Voegtlin v. State

Decision Date04 January 1977
Docket NumberNo. 37894,37894
Citation546 S.W.2d 40
PartiesRalph L. VOEGTLIN, Movant-Appellant, v. STATE of Missouri, Respondent. . Louis District, Division One
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals

Robert C. Babione, Public Defender, James M. Smith, Asst. Public Defender, St. Louis, for movant-appellant.

John C. Danforth, Atty. Gen., Preston Dean, Asst. Atty. Gen., Jefferson City, Brendan Ryan, Circuit Atty., John D. Chancellor, Asst. Circuit Atty., Charles B. Blackmar, Sp. Asst. Atty. Gen., St. Louis, for respondent.

DOWD, Judge.

Appellant, Ralph L. Voegtlin, appeals the denial of his Rule 27.26 motion without an evidentiary hearing. Voegtlin, who was found guilty by a jury of Burglary Second Degree and sentenced to ten years imprisonment, alleges the trial court erred in denying him an evidentiary hearing because perjured testimony was used at his trial to prove a material element of the crime.

Voegtlin alleges that the policeman who testified against him committed perjury because he testified at the preliminary hearing that the burglar entered through the basement window, but at trial testified that the burglar entered through the side window. While the transcript of the trial is not part of the record before us, the judge at the post-conviction hearing states in his memorandum opinion that the policeman testified at trial that both windows were broken and investigation showed that entry was through the side window.

In order to show perjury entitling him to post-conviction relief, the appellant must prove that the witness' trial testimony was false and that the prosecution used the testimony knowing it to be false and that the conviction was obtained because of the perjured testimony. Williams v. State, 536 S.W.2d 190, 193(7) (Mo.App.1976); Duncan v. State, 520 S.W.2d 123, 124(1) (Mo.App.1975). Mere inconsistency of variance in the testimony does not constitute perjury; and in the absence of showing perjury, the trial court has no obligation in post conviction proceedings to order an evidentiary hearing to review evidence given at trial. V.A.M.R. 27.26; Cloud v. State, 535 S.W.2d 577, 578(3) (Mo.App.1976); Tyler v. State, 501 S.W.2d 189, 190--191(2, 4) (Mo.App.1973).

An evidentiary hearing on a 27.26 motion will be had only if the movant pleads facts, not conclusions, which if true would entitle him to relief. Movant must also show that such factual allegations are not refuted by the record before the court. Smith v. State, 513 S.W.2d 407, 411(1) (Mo. banc ...

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15 cases
  • State v. Kelley
    • United States
    • Missouri Court of Appeals
    • 17 Julio 1997
    ...that the conviction was obtained because of the perjured testimony.' " (emphasis supplied). 579 S.W.2d at 159 (quoting Voegtlin v. State, 546 S.W.2d 40, 41 (Mo.App.1977)). See also Coles v. State, 495 S.W.2d 685, 687 Fatal to Defendant's reliance on the DeClue exception is the fact that par......
  • State v. Mims, 65532
    • United States
    • Missouri Supreme Court
    • 17 Julio 1984
    ...191 (Mo.App.1973) (new trial); see also DeClue v. State, 579 S.W.2d 158, 159 (Mo.App.1979) ("post-conviction relief"); Voegtlin v. State, 546 S.W.2d 40, 41 (Mo.App.1977) ("post-conviction relief"). This Court has determined that a claim of perjury will not support a request for post-convict......
  • Ferguson v. State Of Mo.
    • United States
    • Missouri Court of Appeals
    • 31 Agosto 2010
    ...the conviction was obtained because of the perjured testimony.’ ” DeClue, 579 S.W.2d at 159 (emphasis added) (quoting Voegtlin v. State, 546 S.W.2d 40, 41 (Mo.App.1977)); see also Cummings, 838 S.W.2d at 7 (“Cummings failed to establish that the prosecutor knew of Coonce's [perjured] testim......
  • Ross v. State, 11552
    • United States
    • Missouri Court of Appeals
    • 1 Julio 1980
    ...matters complained of caused prejudice to the prisoner. Haliburton v. State, 546 S.W.2d 771, 773(1) (Mo.App. 1977); Voegtlin v. State, 546 S.W.2d 40, 41(4) (Mo.App. 1977). The burden is on movant to state the facts upon which he bases his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Wimberly......
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