State v. Holmes

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

STATE OF DELAWARE, )
)
)
v. ) Crim. Act. No. 1210019908
)
)
ERIC HOLMES )

Date Submitted: December 12, 2025
Date Decided: March 13, 2026

ORDER DENYING HOLMES’
MOTION FOR POSTCONVICTION RELIEF

1. Defendant Eric Holmes was found guilty after a jury trial of Possession

of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited. 1 The facts of his conviction have been found
0F

previously by this Court:

On October 27, 2012, [Holmes] was one of the occupants of a vehicle
that was the subject of a police stop in the 800 block of North Spruce
Street. A reliable confidential informant had advised Wilmington
Police that within that vehicle was a firearm. Upon arrival, police
located the vehicle which was occupied by Holmes, codefendant Oliver
Smith, and occupants Latisha Powell and Deoddrick Purnell. All
occupants were asked to exit the vehicle, all complied and were placed
in custody. A black Ruger “single six” .22 revolver was found in
Holmes’ waistband which was loaded with five .22 caliber Remington
rounds. Inside his left leg pant pocket was one clear bag containing six
Endocet pills and eight Alprazolam (Xanax) pills. A black Intratec 9
mm Leger Tec 9 was found in codefendant Smith’s waistband which

1
State v. Eric Holmes, Crim. I.D. No. 120019908, Docket Item (hereinafter “D.I.”)
45, 46.
was loaded with thirty 9 mm Lugar rounds with one in the chamber.
Occupants Powell and Purnell were questioned and released. 2 1F

2. At the time of sentencing, the State moved to declare Holmes a habitual

offender pursuant to 11 Del. C. § 4214. 3 Holmes was so declared, and sentenced as
2F

a habitual offender to sixteen (16) years at Level V, followed by decreasing levels

of supervision. 4 Holmes appealed his conviction, which was ultimately affirmed
3F

by the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware on January 29, 2015. 5 4F

3. Holmes moved for a sentence reduction on February 24, 2015, which

this Court denied on March 4, 2015. 65F

4. On February 27, 2015, Holmes moved for appointment of counsel for

purposes of moving for postconviction relief. 7 This request was granted and
6F

postconviction counsel was appointed. 8 In relation to the appointment of counsel,
7F

the Court Ordered trial counsel to provide the entirety of his file to postconviction

counsel and that other documents from the Court’s file and appropriate items of the

Investigative Services Office’s file be made available to postconviction counsel. 9
8F

2
State v. Holmes, 2016 WL 4413150, *1 (Del. Super. Aug. 17, 2016).
3
D.I. 45.
4
D.I. 45, 46.
5
Holmes v. State, 2015 WL 428071, at *1 (Del. Jan. 29, 2015).
6
D.I. 57, 59.
7
D.I. 56.
8
D.I. 67; State v. Holmes, 2015 WL 1197687, at *1 (Del. Super. Mar. 12, 2015).
9
D.I. 71.
5. On October 20, 2015, Holmes filed his first motion for postconviction

relief. 10 On January 27, 2016, counsel moved to withdraw his representation. 11
9F 10F

Holmes then moved to compel the State to produce certain discovery items

concerning the investigation of his case. 12 Specifically, Holmes requested: (1) “the
11F

statements of L. Powell and D. Purnell;” (2) DNA results; and (3) ballistic results. 13
12F

On August 17, 2016, this Court denied Holmes’ motion to compel discovery, noting

Holmes conceded that “all evidence subject to Rule 61 discovery was turned over

long ago…[and that] Holmes ha[d] failed to demonstrate a compelling reason for the

discovery of the requested evidence – even if the additional evidence exists.” 14
13F

6. Ultimately, postconviction counsel’s motion to withdraw was granted

and Holmes’ first postconviction motion was denied on December 15, 2016. 15 14F

Holmes appealed the denial, 16 which was later affirmed by the Delaware Supreme
15F

Court. 17 16F

10
D.I. 69. This initial filing was a “placeholder” motion. Thereafter, a full briefing
schedule was issued by the Court which provided for an amended counseled
postconviction motion to be filed. D.I. 70.
11
D.I. 73, 74.
12
D.I. 79, 82.
13
Holmes, 2016 WL 4413150, at *1.
14
Id. at *2.
15
D.I. 85; State v. Holmes, 2016 WL 7324098, at *9 (Del. Super. Dec. 15, 2016).
16
D.I. 86.
17
Holmes v. State, 2017 WL 3725065, at *2 (Del. Aug. 29, 2017). Holmes appeared
to only appeal certain aspects of the Superior Court’s decision, as noted in the
Supreme Court’s Order: “To the extent that Holmes raised other issues in the motion
he filed in the Superior Court, he has waived any right to further review of those
7. On June 1, 2018, Holmes petitioned for a Writ of Habeas Corpus. 18 17F

This Petition was denied on June 8, 2018. 19 Following, Holmes filed a string of
18F

letters to the Court, including various unsupported requests for information. 20 19F

8. On February 3, 2025, Holmes filed a “Motion to Vacate Sentence” 21 20F

pursuant to Erlinger v. United States. 22 That motion is pending, as it was stayed at
21F

the request of the State on April 23, 2025, pending the resolution of similar matters. 23 22F

9. On May 5, 2025, Holmes filed the instant motion for postconviction

relief, his second, 24 accompanied by a motion for appointment of counsel. 25 The
23F 24F

motion for appointment of counsel was denied on July 16, 2025. 26 Following that
25F

denial, a briefing schedule for the postconviction motion was issued. 27 Amendments
26F

to that schedule were made at Holmes’ request for additional time. 28 27F

claims on appeal by failing to argue them in his opening brief.” Id. at *1. This
waiver subsumes the denial of Holmes’ postconviction related discovery requests.
18
D.I. 90.
19
D.I. 95.
20
D.I. 96, 97, 99, 100, 101, 103, 104.
21
D.I. 105.
22
Erlinger v. United States, 602 U.S. 821 (2024).
23
D.I. 109.
24
D.I. 111.
25
D.I. 110.
26
D.I. 114.
27
D.I. 115.
28
D.I. 118, 119.
10. On October 28, 2025, Holmes filed a ”Motion to Compel Disclosure of

DNA Results and Complete Case File in Support of Pending Rule 61 Motion.” 29 In 28F

his motion, similar to his 2016 motion, Holmes requested: (1) DNA evidence, raw

data, laboratory notes, and chain of custody documentation associated with this case;

(2) the complete prosecution and defense case file, including all witness statements,

investigative reports, correspondence, notes, internal memoranda, and any other

exculpatory or impeaching materials. 30 That motion, along with Holmes’ related
29F

Motion to Stay proceedings pending the outcome of the Motion to Compel were both

denied on January 30, 2026. 31 30F

11. Pursuant to the briefing schedule, 32 the State filed its response in
31F

opposition to Holmes’ second postconviction motion on September 11, 2025. 33 On
32F

October 6, 2025, Holmes filed a Motion for Enlargement of Time, requesting an

extension of the original deadline to file his Reply. 34 This was motion was granted
33F

on October 10, 2025. 35 In accordance, Holmes’ Reply was due and filed on
34F

December 9, 2025. 36
35F

29
D.I. 120.
30
D.I 120.
31
D.I. 124.
32
D.I. 115.
33
D.I. 116.
34
D.I. 118.
35
Id.
36
D.I. 122. Holmes filed his Reply twice: one received by the Court on December
9, and an identical Reply was received on December 23, 2025. D.I. 123. The Court
12. In this second postconviction motion, Holmes raises one ground for

relief: that newly discovered evidence “of potential interactions between defense

witnesses and the Attorney General’s Office” exists that “constitutes material

information that should have been disclosed to the Defense.” 37 Holmes argues the
36F

potential interaction violated his due process rights in that he was “deprived of the

opportunity to (1) investigate potential biases or motivations of the witnesses, (2)

[a]djust defense strategies based on witnesses’ relationships with the Prosecution;

and (3) challenge the credibility of the witnesses through effective cross-

examination.” 38 Holmes contends that the newly discovered evidence constitutes a
37F

Brady v. Maryland 39 violation, that an evidentiary hearing should be held to “further
38F

investigate the extent of the interactions between the defense witnesses and the

Attorney General’s Office,” that his sentence should be vacated, and a new trial

should be granted “where the Defense has access to all material information,

ensuring a fair and just proceeding.” 40
9F

13. In opposition, the State argues that Holmes’ claim is procedurally

barred under Superior Court Criminal Rule 61 and, alternatively, is meritless. 41 The
40F

deems December 9th the date of submission, as both filings were identical and the
December 9 filing was timely.
37
D.I. 111.
38
Id.
39
373 U.S. 83 (1963).
40
D.I. 111.
41
D.I. 116.
State avers Holmes has failed to demonstrate a Brady violation for three reasons.

First, that Holmes’s contention that “the State did not provide him with discoverable

communications and agreements involving Latisha Purnell and Deoddrick Purnell”

is pure speculation and fails to demonstrate a Brady violation. Second, complete

discovery was provided to defense before trial and at trial, Latisha Purnell testified

for the defense. The State points out that Holmes previously moved to compel

production during his first postconviction proceeding, where he conceded that “all

evidence subject to Rule 61 discovery was turned over long ago.” 42 Third, the State
41F

argues Holmes has failed to demonstrate prejudice. 43 Finally, the State argues that
2F

the requested evidentiary hearing is not required, as the purported newly discovered

evidence would not have changed the outcome of Holmes’ case. 44 43F

14. Before addressing the merits of a postconviction motion, the Court

must apply the procedural bars of Superior Court Criminal Rule 61(i). 45 The finding
44F

of a procedural bar precludes a reviewing court from addressing the merits of a

postconviction claim, to “protect the procedural integrity” of the Court Rules. 46 A45F

motion for postconviction relief can be procedurally barred as untimely, repetitive,

42
D.I. 116.
43
D.I. 116.
44
D.I. 116.
45
Younger v. State, 580 A.2d 552, 554 (Del. 1990).
46
State v. Page, 2009 WL 1141738, at *13 (Del. Super. April 29, 2009).
failure to raise a claim in the proceedings leading to the judgment of conviction and

for being formerly adjudicated. 47
46F

15. Before applying the bars under Rule 61(i), however, Rule

61(d)(2) states that a second or subsequent motion for postconviction relief must be

summarily dismissed. The exception for summary dismissal is triggered if “the

movant was convicted after a trial and [], “(i) pleads with particularity that new

evidence exists that creates a strong inference that the movant is actually innocent

in fact of the acts underlying the charges of which he was convicted; or (ii) pleads

with particularity a claim that a new rule of constitutional law, made retroactive to

cases on collateral review by the United States Supreme Court or the Delaware

Supreme Court, applies to the movant's case and renders the conviction [] invalid.” 48
47F

This is Holmes’ second postconviction motion, thus Rule 61(d)(2) permits summary

dismissal. As will be further discussed below, Holmes has not presented evidence

that this purported “new evidence” creates a strong inference that he is actually

innocent of the charges. At most, Holmes presented evidence of a “possible” 49 48F

connection between two witnesses and the State. Therefore, Holmes’ motion is

summarily dismissed. Despite this summary dismissal, the remaining procedural

bars will be discussed, as well as the merits of his claim, for completeness.

47
Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(i)(1)-(4).
48
Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(2(d)(i) & (ii).
49
D.I. 111.
16. Superior Court Criminal Rule 61(i)(1) precludes review of a motion for

postconviction relief filed more than one year after the judgment of conviction is

final. 50 A defendant’s conviction is final thirty days after this Court imposes its
4 F

sentence, or when the Delaware Supreme Court issues a mandate or order where the

conviction was directly appealed. 51 As noted above, Holmes took a direct appeal to
50F

the Delaware Supreme Court, who affirmed his convictions on January 29, 2015.

The instant motion was filed almost a decade after his judgment of conviction

became final and is procedurally barred from review as untimely.

17. To escape this procedural bar, Holmes must allege a newly recognized

retroactively applicable right by either the United States Supreme Court or the

Delaware Supreme Court, and that his postconviction motion was filed within one

year of that recognition. 52 Holmes has alleged or established neither, therefore his
51F

second postconviction motion is barred as untimely.

18. Under Superior Court Criminal Rule 61(i)(2), a second or subsequent

postconviction motion is considered successive and barred. 53 Being this is Holmes’
52F

second motion for postconviction relief, Rule 61(i)(2) warrants dismissal unless

Holmes has pled with particularity, “a claim that a new rule of constitutional law

50
Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(i)(1).
51
Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(m)(1)-(2).
52
Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(i)(1).
53
Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(i)(2); Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(d)(2).
made retroactive to cases on collateral review by the United States Supreme Court

or the Delaware Supreme Court applies to the [defendant’s] case and renders the

conviction . . . invalid.” He has not done so here. Thus, his claim is barred from

review under Rule 61(i)(2).

19. Under Superior Court Criminal Rule 61(i)(3), claims “not asserted in

the proceedings leading to the judgment of conviction” are barred as procedurally

defaulted unless the defendant can show cause for relief and prejudice. 54 To 53F

establish cause and avoid this bar, Holmes must “demonstrate that an external

impediment prevented him from raising [his current claim] earlier.” 55 He has not
54F

done so. Had Holmes been able to substantiate his Brady claim, he could avoid this

bar by showing that favorable evidence exists that the State suppressed, and

articulate how the suppressed evidence would have been helpful to him. 56 Holmes
55F

cannot do so here because he cannot make out a substantiated Brady claim.

20. In order for Holmes to establish a Brady violation, he must show that

the evidence at issue is favorable to him, as either exculpatory or impeachment

evidence, that it was suppressed by the State either willfully or inadvertently and he

54
Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(i)(3).
55
Morrison v. State, 2022 WL 790507, at *6 (Del. 2002) (citing Younger, 580 A.2d
at 556).
56
See Ray v. State, 280 A.3d 627, 646 (Del. 2022) and Manuel v. State, 2021 WL
4347080, at *1 (Del. 2021).
suffered prejudice as a result. 57 Holmes’ Brady claim fails as he cannot establish a
56F

reasonable probability that had this supposed evidence been disclosed to the defense,

the result of the proceeding would have been different, such that the confidence in

the result of the trial is undermined. 58
57F

21. Holmes’ purported “evidence” is a notation in the Judicial Information

System in which witness names are listed for purposes of subpoena output, with a

designation indicating from which party the subpoena request represents. Holmes

has not mentioned how this designation indicates any specific conversations with

the Attorney General’s Office and these witnesses or whether there is any evidence

of agreements between the purported witness and the State. Holmes’ mere

speculation cannot establish a Brady violation. 59
58F

22. Further, Latisha Purnell was called by the defense at trial and provided

testimony that supported the defense theory at trial. From the record below, it

appears as if Purnell was cooperative with defense and provided favorable

testimony. Therefore, Holmes cannot show that this new purported information of

a “possible” connection to the State is favorable to him and either exculpatory or

proper impeachment evidence. Even if he could meet this standard, Holmes fails to

show a reasonable probability that previous knowledge of this information would

57
State v. Reyes, 155 A.3d 331, 354 (Del. 2017).
58
Id. At 345-355.
59
Brooks v. State, 2010 WL 2197622, at *1 (Del. June 2, 2010).
have resulted in a different verdict at trial. Therefore, Holmes cannot avoid the

procedural bar of Rule 61(i)(3).

23. Rule 61(i)(5) provides relief from, “[t]he [procedural] bars [] in

paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of [Rule 61(i)] [for] a claim that the court lacked

jurisdiction or to a claim that satisfies the pleading requirements of subparagraphs

(2)(i) or (2)(ii) of subdivision (d) of this rule.” 60 Holmes is not alleging the Court
9F

lacked jurisdiction, therefore the analysis turns to the exceptions laid out in Rule

61(d)(2)(i) and (ii). To meet the requirements of Rule 61(d)(2), Holmes must plead

with particularity (i) that new evidence exists that creates a strong inference that

Holmes actually is innocent of the charges of which he was convicted; or (ii) that a

new rule of constitutional law, made retroactive to cases on collateral review by the

United States Supreme Court or the Delaware Supreme Court applies to Holmes’

case and renders the conviction invalid.

24. As previously discussed, Holmes has not presented evidence that this

purported “new evidence” creates a strong inference that he is actually innocent of

the charges. Holmes’ conclusory allegation cannot overcome the procedural bars.

Nor does he raise a new rule of constitutional law, retroactively applied in this

motion. Therefore, his claim cannot be saved by Rule 61(i)(5).

60
Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(i)(5).
25. For all the reasons discussed within the procedural bars analysis,

Holmes’ claim is equally without merit. His allegation does not establish a Brady

violation, thus even if his claim was considered without the applicable procedural

bars, it fails.

Request for Evidentiary Hearing

26. In denying Holmes’ Motion for Postconviction relief, his request for an

evidentiary hearing becomes moot. Rule 61(g)(1) permits the Court to expand the

record to include additional materials relevant to the determination of the merits of

the motion. 61 Given that Holmes’ postconviction request is denied as procedurally
60F

barred, no additional materials are necessary.

27. Holmes requests an evidentiary hearing be held

“to further investigate the extent of the interactions between the defense witnesses

and the Attorney General’s Office, and their impact on the trial proceedings.” 62 61F

Under Superior Court Criminal Rule 61(h)(1) “after considering the motion for

postconviction relief, the state's response, the movant's reply, if any, the record of

prior proceedings in the case, and any added materials, the judge shall determine

whether an evidentiary hearing is desirable.” 63 62F However, “if it appears that

an evidentiary hearing is not desirable, the judge shall make such disposition of the

61
Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(g)(1).
62
D.I. 111.
63
Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(h)(1).
motion as justice dictates.” 64 In this case, this Court has already determined that
63F

Holmes has failed to demonstrate a compelling reason to justify additional discovery

or further review of evidence related to his case; no evidentiary hearing is necessary

or required in the interests of justice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

__________________________
Danielle J. Brennan, Judge

Original to Prothonotary

cc: Brian Arban, Deputy Attorney General
Brian Robertson, Deputy Attorney General
Eric Holmes, pro se, SBI# 00465822

64
Super. Ct. Crim. R. 61(h)(1).