Opinion ID: 2419836
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Madison's Decision to Testify

Text: Madison alleges that he was compelled to testify against his will because his attorney told the jury during voir dire that he would testify. He raised this issue in his Rule 29.15 motion and the trial court denied relief. The standard of review of this denial is whether the motion court's findings are clearly erroneous. Rule 29.15(k). As noted above, when the evidentiary hearing was held on Madison's 29.15 motion, Madison did not testify at the hearing or present any live testimony that could have established that his attorney acted contrary to his wishes. Although Madison alleges that he told his attorney he did not want to testify, evidence from the trial appears to indicate otherwise. Before Madison took the stand, his attorney stated to the court, I have told him that he doesn't have to testify; that we've put in an instruction that would tell the jury that they can't hold that against him; and he has decided to testify, but I have told him he didn't have to. He said he would. Counsel's actions are presumed to be a matter of trial strategy. State v. Tokar, 918 S.W.2d 753, 766, 768 (Mo.banc 1996). Without calling trial counsel to the stand in the evidentiary hearing, Madison did not overcome that presumption. The cases cited by Madison in support of his argument are all cases in which the prosecution told the jury the defendant would testify. He cites no cases where an attorney's conduct that allegedly compelled his client to testify resulted in post-conviction relief. Based on the record, the findings of the motion court are not clearly erroneous. For the reasons stated above, the judgments are affirmed. All concur.