Case Name: Ralph L. WILLIS, Appellant, v. STATE of Missouri, Respondent
Court: Missouri Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Decision Date: 2015-06-16
Citations: 463 S.W.3d 831
Docket Number: WD 77438
Parties: Ralph L. WILLIS, Appellant, v. STATE of Missouri, Respondent.
Judges: Before Division Four: Alok Ahuja, C.J., and Joseph M. Ellis and Anthony Rex Gabbert, JJ.
Reporter: South Western Reporter Third Series
Volume: 463
Pages: 831–831

Head Matter:
Ralph L. WILLIS, Appellant, v. STATE of Missouri, Respondent.
WD 77438
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District.
FILED: June 16, 2015
Susan L. Hogan, KCMO for appellant.
Mary H. Moore, Jefferson City for respondent.
Before Division Four: Alok Ahuja, C.J., and Joseph M. Ellis and Anthony Rex Gabbert, JJ.

Opinion:
ORDER
PER CURIAM:
Following a jury trial, Ralph Willis was convicted in 2010 in the Circuit Court of Jackson County of second-degree (felony) murder, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and child abuse. The charges stemmed from the death of a six-month-old infant in his care. Willis filed a motion for post-conviction relief under Supreme Court Rule 29.15. The motion alleged that Willis' trial counsel was ineffective for withdrawing a motion in limine, which had sought to exclude evidence that the deceased infant had experienced previous injuries. The circuit court denied Willis' motion following an evidentiary hearing. We affirm. Because a published opinion would have no precedential value, an unpublished memorandum setting forth the reasons for this order has been provided to the parties. Rule 84.16(b).