Opinion ID: 2454387
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Lonnie Harnage Offer of Proof

Text: Storey finally contends that the motion court erred by denying his offer of testimony from a Georgia sheriff that Lonnie Harnage, Storey's father-in-law, had a reputation for violence and was left-handed. This testimony, Storey argues, supported the guilt-phase defense that someone other than Storey committed the murder, and thus should have been presented at trial. This argument fails. Storey's testimony at trial was that Tony Harnage (or someone who looked like him) committed the murder. Thus, testimony about Lonnie Harnage could not have helped the guilt-phase defense. Moreover, the motion court correctly concluded that the sheriff's testimony was not admissible at trial because it merely cast suspicion on another person, with no supporting evidence. See State v. Schaal, 806 S.W.2d 659, 669 (Mo. banc 1991), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 1075, 112 S.Ct. 976, 117 L.Ed.2d 140 (1992). Choosing not to offer inadmissible testimony is not ineffective assistance. Id.