Opinion ID: 2460227
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failing to Obtain an MRI

Text: Johnston claims his trial counsel was ineffective in failing to obtain and present to certain experts' objective evidence of his alleged brain damage. Johnston asserts that the motion court erred in not ordering Johnston transferred to a hospital for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test to determine the existence of any brain abnormalities as part of the Rule 29.15 proceeding. Before trial, standard neuropsychological and EEG testing was performed on Johnston; neither showed brain damage. Since the initial test for neurological abnormalities was normal, counsel was not ineffective for failing to obtain further, more detailed testing. Cf. State v. Mease, 842 S.W.2d 98, 114 (Mo. banc 1992), cert. denied, 508 U.S. 918, 113 S.Ct. 2363, 124 L.Ed.2d 269 (1993). Nor did the motion court err in not ordering an MRI, given the failure of the EEG and the standard neuropsychological testing to reveal any brain abnormalities. The point is denied.