Opinion ID: 1711324
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 18

Heading: prosecutor's improper questioning on voir dire

Text: Roberts contends the prosecutor made a variety of improper comments during voir dire. Defense counsel objected to some of these comments, but the objections were overruled. Roberts claims the trial court erred in doing so. As to those comments to which defense counsel did not object, Roberts argued that defense counsel was ineffective in failing to do so. To repeat: Control of voir dire, including the nature and extent of the questioning, is within the discretion of the trial judge. State v. Copeland, 928 S.W.2d 828, 852 (Mo.1996); State v. Storey, 901 S.W.2d 886, 892 (Mo. 1995). Only abuse of discretion and likely injury justify reversal. Storey at 892. Ineffective assistance of counsel will be found only where counsels' performance was below the degree of skill, care, and diligence of a reasonably competent attorney, and 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, 2068, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). The motion court found no ineffective assistance regarding Roberts's claims. On review, we determine whether the court's findings and conclusions are clearly erroneous. We will reverse the motion court's rulings only if, after a review of the whole record, we are left with the definite and firm impression a mistake has been made. State v. Taylor, 929 S.W.2d 209, 224 (Mo.1996).