Having considered this habeas corpus petition on the merits (we thus deny the State’s motion to dismiss based on petitioner’s failure to timely file a brief after directed to do so), we affirm the trial court’s denial of relief because the grounds asserted herein could have and should have been raised on direct appeal. See *777Bryan v. Dugger, 641 So.2d 61 (Fla. 1994); Gray v. Wainwright, 442 So.2d 312 (Fla. 1st DCA 1983).

AFFIRMED.