Sherrill v. State, 9778

Decision Date31 October 1974
Docket NumberNo. 9778,9778
PartiesJackie SHERRILL, Movant-Appellant, v. STATE of Missouri, Respondent.
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals

John L. Woodward, Steelville, for movant-appellant.

John C. Danforth, Atty. Gen., Preston Dean, Asst. Atty. Gen., Jefferson City, for respondent.

BILLINGS, Judge.

This is a proceeding under Rule 27.26, V.A.M.R., to vacate a 25-year sentence and judgment for second degree murder. No evidentiary hearing was conducted but the Circuit Court of Crawford County made and entered findings of fact and conclusions of law denying appellant's motion. We affirm.

Appellant's direct appeal of his conviction was affirmed by this court in State v. Sherrill, 496 S.W.2d 321 (Mo.App.1973). His motion to vacate alleges certain instructions given at his trial were erroneous. Further, that his trial attorney was ineffective because (a) such instructions were given by the court and (b) five witnesses who subsequently testified at a co-defendant's later trial were not used as witnesses in his behalf at his trial.

In his direct appeal the appellant did not challenge the instructions he now attacks as erroneous. A motion to vacate is not to function as an appeal nor to afford a second appellate review. Barker v. State, 505 S.W.2d 448 (Mo.App.1974). The allegations of error relating to instructions to the jury, being allegations of trial errors only, may not be considered in support of a Rule 27.26 motion. Brown v. State, 492 S.W.2d 762 (Mo.1973).

Appellant's charge of ineffective assistance of counsel by reason of the court's giving the subject instructions is not carried forward in his brief herein and is deemed abandoned and will not be considered. Herron v. State, 498 S.W.2d 530 (Mo.1973).

On the remaining allegation of ineffective assistance of counsel, the experienced and conscientious trial judge made the following determination: 'The records of our court show that the Mills (co-defendant) case was tried many months following the trial of the Sherrill (movant) case, of which the court takes judicial knowledge, and to charge that counsel for defendant was ineffective by reason of his not knowing what witnesses would say months later in another trial is an absurdity.'

To substantive the oft-levelled claim of ineffective assistance of counsel one must demonstrate that the omission of his attorney in this regard resulted in...

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18 cases
  • McCrary v. State
    • United States
    • Missouri Court of Appeals
    • September 23, 1975
    ...806, 807 (Mo.App.1974) Thomas v. State, 485 S.W.2d 413, 413 (Mo.1972) State v. Smith, 411 S.W.2d 208, 210 (Mo.1967) Sherrill v. State, 515 S.W.2d 611, 612 (Mo.App.1974) 10. 'Biased' juror. Selman v. State, 454 S.W.2d 530, 532 (Mo.1970) 11. Conclusionary allegations that trial errors affecte......
  • Jackson v. State
    • United States
    • Missouri Court of Appeals
    • March 8, 1977
    ...State (Mo.App.), 511 S.W.2d 877; McCrary vs. State (Mo.App.), 529 S.W.2d 467; Keller vs. State (Mo.App.), 523 S.W.2d 127; Sherrill vs. State (Mo.App.), 515 S.W.2d 611; Cruz vs. State (Mo.App.), 515 S.W.2d 610; Wright vs. State (Mo.), 478 S.W.2d 347; Beisher (Beishir) vs. State (Mo.), 480 S.......
  • Grant v. State, s. 38071
    • United States
    • Missouri Court of Appeals
    • January 31, 1978
    ...by his pleadings that he was so prejudiced by counsel's failure to investigate that he was denied a fair trial. Sherrill v. State, 515 S.W.2d 611, 613 (Mo.App.1974). Thus under the applicable legal standards, the trial court properly declined to hold an evidentiary hearing on defendant's In......
  • Ross v. State, 11552
    • United States
    • Missouri Court of Appeals
    • July 1, 1980
    ...which were or should have been raised in the direct appeal. Johnson v. State, 561 S.W.2d 704, 706(4) (Mo.App. 1978); Sherrill v. State, 515 S.W.2d 611, 612(1) (Mo.App. 1974). "A hearing must be held on a motion to vacate, set aside or correct a sentence '(u)nless the motion and the files an......
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