MO Court Denies Child KIller's Appeal:  In an unanimous decision announced last week the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the conviction and death sentence of Christopher Collings for the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl.  Wes Peery of KOLR 10 reports that the court, hearing the case on direct appeal, rejected Collings' claims of ineffective assistance counsel for failing to present more evidence of his heavy drinking, addiction to drugs and traumatic childhood.  The court held that defense counsel had fully investigated these issues and made strategic and reasonable decisions about how to present them to the jury.  The evidence included Collings' detailed confession about how he abducted the little girl while she slept alone in her home.  After raping her, Collings realized that she recognized him and strangled her to death, hiding the body in a cave.  Forensic evidence confirmed his guilt.