Phillips Black

lance Shockley

Current Proceedings: Federal habeas corpus proceedings pending in Eastern District of Missouri (Supreme Court of Missouri affirmed denial of 29.15 motion) .

Case Number: 4:19-cv-02520-SRC; 14AK-CC00001

Judge: Stephen R. Clark

Defendant’s Demographic Information: White Male

Current Counsel:

Legal Status: Petitioner must file his Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus no later than March 3, 2021 (09/22/20 Order); Amended Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus filed on 07/12/2021 and Supplemental State Postconviction Record filed on 07/20/2021

Significant Legal Issues:

• Possible influence by jury foreman, who was stricken from trial after it was discovered that he had previously written a quasi-autobiographical novel involving a revenge-murder; trial counsel's failure to examine juror about his possible biases after juror expressed he "should be coming out with fact" that he was a published author

• Trial counsel’s failure to investigate and present alibi evidence and related evidence concerning the car attributed to the murderer by witnesses

• Trial counsel’s failure to challenge and investigate the ballistics evidence

• Judge imposed death sentence after jury hung

Last Judicial Decision Related to Conviction or Sentence: Shockley v. State, 579 S.W.3d 881 (Mo. 2019) (affirming denial of 29.15 relief, with dissenting opinion)

Reported Opinions:

• Denial of 29.15 motion affirmed by SCOMO - Shockley v. State, 579 S.W.3d 881 (Mo. 2019).

• Conviction and sentence affirmed on direct appeal by State v. Shockley, 410 S.W.3d 179 (Mo. 2013), cert. denied, 134 S. Ct. 1282 (2014)

Prior Counsel:

• Jeannie Willibey and Pete Carter (PCR)

• Michael Gross of Sher Corwin LLC (direct appeal)

Conviction County: Carter

Counts: 1

Victim Demographic: White Male

Crime Date: 03/20/2005

Sentencing Date: 05/22/2009

Trial Counsel:

• Brad Kessler

• David Bruns

• Mollyanne Henshaw

Trial Judge: Unknown

Trial Prosecutor: Unknown