Title: Wilson v. State

State: mississippi

Issuer: Mississippi Supreme Court

Document:

248 So. 2d 802 (1971) Earnest Lee WILSON v. STATE of Mississippi. No. 46376. Supreme Court of Mississippi. May 31, 1971. *803 T.N. Gore, Jr., Marks, for appellant. A.F. Summer, Atty. Gen., by John M. Kinard, Sp. Asst. Atty. Gen., Jackson, for appellee. INZER, Justice: Appellant, Earnest Lee Wilson, an inmate of the State Penitentiary, was indicted, tried and convicted in the Circuit Court of Quitman County for the crime of murder in the killing of a fellow inmate of the Penitentiary. The jury found him guilty as charged but failed to agree as to his punishment, and he was sentenced to serve a life sentence in the State Penitentiary. From this conviction and sentence he appeals. The only point raised on this appeal is that the trial court committed reversible error by allowing the separation and dispersal of the jury after its selection and before its final discharge. The record reflects that at the end of the first day of the trial, the court, after a conference with counsel for the state and defendant, stated to the jury that defendant's counsel had stated to the court on behalf of the defendant that it would be agreeable with the defendant for the jury not to be locked up for the night. The court instructed the jury that they were not to talk to anyone about the case or allow anyone to talk to them about the case or to discuss the case in their presence. The court then allowed the jury to disperse and go to their respective homes. When the jury returned the following morning the court inquired of them as to whether they had discussed the case with anyone or whether anyone had attempted to discuss the case with them, or attempted to discuss the case in their presence. Apparently all members of the jury answered in the negative, although the record does not reflect any response by the members of the jury. Appellant did not at any time raise any issue in the trial court relative to the action of the court in allowing the jury to disperse, and raises this question for the first time on appeal. The state concedes that ordinarily the jury must be sequestrated in a capital case but contends under the circumstances of this case the action of the trial court was not error because the appellant consented to the action and there is no suggestion of any injustice or injury to the appellant as a result of the court allowing the jury to disperse. We have no statute that requires that the jury be kept together in the trial of felony cases, but common law forbids the separation of the jury in the trial of felony cases before they have been discharged. In Woods v. State, 43 Miss. 364 (1870), on motion of the defendant, the trial court allowed the jury after hearing part of the evidence to disperse and go at large under the instructions of the court. After Woods had been found guilty of the murder of his wife and sentenced, he filed a motion for a new trial because some of the jurors had been seen mingling with other citizens who were not members of the jury. This motion was overruled and he appealed. The Court after stating the common law rule as to sequestration of the jury and pointing out the reasons for the rule, held that it was reversible error to allow the jury to disperse in a capital case, even though this was done at the consent of the defendant. The Court said in that regard: In Clark v. State, 209 Miss. 586, 48 So. 2d 127 (1950), this Court said: It is clear from what has been said in these cases that it is reversible error to allow a jury to disperse in capital cases even though done at the request of the defendant. However, the state contends that it would be unreasonable to reverse this case because no timely suggestion of error was made in the trial court and especially since there is not the slightest hint of any factual basis for suggesting any detriment or injustice as a result of the action of the trial court. However, in Woods, supra, it is said: *805 Thus, it was unnecessary for appellant to show that he was prejudiced by the action of the trial court. The real question involved in this case is whether the error complained of is of such nature that appellant can raise it for the first time in this Court. We have held in a number of criminal cases that when the error complained of affects the fundamental rights of the accused, it may be raised for the first time in this Court. We think that the error here complained of did affect the fundamental rights of the appellant. In a capital case the accused has a right to a trial by a duly constituted court which includes a jury whose verdict is beyond question. In order to assure such a verdict our law requires that the jury be kept together from the time they are specially sworn to try the case until finally discharged. The departure from this rule is not a mere technical error, but it goes to the very organization and constitution of the court. So far as this Court lawfully can it always exerts its lawful power to affirm convictions for the violation of the law, but when an accused has been deprived of fundamental rights, we must reverse. The reason for this rule was well expressed by Justice Whitfield in Ellerbe v. State, 75 Miss. 522, 22 So. 950 (1897), wherein he said: For the reasons stated, this case must be and is reversed and remanded for a new trial. Reversed and remanded. GILLESPIE, P.J., and BRADY, SMITH and HARPER, JJ., concur.