Rastafari V. Anderson

Petitioner, Gamba Rastafari, a/k/a Gregory Rouster ("Rouster"), was convicted of two counts of felony murder in Indiana state court after a joint jury trial with two co-defendants. At the jury's recommendation, the trial judge sentenced Rouster to death. After exhausting his state remedies, Rouster filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the Northern District of Indiana. Rouster now appeals the denial of his habeas petition, alleging the following: 1) that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to move for severance prior to trial; 2) that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to move for severance prior to the penalty phase; and 3) that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to present expert testimony on self-defense. For the following reasons, we affirm.