IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI

NO. 2000-KA-01195-SCT

KEVIN JACKSON a/k/a KEVIN K. JACKSON, SR.

v.

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

DATE OF JUDGMENT: 02/18/1999

TRIAL JUDGE: HON. L. BRELAND HILBURN

COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: HINDS COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: THOMAS M. FORTNER

ROBERT M. RYAN

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

BY: CHARLES W. MARIS, JR.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY: EDWARD J. PETERS

NATURE OF THE CASE: CRIMINAL - FELONY

DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 05/09/2002

MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:

MANDATE ISSUED: 5/30/2002

BEFORE SMITH, P.J., COBB AND DIAZ, JJ.

COBB, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:

¶1. On February 10, 1998, Kevin Jackson was indicted in the Hinds County Circuit Court on charges of

murder, aggravated assault and the firing of a handgun into an occupied dwelling. Jackson was convicted by

a jury on all counts and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder, a consecutive 25 year imprisonment

for the aggravated assault , and a 5 year imprisonment for firing into the occupied dwelling to run

concurrently with the aggravated assault sentence. Following the denial of his post-trial motion for a new

trial, Jackson appeals, raising three assignments of error (edited):

I. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT GRANTING JACKSON SUA

SPONTE A JURY INSTRUCTION DEFINING THE DEFENSE OF ACCIDENT.

II. WHETHER JACKSON RECEIVED INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.

III. WHETHER JACKSON'S CONVICTIONS WERE SUPPORTED BY THE EVIDENCE

ADDUCED AT TRIAL OR AGAINST THE OVERWHELMING WEIGHT OF THE

EVIDENCE.

¶2. Concluding that all of Jackson's assignments of error are without merit, we affirm.
FACTS

¶3. The facts underlying this case are not disputed, as Kevin Jackson freely admits to firing shots into the

door of an occupied house, wounding one inhabitant and killing a small child, Jackson's own son. Jackson

had previously lived with a woman named Quanda Anderson, with whom he had a son named Kevin, Jr.

Eventually, the relationship ended, and Quanda and Kevin, Jr. moved back in with Quanda's mother, Betty

Anderson. About two weeks later, on the morning of October 12, 1997, Jackson called Quanda and

asked to see Kevin, Jr., but Quanda denied his request because her family had made plans to got to church

that day. Upset (and by his own admission high on PCP, LSD and "elephant tranquilizer"), Jackson went to

Quanda's house, where he tried to kick in the door and then fired several shots through the door, striking

Betty Anderson and killing Junior. At the time of his death, Junior was only 17 months old.

DISCUSSION

I. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT GRANTING JACKSON SUA

SPONTE A JURY INSTRUCTION DEFINING THE DEFENSE OF ACCIDENT.

¶4. Jackson first suggests that the trial court erred in not granting sua sponte a jury instruction defining the

defense of accident. Or to put it another way, Jackson claims he was entitled to such an instruction even

though he never requested it, and the absence of such an instruction constitutes plain error. The plain error

doctrine permits this Court to review errors committed during trial, even if they are not properly preserved

on appeal, where those errors impact fundamental rights. Williams v. State, 794 So.2d 181, 188 (Miss.

2001)("This Court has found plain error in failing to instruct the jury properly and failing to properly evaluate

evidentiary matters").

¶5. Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-17 (2000) provides for three scenarios in which a homicide shall be

excusable:

(a) When committed by accident and misfortune in doing any lawful act by lawful means, with usual

and ordinary caution, and without any unlawful intent;

(b) When committed by accident and misfortune, in the heat of passion, upon any sudden and

sufficient provocation;

(c) When committed upon any sudden combat, without undue advantage being taken, and without

any dangerous weapon being used, and not done in a cruel or unusual manner.

Jackson does not dispute that his firing into the dwelling was an unlawful act, which eliminates the first

scenario. Nor does he dispute the use of a dangerous weapon, which eliminates the third scenario of the

statute. Instead, Jackson relies exclusively on the second scenario, arguing that he "acted in the heat of

passion as a consequence of his being distraught over the denial of his visitation request."

¶6. Obviously, this argument ignores the requirement that there be a "sudden and sufficient provocation"

before a defense of accident is permitted under § 97-3-17(b). The sole "provocation" suggested by

Jackson was Quanda Anderson's decision to deny his visitation request earlier on the morning of the

shooting. We do not consider that "provocation" to be either sudden or sufficient within the meaning of the

statute.

¶7. As we have stated: "Jury instructions are to be granted only where evidence has been presented which
support the instruction." Jones v. State, 797 So.2d 922, 927 (Miss. 2001). Because Jackson failed to

present evidence that would support an accident instruction, he was not entitled to same. Thus, it was not

plain error for the trial court not to grant such an instruction, sua sponte. This issue is without merit.

II. WHETHER JACKSON RECEIVED INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.

¶8. Our standard of review for a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is a two-part test: the defendant

must prove, under the totality of the circumstances, that (1) his attorney's performance was deficient and (2)

the deficiency deprived the defendant of a fair trial. Hiter v. State, 660 So.2d 961, 965 (Miss.1995). This

review is highly deferential to the attorney, with a strong presumption that the attorney's conduct fell within

the wide range of reasonable professional assistance. Id. at 965. With respect to the overall performance of

the attorney, "counsel's choice of whether or not to file certain motions, call witnesses, ask certain

questions, or make certain objections fall within the ambit of trial strategy" and cannot give rise to an

ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Cole v. State, 666 So.2d 767, 777 (Miss.1995).

¶9. Anyone claiming ineffective assistance of counsel has the burden of proving, not only that counsel's

performance was deficient but also that he was prejudiced thereby. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.

668, 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). Additionally, the defendant must show that there is a

reasonable probability that, but for his attorney's errors, he would have received a different result in the trial

court. Nicolaou v. State, 612 So.2d 1080, 1086 (Miss. 1992). Finally, the court must then determine

whether counsel's performance was both deficient and prejudicial based upon the totality of the

circumstances. Carney v. State, 525 So.2d 776, 780 (Miss. 1988).

¶10. Jackson claims that the following instances demonstrate that he suffered ineffective assistance of

counsel during his trial. First, Jackson claims the fact that he was under the influence of powerful narcotics

was not sufficiently brought to the attention of the jury. Although Jackson concedes that his trial counsel did

address the issue, he argues that it "should have been better presented." Unlike Jackson, we find it easy to

believe that Jackson's attorney might have declined to emphasize Jackson's drug abuse for tactical reasons

and conclude that this issue falls squarely under the ambit of trial strategy. Furthermore, as the State

properly notes, we have expressly rejected the idea that voluntary intoxication is a defense to murder in

Greenlee v. State, 725 So.2d 816, 822-23 (Miss. 1998), stating:

Greenlee submits that while voluntary intoxication is not a defense to the crime of murder, the fact that

the defendant was intoxicated negates the existence of the specific intent to commit the offense. Thus,

Greenlee concludes that because he had taken three hits of LSD before the offense, he did not have

the specific intent to commit murder. For this reason, Greenlee argues that the drug induced state he

was in reduced murder to manslaughter and, therefore, he should have at least been granted the

instruction so that this question could go to the jury. However, this argument is tantamount to a

request for the jury to consider Greenlee's intoxication as a defense to the specific intent crime of

murder. In McDaniel v. State, 356 So.2d 1151 (Miss.1978), this Court overruled this argument

which had previously been successful. The Court stated:

If a defendant, when sober, is capable of distinguishing between right and wrong, and the defendant

voluntarily deprives himself of the ability to distinguish between right and wrong by reason of

becoming intoxicated and commits an offense while in that condition, he is criminally responsible for

such acts.
Greenlee, 725 So.2d at 822-23 (Miss. 1998)(internal citations omitted)(quoting McDaniel v. State, 356

So.2d 1151, 1161 (Miss. 1978)). Jackson cites no authority for the proposition that his attorney should be

considered ineffective for failing to bring to the jury's attention facts which should have had no bearing on

the jury's verdict.

¶11. Next, Jackson again argues that the facts of this case support a claim of accident or misfortune, and he

claims that his counsel's failure to suggest an accident instruction represents ineffective assistance. The

analysis of Issue I is dispositive here. Jackson has failed utterly to establish a viable accident defense, and

his attorney's failure to offer a groundless instruction cannot be viewed as ineffective assistance.

¶12. Finally, Jackson suggests that his attorney's failure to seek out and interview defense witnesses in

preparation for the actual trial represents ineffective assistance. However, Jackson does not identify any

witnesses who could have been called or how any witnesses testimony could have helped his case. Instead,

Jackson relies on a number of cases holding that an attorney is ineffective when he fails to perform any pretrial investigation or interview any witnesses at all. See generally Payton v. State, 708 So.2d 559 (Miss.

1998); Woodward v. State, 635 So.2d 805, 813 (Miss. 1993)(Smith, J. dissenting); Yarbrough v.

State, 529 So.2d 659 (Miss. 1988); Neal v. State, 525 So.2d 1279 (Miss. 1987).

¶13. Assuming arguendo that Jackson's counsel did in fact fail to fully investigate and interview potential

witnesses and that such a failure represented deficient performance, Jackson must still show that the

deficiency prejudiced him at trial. Since Jackson admitted to every element of the crimes of which he stood

accused except for intent, we cannot imagine what testimony could have possibly been elicited that might

have led to an acquittal. Jackson has failed to demonstrate that his counsel's performance was deficient, or

that a different result was probable, but for the alleged deficient performance. Therefore, we conclude that

the claim of ineffective assistance of counsel under the totality of the circumstances of this case must fail.

III. WHETHER JACKSON'S CONVICTIONS WERE SUPPORTED BY THE EVIDENCE

ADDUCED AT TRIAL OR AGAINST THE OVERWHELMING WEIGHT OF THE

EVIDENCE.

¶14. Jackson appeals the denial of both his motion for directed verdict(1) and his motion for a new trial. Our

standard of review for a motion for directed verdict is as follows:

This Court's standards of review regarding a denial of a judgment notwithstanding the verdict and a

peremptory instruction are the same. Our standards of review for a denial of a judgment

notwithstanding the verdict and a directed verdict are also identical. Under this standard, this Court

will consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the appellee, giving that party the benefit of all

favorable inference that may be reasonably drawn from the evidence. If the facts so considered point

so overwhelmingly in favor of the appellant that reasonable men could not have arrived at a contrary

verdict, we are required to reverse and render. On the other hand if there is substantial evidence in

support of the verdict, that is, evidence of such quality and weight that reasonable and fair minded

jurors in the exercise of impartial judgment might have reached different conclusions, affirmance is

required. The above standards of review, however, are predicated on the fact that the trial judge

applied the correct law.

Coleman v. State, 697 So.2d 777, 787-88 (Miss. 1997).
¶15. In contrast, our standard of review for claims that a judgment is against the overwhelming weight of the

evidence is as follows:

In determining whether a jury verdict is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, this Court

must accept as true the evidence which supports the verdict and will reverse only when convinced that

the circuit court has abused its discretion in failing to grant a new trial. Only in those cases where the

verdict is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence that to allow it to stand would

sanction an unconscionable injustice will this Court disturb it on appeal. As such, if the verdict is

against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, then a new trial is proper.

Dudley v. State, 719 So.2d 180, 182 (Miss. 1998)(internal citations omitted).

¶16. Jackson offers three challenges to the weight and sufficiency of the evidence. First, he repeats his

earlier argument that the evidence showed he lacked the requisite intent to commit murder, presumably due

to his drugged state. As was noted above under Issue II, voluntary intoxication is not a defense to murder.

Greenlee, 725 So.2d at 822-23. Second, Jackson once again argues that the facts of the case supported a

finding of accident or misfortune. We have already addressed and rejected this argument in Issue I.

¶17. Finally, Jackson asserts that the record does not support murder but only heat of passion

manslaughter. In support of that theory, Jackson points to his own testimony dealing with his mental state at

the time of the shooting and the fact that he was distraught over being denied visitation. Jackson offers no

authority whatsoever for this proposition. Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-19 (2000) defines murder as:

(1) The killing of a human being without authority of law by any means or in any means or in any

manner shall be murder in the following cases:

....

(b) When done in the commission of an act eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved

heart, regardless of human life, although without any premeditated design to effect the death of any

particular individual;

We have held that "the question of whether the defendant has committed murder or manslaughter is

ordinarily a question to be resolved by the jury." Strahan v. State, 729 So.2d 800, 806 (Miss. 1998).

¶18. The record reflects that heat-of-passion manslaughter instructions were given. However, clearly a jury

could reasonably consider firing a weapon through the door of a dwelling, immediately after someone has

gone inside, to be "an act eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved heart." Thus, pursuant to

our standard of review, and considering the evidence in the light most favorable to the State and accepting

as true the evidence supporting the verdict, the trial court did not err in denying Jackson's motions for

directed verdict and for a new trial.

CONCLUSION

¶19. Based on the foregoing analysis, the circuit court's judgment is affirmed.

¶20. COUNT I: CONVICTION OF MURDER AND SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT

IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
AFFIRMED.

COUNT II: CONVICTION OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND SENTENCE OF TWENTY

FIVE (25) YEARS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF

CORRECTIONS AFFIRMED. THIS SENTENCE SHALL RUN CONSECUTIVELY WITH

COUNT I AND CONCURRENTLY WITH COUNT III.

COUNT III: CONVICTION OF SHOOTING A HANDGUN INTO AN OCCUPIED

DWELLING AND SENTENCE OF FIVE (5) YEARS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE

MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AFFIRMED. THIS SENTENCE SHALL

RUN CONSECUTIVELY WITH COUNT I AND CONCURRENTLY WITH COUNT II.

PITTMAN, C.J., McRAE AND SMITH, P.JJ., WALLER, DIAZ, EASLEY, CARLSON

AND GRAVES, JJ., CONCUR.

1. Actually, Jackson moved to dismiss due to "the fact that the State has failed to prove the charge of

murder", which we consider to be a motion for directed verdict in substance if not in form.