Case Name: Zachariah J. PETERSON, Appellant, v. STATE of Missouri, Respondent
Court: Missouri Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Decision Date: 2017-02-07
Citations: 516 S.W.3d 838
Docket Number: WD 79397
Parties: Zachariah J. PETERSON, Appellant, v. STATE of Missouri, Respondent.
Judges: Before Division Three: Karen King Mitchell, Presiding Judge, Victor C. Howard, Judge and Gary D. Witt, Judge
Reporter: South Western Reporter Third Series
Volume: 516
Pages: 838–839

Head Matter:
Zachariah J. PETERSON, Appellant, v. STATE of Missouri, Respondent.
WD 79397
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District.
Order filed: February 7, 2017
Motion for Rehearing and/or Transfer to Supreme Court Denied March 28, 2017.
Application for Transfer Denied May 30, 2017
Zachariah J. Peterson, Appellant Pro-se
Daniel N. McPherson, for Respondent
Before Division Three: Karen King Mitchell, Presiding Judge, Victor C. Howard, Judge and Gary D. Witt, Judge

Opinion:
ORDER
PER CURIAM:
Zachariah Peterson appeals the judgment of the motion court denying his Rule 29.15 motion for postconvietion relief following an evidentiary hearing. Peterson sought to vacate his conviction and sentence for felony murder in the second degree, section 565.021, RSMo 2000. He claims that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the felony murder verdict director based on the omission of the element of causation and the failure to relate the death to the underlying felony. He also claims that appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise a claim of plain error that the verdict director for felony murder was improper for the same reasons. Because a published opinion would have no precedential value, a memorandum has been provided to the parties. The judgment is affirmed. Rule 84.16(b).