Mensah v. State

CRIST, Judge.

Movant appeals the denial of his Rule 27.26 motion without an evidentiary hearing. He asserts his trial lawyer rendered him ineffective assistance of counsel by not pursuing a viable defense of self-defense. We affirm.

Movant was convicted by jury of second degree murder in November, 1980, and sentenced to life imprisonment. His lawyer chose to defend under the theory of mental disease or defect. The Missouri Supreme Court in State v. Mensah, 625 S.W.2d 135 (Mo.1981) affirmed the judgment and sentence on direct appeal. In April, 1984, movant filed a Rule 27.26 motion for…