929 S.W.2d 209 (Mo.banc 1996)
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of Missouri upheld a lower court ruling that Michael Taylor cannot claim his original lawyer failed to file post-conviction motions in a timely manner.- May 20, 2008
Case Facts: On the evening of March 21, 1989, Michael Taylor and companion Roderick Nunley stole a car and used drugs. At about 7:00 a.m. on Mach 22, they saw 15-year-old Ann Harrison waiting for the school bus at the end of her driveway. Taylor allegedly stated he wanted to steal the girl’s purse, and Nunley, who was driving, stopped the car. Taylor spoke to the girl and then grabbed her and forced her into the car. Nunley then drove to this mother’s house where the girl was taken out of the car and forced to crawl down to the basement. Taylor then raped the girl.
After the assauat, the two men forced the girl into the trunk of the stolen car and tied her up. After Taylor stated he was afraid the girl would identify him, the two men decided to kill the girl Nunley retreived two knives from the kitchen and both men stabbed the girl. Nunley knew the girl was going to die from her wounds. (The former county medical examiner testified the victim was stabbed 10 times and she died approximately 30 minutes later). The men drove to a nearby neighborhood and parked the car, leaving the girl in the turnk. Nunley gave a videotaped conffession to the police.