Mourad Balzourt v. State

Mourad Balzourt was convicted of second-degree murder and abuse of a corpse. He was sentenced to life in prison on the murder conviction and to five years on the abuse of a corpse conviction. His convictions were per curiam affirmed by this court. Balzourt v. State, 189 So.3d 792 (Fla. 5th DCA 2016). .

Subsequently, Balzourt filed a petition and supplemental petition for postcon-viction relief pursuant to Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.141(d), alleging ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. He argues, inter alia, that appellate counsel should have raised as an issue the trial…