Case ID: sw2d_591/html/0144-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "CRIST, Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Herbert Lee TROTTER, Movant, v. STATE of Missouri, Respondent.
    No. 41065.
    Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, Division Three.
    Oct. 30, 1979.
    Motion for Rehearing and/or Transfer to Supreme Court Denied Dec. 14, 1979.
    Application to Transfer Denied Jan. 15, 1980.
    Robert C. Babione, Public Defender, Blair K. Drazic, Asst. Public Defender, St. Louis, for movant.
    John Ashcroft, Atty. Gen., Paul Robert Otto, Asst. Atty. Gen., Jefferson City, George A. Peach, Circuit Atty., St. Louis, for respondent.
   CRIST, Judge.

Movant was convicted by a jury of second degree murder in violation of § 559.020, RSMol969. His conviction was affirmed on appeal. See State v. Trotter, 536 S.W.2d 877 (Mo.App.1976).

Subsequently movant filed a Rule 27.26 motion in which he challenged the effectiveness of his trial counsel. Specifically, movant complained that his trial counsel was the partner of another lawyer charged with the responsibility of representing mov-ant’s co-indictee and thus, avers movant, a conflict of interest arose which operated to prejudice his right to effective assistance of counsel. After an evidentiary hearing wherein both movant and his trial counsel testified, the circuit court concluded such was not the case.

The circuit court’s judgment is based upon findings of fact which are not clearly erroneous. No error of law appears and an opinion would have no precedential value. Accordingly, and in compliance with Rule 84.16(b), the judgment is affirmed.

DOWD, P. J., and REINHARD, J., concur.