Smith v. State

Ronald E. Smith appeals the summary denial of his amended motion for post-conviction relief, in which he claimed that he was deprived of his right to testify by reason of ineffective assistance of trial counsel. In relevant part, Smith alleged that the only evidence directly tying him to the charged offense was the presence of his fingerprints at the crime scene, and that had he been permitted to testify, he could have offered a reasonable and innocent explanation for that fact. The trial court summarily denied relief, concluding that portions of the record attached to its order provided…