Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Jul 2, 2021
KARL DAVID LAWRENCE, Movant-Appellant v. STATE OF MISSOURI, Respondent-Respondent
Karl David Lawrence appealed the denial of his Rule 29.15 motion for post-conviction relief, following his conviction for statutory sodomy. Lawrence claimed his trial counsel were constitutionally ineffective for failing to provide notice of an alibi defense and failing to call an additional alibi witness. The Southern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the motion court's denial, concluding that the issues of prejudice had been resolved on direct appeal and could not be relitigated under the higher Strickland standard for post-conviction relief.