JOHNSTON v. STATE (2020)

Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District.

Cassandra E. JOHNSTON, Appellant, v. STATE of Missouri, Respondent.

WD 83096

Decided: October 20, 2020

Before Division Four: Cynthia L. Martin, C.J., and Alok Ahuja and W. Douglas Thomson, JJ.

Samuel E. Buffaloe, Columbia for appellant. Dora Fichter, Jefferson City for respondent.

ORDER

Following a jury trial, Cassandra Johnston was convicted in the Circuit Court of Boone County of voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. Following this Court's affirmance of her convictions, Johnston filed a motion for post-conviction relief pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 29.15. The circuit court denied her motion following an evidentiary hearing. Johnston appeals. She argues that her trial counsel was ineffective for failing to call a psychologist to testify concerning Johnston's post-traumatic stress disorder, to explain why she fled the scene of the crime. Johnston also contends that counsel was ineffective for failing to call the same psychologist to testify at her sentencing to provide mitigation evidence. We affirm. Because a published opinion would have no precedential value, we have provided an unpublished memorandum to the parties which sets forth the reasons for this order. Rule 84.16(b).

PER CURIAM:

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