Jerry A. Rutlin, Movant/Appellant v. State of Missouri

PHILIP M. HESS, Judge.

Introduction

Jerry Rutlin (Movant) appeals the trial court’s judgment denying his Rule 29.15 motion for post-conviction relief without an evidentiary hearing. Movant claims the motion court clearly erred in denying post-conviction relief based on his claims that: (1) his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to call Movant’s former cellmate to testify at trial; and (2) appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise a claim on appeal that the trial court plainly erred in prohibiting the defense from implicating Movant’s cellmate during closing arguments. We…