Opinion ID: 1427943
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Courtroom Security as Witnesses

Text: At his Rule 29.15 hearing, Mr. Zink informed the motion court of his desire to dismiss three claims from his amended petition, including a claim addressing the issue that certain individuals served as courtroom security during the proceedings but also served as witnesses in the proceeding itself. The court discussed the ramifications of such a dismissal with Mr. Zink and questioned Mr. Zink to ensure he had sufficient time to discuss such dismissals with his attorneys. Mr. Zink stated that he had sufficient time to discuss the matter with his attorneys, understood the consequences of such a dismissal with prejudice, and still desired to dismiss three specific claims, including a claim regarding individuals serving both as courtroom security and as trial witnesses. Mr. Zink now asserts that he was incompetent to proceed at his Rule 29.15 hearing and, therefore, that the motion court should not have dismissed his claims and counsel was ineffective for allowing such dismissal despite Mr. Zink's explicit request that the claims be dismissed. A claim of ineffective assistance of post conviction counsel is categorically unreviewable. State v. Lyons, 129 S.W.3d 873, 874 (Mo. banc 2004).