christopher collings

Current Proceedings: Federal Habeas Corpus in Western District of Missouri.

Case Number: 4:18-cv-08000

Judge: M. Douglas Harpool

Defendant’s Demographic Information: White Male

Current Counsel:

Jeremy S. Weis & Daniel Kirsch Federal Public Defender's Office - KCMO 818 Grand Avenue, Suite 300 Kansas City, MO, 64106 816.471.8282 (tel.) 816.471.8008 (fax) emails: jeremy_weis@fd.org; daniel_kirsch@fd.org

Legal Status: Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus filed on 04/16/2019; Response filed on 12/02/2019; Petitioner has up to and including 07/13/2020 to file traverse.

Significant Legal Issues:

  • Mr. Collings’ confession was the product of coercive and unlawful police tactics and was otherwise inconsistent with the evidence (trial court erred in failing to suppress and trial counsel was ineffective in presenting evidence that would have cast doubt on the confession)

  • Trial counsels failed to develop mitigating evidence concerning Mr. Collings’ long- standing alcohol addiction and childhood trauma

  • Trial counsel failed to present evidence that Mr. Collings’ codefendant was responsible for the murder

  • Prosecutor made improper closing arguments during both phases of trial

Last Judicial Decision Related to Conviction or Sentence:

  • SCOTUS denying Petition for writ of ceritorari to the Supreme Court of Missouri, Collings v. Missouri, 139 S. Ct. 247, 202 L. Ed. 2d 165 (2018)

Reported Opinions:

  • SCOTUS denying Petition for writ of ceritorari to the Supreme Court of Missouri, Collings v. Missouri, 139 S. Ct. 247, 202 L. Ed. 2d 165 (2018)

  • MO Supreme court affirms judgment denying post conviction relief. See Collings v. State, No. SC96118, 2018 Mo. LEXIS 46 (Mar. 6, 2018)

  • Conviction and sentence affirmed on direct appeal by State v. Collings, 450 S.W.3d 741 (Mo. 2014), cert. denied, 135 S. Ct. 1401 (2015)

Prior Counsel:

  • Amy Marie Bartholow

  • Valerie Sue Leftwich

Conviction County: Phelps County

Counts: 1

Victim Demographic: White Female

Crime Date: 11/02/2007 (on or about)

Sentencing Date: 05/11/2012

Trial Counsel:

  • Janice Zembles

  • Charles Moreland

Trial Judge: Mary Sheffield

Trial Prosecutor:

  • Johnnie Cox

  • Elizabeth Bock