, 110-18, 106 S.Ct. 445, 449-54, 88 L.Ed.2d 405 (1985); accord West v. Johnson, 92 F.3d 1385, 1402-03 (5th Cir.1996), petition for cert. filed (U.S. Dec. 23, 1996) (No. 96-7332).

13 . Pemberton v. Collins, 991 F.2d 1218, 1225 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 1025, 114 S.Ct. 637, 126 L.Ed.2d 596 (1993); Self v. Collins, 973 F.2d 1198, 1204 (5th Cir.1992), cert. denied, 507 U.S. 996, 113 S.Ct. 1613, 123 L.Ed.2d 173 (1993); see also Miller, 474 U.S. at 112, 106 S.Ct. at 450-51 (noting that subsidiary questions such as whether the police engaged in coercive tactics are afforded the presumption of correctness); Hawkins v. Lynaugh, 844 F.2d 1132, 1137 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 900, 109 S.Ct. 247, 102 L.Ed.2d 236 (1988) (same).

14 . Consequently, Carter's allegations concerning his state of mind at the time of the confession are unavailing, for "while mental condition is surely relevant to an individual's susceptibility to police coercion, mere examination of the confessant’s state of mind can never conclude the due process inquiry.” Connelly, 479 U.S. at 165, 107 S.Ct. at 521; see also Raymer, 876 F.2d at 386-87 (noting that mental condition does not render a confession involuntary in the absence of state coercion).

15 . See supra part IV.

16 . See Byrne v. Butler, 845 F.2d 501, 513 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 487 U.S. 1242, 108 S.Ct. 2918, 101 L.Ed.2d 949 (1988); accord Barnard v. Collins, 958 F.2d 634, 642 (5th Cir.1992), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 1057, 113 S.Ct. 990, 122 L.Ed.2d 142 (1993).

17 . Carter pleads for an exception to this rule, claiming that a miscarriage of justice will result from our refusal to reach the merits of his argument. This claim is meritless, however, given the absence of any colorable reason to question his factual guilt. The corroboration requirement serves the function of assuring that confessions represent a truthful representation of the facts, thereby confirming factual guilt. See Emery v. State, 881 S.W.2d 702, 705 (Tex.Crim.App.1994), cert. denied, -U.S. -, 115 S.Ct. 1257, 131 L.Ed.2d 137 (1995). Carter has suggested no reason to question the truth of his statement, nor does he deny his factual guilt of Scott's murder.

18 . See, e.g., Motley v. State, 773 S.W.2d 283, 289 (Tex.Crim.App.1989); Heckert v. State, 612 S.W.2d 549, 552-53 (Tex.Crim.App.1981); see also Earvin v. Lynaugh, 860 F.2d 623, 627 (5th Cir.1988), cert. denied, 489 U.S. 1091, 109 S.Ct. 1558, 103 L.Ed.2d 861 (1989) (“It is clear that something more than intentional conduct must be found at the punishment phase of the trial on the issue of 'deliberateness.' ").

19 . For example, defense counsel implied that Carter might have committed other criminal acts, questioned whether he could — and should— live in society, wondered aloud whether death was a greater punishment than life imprisonment, and conceded that the jury could sentence Carter to death with a clear conscience.

20 . See Kirkpatrick v. Butler, 870 F.2d 276, 284-85 (5th Cir.1989), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 1051, 110 S.Ct. 854, 107 L.Ed.2d 848 (1990); see also Washington, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S.Ct. at 2065 (strong presumption that the strategic decisions of counsel are not ineffective).

21 . See Lackey v. Johnson, 83 F.3d 116, 117 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, -U.S. -, 117 S.Ct. 276, 136 L.Ed.2d 198 (1996); White v. Johnson, 79 F.3d 432, 437-40 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 117 S.Ct. 275, 136 L.Ed.2d 198 (1996); Lackey v. Scott, 52 F.3d 98 (5th Cir.), cert. dismissed, - U.S. -, 115 S.Ct. 1818, 131 L.Ed.2d 741 (1995). Likewise, every other court to address the question thus far has ruled against the petitioners. See, e.g., Stafford v. Ward, 59 F.3d 1025 (10th Cir.), cert. denied,-U.S.-, 115 S.Ct. 2640, 132 L.Ed.2d 896 (1995); Turner v. Jabe, 58 F.3d 924 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, - U.S. -, 115 S.Ct. 2019, 131 L.Ed.2d 1017 (1995); McKenzie v. Day, 57 F.3d 1461 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, -U.S. -, 115 S.Ct. 1840, 131 L.Ed.2d 846 (1995).