Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Aug 28, 2018
Terence T. Esters, Appellant, vs. State of Missouri, Respondent.
Terence T. Esters appealed the denial of his Rule 29.15 motion for post-conviction relief, arguing his trial counsel was ineffective on two grounds. First, he claimed counsel failed to object to the victim's emotional outburst and subsequent testimony. Second, he asserted counsel failed to make an offer of proof regarding excluded evidence of a shooting at his home. The Eastern District of the Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the motion court's judgment, finding Esters failed to demonstrate prejudice for either claim under the Strickland test for ineffective assistance of counsel.