Opinion ID: 1381947
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Post-Conviction Evidence

Text: Edwards then filed a Rule 29.15 motion. The motion court held an evidentiary hearing on several issues but denied relief. Edwards' mother, Mildred, testified at the Rule 29.15 hearing about Edwards' childhood. This testimony conflicted with Mildred's testimony during the penalty phase at trial, where she had stated that Edwards had a good relationship with his father. During the penalty phase, Mildred did not mention any problems with abuse or neglect in the home while Edwards was growing up. At the Rule 29.15 hearing, however, she testified that her husband, Emmrie, continually beat and abused her throughout the marriage. She testified that Emmrie did not show any interest in or affection for any of the children. When she was pregnant with Kimber, she did not receive prenatal care, was beaten by Emmrie, and had a high fever at one point during the pregnancy. When Kimber was a baby, he did not cry or respond normally. Mildred was hospitalized for depression when Kimber was a child. Mildred testified that Emmrie would wake the children up at night to beat them and that Kimber would not cry, run away, or complain. She testified that when Emmrie would beat her, Kimber would act like nothing was happening. Edwards' attorneys called his cousin, Tangalayer Mansaw, who did not testify at trial. Mansaw testified at the Rule 29.15 hearing that she was never contacted by Edwards' trial counsel or their investigator. Mansaw spent a lot of time at Edwards' house when she was a child and testified that she witnessed extensive domestic violence incidents between Edwards' parents. Both of Edwards' trial counsel testified that they had difficulty communicating with Edwards in preparation for trial. Edwards would focus on minute details that he wanted accomplished without seeing the big picture. When counsel would not do something he wanted, Edwards would not cooperate, would withhold information, and would threaten to tell his family not to talk to counsel. Edwards' counsel on direct appeal also testified that Edwards was difficult to communicate with. Edwards tried to have both his trial and post-conviction counsel removed because he was dissatisfied with their performance. In both instances, the court found that his counsel was adequate and refused to appoint new counsel.