Opinion ID: 2822793
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Mr. Strong’s Post-Conviction Proceedings

Text: In his post-conviction proceedings, Mr. Strong asserted that his trial counsel was ineffective for not adequately investigating and presenting all available mitigating factors during the penalty phase of his trial. Mr. Strong contended that trial counsel failed to adequately question two family members about his prior mental condition. Strong II, 263 S.W.3d at 652-53. Mr. Strong also contended that trial counsel was ineffective for not seeking an independent mental health examination for Mr. Strong and should have called experts such as Dr. Wanda Draper and Dr. Marilyn Hutchinson to prove that the murders were caused by his severe mental illness. Id. at 653. Notably, Mr. Strong did not contend that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to present a defense during the guilt phase of his trial that Mr. Strong was not criminally liable by reason of a mental disease or defect under section 552.030. In denying his claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, the motion court found trial counsel conducted a reasonable investigation of Mr. Strong’s family members. Id. Regarding his claim that trial counsel should have presented expert testimony of his mental condition, “the motion court found the testimony of Dr. Draper and Dr. Hutchinson to be that of ‘paid experts with a biased opinion,’ that their opinions were ‘limited’ and based on ‘one-sided information,’ and that ‘neither expert would have benefited or been helpful’ to Mr. Strong.” Strong II, 263 S.W.3d at 653 n.11. The motion court ultimately found that trial counsel was not ineffective for not attempting to present such expert testimony. Id. at 653. Significantly, Mr. Strong’s trial counsel had testified that counsel “believed that the best strategy was to show Mr. Strong was a good 6 man, able to do good things—not to blame Mr. Strong’s actions on a bad childhood” that “could appear to a jury as making excuses, which might alienate or offend a jury.” Id. The motion court found this trial strategy was valid. Id. On appeal, this Court affirmed the motion court’s judgment, finding that Mr. Strong did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel. Id.