Opinion ID: 1878778
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: procedural history and authority to grant motion for new trial

Text: Barry Baker was found guilty by a jury of the first-degree murder of Trisha Blue. Because the State was seeking the death penalty, a penalty-phase trial was then held, during which the parties presented evidence concerning whether Mr. Baker should be sentenced to death or to life in prison without possibility of probation or parole. Section 565.030.4 sets out the steps the jury must follow if it is to render a verdict of death. [1] On March 24, 2003, the jury in Mr. Baker's case returned a verdict stating that it had unanimously found the presence of four statutory aggravating factors beyond a reasonable doubt but that the jurors were unable to decide or agree upon the punishment. The record, however, fails to show that the jury completed the other steps necessary to impose a death sentence, including considering whether mitigating circumstances outweighed those in aggravation, before becoming deadlocked, as required by Ring , Whitfield , and section 565.030.4(3), RSMo Supp.2003. Because the jury was unable to reach a decision on punishment, Respondent discharged the jury.
Under Rule 29.11(b), a defendant has 15 days in which to file a motion for new trial, but the trial court can grant up to 10 additional days in which to file the motion. The court did so here, making the motion due on or before April 18, 2003. On April 16, 2003, Mr. Baker timely filed his motion alleging various trial errors and asking Respondent alternatively to enter an acquittal, to enter a sentence of life imprisonment, to grant him a new trial, or to grant him a new penalty-phase trial. Under Rule 29.11(g), [i]f the motion for new trial is not passed on within ninety days after the motion is filed, it is denied for all purposes. In this case, the 90 days for ruling on Mr. Baker's motion for new trial ended on July 15, 2003. On May 19, 2003, Respondent set the motion for new trial for hearing on June 12, 2003, and scheduled sentencing for June 19, 2003. But, Respondent did not rule on Relator's motion on that date or any other. Instead, when this Court decided State v. Whitfield, 107 S.W.3d 253 (Mo. banc 2003), on June 17, 2003, Mr. Baker filed what he labeled as a supplemental motion in which he asserted that the court was required by Whitfield to enter a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of probation or parole. Two days later, on June 19, 2003, Mr. Baker filed an amended supplemental motion asking the court for the same relief. Rather than rule on the pending motion for new trial filed on April 16, 2003, Respondent then gave the parties until August 1, 2003, to file supplemental briefing addressing how Whitfield might apply to Mr. Baker. During the course of this briefing, the July 15, 2003, deadline for ruling on defendant's April 16 motion for new trial passed, and that motion was overruled by operation of Rule 29.11(g). Respondent heard arguments about Whitfield on August 13, 2003. On September 11, 2003, he entered a judgment that did not mention the April 16, 2003, motion for new trial. Instead, he took up and purported to grant Mr. Baker's June 17 and June 19 motions, but did so by granting Mr. Baker a new trial, even though those motions asked only for entry of a life sentence based on Whitfield . In any event, the supplemental motions did not extend the July 15, 2003, deadline as they were filed after the time the motion for new trial was required to be filed. Supplemental motions filed after the time the motion for new trial is due are a nullity. State v. Mucie, 448 S.W.2d 879, 890 (Mo.1970). The trial court had no authority to act on any motion for new trial or supplement after July 15, 2003. Mr. Baker then filed his petition in this Court, asking the Court to prohibit Respondent from holding a new trial.