Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Apr 8, 2025
Christopher R. Sokolic, Jr., Appellant, v. State of Missouri, Respondent.
Christopher R. Sokolic, Jr. appealed the motion court's denial of his Rule 29.15 motion for post-conviction relief. Movant argued his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to argue imperfect self-defense and for not advising him to testify to support that defense. The motion court found trial counsel's testimony more credible, concluding counsel was not ineffective. The appellate court affirmed, deferring to the motion court's credibility findings and concluding that counsel's performance was not deficient.