Judge makes allegations against John Blakely

What did Missey say?

Judge Darrell Missey, appointed special master in David Robinson's habeas appeal, alleged several examples of wrongdoing in his examination of the David Robinson case. Here are a few excerpts from his report to the Missouri Supreme Court:

• "Detective Blakely was informed of the possibility that Romanze Mosby had killed the victim, but he declined to follow up on that."
• "Though he was in charge of the investigation, Detective Blakely claimed that he did not follow up on the lead regarding Romanze Mosby because he thought someone else was doing it, an assertion this Court does not believe."
• Prosecutor "Elizabeth Bock made a handwritten note in her file which said, 'Told Blakely -- have no contact with Albert!' Nevertheless, Detective Blakely did have contact with Albert Baker ... While Albert Baker was walking down the street in Park Hills, a uniformed officer drove up to Albert Baker and handed him a telephone with Detective Blakely on the other side. According to Albert Baker's testimony, Blakely told him, 'We're watching you.' ... The evidence about that telephone call is outrageous. The image of Albert Baker walking down a street in Park Hills to be confronted by a uniformed officer who then hands him a phone with Detective Blakely on the other end is absolutely bone-chilling. ... There is no legitimate reason for Detective Blakely to arrange for law enforcement to unexpectedly approach Albert Baker in public."
• "Detective Blakely has told two different stories about the release of Albert Baker; he either lied to this court or lied in the original trial, or both."
• "Detective Blakely's shifting and uneasy testimony about this subject (release of Albert Baker) further demonstrates his willingness to make false statements under oath."
• "This Court also disbelieves Detective Blakely's testimony regarding his investigation of David Robinson's purported jailhouse confession ... This Court believes that Detective Blakely most likely initiated contact with Jason Richison, not the other way around."
• "Like all the other troublesome aspects of this case, Jason Richison's tale has Detective Blakely's fingerprints all over it. ... Jason Richison's paranoid schizophrenia may have skewed his perception to the point that he actually believes he was subjected to such abuse. Given the problems with the investigation in this case, some level of intimidation may have actually happened."
• "This Court does not believe that Detective Blakely simply neglected to interview David Robinson's cellmates. It is more likely that Detective Blakely talked with the cellmates and did not like what they had to say."

Other claims

The Southeast Missourian uncovered other allegations against Blakely, including the claim by a key defense witness Blakely called him the day before Robinson's trial and said if he showed up for court they would arrest him on pending drug charges. The witness was going to testify that the state's key witness told him he was lying about seeing David Robinson shoot the victim. The witness, Ronnie Coleman, skipped the trial. His account was confirmed by other sources. The state's witness, Albert Baker, later recanted, and his false testimony was the only evidence the state had that put Robinson at the crime scene the night of the murder. In his recantation, Baker said he passed a polygraph test when Blakely gave him a blue, football-shaped pill before the test. Charges were filed against Robinson shortly after Baker passed that test.

The Southeast Missourian also reported Blakely's under-oath testimony changed as it related to his knowledge of Mosby as a suspect. Then-county deputy Bobby Sullivan testified in a pretrial deposition that he told Sikeston officers, including Blakely, he got a tip Mosby was the real killer, but the officers were not interested in pursuing the lead so he did. Blakely first testified he did not know Mosby was a suspect, then reversed that position last August, saying he was aware Mosby's name came up. Blakely investigated Romanze Mosby and his brother Louis in several other shootings.

-- Bob Miller