Opinion ID: 2456497
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Review of the Motion for Postconviction Relief

Text: On appeal from the denial of his 29.15 motion, defendant raises numerous complaints of allegedly ineffective assistance of counsel, but many of the contentions were not presented in a timely motion pursuant to the rule. Defendant filed his first motion pro se and the Public Defender was appointed to represent him on November 29, 1988; defendant then had a maximum of sixty days to file an amended motion. Rule 29.15(f). The amended motion was not filed until April 14, 1989, therefore points not brought in the original motion were not properly raised. Sloan v. State, 779 S.W.2d 580, 581 (Mo. banc 1989), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 110 S.Ct. 1537, 108 L.Ed.2d 776 (1990). However, we have considered these points ex gratia and find them meritless. In examining the various claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, we bear in mind the oft-repeated rule that for a claim to succeed, not only must counsel's performance be found deficient (below an objective standard of reasonableness), but the deficiency must so prejudice the defense that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 2064, 2068, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). Further, this Court's review of the trial court's denial of the 29.15 motion is limited to a determination whether the findings, conclusions and judgment of the motion court are clearly erroneous. Rule 29.15(j). In discussing the allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel preserved for review, we set forth each claim in italics with the disposition thereof following. Failure to obtain an independent ballistics test. The motion court found that two examinations had been performed and were consistent in determining that the projectile fragments taken from Trooper Harper's body were fired from defendant's rifle. Further, counsel decided an independent ballistics test would not have been helpful to defendant, and such trial strategy decisions do not bespeak ineffective assistance of counsel. The finding of the trial court is not clearly erroneous. See State v. Oxford, 791 S.W.2d 396, 401 n. 2 (Mo. banc 1990). Failure to introduce evidence of his propensity to peaceably surrender when arrested. The motion court's findings that defendant made a practice of attempting to outrun law officers and that counsel was not ineffective for failing to emphasize defendant's criminal activities are not clearly erroneous. Failure to show that the camouflaged pants found by law enforcement officers, but not introduced into evidence, did not fit defendant. The motion court's finding that defendant failed to demonstrate that the pants would not fit is not clearly erroneous, for the prosecutor testified at the hearing that the pants were one size fits all. Failure to fully consult defendant in changing venue to Clay County. The motion court found counsel wisely made a trial strategy decision which will not be second-guessed. Counsel was certainly better equipped than defendant to make such a decision, which worked to defendant's advantage rather than to his prejudice. Failure to impeach the state's eyewitnesses regarding their ability to perceive and opportunity to observe. The motion court found the following: Mr. Gaither challenged eyewitness testimony appropriately. Eyewitnesses were questioned and reports were reviewed by counsel. Review of the transcript and observations of eyewitness testimony at the hearing shows that trial counsel was in no way ineffective in his performance in this regard. We have reviewed the transcript and determine that the motion court's conclusion was not clearly erroneous. Failure to call or thoroughly examine certain witnesses during the guilt phase. Counsel's decision not to call Carolyn Hawkins, a witness to the shooting who knew defendant, was a question of trial strategy, for she could not identify the assailant. As to Jan Bean, whom defendant alleges would have testified that defendant was going to voluntarily turn himself in, the evidence refutes the claim. The same is true of Nusse, Wolfe and Bills, whom defendant claims would have testified about his attempt to turn himself in, for the testimony of these witnesses at the hearing refutes his contention. Freddie Hensley was a friend of defendant's who claimed she was at the crime scene and saw a truck similar to defendant's but not his, and driven by a man who resembled defendant but it was not he. Defense counsel personally drove by the residence of the alleged double, and finding that the truck at that place had a green door, decided not to call Hensley. The motion court noted that evidence which can have no other effect other than to cast a bare suspicion on another, or to raise a conjectural inference as to the commission of the crime by another is not admissible. State v. LaRette, 648 S.W.2d 96, 103 (Mo. banc 1983); cert. denied, 464 U.S. 908, 104 S.Ct. 262, 78 L.Ed.2d 246 (1983). The motion court added that Hensley testified in the penalty phase, and concluded that [b]ased upon observation of this witness, no deviation from competent representation is shown by failure to call this witness in the guilt-innocence phase of the trial. The motion court's ruling is not clearly erroneous. [6] Failure to call certain witnesses during the penalty phase. Only defendant's claims as to McManis, Sanders, Clift and Henry were properly presented. Though these witnesses could have presented some favorable testimony as to defendant's character, McManis and Sanders could also have presented evidence unfavorable to defendant, and defendant fails to show how additional testimony from these witnesses could have created a reasonable probability that the outcome would have been different. Ineffective assistance of 29.15 counsel. This claim is beyond the scope of the 29.15 proceeding. Sloan v. State, 779 S.W.2d at 583.