Vincent McFadden v. State of Missouri

Summary

The Supreme Court of Missouri affirmed the denial of Vincent McFadden’s Rule 29.15 motion challenging his death sentence for first-degree murder. It held that the circuit court did not clearly err in rejecting McFadden’s ineffective-assistance claims because counsel’s challenged decisions were reasonable strategic choices, the proposed evidence was cumulative or inadmissible, or McFadden failed to establish prejudice. The court also rejected claims concerning postconviction procedures, including limits on a codefendant’s deposition, McFadden’s absence from the evidentiary hearing, prosecutor disqualification, untimely claims, and alleged abandonment. No separate opinions were filed.