Peterson v. State

THOMAS H. NEWTON, Presiding Judge.

I. Factual and Procedural Background

A Jackson County jury convicted Mr. James L. Peterson of second-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the shooting death of Mr. Floyd Edwards. The circuit court sentenced Mr. Peterson to consecutive sentences of life in prison on the murder count and thirty years in prison on the armed criminal action count. This court affirmed Mr. Peterson’s conviction on direct appeal. See State v. Peterson, 95 S.W.3d 194 (Mo.App. W.D.2003).

Mr. Peterson filed a timely pro se motion for post-conviction relief under…