Goff also was convicted of second-degree arson and sentenced to ten years. 1

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI

NO. 2006-DP-00815-SCT

JOSEPH BISHOP GOFF

v.

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

DATE OF JUDGMENT: 05/06/2005

TRIAL JUDGE: HON. DALE HARKEY

COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: GEORGE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: OFFICE OF CAPITAL DEFENSE COUNSEL

BY: ANDRE DE GRUY

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 

BY: PATRICK JOSEPH McNAMARA

 MARVIN L. WHITE 

DISTRICT ATTORNEY: ANTHONY N. LAWRENCE, III

NATURE OF THE CASE: CRIMINAL - DEATH PENALTY - DIRECT

APPEAL

DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 05/28/2009

MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED: 06/29/2009; DENIED AND OPINION 

MODIFIED BY DELETING FOOTNOTE 24 AND

DUPLICATE CITATIONS IN ¶153 - 08/27/2009

MANDATE ISSUED:

EN BANC.

PIERCE, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:

¶1. Joseph Bishop Goff was convicted by the George County Circuit Court in the capital

murder of Brandy Stewart Yates during the commission of a robbery and was sentenced to

death by lethal injection.1
 Goff identifies eight areas in which he contends trial counsel was ineffective. 2

2

¶2. Goff raises twelve issues on appeal: 

I. The trial court erred in failing to suppress evidence which resulted

from the unreasonable seizure that violated Goff’s rights pursuant

to the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States

and Section 23 of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890.

II. The trial court erred in permitting Goff to act as his own attorney

at trial.

III. The evidence in this case is insufficient to prove that Goff is guilty

of capital murder. 

IV. The prosecutor committed misconduct in improper questioning on

voir dire, improper opening statement on victim character,

improper closing argument on juror “promise,” and argument

outside the record.

V. Goff received ineffective assistance of counsel.2

VI. The trial court erred by refusing to grant a properly submitted

circumstantial-evidence (two-theory) instruction. 

VII. The refusal of the trial court to grant an instruction embodying the

theory of defense constitutes reversible error. 

VIII. The death sentence in this case must be vacated because the

indictment failed to charge a death-penalty-eligible offense.

IX. Goff’s execution by lethal injection, under the current Mississippi

protocol, would violate the First and Eighth Amendments to the

United States Constitution, corresponding provisions of the

Mississippi Constitution, and state law.

X. Error was committed when certain aggravating factors were

submitted to the jury.
 During an August 2, 2004, telephone conversation, Brandy informed James that she 3

was unhappy, that she had left with someone else, and that she would not be coming home.

 Pearl Boulware was working the front-desk at the motel when Brandy checked into 4

the motel. She testified that Brandy completed a registration form and provided her driver’s

license, which Boulware photocopied on the back of the registration form. Boulware stated

that she provided Brandy with one room key.

 Goff explained to Detective Ronnie Lambert that he ran into Melissa, put her up in 5

a motel room in Mobile, and went straight back to the Rocky Creek Inn. Detective Lambert

later spoke with Melissa, who confirmed that Goff had put her up in a motel. Melissa also

said that Goff had gone to the store and bought her some groceries before he left. According

to Melissa, at approximately 8:30 p.m. and while they were in the store, Goff received a

phone call, and thereafter his entire demeanor changed.

3

XI. The sentence of death is disproportionate when compared with

other cases in which the death penalty has been imposed in

Mississippi, taking into consideration the unique characteristics of

Joseph Goff.

XII. Cumulative error requires reversal of the conviction and sentence

in this matter.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶3. On August 1, 2004, Brandy Stewart Yates left her husband of eight years, James

Yates, Jr., and their two young children to travel with defendant Joseph Goff. Brandy had

become acquainted with Goff while working as a waitress at the Bama Barn, a bar in

Theodore, Alabama.3

¶4. On August 26, 2004, at 3:53 p.m., Brandy checked into room 121 at Rocky Creek Inn

in Lucedale, Mississippi, accompanied by Goff. Sometime later in the day, after the two had 4

an altercation, Goff left the motel and traveled to Mobile, Alabama, where he met an

acquaintance, a woman by the name of Melissa.5
 Pearl Boulware, a desk clerk at the motel, testified that Brandy received several 6

telephone calls throughout the evening of the twenty-sixth. The caller, a male, asked

Boulware to ring Brandy’s room, but it was busy each time. After several calls, the man

asked Boulware to walk to the room and “see if [Brandy] was okay.” Boulware knocked on

the door twice, but no one answered. As she turned to leave, Brandy opened the door and

according to Boulware, appeared as if she had been crying.

 On August 27, Margaret Clark identified a photograph of Goff as being the man

7

who had visited the front desk the night before.

4

¶5. Throughout the evening of the twenty-sixth, Brandy spoke by telephone with her

husband James numerous times. According to James, Brandy first called him collect

between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. During this first conversation, which lasted about an hour,

Brandy told James that Goff had slapped her earlier in the day, that he had dropped her off

at the motel and left, and that she was afraid he was going to hurt her. The second call,

which occurred approximately an hour after the first, ended abruptly, due to a knock on

Brandy’s door. The third call, which lasted about one hour, took place shortly after the 6

second call. During this third call, James and Brandy made plans for him to pick her up early

the following morning, August 27, 2004.

¶6. Around 11:30 p.m. on August 26, Goff approached the motel’s front desk and stated 7

that he and his girlfriend were locked out of room 121. Margaret Clark, a desk clerk, made

Goff a key. About three minutes later, Goff returned, stating that he was still unable to get

into the room. Clark made a second key. When Goff returned for the third time, Clark

inquired as to whether anyone else was in the room. Goff answered positively, and she
5

informed him that the reason he was unable to get into the room was that the door was locked

from the inside. Clark never saw Goff again.

¶7. According to James, later in the evening on the twenty-sixth and in the early morning

hours of August 27, he tried to call Brandy three additional times, but never reached her.

When James tried to call around midnight, a male answered the phone. Because he did not

want to cause trouble, James hung up. James tried twice more to reach Brandy around 4:30

and 5:30 a.m. on the twenty-seventh. When he was unable to reach Brandy, James called the

front desk for assistance. The clerk informed him that the telephone in the room was off the

hook.

¶8. On the morning of August 27, Dee Dee Wall, owner of the Rocky Creek Inn, noticed

what appeared to be fire damage in room 121. Wall used the housekeeping key to enter the

motel room. Upon entering the room, Wall noticed that the room was burned and that there

was a body lying on the floor between the two beds. Wall immediately returned to the motel

lobby and called 911.

¶9. The 911 call was received at approximately 8:45 a.m. The call advised of a fire and

a possible body in a room at the Rocky Creek Inn. Numerous officers responded, including

George County Sheriff Gary Welford, who arrived at approximately 8:55 a.m.

¶10. Detective Ronnie Lambert, an investigator with the George County Sheriff’s

Department, also responded. When Detective Lambert arrived on the scene at approximately

9:10 a.m., Sheriff Welford and three other detectives were already there. The scene had not

yet been secured, but a deputy was standing outside the motel room. Detective Lambert, the
 Detective Lambert’s testimony indicated that, through the assistance of authorities

8

in Alabama, he obtained a photograph of Goff at approximately 3:30 p.m., which he then

showed to Clark. After she identified the person in the picture as the individual she saw

traveling with Brandy, Detective Lambert contacted the sheriff’s department dispatcher to

have Goff entered in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).

6

county coroner, and another detective entered the room, photographed the scene, secured the

room with barrier tape, and instructed an officer to stay outside the room to prevent anyone

else from entering.

¶11. The investigation continued throughout the day, and at approximately 3:45 p.m.,

Detective Lambert contacted the sheriff’s department and had the dispatcher enter Goff and

his vehicle into the system. Detective Lambert had identified the victim as Brandy Yates 8

based on the registration materials from the motel–a copy of Brandy’s license was

photocopied on the reverse side of the registration card–and had learned from the motel clerk

that Brandy had arrived at the motel in a white Ford Mustang.

¶12. Around 3:00 p.m. on August 27, and as the investigation continued in George County,

Trooper Jason Ginn of the Mississippi Highway Patrol saw a white Ford Mustang traveling

west on Interstate 20 near Vicksburg, Mississippi. Trooper Ginn noticed that the car had a

temporary tag, which was defaced. Trooper Ginn, who was parked in the median, pulled into

traffic and caught up with the Mustang. While he was unable to read the issuing state on the

tag, Trooper Ginn could see that the expiration date was August 20, 2004. Because the

current date was August 27, 2004, it was clear that the tag was, in fact, expired.
7

¶13. At this point, Trooper Ginn initiated a traffic stop. The driver let down the passengerside window, and Trooper Ginn noticed the strong smell of cigarette smoke, red marks on

the driver’s neck, and that the vehicle was “trashed” on the inside. The driver stated to

Trooper Ginn that he was on a “spiritual experience” and traveling to Texas.

¶14. Concerned by this strange response and his observations of the driver and the

condition of the vehicle, Trooper Ginn asked for a driver’s license, as well as registration for

the vehicle, both of which were provided. Trooper Ginn returned to his vehicle with the

license and paperwork, contacted the dispatcher in Jackson, and requested a check to see if

the license was valid. Upon returning to his patrol car, Trooper Ginn noticed the odor of

gasoline on the documents provided. Trooper Ginn again contacted the dispatcher, this time

to inquire whether the driver, by this time identified as Joseph Goff, had a criminal record.

¶15. Trooper Ginn called for backup. While he was in his car waiting for the dispatcher

to respond, Trooper Henley arrived. Trooper Ginn informed Trooper Henley of what he had

observed, and suggested that Trooper Henley speak with Goff. Trooper Henley did so, and

Trooper Henley relayed to Trooper Ginn that Goff had told him that he had approximately

$3,000 in cash on him, that he was a convicted felon, and that he had just been released from

prison for shooting someone.

¶16. After speaking with the dispatcher, and after being informed of the conversation

between Trooper Henley and Goff, Trooper Ginn returned to Goff’s vehicle and asked

whether Goff had any stolen merchandise, weapons, or drugs in the vehicle. Goff responded

that he did not.
8

¶17. Trooper Ginn then requested and received permission to search Goff’s vehicle.

Shortly after the search began, and before the search was complete, Trooper Henley had to

leave the scene to assist in another traffic stop. Because searches are not conducted when

only one officer is on the scene, Trooper Ginn explained to Goff that the search would be

delayed.

¶18. During this approximately fifteen-minute intermission (while another officer was en

route to the scene), Trooper Ginn and Goff continued to converse. Trooper Ginn asked Goff

why the paperwork smelled like gasoline, to which Goff responded that he kept a gas can in

the back of the car in case he ran out of gas. During this response, Goff also mentioned his

girlfriend, which prompted Trooper Ginn to ask “well, where’s she at now?” At this point,

Goff’s entire demeanor changed–going from talkative to very quiet. Goff responded that he

had “lost” her in Lucedale. Goff explained that the day before, he and his girlfriend had

stopped in Lucedale and checked into a motel room, but that after they had gotten into a

fight, he had left. Trooper Ginn then asked Goff, “[w]ell, aren’t you going to go back and

pick her up?” Goff never responded. Puzzled, and concerned that Goff’s girlfriend might

be injured, Trooper Ginn contacted the authorities in southern Mississippi to determine

whether they were searching for Goff.

¶19. After Trooper Ginn learned from the George County Sheriff’s Office that Goff was

a person of interest in the murder of Brandy, he put Goff under arrest. In all, the traffic stop

lasted just less than one hour.
 Detective Lambert testified that this statement stood out to him, because 9

investigators did not know for several hours how the organs were removed from Brandy’s

body– “[W]e had no idea at that time that those large organs and intestines had been

removed from that hole–until much later that night when the body was actually removed

from the scene.”

9

¶20. After being informed of Goff’s arrest, Sheriff Welford sent two investigators to

Vicksburg to retrieve Goff and his vehicle. Early on the morning on August 28, 2004, Goff

arrived at the George County Sheriff’s Department. Upon arrival, Goff was given Miranda

warnings and thereafter interviewed by Detective Lambert. Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S.

436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966).

¶21. During this interview, Goff explained that the marks on his body had been inflicted

by Brandy during a physical altercation that had occurred shortly after they arrived at the

motel, during which he had slapped her on the head. Goff indicated that the altercation

began with him accusing Brandy of being sexually unfaithful to him and not wanting to be

with him anymore. According to Goff, after the altercation, he left. Upon returning to the

motel later that night, the first thing Goff noticed when he opened the motel room door was

a note written by Brandy. It was not until after he had shut the door behind him that he

noticed a “smell.” Goff proceeded to describe the scene and the state of Brandy’s body. He

stated that body “was mutilated, . . . the face and everything crushed in.” In particular, Goff

said that it “looked like someone had reached in through a hole in her chest and pulled out

all her organs and slung them all over the room.” After he found Brandy’s body, Goff 9

proceeded to lie on top of her body for over an hour and “just [hold] her.” He stated, “I laid
10

there and held her . . . kissed her head and everything else . . . before I got up.” Goff

explained that he then became worried that he would be considered a suspect. “So I stole

everything out of the room that might have had my fingerprints on it and wiped the room

down,”he said. Goff said he then placed the items inside his vehicle. He then backed the car

up to the front of the room, grabbed a pair of white gloves that he had with him in the car,

along with a gas can. Goff said he went back into the room, “poured the gas, threw the can

and set it on fire[,]” and then left.

¶22. A George County grand jury handed down a two-count indictment against Goff on

October 19, 2004, charging him with capital murder, with the underlying felony being

robbery, and second-degree arson. At his arraignment on November 30, 2004, Goff pleaded

not guilty to both charges. At pretrial hearings on April 7, 2005, the court heard numerous

defense motions, including several motions to suppress and a motion to quash.

¶23. On Monday, May 2, 2005, jury selection began in the George County Circuit Court,

Circuit Judge Dale Harkey presiding.

¶24. After the jury had been empaneled, Goff informed the judge that he would like to

“exercise [his] constitutional right to represent [himself]” and proceed pro se. The trial judge

thoroughly examined Goff to ensure that he was knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily

waiving his right to counsel. The trial judge ultimately determined that Goff was competent

to waive his right to counsel, but cautioned Goff that he was “asking to represent [himself]

at trial on the most serious felony crime that can be committed” and that Goff would be

placed at a “serious disadvantage” by proceeding pro se. The judge then authorized Goff’s
 Deen and McNally were privately retained by Goff’s mother, Lessie Goff.

10

11

attorneys, Jeff Deen and Scott McNally, to act as co-counsel, and directed them to remain

and provide Goff with “any support, assistance, and advice that you deem sufficient to seek

from them.”10

¶25. Dr. Stephen Hayne performed the autopsy and determined that the cause of Brandy’s

death was four slash wounds to the neck, which cut through two major blood vessels, the left

jugular vein and the left common carotid artery.

¶26. In addition to the lethal slash wounds, Dr. Hayne found that Brandy had suffered

numerous other injuries, including gaping wounds inflicted by blunt-force trauma over the

right facial area, the front surface of the neck, and the right-middle-to-lower chest wall.

Numerous bone fractures were present in the facial area, the right chest wall, and the rib

cage. Brandy’s teeth were knocked out. Fragments of charred toothpicks were located in

the neck and facial area. A small silver metal screw and two pieces of splintered wood were

removed from Brandy’s scalp hair. Organs, including portions of the small and large bowels

and the spleen, had been torn out of Brandy’s body via the hole in her chest. Charring

injuries were present over the entire body.

¶27. The jury also heard the testimony of two Mississippi Crime Laboratory investigators.

Stacy Smith, forensic scientist with the Mississippi Crime Lab, arrived at the motel at

approximately 1:00 p.m. on August 27, 2004. Upon entering the motel room, Investigator

Smith noticed that a layer of soot covered the entire room, that the curtains, beds, lamps, and
 The vehicle was secured with evidence tape, which was initialed by the officer who 11

escorted the vehicle from Vicksburg to Lucedale. Investigator Smith broke the seal.

 The note stated “Joseph, went to see kids. Be back soon.” 12

12

floor were damaged, and that the victim’s feet were visible on the floor between the beds.

The victim’s organs also were lying on the floor throughout the room.

¶28. Physical evidence recovered during Investigator Smith’s search of the crime scene and

later introduced at trial included a pillow without a pillowcase, a bag of toothpicks as well

as toothpicks lying in the room, a gas can, a pack of cigarettes, a metal drawer track which

appeared to contain bloody fingerprints, tissue and blood, and two white, two-holed buttons.

Numerous photographs of the motel room taken by Investigator Smith also were admitted

into evidence and presented to the jury.

¶29. In addition to conducting the investigation of the motel room, Investigator Smith

searched Goff’s vehicle. Found on the passenger seat was a blue-flannel shirt, underneath 11

which was found a white pillowcase. Inside the pillowcase was a shirt, a piece of wood

containing what appeared to be blood and tissue, and an Econolodge notepad containing a

note from Brandy. On the passenger-side floorboard, a baseball cap, two shoes, a white 12

glove containing reddish stains, and an empty pizza box were found. The bottom of the left

shoe appeared to have blood and tissue located between the treads. Also recovered from

Goff’s vehicle was a plastic trash bag, which contained cigarette butts, pizza crust, and a

pink-colored blade-guard from a disposable razor.
13

¶30. With regard to the shirt found inside the pillowcase, Investigator Smith testified that

there was a large amount of a “reddish substance, what appears to be blood” on the front of

the shirt, and that the back of the same shirt contained smaller stains of what also appeared

to be blood. Investigator Smith noted that the shirt was missing four white, two-holed

buttons, which appeared to be the same as the buttons recovered from the motel room.

¶31. Also recovered from the vehicle was a woman’s wallet, which Investigator Smith said

was found in the area of the console. The wallet, which was removed from the vehicle and

released to the investigator on the scene, contained Brandy’s driver’s license, her social

security card, photos of her children, the children’s birth certificates, their medicaid cards,

her social security card, a carrot-cake recipe, and $509 in cash (ten fifty-dollar bills, a five,

and two ones), and two dollars in quarters.

¶32. Paige Bowlus, a forensic biologist at the Mississippi Crime Lab, examined the items

of physical evidence seized in an attempt to locate possible biological material and to collect

and preserve such material so that DNA analysis could be performed.

¶33. Upon a visual examination of the metal track, Investigator Bowlus noticed a reddishbrown stain. She collected the stain, tested it and identified it as human blood. Investigator

Bowlus swabbed the right shoe recovered from Goff’s vehicle, and it also was identified as

human blood. Investigator Bowlus testified that, while she visually had examined the tread

of the left shoe and noticed that it was caked with a tissue-like substance and reddish-brown

stains, she had not tested it so as to leave the impression of the shoe print undisturbed. She

also noted that the shirt recovered from Goff’s vehicle was “saturated with stains,” and stated
 Detective Lambert testified that the original request for DNA testing was withdrawn 13

once he determined that Goff was in the motel room and that Goff had lain on top of Brandy.

 James stated that he and Brandy had “disagreements and arguments;” however, he 14

testified that they did not engage in “physical fighting.”

 The judge sentenced Goff to ten years upon his conviction by the jury for second- 15

degree arson.

14

that the many patterns of brown and red on top of each other indicated the presence of tissue

and coagulated blood.

¶34. No DNA testing was performed on any of the evidence, and the testing conducted did

not identify the source of the blood.13

¶35. During the trial, Goff presented evidence implying that James had traveled to

Lucedale and killed his wife. Goff sought to elicit testimony from James that he and Brandy

had a history of domestic violence and that the police had been called to their residence on

at least one occasion.14

¶36. On May 5, 2005, the jury found Goff guilty on both counts–capital murder and

second-degree arson.

¶37. On May 6, 2005, the trial court conducted a separate sentencing hearing, as required

in capital cases. As proof of aggravating factors, the State presented evidence that Goff had 15

been convicted of prior violent crimes, including second-degree assault and discharge of a

gun in an occupied building and vehicle; that Goff’s act of setting the motel on fire

knowingly had created a great risk of death to many persons; that the capital offense had

been committed while engaged in the commission of the crime of robbery; that Goff had
15

committed the capital offense to avoid a lawful arrest; and that the capital offense had been

especially heinous, atrocious, and cruel.

¶38. Initially, Goff directed his counsel not to present mitigation evidence to the jury. Goff

eventually changed his mind, however, and defense counsel presented evidence that Goff had

had a tumultuous childhood; that Goff was the child of an incestuous relationship; that,

despite his average intelligence, Goff suffered from serious mental illness; and that Goff had

been suffering from a psychotic episode when he killed Brandy.

¶39. At the conclusion of the sentencing phase, the jury found that the following

aggravating circumstances existed: (1) Goff previously was convicted of a felony involving

the use or threat of violence to the person; (2) Goff knowingly had created a great risk of

death to many persons; (3) the capital offense had been committed while Goff was engaged

in the commission of a robbery; (4) the capital offense had been committed to avoid or

prevent lawful arrest; and (5) the capital offense had been especially heinous, atrocious, and

cruel. The jury found that Goff should be sentenced to death.

¶40. Goff’s post-trial “Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict or, in the

Alternative, for a New Trial” was denied on June 30, 2005. Goff now appeals to this Court,

in forma pauperis, represented by the Mississippi Office of Capital Defense Counsel.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

¶41. Convictions for capital murder are reviewed under a heightened standard of review.

“The standard for this Court's review of an appeal from a capital murder conviction and death

sentence is abundantly clear. On appeal to this Court, convictions upon indictments for
16

capital murder and sentences of death must be subjected to ‘heightened scrutiny.’ Loden v.

State, 971 So. 2d 548, 562 (Miss. 2007) (quoting Balfour v. State, 598 So. 2d 731, 739

(Miss. 1992)). Under this standard of review, all doubts are to be resolved in favor of the

accused, because “what may be harmless error in a case with less at stake becomes reversible

error when the penalty is death.” Id. (quoting Irving v. State, 361 So. 2d 1360, 1363 (Miss.

1978)).

DISCUSSION

I. Failure to Suppress Evidence Resulting from the Seizure

¶42. Goff contends that the traffic stop which led to his arrest constituted an illegal seizure

under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and therefore, all evidence

collected therefrom should have been suppressed by the trial court. In particular, Goff claims

that the stop of his vehicle by Trooper Ginn was improper, that the length of his detention

was unreasonable, and that the consent to search was invalid.

A. Procedural bar

¶43. Goff, through counsel, submitted numerous pretrial motions, including a motion to

suppress all evidence retrieved from Goff’s vehicle. At the conclusion of the evidentiary

hearing, the trial judge denied Goff’s motion, finding that all evidence generated as a result

of the traffic stop was admissible. At trial, Goff did not renew his objection to the admission

of any evidence taken from his vehicle.
 The State points out that Goff, in fact, offered to stipulate to the admissibility of 16

the items at trial.

17

¶44. The State responds that this challenge is procedurally barred due to Goff’s failure to

challenge the admissibility of the evidence when offered at trial.16

¶45. While Goff did not object to the admission of any evidence taken from his vehicle at

trial, we find that the pretrial proceedings were sufficient to preserve the issue for appeal.

¶46. This Court has held that a defendant’s motion in limine regarding the introduction of

evidence properly preserved the issue for appeal, and an objection was not necessary. Kettle

v. State, 641 So. 2d 746, 748 (Miss. 1994). “While it would have been preferable, and by

far the safer practice for Kettle to have renewed his objection, we find the error in this case

was sufficiently preserved by language of the motion in limine, which the court overruled

. . . .” Id. The Kettle opinion then quoted with approval the explanation of the rule given by

the Colorado Supreme Court in Uptain v. Huntington Lab., Inc.:

Presentation of issues by means of motions in limine offers opportunities to

expedite trials, eliminate bench conferences, avoid juror annoyance and permit

more accurate rulings . . . . When, as here, a specific evidentiary issue is

presented to the trial court in advance of trial, the primary purposes of the

contemporaneous objection rule–to permit the trial court to accurately evaluate

the legal issues and to enable the appellate court to apprehend the basis of the

objection–are satisfied. Requiring an additional formal objection and ruling

in all cases would undermine the benefits provided by the motion in limine

procedure. We conclude that under the circumstances of this case, where the

issue of the admissibility of the specific evidence was fully argued at the trial

court on the same grounds argued by the non-prevailing party on appeal, the

plaintiff’s motion in limine constituted a timely objection . . . .

Id. (quoting Uptain, 723 P.2d 1322, 1330-31 (Colo. 1986)); see also Lacy v. State, 700 So.

2d 602, 606 (Miss. 1997).
18

B. On the merits

¶47. The standard of review for the suppression of evidence is abuse of discretion.

Chamberlin v. State, 989 So. 2d 320, 336 (Miss. 2008) (citing Miss. Transp. Comm’n v.

McLemore, 863 So. 2d 31, 34 (Miss. 2003)).

¶48. A traffic stop may constitute a seizure under the Fourth Amendment when a

“reasonable person would have believed that he was not free to leave.” United States v.

Mendenhall, 446 U.S. 544, 554, 100 S. Ct. 1870, 64 L. Ed. 2d 497 (1980). “An automobile

stop is . . . subject to the constitutional imperative that it not be ‘unreasonable’ under the

circumstances. As a general matter, the decision to stop an automobile is reasonable where

the police have probable cause to believe that a traffic violation has occurred.” Whren v.

United States, 517 U.S. 806, 810, 116 S. Ct. 1769, 135 L. Ed. 2d 89 (1996) (citing Delaware

v. Prouse, 440 U.S. 648, 659, 99 S. Ct. 1391, 59 L. Ed. 2d 660 (1979); Pennsylvania v.

Mimms, 434 U.S. 106, 109, 98 S. Ct. 330, 54 L. Ed. 2d 331 (1977)). The constitutional

reasonableness of a traffic stop does not depend on the actual motivations of the individual

officers involved. Whren, 517 U.S. at 813.

¶49. The United States Supreme Court has held that “the question whether a consent to a

search was in fact ‘voluntary’ or was the product of duress or coercion, express or implied,

is a question of fact to be determined from the totality of all the circumstances.”

Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218, 227, 93 S. Ct. 2041, 36 L. Ed. 2d 854 (1973).

This Court adopted that federal standard. Jackson v. State, 418 So. 2d 827, 830 (Miss.

1982). “As a consequence of adopting the voluntariness test for consent searches, the
 In support of his argument that the alleged consent to search was invalid, Goff cites

17

Penick v. State and Longstreet v. State. In Penick, this Court stated that “the best way to

prove a defendant had knowledge he did not have to consent to the search is for the officer

to have told him.” Penick, 440 So. 2d 547, 550 (Miss. 1983). However, neither this Court,

nor the United States Supreme Court, has held that an officer must advise a suspect of his

constitutional right to refuse to consent. In Longstreet, this Court stated that when a search

“is based on consent alone, it is necessary that the person searched be aware of the right to

refuse under the law.” Longstreet, 592 So. 2d 16, 19 (Miss. 1991). We find that Penick is

merely advisory, and that Longstreet is inapplicable in this case, as the search was not

“based on consent alone.”

19

[United States Supreme] Court concluded that ‘while the subject’s knowledge of a right to

refuse is a factor to be taken into account, the prosecution is not required to demonstrate such

knowledge as a prerequisite to establishing a voluntary consent.’ That is, consent may be

established without a showing that the police warned the consenting party of his Fourth

Amendment rights or that he was otherwise aware of those rights.” Jones v. State ex rel.

Miss. Dep't of Pub. Safety, 607 So. 2d 23, 27 (Miss. 1991) (quoting Schneckloth, 412 U.S.

at 249); see also Logan v. State, 773 So. 2d 338, 343 (Miss. 2000); Graves v. State, 708 So.

2d 858, 863-64 (Miss. 1997).17

¶50. At the suppression hearing in the case sub judice, Trooper Ginn testified that while

on patrol on August 27, 2004, he had observed a vehicle traveling westbound on Interstate

20 in Warren County, Mississippi. According to Trooper Ginn, after noticing that the vehicle

had a temporary tag, which appeared to have been altered and which was expired, he had

initiated the stop.

¶51. A routine traffic stop for an expired tag led to other findings which justified further

inquiry. Such findings included the red marks on Goff’s neck, the appearance of the
 Goff, himself, admitted during the suppression hearing that the tag was indeed 18

expired. Goff’s license came back as being valid. However, Trooper Ginn was informed

that Goff had a lengthy criminal history, e.g., “he had multiple breaking and entering charges

showing on his criminal history, menacing, stolen property charges, assault, and charges

involving a firearm.” The dispatcher also informed Trooper Ginn that they could not find

any record on file of the Mustang Goff was driving.

 Trooper Ginn testified that he had requested permission to search Goff’s vehicle 19

based on the condition of the temporary tag, the fact that no record existed for the vehicle,

the large amount of cash in Goff’s possession, the fact that Goff was destined for Texas, and

Goff’s demeanor in general.

20

vehicle’s interior, the smell of gasoline, and the unusual responses provided by Goff. Goff 18

told Trooper Ginn that he did not work and that “he was on a spiritual experience.”

¶52. Trooper Ginn asked Goff if he had any drugs, weapons, or stolen merchandise in the

vehicle. Goff responded that he did not. Trooper Ginn then proceeded to request, and

receive, consent to search Goff’s vehicle. The totality of the search of Goff’s vehicle by 19

Trooper Ginn consisted of opening a carton of cigarettes as well as searching the center

console of the vehicle, wherein three bank-rolls of fifty-dollar bills were found. The search

ended after the rolls of money were found, because Trooper Henley had to leave the scene

to respond to another incident. Trooper Ginn testified that he then removed the money and

handed it to Goff.

¶53. Thereafter, Trooper Ginn was informed by the George County Sheriff’s Office that

Goff was a person of interest in the murder of Brandy. Goff was arrested, and Troop Ginn
 A search warrant was obtained for Goff’s vehicle upon arrival in George County. 20

Forensic scientist, Stacy Smith, conducted a search of the vehicle, pursuant to the warrant.

It was during this search that numerous articles of evidence, including the wallet and the

bloody shirt, were seized.

21

secured his vehicle. Trooper Ginn’s involvement ended when George County officials

arrived and took custody of Goff and the vehicle.20

¶54. At the conclusion of the suppression hearing, the trial judge determined that Trooper

Ginn had initiated the traffic stop properly going on to conclude that the detention was

reasonable under the circumstances.

¶55. The trial court found that the stop of Goff’s vehicle was proper, that the length of the

detention was reasonable, and that the consent to search was valid. See Whren, 517 U.S. at

810 (citing Prouse, 440 U.S. at 659) (“[a]s a general matter, the decision to stop an

automobile is reasonable where the police have probable cause to believe that a traffic

violation has occurred”); Schneckloth, 412 U.S. at 227 ( “the question whether a consent to

a search was in fact ‘voluntary’ . . . is a question of fact to be determined from the totality

of all the circumstances”). The trial court did not abuse its discretion by admitting the

evidence in question, and this argument is without merit.

II. Waiver of Counsel, Competency to Proceed Pro Se, and Failure to

Order a Mental Competency Examination and to Conduct a

Competency Hearing

¶56. Goff argues that the trial court erred when it allowed him to waive his Sixth

Amendment right to counsel and proceed pro se. Goff also claims that the trial court should
22

have ordered a mental-competency evaluation and conducted a competency hearing.

A. Waiver of counsel and right to proceed pro se

¶57. While Goff presents the issue as whether the trial court erred when it allowed him to

waive his Sixth Amendment right to counsel and proceed pro se, we find that the actual issue

is whether the “hybrid representation” Goff received during trial provided him with effective

assistance of counsel. See Metcalf v. State, 629 So. 2d 558, 564 (Miss. 1993); see also

United States v. Oreye, 263 F.3d 669, 671 (7th Cir. 2001).

¶58. A trial court may permit hybrid representation which consists of “the participation by

an attorney in the conduct of the trial when the defendant is proceeding pro se.” Metcalf,

629 So. 2d at 562-63 (citations omitted); see also Miss. Const. art. 3, § 26 (1890) (“In all

criminal prosecutions the accused shall have a right to be heard by himself or counsel, or

both . . . .”). This Court has set forth various factors to consider in determining whether the

trial court granted pro se or hybrid representation:

[T]he defendant’s accessibility to counsel; whether and how often he consults

with counsel up to the point of the request; the stage of trial at which he

requests a participatory role in his defense; the magnitude of the role he desires

to assume; whether the trial court encourages immediate and constant

accessibility of counsel; and the nature and extent of assistance of counsel

which has been provided up to the point of the request, including both

substantive and procedural aid.

Metcalf, 629 So. 2d at 565.

¶59. Considering these factors individually, we find that this case is analogous to other

cases in which this Court has held that the defendant was not deprived of counsel due to

hybrid representation. Deen and McNally, Goff’s privately retained attorneys, were present
 Manders described herself as Goff’s girlfriend. 21

23

at Goff’s counsel table during the entire trial, and Goff consulted with them on several

occasions. See Dunn v. State, 693 So. 2d 1333, 1342 (Miss. 1997); Metcalf, 629 So. 2d at

565. Both Deen and McNally provided substantial assistance before trial. See Dunn, 693

So. 2d at 1342. They filed numerous pretrial motions and represented Goff at two pretrial

hearings. After Goff filed a motion to proceed pro se, which the trial court granted, the trial

judge stated:

[U]nder these circumstances and given the nature of the charges here, I am

appointing Mr. Deen and Mr. McNally and directing that they remain to

provide you with any support, assistance, and advice that you deem sufficient

to seek from them. And also, I will authorize them to act as co-counsel, if that

is acceptable to you.

¶60. It is clear from the record that Deen and McNally were not casual observers. Deen

conducted voir dire; handled jury challenges; made numerous objections throughout the trial;

conducted the cross-examination of Margaret Clark, Trooper Ginn, James Yates, Jr., Dr.

Hayne, Investigator Smith, Investigator Bowlus, and Detective Lambert; conducted the direct

examination of Dee Dee Wall, Detective Lambert, and Rachel Manders; made the motion 21

for directed verdict; presented the closing argument in the guilt phase; represented Goff at

sentencing; made the opening statement on behalf of Goff at sentencing; conducted the direct

examination of Lessie Goff and Dr. Van Rosen at sentencing; and filed a motion for a new

trial or, in the alternative, judgment notwithstanding the verdict.
24

¶61. McNally participated in the approval of jury instructions and otherwise assisted both

Deen and Goff throughout the trial. As already noted, Deen and McNally filed numerous

pretrial motions as well.

¶62. In contrast to the involvement of Deen and McNally, Goff had a limited role

throughout the course of the trial. Goff made miscellaneous objections, but his only direct

involvement was conducting the cross-examinations of Pearl Boulware and Sheriff Welford,

and making a closing argument, along with Deen, at the guilt phase.

¶63. Considering the totality of the circumstances, we find that Goff never was actually

without counsel. Deen and McNally were available throughout the entire trial and

substantially participated. The role of each was “not merely that of a skilled bystander, but

of a substantive litigator.” Metcalf, 629 So. 2d at 565. Goff, having never been fully without

the assistance of counsel, cannot now complain. He received the best of both worlds—the

assistance of counsel while conducting his own defense. Id.; Dunn, 693 So. 2d at 1342-43,

Metcalf, 629 So. 2d at 565.

B. Competency evaluation

¶64. With regard to Goff’s claim that the trial court should have ordered a mentalcompetency evaluation and conducted a competency hearing, we find that the facts of this

case did not warrant either.

¶65. Rule 9.06 of the Uniform Rules of Circuit and County Court Practice provides in

pertinent part:
 At the time Conner was decided, Uniform Circuit Court Rule 4.08 controlled, 22

which did not require that a competency hearing be conducted following a court-ordered

mental examination.

25

If before or during trial the court, of its own motion or upon motion of an

attorney, has reasonable ground to believe that the defendant is incompetent

to stand trial, the court shall order the defendant to submit to a mental

examination by some competent psychiatrist selected by the court in

accordance with § 99-13-11 of the Mississippi Code Annotated of 1972.

After the examination the court shall conduct a hearing to determine if the

defendant is competent to stand trial. After hearing all the evidence, the court

shall weigh the evidence and make a determination of whether the defendant

is competent to stand trial. If the court finds that the defendant is competent to

stand trial, then the court shall make the finding a matter of record and the case

will then proceed to trial.

Miss. Unif. Cir. & Cty. R. 9.06.

¶66. What constitutes “reasonable ground” to believe that a defendant is incompetent to

stand trial rests largely within the discretion of the trial judge. See Cox v. State, 793 So. 2d

591, 597 (Miss. 2001) (citing Conner v. State, 632 So. 2d 1239, 1248 (Miss. 1993),

(overruled on other grounds). The pertinent question is whether “the trial judge receive[d] 22

information which, objectively considered, should reasonably have raised a doubt about

defendant’s competence and alerted him to the possibility that the defendant could neither

understand the proceedings, appreciate their significance, nor rationally aid his attorney in

his defense?” Conner v. State, 632 So. 2d at 1248 (citing Lokos v. Capps, 625 F.2d 1258,

1261 (5th Cir. 1980)).

¶67. On January 21, 2005, Goff’s attorneys filed a motion for a court-ordered mental

examination of defendant. The motion stated:
 The ex parte conference was transcribed on the record. 23

26

The attorney for the defendant in this case moves this Court to order a mental

examination of defendant to be conducted at such time or times as the Court

may direct, by qualified mental health professionals to determine:

(1) The defendant’s present mental condition and competency to stand

trial; and;

(2) The mental condition of the defendant at the time of the offense,

and that the prosecution of this case be stayed depending the outcome

of such examination.

As attorney for defendant, I question the defendant’s competency to

stand trial and believe that it is essential for a mental examination to be

conducted in advance of the trial because:

(1) During the course of the investigation for this offense, undersigned

counsel has come to believe that defendant has a history of mental

illness and that he has been treated by mental health professionals while

incarcerated in the State of Alabama.

(2) The defendant has engaged in bazaar [sic] behavior during the past

several years;

(3) No mental health clinician has seen the defendant in over six

months, during which time the defendant has been confined in the

George County, Mississippi Jail.

¶68. On April 7, 2005, the court heard various motions brought by Goff. Goff testified at

this hearing. At the conclusion of the hearing, counsel for Goff, in the presence of the State,

requested that an ex parte conference be held regarding a previously-filed motion for a courtordered mental evaluation. During this ex parte conference, counsel for Goff stated that the 23

horrific nature of the crime prompted him to request the mental examination:

BY COUNSEL FOR GOFF (DEEN): And when I came over here at first to

represent him, I told him, due to the horrendousness of the allegation, that we
27

ought to look into some type of maybe not guilty by reason of insanity or some

type of looking into his competency at the time the event was done.

¶69. During the conference, counsel informed the trial court that Goff was a difficult client,

that Goff was a child of incest, and that Goff had suffered psychotic episodes. Conversely,

counsel also said that he had no trouble communicating with Goff. At the conclusion of this

conference, defense counsel amended the previous request for a mental evaluation for the

purposes of determining whether Goff was competent to stand trial, so that the requested

evaluation was for mitigation purposes only.

¶70. At a second pretrial hearing on April 25, 2005, counsel further explained that he was

no longer requesting a mental evaluation for the defendant. Counsel stated that between the

filing of the motion on January 21, 2005, and the hearing on April 7, 2005, he “could find

no independent background of Mr. Goff where he would have had any psychiatric care or

psychologist care or any indication that he would not be competent to stand trial or that he

was legally insane at the time of the offense.” According to counsel, Goff had been able to

assist counsel in his preparation of the defense, Goff had an appreciation of the situation he

was in, and the trouble that counsel had communicating with Goff was no different than that

with any other client who is under substantial stress.

¶71. During the April 25, 2005, hearing, the trial court granted Goff’s previous request for

funds for the purpose of securing a mental-health expert to testify during the penalty phase.

At the conclusion of this hearing, in commenting on the issue of Goff’s competency, the trial

judge stated:
 Dr. Van Rosen testified during sentencing that Goff had a full-scale IQ score of 24

102, which is in the average or slightly above-average range. In addition, the report prepared

by Dr. Rosen, while not admitted into evidence, stated that “[Goff] would be considered

competent in most respects to stand trial.”

28

It was my observation at the hearings conducted April 7th . . . , I did not

observe or perceive any untoward conduct on the part of the defendant. He

certainly appeared to me to appreciate the nature of the proceedings. He was

able to proceed and testify at that hearing, and his responses to the questions

that were asked were appropriate and responsive. I didn’t see any basis for the

Court on its own, sua sponte, bringing up, you know, having a hearing

conducted or an examination conducted.24

¶72. The trial court did not err in failing to order a mental-competency evaluation or failing

to conduct a competency hearing, and Goff’s argument is without merit.

III. Sufficiency of the Evidence

¶73. Goff contends that the prosecution failed to adduce evidence sufficient to convict him

of the underlying felony of robbery, as it failed to prove that Goff took any personal property

belonging to Brandy. Goff argues on appeal that there was no evidence that Brandy’s wallet

was ever in the motel room with Brandy, that there was no biological evidence found on the

wallet, and that the wallet was never tested for fingerprints.

¶74. Specifically, Goff contends that, because the wallet was not found among the crimescene items that were found on the floorboard of the vehicle or in the pillowcase found on

the passenger seat, that this negates the theory of robbery. Thus, Goff avers that there is a

lack of sufficient evidence to support the underlying felony of robbery, and that this Court

must therefore hold the evidence insufficient to prove capital murder. We disagree.
29

¶75. In Bush v. State, 895 So. 2d 836, 843 (Miss. 2005), we reiterated the standard of

review for the legal sufficiency of the evidence:

In Carr v. State, 208 So. 2d 886, 889 (Miss. 1968), we stated that in

considering whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain a conviction in the

face of a motion for directed verdict or for judgment notwithstanding the

verdict, the critical inquiry is whether the evidence shows “beyond a

reasonable doubt that [the] accused committed the act charged, and that he did

so under such circumstances that every element of the offense existed; and

where the evidence fails to meet this test it is insufficient to support a

conviction.” However, this inquiry does not require a court to

‘ask itself whether it believes that the evidence at the trial

established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.’ Instead, the

relevant question is whether, after viewing the evidence in the

light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact

could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a

reasonable doubt.

Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 315, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560

(1979) (citations omitted) (emphasis in original). Should the facts and

inferences considered in a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence “point

in favor of the defendant on any element of the offense with sufficient force

that reasonable men could not have found beyond a reasonable doubt that the

defendant was guilty,” the proper remedy is for the appellate court to reverse

and render [, i.e. reverse and discharge]. Edwards v. State, 469 So. 2d 68, 70

(Miss. 1985) (citing May v. State, 460 So. 2d 778, 781 (Miss. 1984)); see also

Dycus v. State, 875 So. 2d 140, 164 (Miss. 2004). However, if a review of the

evidence reveals that it is of such quality and weight that, “having in mind the

beyond a reasonable doubt burden of proof standard, reasonable fair-minded

men in the exercise of impartial judgment might reach different conclusions

on every element of the offense,” the evidence will be deemed to have been

sufficient. Edwards, 469 So. 2d at 70; see also Gibby v. State, 744 So. 2d 244,

245 (Miss. 1999).

When the State’s case rests on circumstantial evidence, the evidence must be sufficient to

prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and to the exclusion of every reasonable hypothesis

consistent with innocence. Billiot v. State, 454 So. 2d 445, 461 (Miss. 1984).
30

¶76. Capital murder is defined in Mississippi Code Annotated Section 97-3-19(2).

(2) The killing of a human being without the authority of law by any means or

in any manner shall be capital murder in the following cases:

. . . 

(e) When done with or without any design to effect death, by any person

engaged in the commission of the crime of . . . robbery. . . .

Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-19 (Rev. 2006).

¶77. Robbery is defined in Mississippi Code Annotated Section 97-3-79 as follows:

Every person who shall feloniously take or attempt to take from the person or

from the presence the personal property of another and against his will by

violence to his person or by putting such person in fear of immediate injury to

his person by the exhibition of a deadly weapon shall be guilty of robbery . .

. . 

Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-79 (Rev. 2006).

¶78. The elements of robbery are: “(1) felonious intent, (2) force or putting in fear as a

means of effectuating the intent, and (3) by that means taking and carrying away the property

of another from his person or in his presence.” Walker v. State, 913 So. 2d 198, 223 (Miss.

2005) (quoting Caldwell v. State, 481 So. 2d 850, 853 (Miss. 1985)).

¶79. Under well-settled law, “possession of a deceased’s property creates a reasonable

inference that the property was stolen.” Spicer v. State, 921 So. 2d 292, 312 (Miss. 2006)

(citing Knox v. State, 805 So. 2d 527, 531-32 (Miss. 2002)); cf. Wilson v. United States, 162

U.S. 613, 16 S. Ct. 895, 40 L. Ed. 1090 (1896) (“Possession of the fruits of crime, recently

after its commission, justifies the inference that the possession is guilty possession, and, . .

. that there is a like presumption in the case of murder accompanied by robbery.”). In Knox,
31

we held that, “when the defendant is discovered with the personal property of the deceased

on his person it is entirely within reason for the jury to find that this fact in itself constitutes

robbery.” Knox, 805 So. 2d at 531-32.

¶80. Evidence was adduced through the testimony of Investigator Smith that Brandy’s

wallet was in Goff’s possession when he was stopped shortly after Brandy’s murder. Smith

testified that the wallet was found inside the vehicle in the area of the console alongside

items removed from the motel room.

¶81. The record also discloses that upon registering into the motel, Brandy provided her

driver’s license; that she was given one room key; and that she returned to the vehicle and

drove the vehicle over to room 121. As evinced by Goff’s statement to the police, shortly

after they entered the motel room an altercation ensued. The record shows that Goff then left

and that he later stated to the police, he did so with “intentions of never coming back.”

¶82. According to the record, Brandy was stranded at the motel for approximately eight

hours. In that time she had three telephone conversations with her husband, James, during

which they discussed plans for him to pick her up the next morning. There was no indication

in the record that Brandy ever mentioned being without her wallet, or without money. James

testified that Brandy did not use banks, stating, “We always kept our money at home or on

us.” Among the items, mentioned in the facts, contained in Brandy’s wallet, was $509 in

cash (ten fifty-dollar bills, a five, and two ones), and two dollars in quarters.

¶83. The record further reveals that among the numerous items found in Goff’s vehicle,

which Goff admitted to taking from the crime scene, were an empty pizza box and a plastic
32

trash bag. Investigator Smith indicated that the trash bag came from inside the motel room.

Found inside the trash bag among the cigarette butts and a pink-colored blade guard from a

disposable razor, was pizza crust.

¶84. In Kitchens v. State, 300 So. 2d 922 (Miss. 1974), we explained this Court’s

longstanding position with regard to the sufficiency of circumstantial evidence:

It was long ago held by this Court in the case of Browning v. State, 33 Miss.

47, citing Cicely v. State, 13 Smedes & M. 202, 211, and the principle has

been uniformly adhered to since that time, that the sufficiency of

circumstantial evidence is peculiarly for the determination of the jury,

“because it is always solemnly to be weighed and acted upon by their

understandings and consciences, and is, from its very nature, the subject of

inferences and conclusions in their minds[.]”

300 So. 2d at 926-27 (quoting from Johnson v. State, 23 So. 2d 499 (Miss. 1945)).

¶85. Based on our careful and thorough review of the record, the evidence in this case does

not “leave indifferent” the hypothesis that, Brandy’s wallet, the one item at issue among all

the items found in Goff’s vehicle that were determined to have been taken from the crime

scene, had been left in Goff’s vehicle by Brandy. Lambert v. State, 462 So. 2d 308, 313-14

(Miss. 1984) (quoting Sorrells v. State, 130 Miss. 300, 94 So. 209 (1922)). It follows that

there is nothing in the record that points in favor of Goff with sufficient force that no rational

trier of fact could have found this essential element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt,

and to the exclusion of every reasonable hypothesis consistent with innocence. Bush v.

State, 895 So. 2d at 843; Billiot, 454 So. 2d at 461.

¶86. Thus, on the question of whether sufficient evidence was presented to support the

jury’s conclusion that Brandy’s wallet was in her presence as contemplated by section 97-3-
33

79, at the time of her murder, we find Goff’s argument meritless. Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-79

(Rev. 2006).

¶87. With regard to the fact that no biological evidence was found on the wallet, and that

the State failed to test the item for fingerprints, we reject Goff’s argument that this

demonstrates a lack of sufficient evidence. We find these facts more properly pertinent to

a weight-of-the-evidence claim, rather than a sufficiency-of-the-evidence analysis as to

whether a rational jury could have decided that the wallet was in Brandy’s presence in the

motel room prior to Goff’s removing it. While Goff does not argue weight of the evidence,

we deem it necessary to address these specific points under this respective analysis.

¶88. Essentially, when a defendant successfully challenges a jury’s verdict based on the

weight of the evidence, the defendant is entitled to have a different jury pass on the evidence.

See Smith v. State, 925 So. 2d 825, 832 (Miss. 2006) (“this Court has not hesitated to invoke

its authority to order a new trial and allow a second jury to pass on the evidence where it

considers the first jury’s determination of guilt to be based on extremely weak or tenuous

evidence”) (citations & internal quotation marks omitted). However, “the power to grant a

new trial should be invoked only in exceptional cases in which the evidence preponderates

heavily against the verdict.” Bush, 895 So. 2d at 844. This Court will disturb a verdict only

“when it is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence that to allow it to stand

would sanction an unconscionable injustice.” Id.

¶89. Investigator Smith testified on cross-examination that she released the wallet to

Detective Lambert at the scene, where he then sealed it. She stated that she did not submit
34

the wallet to the crime laboratory for testing because there did not appear to be any biological

evidence of any sort that required such submission. Similarly, the jury had before it the fact

that no tests were conducted on the wallet for fingerprints. These were factual questions,

with attendant inferences that could have led in any number of directions, for the jury to

resolve.

¶90. We find that the lack of biological and fingerprint evidence does not preponderate

against the verdict so as to sanction an unconscionable injustice. Bush, 895 So. 2d at 844.

¶91. Finally, based on the framing of Goff’s argument for this issue, it is unclear whether

he seeks to challenge the State’s proof with regard to the intent element for the crime of

robbery. In support of his argument with regard to the location of the wallet, Goff cites

Young v. Zant, 506 F. Supp. 274 (M.D. Ga. 1980), aff’d, 677 F.2d 792 (11th Cir. 1982). In

Young, the petitioner sought habeas corpus relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2254, from his death

sentence imposed by a Georgia state court, following his jury conviction of murder, armed

robbery, and robbery. 506 F. Supp. at 276. The district court granted relief, inter alia, as it

pertained to petitioner’s sentence, based on its finding that the evidence was insufficient to

sustain a conviction based on robbery. Id. at 280-81. 

¶92. However, based on our reading of Young, the decision dealt only with the element of

intent, not with whether that victim’s wallet was in his presence at the time of the murder.

Id. at 280-81. Moreover, the district court’s stated reasoning for granting relief was based

on a finding that the “only relevant evidence presented at trial indicated that petitioner did

not contemplate the taking of any money until after the shots had been fired and the blows
35

had been struck.” Id. at 280. (emphasis added). Thus, we find Young distinguishable from

the matter before us.

¶93. This Court has stated that “the intent to rob, which is required to prove the underlying

felony of robbery, can be shown from the facts surrounding the crime.” Walker v. State, 913

So. 2d 198, 224 (Miss. 2005) (quoting Lynch v. State, 877 So. 2d 1254, 1266 (Miss. 2004)).

Mississippi recognizes the “one continuous transaction rationale” in capital cases. West v.

State, 553 So. 2d 8, 13 (Miss. 1989). We have construed our capital murder statute and held

that “the underlying crime begins where an indictable attempt is reached . . . .” Pickle v.

State, 345 So. 2d 623, 626 (Miss. 1977). “An indictment charging a killing occurring ‘while

engaged in the commission of’ one of the enumerated felonies includes the actions of the

defendant leading up to the felony, the attempted felony, and flight from the scene of the

felony.” Turner v. State, 732 So. 2d 937, 950 (Miss. 1999) (quoting West, 553 So. 2d at 13).

¶94. The State’s theory of the case was that Goff went back to the Rocky Creek Inn the

night of August 26, 2004, to get back what was rightfully his, the money in Brandy’s wallet.

The evidence, although circumstantial, supports this theory.

¶95. During the State’s case-in-chief, evidence was presented through James’s testimony,

that after Goff’s departure from the motel earlier that afternoon, Brandy feared his return.

Based on the motel clerk’s testimony, when Goff returned to the motel at approximately

11:30 p.m., he came to the front desk multiple times trying to gain access into room 121,

before eventually being told that the door was locked from the inside. 
36

¶96. Additional evidence was presented that Goff had received a significant sum of money

from his mother for a business that he had planned to start. There also was evidence

adduced, still during the State’s case, that Goff was supporting Brandy and that Goff was the

source of the cash found inside her wallet. 

¶97. A number of reasonable inferences could be drawn from the facts surrounding the

issue of Goff’s intent. While some may be competing is of no matter. As is true in cases

based on direct testimonial evidence, any conflicts created by the circumstantial evidence

presented were for the jury to resolve. Ratliff v. State, 515 So. 2d 877, 882 (Miss. 1987);

see also Kitchens, 300 So. 2d at 926-27. 

¶98. As with the issue regarding the presence of Brandy’s wallet, we find nothing in the

record that points in favor of Goff with sufficient force that compels us to conclude that no

rational trier of fact could have found him guilty on the intent element of robbery beyond a

reasonable doubt, and to the exclusion of every reasonable hypothesis consistent with

innocence. Billiot,454 So. 2d at 461; cf. Bush v. State, 895 So. 2d at 843.

¶99. Having been properly instructed on the elements of robbery and capital murder, taking

the State’s evidence as a whole, it was reasonable for the jury to conclude that Goff murdered

Brandy while engaged in the crime of robbery. Goff’s charge that the evidence in this matter

does not support his conviction of capital murder with the underlying felony of robbery is

without merit.

IV. Prosecutorial Conduct
37

¶100. Goff alleges that the State committed misconduct in numerous instances and claims

that such misconduct deprived him of a fair trial and a reliable sentencing proceeding, thus

mandating that his conviction and sentence of death be vacated.

¶101. This Court has held that the failure by defense counsel contemporaneously to object

to a prosecutor’s remark at trial bars consideration of prosecutorial-misconduct allegations

on appeal. Hodges v. State, 912 So. 2d 730, 751 (Miss. 2005) (citing Davis v. State, 660 So.

2d 1228, 1255 (Miss. 1995)). The rule governing preservation for review provides that if an

appellant raises for review an issue not raised in the pleadings, transcript, or rulings, the

appellant must have preserved the issue by raising it in a motion for new trial. Id. (citing

Miss. Code Ann. § 9-13-31 (Rev. 2002); Jackson v. State, 423 So. 2d 129, 131 (Miss.

1982)). The rationale for this rule is based on the policy of giving the trial judge, prior to

appellate review, the opportunity to consider the alleged error. Id. (citing Howard v. State,

507 So. 2d 58, 63 (Miss. 1987)).

¶102. Goff never raised any objection at trial, or in his motion for a new trial, that the

prosecution had engaged in misconduct of any kind, and therefore his claims are barred from

consideration on direct appeal. Notwithstanding the procedural bar, the merits of Goff’s

claims will be addressed.

A. Victim-impact information during voir dire and opening statement

¶103. First, according to Goff, the State injected character evidence concerning the victim

during voir dire as well as during its opening statement.

¶104. During voir dire, the prosecutor asked the following of the prospective jurors: 
38

BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY (voir dire): She worked as a cocktail

waitress at a bar in Alabama where she worked to help support her family.

And you’re going to hear that from her husband. And she left 24 days before

her death with the defendant.

Now, the question I have for ya’ll is, will you hold that against the State of

Mississippi that she worked in a bar? Some people just don’t like that. Some

people think you ought not work in a bar. Can everybody tell me her

profession or her career that she was doing at the time will not affect your

verdict? Can everybody tell me that? That you can follow the law?

Because the law doesn’t say you have the right to life unless you’re a cocktail

waitress, or you have the right to life unless you left your kids 24 days before

with another man. It doesn’t say that. It doesn’t say that. And I need to know.

And it’s all right. Again, as the Judge told you, this is America, we can

believe what we want. And that’s the great thing about our country. But we

need to know now. Because if that’s going to bother you, we have to know

now. So, can everybody tell me they can follow the law as given to you by the

Court?

¶105. Later, during the prosecution’s opening statement, the district attorney made the

following statement:

BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY (opening statement): . . . [O]n August the

2nd, Brandy Stewart Yates was 29 years old. She had a husband named

James. She had a son eight years old, James IV, and she had a daughter named

Sissy. Her mother Carolyn, her father Jack, her sister Crystal, and her brother

Jeff loved her dearly and cared for her greatly.

On August the 2nd, they could not understand the decision Brandy had made,

a decision to leave her family and go to with that man right there, the

defendant that you see in this courtroom.

Now, Brandy, you will hear, was a cocktail waitress at a bar in Alabama. She

worked there to help support the family. James worked construction. 

She met Mr. Goff at that bar, and for reasons we will probably never know,

she made a decision to go with him. But at that time, all the concern, all the

love, no one, no one ever dreamed that 24 days later she would lay dead in

Room 121 of the Rocky Creek Inn here in Lucedale, Mississippi. 
39

¶106. We find that the questions asked by the prosecutor during voir dire were permissible,

as “[o]ur law allows an attorney for either side to probe the prejudices of the prospective

jurors to the end that all will understand the jurors’ thoughts on matters directly related to the

issues to be tried.” West v. State, 553 So. 2d 8, 22 (Miss. 1989). The prosecution wanted

to know whether any prospective juror would be prejudiced against Brandy or the State

because she was a cocktail waitress and/or because she had left her husband for another man.

¶107. With regard to the prosecution’s opening statement, this Court has held that “the

purpose of an opening statement is to inform the jury what a party to the litigation expects

the proof to show.” Slaughter v. State, 815 So. 2d 1122, 1131 (Miss. 2002) (quoting

Crenshaw v. State, 513 So. 2d 898, 900 (Miss. 1987)). We find that the prosecutor’s

statement did just this–inform the jury what it expected the evidence to show.

¶108. Furthermore, statements made by counsel during voir dire or during opening argument

do not constitute evidence. See Henton v. State, 752 So. 2d 406, 409 (Miss. 1999) (closing

arguments are not evidence); Crenshaw v. State, 513 So. 2d 898, 900 (opening statements

are not evidence). This issue is without merit.

B. Victim-impact and character evidence during guilt phase

¶109. Goff also contends that the State, during the guilt phase, formally introduced improper

victim-impact and character evidence through Brandy’s husband, James. During the State’s

case-in-chief, James identified himself as Brandy’s husband of eight years, reiterated that

they had two children together, and stated where Brandy worked as well as what kind of

work she did. James’s testimony in no way touched upon Brandy’s character. Nor did James
 James did, in fact, present victim-impact testimony during the sentencing phase of 25

the trial. This testimony was proper, as recognized by both the Mississippi Legislature and

this Court. Mississippi Code Annotated Section 99-19-157(2)(a) (Rev. 2007) allows for an

oral victim impact statement “at any sentencing hearing” with the permission of the courts.

This Court has adopted the United States Supreme Court’s holding in Payne v. Tennessee,

501 U.S. 808, 111 S. Ct. 2597, 115 L. Ed. 2d 720 (1991), and noted that “[a] state may

legitimately conclude that evidence about the victim and about the impact of the murder on

the victim’s family is relevant to the jury’s decision as to whether or not the death penalty

should be imposed.” Hansen v. State, 592 So. 2d 114, 146 (Miss. 1991).

40

testify during the guilt phase as to the impact his wife’s murder had had on him or his

children. This issue is without merit, as the testimony “concern[ed] the background . . . of 25

the victim” and merely set the stage for the presentation of relevant evidence. Spicer v.

State, 921 So. 2d at 307.

C. Seeking promises from the jury during voir dire

¶110. Goff alleges that during voir dire, the State sought a promise from the jury that they

would be able to convict Goff even in the absence of DNA evidence. The particular inquiry

of which Goff complains is as follows:

BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY (voir dire): . . . [Y]ou know, if you watch

TV a lot, you probably get to watch—I don’t know how many of you—how

many of you watch CSI? Well, raise your hand. See, there’s a lot of you. A

lot of you. It’s a very popular show. My kids love it. All right. They’re older

and they love that show. They like Law and Order.

But, can everybody tell me that they can separate what they see on TV from

what you see in the courtroom? I know that sounds like a silly question, but

some people go, oh, well, it was on CSI, so how come they don’t do it in every

case? All right.

And I can tell you how I know, I know CSI and Law and Order are makebelieve. If you flip the channel, you may see Scotty beaming somebody else

up, and that’s on TV. All right?
 In Stringer, the prosecution specifically requested a promise during voir dire for 26

a verdict imposing the death penalty. Stringer, 500 So. 2d at 938. During closing

argument, the prosecution reminded the jury of their prior promise. Id.

41

So, can everybody tell me—and, again, this kind of goes to the burden of

proof, you know, about what evidence you have—and can everyone tell me

that they will listen to the evidence and not speculate because they don’t have,

say, DNA or they don’t have fingerprints and things you may see or hear about

on CSI? Can everyone tell me they can do that? Yeah?

¶111. During closing arguments, the State reminded the jury of the question posed during

voir dire, stating in part that “[y]ou were asked in voir dire, you all know about CSI. Can

you set that aside if it’s not needed and return a verdict, and you all said yes. So we ask you

to hold to that. It’s not necessary here, and it’s not needed. The evidence was

overwhelming.” According to Goff, this tactic of putting jurors in a “box” has long been

condemned. In support of this argument, Goff relies on this Court’s statement:

It is an improper influence to put the jury in a “box” by voir dire tactics which

extract a promise, prior to trial, to ignore evidence favorable to the defendant.

This promise or pledge prevents the jurors from considering all factors relative

to the verdict. The jurors are then called upon during closing argument to

fulfill that promise, and the effect–whether calculated or not–is to shame or

coerce the jury into rejecting factors which would tend to mitigate against the

death penalty.

Stringer v. State, 500 So. 2d 928, 938-39 (Miss. 1986). 

26

¶112. It is reversible error to ask a juror during voir dire to commit to returning a particular

verdict. Id. at 938; see also West v. State, 485 So. 2d 681 (Miss. 1985); Murphy v. State,

246 So. 2d 920 (Miss. 1971). Here, however, the prosecutor did not ask the jurors for a

promise to convict, nor did he ask the jurors to ignore any piece of evidence; rather, he asked
 “The ‘CSI effect’ is a term that legal authorities and the mass media have coined 27

to describe a supposed influence that watching the television show CSI: Crime Scene

Investigation has on juror behavior. Some have claimed that jurors who see the high-quality

forensic evidence presented on CSI raise their standards in real trials, in which actual

evidence is typically more flawed and uncertain.” United States v. Fields, 483 F.3d 313, 355

n.39 (5th Cir. 2007) (citing Tom R. Tyler, Viewing CSI and the Threshold of Guilt:

Managing Truth and Justice in Reality and Fiction, 115 Yale L.J. 1050, 1050 (2006)).

42

the jurors to listen to the evidence and return a verdict based upon the evidence presented at

trial. See Taylor v. State, 672 So. 2d 1246, 1264 (Miss. 1996) (questions did not appear to 27

extract any kind of commitment from the potential jurors, but merely “probed” into their

prejudices in order to get some insight into their thoughts); West v. State, 553 So. 2d 8, 22

(Miss. 1989) (Our law allows an attorney for either side to probe the prejudices of the

prospective jurors to the end that all will understand the jurors’ thoughts on matters directly

related to the issues to be tried. What is impermissible is for an attorney to attempt to secure

from the juror a pledge that, if a certain set of facts occur or are presented, the juror will vote

a certain way). Therefore, the admission of this statement was not error.

D. Argument outside the record

¶113. Goff contends that the State committed misconduct during closing argument when it

argued that the only way that the blood could have gotten on the back of Goff’s shirt was if

Goff had slashed and beaten Brandy. Goff asserts that the prosecutor’s argument was

unsupported by the record for three reasons: (1) in his statement to police, Goff explained

that the blood on the shirt resulted from his lying on Brandy’s body after he discovered her

murdered in the motel room; (2) no witness testified as to how the blood may have gotten on
43

the back of Goff’s shirt; and (3) when asked about what appeared to be “droplets of blood”

on the back of the shirt, Investigator Smith did not agree with the prosecutor’s assessment,

stating that the marks were merely “smaller stains.”

¶114. During its closing argument, the prosecution argued:

BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY: . . . [F]irst off, the shirt. You can bring

the shirt up, please. This is his shirt. Just look at the stain on this shirt. She

told you there were droplets. Droplets. All right. These are where the buttons

are missing. Does that look like what you would get by laying on somebody?

Now, I know he says he was there for an hour and a half, we’re going to talk

about that in a minute. But that’s a lot of blood, members of the jury. That’s

a lot of blood.

Could you flip to the back, please, sir? The back of the shirt, look at these

droplets. That is blood in motion. That is this. (Motioned with arm in a

slashing motion.) That’s how that gets there. That ain’t laying on top of her.

How do you get blood on the back of a shirt if you’re laying on top of a girl?

What did he do? Lay on her and waddle on the back, too? Please. Please. It

makes no sense. Use your common sense. That shirt right there tells you, he

killed her.

¶115. “The purpose of a closing argument is to fairly sum up the evidence.” Rogers v. State,

796 So. 2d 1022, 1027 (Miss. 2001). The prosecutor should point out those facts presented

by the State “on which the prosecution contends a verdict of guilty would be proper.”

Clemons v. State, 320 So. 2d 368, 371 (Miss. 1975). 

¶116. This Court has stated that “[a]n impassioned argument is not in itself an improper

argument. Furthermore, the prosecutor, as any other counsel, is free to recall and comment

on testimony offered in evidence and to draw inferences. [The prosecutor] may comment

upon any facts introduced into evidence. He may draw whatever deductions seem to him

proper from these facts . . . .” Bell v. State , 725 So. 2d 836, 851 (Miss. 1998). 
44

¶117. We find that the prosecutor referred to a piece of validly admitted evidence, the

bloody shirt and drew a reasonable inference therefrom; and therefore the prosecutor’s

statement was permissible. Id. at 851. As such, this assignment of error is without merit. 

E. Plain error

¶118. Goff asserts that these errors were so prejudicial that they should be considered as

plain error on appeal. As has been stated many times by this Court, “issues not presented to

the trial court for lack of contemporaneous objection are procedurally barred, and error, if

any, is waived.” Wells v. State, 903 So. 2d 739, 742 (Miss. 2005) (citing Ballenger v. State,

667 So. 2d 1242, 1272 (Miss. 1995)). “We depart from this premise only in unusual

circumstances,” as a means of preventing a manifest miscarriage of justice. Dixon v. State,

953 So. 2d 1108, 1116 (Miss. 2007) (citations omitted). “Such circumstances are required

for this Court to consider plain error, despite failure to preserve such error.” Id. Not only

are Goff’s assignments of error procedurally barred, they are without merit. Goff may not

rely on the plain-error doctrine.

V. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

¶119. Listing eight separate claims, Goff contends that he was denied the right to competent

counsel as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment, and that this Court must grant a new trial

due to this constitutional infringement and the resulting prejudice.

¶120. The State counters that, with the exception of the first claim, the claims raised by Goff

are barred, as they occurred at times when Goff was acting as his own attorney. See Faretta

v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 834, 95 S. Ct. 2525, 2541 45 L. Ed. 2d 562, 581 n.46 (1975)
45

(noting that “a defendant who elects to represent himself cannot thereafter complain that the

quality of his own defense amounted to a denial of ‘effective assistance of counsel’”). The

State’s contention, however, is misplaced. Because each of Goff’s ineffective-assistance

charges pertains to matters that were addressed at trial by standby counsel, rather than Goff

himself, we will not apply Faretta in this matter.

¶121. In evaluating an ineffective-assistance charge, this Court applies the two-pronged test

set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 2064-65, 80 L.

Ed. 2d 674, 693-95 (1984) and adopted by this Court in Stringer v. State, 454 So. 2d 468,

476-77 (Miss. 1984). Goff must show: (1) that his counsel's performance was deficient, and

(2) that this alleged deficiency prejudiced his defense. Lindsay v. State, 720 So. 2d 182, 184

(Miss. 1998) (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S. Ct. at 2064-65, 80 L. Ed. 2d at

693-95). The burden of proving both prongs lies on Goff, who is faced with a rebuttable

presumption that trial counsel is competent and his performance was not deficient. Chase

v. State, 699 So. 2d 521, 526 (Miss. 1997). Additionally, Goff must show that there is a

reasonable probability that, but for the errors of his counsel, the judgment would have been

different. Fisher v. State, 532 So. 2d 992, 997 (Miss. 1988). Finally, this Court must

determine whether trial counsel’s performance was both deficient and prejudicial to the

defense based upon the “totality of the circumstances.” Carr v. State, 873 So. 2d 991, 1003

(Miss. 2004) (citing Carney v. State, 525 So. 2d 776, 780 (Miss. 1988)). If this Court finds

that a ineffective-assistance charge chiefly fails under the prejudicial prong, then we may

proceed directly to this part of the test. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697 (“If it is easier to
46

dispose of an ineffectiveness claim on the ground of lack of sufficient prejudice, which we

expect will often be so, that course should be followed.”)

A. Failure to timely investigate Goff’s potential mental health claims

and inaccurate information provided to the trial court

¶122. According to Goff, his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance when they failed

to have him evaluated until after the time to assert an insanity defense had passed and by

providing incorrect information to the trial court. 

¶123. On January 25, 2005, Goff’s attorneys filed a motion for a court-ordered mental

examination of the defendant because of the horrific nature of the crime. At the conclusion

of a hearing on April 7, 2005, where Goff testified, defense counsel made clear that he was

withdrawing the previous request for a mental evaluation for the purposes of determining

whether Goff was competent to stand trial; rather, the evaluation was requested only for

mitigation purposes.

¶124. At a second pretrial hearing on April 25, 2005, counsel further explained that he was

no longer requesting a mental evaluation for the defendant. Counsel stated that, between the

filing of the motion for the mental evaluation on January 21, 2005, and the hearing on April

7, 2005, he “could find no independent background of Mr. Goff where he would have had

any psychiatric care or psychologist care or any indication that he would not be competent

to stand trial or that he was legally insane at the time of the offense.”

¶125. We find that counsel was not deficient, in that he was intimately familiar with Goff,

his family, and his background, he had conducted his own investigation, and after
47

consultation with Goff, he withdrew his request for a mental evaluation as originally filed

and asked that an evaluation be conducted for purposes of securing mitigation evidence.

Furthermore, even if it could be said that Goff’s counsel was deficient based on the failure

to investigate, Goff has failed to demonstrate that counsel’s actions prejudiced him. Despite

Goff’s contentions, the record indicates that counsel used the results of the examination for

the purpose he intended–as evidence of mitigating circumstances at the sentencing phase.

As the jury did in fact consider such evidence, this assignment of error is without merit.

B. Failure to voir dire jurors on effect of viewing crime scene

photographs

¶126. Goff contends that his attorney’s performance was constitutionally deficient because

the jury was not questioned regarding whether they would be prejudiced by the gruesome

photographs during the sentencing phase. Goff cites to Ross v. State, 954 So. 2d 968 (Miss.

2007) in support of this argument. However, Ross does not reveal any such finding by this

Court. In addition, during voir dire, Goff’s counsel explicitly inquired as to whether the

gruesome photographs would affect their decision at the culpability phase.

¶127. This claim is without merit.

C. Failure to object to victim impact at voir dire, in opening

statement, and in testimony at the culpability phase

D. Failure to object to prosecutor’s improper questioning on voir dire,

improper closing argument on juror “promise,” and argument

outside the record

¶128. Both C and D were discussed in Issue IV, supra, wherein we determined that the

references to which Goff complains were not improper; and that the prosecutor did not ask
48

for a promise to convict, nor did he ask that any evidence to be ignored. Therefore, both

charges are without merit, as this Court will not find ineffective assistance where a

defendant’s underlying claim is without merit. Ross, 954 So. 2d at 1004.

E. Failure to object to jury composition

¶129. Goff claims that counsel’s failure to object to the composition of the venire, which

Goff claims had a disproportionate number of potential jurors with close ties to law

enforcement, led to the violation of Goff’s right to a fair trial and an impartial jury.

¶130. Goff is correct that this Court has reversed a conviction where an inordinate number

of jurors were found to have had close ties to law enforcement. See Mhoon v. State, 464 So.

2d 77 (Miss. 1985) (superseded by statute on other grounds, see Bevill v. State, 556 So. 2d

699, 713 (Miss. 1990)). In Mhoon, the majority was troubled that Mhoon’s counsel would

have had to use all of his peremptory challenges just to exclude all the persons who were

either on the police force or closely connected with the police force. Id. at 80. Moreover,

this Court found that, even if Mhoon’s counsel had wanted to do this, he could not have done

so, as one juror had not properly identified her connection to the police on voir dire. Id.

Mhoon, therefore, determined that these circumstances, inter alia, created an unfair hardship

for the defendant. Id. at 81.

¶131. However, the unique circumstances which resulted in that finding by this Court in

Mhoon, are not present in the case before us. Here, the jury pool was comprised of a fiftyeight person special venire. After challenges for cause, the trial judge struck ten potential

jurors. Therefore, the remaining pool was composed of forty-eight venire-persons. Eleven
49

of these forty-eight persons had some degree of connection to law enforcement, which

ranged from direct to indirect. 

¶132. Of the twelve jurors chosen to serve, two had connections to law enforcement: Tiffany

Hudson (panel one, juror nine) and Charlotte Driskell (panel four, juror six). Hudson’s

mother is a correctional officer at the jail where Goff was being held, and Driskell’s

daughter-in-law’s first cousin is a deputy. 

¶133. As reiterated in Mhoon, “[t]his Court does not hold that a person engaged in law

enforcement, or related by blood or marriage to one engaged in law enforcement, should be

per se excluded from jury service.” Id. at 82. The number of potential jurors, as well as

actual jurors, in this matter with ties to law enforcement was neither unusual nor problematic.

¶134. Furthermore, “[c]omplaints concerning counsel’s failure to . . . make certain

objections fall within the ambit of trial strategy” and cannot give rise to an ineffective

assistance claim. Cole v. State, 666 So. 2d 767, 777 (Miss. 1995) (citing Murray v. Maggio,

736 F.2d 279 (5th Cir. 1984)). This Court also has held that “jury selection decisions plainly

fall within the ‘ambit of trial strategy.’” Reynolds v. State, 784 So. 2d 929, 934 (Miss.

2001). As such, we find counsel’s decision not to object to the composition of the venire to

be a strategic decision which this Court will not second-guess. Stringer v. State, 454 So. 2d

at 477.

¶135. This claim is without merit.

F. Counsel erred in requesting sentencing instruction 5, D-1A.
50

¶136. Goff charges that counsel failed to provide competent representation when he

requested sentencing instruction D-1A, which provided:

You are advised that just because these instructions have listed certain

aggravating circumstances you are allowed to consider, does not mean that

those or any other aggravating circumstances exist. It is for only you the jury

to determine, beyond a reasonable doubt, which aggravating circumstances

exist and the weight, if any, to give to any particular aggravating circumstance.

¶137. According to Goff, this instruction advised jurors that the listed aggravating

circumstances were not the only aggravating circumstances they could consider.

¶138. We see no error, prejudicial or otherwise, in this instruction. Further, as the State

points out, jury instructions are to be read together and taken as a whole, with no one

instruction taken out of context. Byrom v. State, 863 So. 2d 836, 874 (Miss. 2003). The

State adds that another jury instruction, sentencing instruction 1, correctly ordered the jurors

to consider only the following elements of aggravation, as set forth in Mississippi Code

Annotated Section 99-19-101 (Rev. 2007), in determining whether the death penalty should

be imposed:

1. Whether the defendant was previously convicted of a felony involving

the use or threat of violence to the person;

2. Whether the defendant knowingly created a great risk of death to many

persons; 

3. Whether the capital offense was committed while the defendant was

engaged in the commission of robbery; 

4. Whether the capital offense was committed for the purpose of avoiding

or preventing a lawful arrest; 

5. Whether the capital offense was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel.
51

You must unanimously find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that one or more of

the preceding aggravating circumstances exists in this case to return the death

penalty. If none of these aggravating circumstances are found to exist, the

death penalty may not be imposed . . . .

(Emphasis added.)

¶139. The jury’s verdict for the death penalty enumerated only those aggravators listed by

statute. See Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101 (Rev. 2007). This claim is without merit.

G. Mishandling of State’s Witness

¶140. Goff claims that during the testimony of Dr. Stephen Hayne, counsel failed to object

to clearly irrelevant and prejudicial testimony concerning the amount of pain suffered by

Brandy. As Dr. Hayne was testifying at the culpability phase, such evidence had no

relevance to the cause and manner of death, according to Goff.

¶141. This Court, has stated that “[d]iscussion of pain by a forensic pathologist is

admissible.” Mitchell v. State, 792 So. 2d 192, 215-16 (Miss. 2001); McGowen v. State, 859

So. 2d 320, 335 (Miss. 2003) (quoting Holland II, 705 So. 2d 307, 341(Miss. 1997)). See

also Whittington v. State, 523 So. 2d 966, 976 (Miss. 1988) (allowing forensic testimony that

a victim suffered a fatal heart attack as a result of trauma and stress induced by a beating and

robbery). “[I]n Mississippi, a forensic pathologist may testify as to what produced [a

victim’s] injuries . . . and what trauma such an injury would produce.” McGowen, 859 So.

2d at 335 (quoting Holland II, 705 So. 2d at 341).

¶142. Because this type of testimony is admissible at trial, Goff is unable to make the
 Goff’s theory of the defense was that Brandy’s husband, James, had abused her in 28

the past and was likely the one who had caused her death.

52

requisite showing of deficient performance under Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S. Ct. at

2064-65, 80 L. Ed. 2d at 693-95, and his claim is without merit.

¶143. Goff also claims that during cross-examination, his counsel went from allowing

prejudicial testimony to eliciting such testimony. In particular, Goff claims that counsel,

having failed to interview Dr. Hayne before he testified, elicited testimony that there was no

evidence of old injuries to Brandy, as well as testimony concerning the removal of organs 28

from Brandy’s body.

¶144. In support of his argument that these actions by counsel amounted to ineffective

assistance of counsel, Goff relies on a case decided by the United States Court of Appeals

for the Tenth Circuit, Fisher v. Gibson, 282 F.3d 1283 (10 th Cir. 2002). “Where an attorney

accidentally brings out testimony that is damaging because he has failed to prepare, his

conduct cannot be called a strategic choice: an event produced by the happenstance of

counsel’s uninformed and reckless cross-examination cannot be called a ‘choice’ at all.” Id.

at 1296; see Strickland, 466 U.S. at 691 (counsel’s failure to investigate must be product of

a reasonable decision that the particular investigation is unnecessary or it is deficient).

¶145. This Court has not adopted the rule espoused by the Tenth Circuit. Rather, this Court

has gone only so far as to comment that a defense attorney’s failure to interview a

pathologist, while “not duty-bound to [so],” was “surprising.” Holland v. State, 587 So. 2d

848, 867 (Miss. 1991).
53

¶146. While defense counsel’s actions may have been deficient, Goff has failed to

demonstrate that he was prejudiced as a result of the testimony elicited. This point of error

is without merit.

H. Counsel’s cumulative performance was constitutionally ineffective.

¶147. Goff finally contends that defense counsel’s errors, even if insufficient to establish

ineffective assistance standing alone, when considered cumulatively, are sufficient to

undermine confidence in the verdict and require reversal. Having found each the abovementioned arguments to be without merit, we find that Goff was provided constitutionally

effective assistance of counsel at trial. This issue is without merit.

VI. Refusal to Grant a Circumstantial Evidence (Two-Theory)

Instruction

¶148. Goff asserts that the trial court erred by refusing to grant a properly submitted

circumstantial evidence (two-theory) instruction citing Parker v. State, 606 So. 2d 1132,

1140-41 (Miss. 1992). Goff contends that, because this was a purely circumstantial evidence

case, he was entitled to the instruction, and the court’s denial of the instruction resulted in

the jury not being fully and fairly instructed on the law, thus mandating reversal.

¶149. Goff sought to invoke the so-called “two-theory” circumstantial evidence instruction

by submitted instruction D-14, which reads:

The Court instructs the jury that if there may be a fact or circumstance in this

cause susceptible of two interpretations, one favorable and the other

unfavorable to the Defendant, and when the jury has considered such fact or

circumstance with all other evidence, there is a reasonable doubt as to the
54

correct interpretation, then you, the jury, must resolve such doubt in favor of

the Defendant, and place upon such fact or circumstance the interpretation

most favorable to the Defendant.

¶150. The trial court refused the instruction on the basis that Goff was not entitled to both

it and the typical circumstantial-evidence instruction (to the exclusion of every reasonable

hypothesis consistent with innocence), and because the necessary burden of proof was

included in the elements instruction.

¶151. This Court has held in matters where the case is based on “purely” circumstantial

evidence, that the defendant is entitled to a two-theory instruction, as well as the general

circumstantial-evidence instruction. Parker, 606 So. 2d at 1140-41 (quoting Henderson v.

State, 453 So. 2d 708, 710 (Miss. 1984)). However, despite Goff’s contention to the

contrary, Parker is distinguishable from the case sub judice. As we explained, a

circumstantial-evidence case (for the purposes of granting a “two-theory” instruction) is one

in which there is neither an eyewitness nor a confession to the crime. State v. Rogers, 847

So. 2d 858, 863 (Miss. 2003) (citing Mangum v. State, 762 So. 2d 337, 344 (Miss. 2000));

Stringfellow v. State, 595 So. 2d 1320, 1322 (Miss. 1992); see also Randolph v. State, 852

So. 2d 547, 567 (Miss. 2002) (Carlson, J., concurring).

¶152. In Goff’s statement to investigators, he admitted setting fire to the motel room. This

constituted a confession to one of the crimes set forth in the indictment. Instruction D-14

sought to cover, in toto, all the evidence submitted in the State’s case. Thus, based on

Rogers, the trial court’s decision to deny a “two-theory” instruction in this matter ultimately
The rule originated in the case of Thompson v. State, wherein the Court reversed 29

a criminal conviction for the trial court’s refusal to grant the following instruction:

The court instructs the jury that if there is any fact or circumstance proven by

the evidence in this case upon which the jury can place a reasonable

construction favorable either to the state or the defendant, it is the duty of the

jury to accept that construction favorable to the defendant, although the one

favorable to the state is more reasonable.

83 Miss. at 287, 35 So. 2d. at 689.

Although obiter dictum, since Runnels did not expressly denounce Thompson, the 30

statement nonetheless espoused why our sister state Alabama already had expressly rejected

the two-theory rule. See, e.g., Gibson v. State, 91 Ala. 64, 9 So. 171 (1890) (A charge

which instructs the jury that, if the evidence is susceptible of two reasonable constructions,

one of which is consistent with the defendant's innocence, it is their duty to adopt that

construction, is calculated to confuse and mislead, and is properly refused.)

55

was correct. Rogers, 847 So. 2d at 863. Therefore, this assignment of error is without merit.

¶153. Since its inception in Mississippi jurisprudence at the turn of the twentieth century in

Thompson v. State, 83 Miss. 287, 35 So. 689 (1903), the “two-theory” circumstantialevidence rule (in its different forms) has been condemned repeatedly by this Court, and for

diverse reasons. Six years after Thompson, we noted the problem behind this type of 29

instruction:

It rarely happens on the trial of a criminal case that two reasonable theories,

one favorable to the state and the other favorable to the defendant, do not arise

out of and to some extent find support in the evidence. If acted upon literally

by juries, this instruction in most cases would amount to a peremptory

instruction to find the defendant not guilty.

Runnels v. State, 96 Miss. 92, 96, 50 So. 499 (1909). Yet, without either deciding the 30

rule’s legal validity, or denouncing Thompson, supra, Runnels simply held that when a
56

criminal defendant is given the necessary instructions that guilt must be proven beyond a

reasonable doubt, refusal of this instruction will not constitute reversible error. Id.; see also

(in chronological order) Roux v. City of Gulfport, 97 Miss. 559, 52 So. 485 (1910) (holding

same, but reading Runnels as condemning the substance of the Thompson instruction); cf.

Saucier v. State, 102 Miss. 647, 59 So. 858 (1912) (affirming, without comment, the trial

court’s refusal to allow the instruction in Thompson phraseology) (citing Runnels and

Roux); Wiley v. State, 129 Miss. 196, 91 So. 906 (1922) (same) (citing Runnels, Roux, and

Saucier); Brady v. State, 128 Miss. 575, 91 So. 277 (1922) (same) (citing same).

¶154. Later, we expressly denounced Thompson, stating as follows:

The principle sought to be invoked in this instruction was never applicable to

testimony, except that of circumstantial evidence alone, and was improperly

applied in Thompson v. State, 83 Miss. 287, 35 So. 689, to the testimony of

eyewitnesses; and, as stated above, has since been disapproved many times.

Its effect has been to mislead the jury and to prevent it from exercising its

discretion in settling questions of veracity under proper instructions by the

court.

Fisher v. State, 150 Miss. 206, 227-28, 116 So. 746, 750-51 (1928) (emphasis added)(citing

Runnels, Roux, Saucier, Wiley, and Brady); cf. Williams v. State, 163 Miss. 475, 482, 142

So. 471, 472 (1932) (without commenting on Thompson, holding that our trial courts are not

required to give a two-theory instruction when its substance is covered by other instructions).

¶155. In Micker v. State, 168 Miss. 692, 152 So. 286 (1934), we expressly held the twotheory instruction as phrased in Thompson (“even though the hypothesis of guilt be the more

probable”) to be an inaccurate statement of law in any case. Id. at 698-99 (emphasis added).
57

We added that, even if correctly drawn, it would not be applicable where the conviction was

based principally on eyewitness testimony. Id. (citing Williams, 163 Miss. 475, 142 So.

471). See also Jones v. State, 183 Miss. 408, 184 So. 810 (1938) (determining that the

two-theory instruction, when correctly drawn, is not applicable to cases resting on direct

testimony).

¶156. In Yarborough v. State, this Court opined that the two-theory instruction, whether

correctly drawn or not, should not be given in any case. Yarborough, 202 Miss. 820, 830,

32 So. 2d 436, 440 (1947) (emphasis added). Yarborough reached this conclusion, first,

because “there are always two theories, that of the State of guilt and that of the defendant of

innocence, . . . the instruction, in effect, is a peremptory for the defendant.” Id. Second, “it

places upon the trial judge the burden and danger of saying the case is purely one of

circumstantial evidence, whereas, in many cases, this is a very difficult question.” Id.

Yarborough nevertheless left the two-theory instruction (if drawn correctly) in place and

affirmed the trial court’s denial of the instruction on the basis that the case did not rest

entirely upon circumstantial evidence and that the defendant had been granted the general

circumstantial-evidence instruction, “to the exclusion of every reasonable hypothesis.” Id.;

see also Lott v. State, 204 Miss. 610, 37 So. 2d 782 (1948) (affirming the trial court’s denial

of a requested two-theory instruction in Thompson phraseology).

¶157. In Simmons v. State, 208 Miss. 523, 44 So. 2d 857, 858-59 (1950), we affirmed the

trial court’s denial of the two-theory instruction, on a finding that the case was not
The instruction was taken from Alexander, Mississippi Jury Instructions, (1953) 31

Section 172, and phrased as follows:

The court instructs the jury for the defendant, that if there be any fact or

circumstances in this case susceptible of two interpretations, one favorable and

the other unfavorable to the accused and when the jury have considered such

fact or circumstances with all the other evidence, there is a reasonable doubt

as to the correct interpretation, they must resolve such doubt in favor of the

accused, and place upon such fact or circumstances the interpretation favorable

to the accused.

58

circumstantial. Notably, Simmons construes Runnels, as condemning a two-theory

instruction, no matter how phrased. Id.

¶158. Five years later, in Coward v. State, 223 Miss. 538, 78 So. 2d 605 (1955), we held that

the refused two-theory instruction, identical to one proffered in the case sub judice, “is never

proper except where the case rests entirely upon circumstantial evidence.” Coward, 78 So.

at 610. Coward added, “even in a case based entirely on circumstantial evidence, if an 31

instruction is allowed that the evidence must exclude every reasonable theory other than that

of guilt, that is held to embody the essentials of the two-theory instruction, . . . refusal of the

[two-theory instruction] is not reversible error.” Id. (citing Yarborough, 32 So. 2d at 440).

¶159. Then came Nester v. State, 254 Miss. 25, 179 So. 2d 565 (1965). In this case, we held

that, because the evidence presented was so circumstantial, the two-theory instruction should

have been granted along with the general circumstantial-evidence instruction, which had

been given. Id. at 566 (emphasis added). Nester cited no case law for authority; rather the

Court relied solely on Alexander, Mississippi Jury Instructions, (1953) Section 172, for its

decision. Id.
59

¶160. In Kitchens, 300 So. 2d at 926, we affirmed the trial court’s refusal to grant a twotheory instruction, both because the evidence was not entirely circumstantial and the general

circumstantial-evidence instruction had been granted. Following in line with Coward, the

Kitchens Court added, “even in a case based entirely on circumstantial evidence, if an

instruction is allowed that the evidence must exclude every reasonable theory other than that

of guilt, that is held to embody the essentials of the two-theory instruction, . . . refusal of the

latter is not reversible error.” Id. (quoting Coward, 78 So. 2d at 610).

¶161. Yet we changed course in Henderson v. State, 453 So. 2d 708 (Miss. 1984), and held

the trial court in error for refusing to give both the general circumstantial-evidence

instruction and the “two-theory” instruction. Id. at 710. Ignoring Kitchens, Henderson

stated:

Where all the evidence tending to prove the guilt of the defendant is

circumstantial, the trial court must grant a jury instruction that every

reasonable hypothesis other than that of guilt must be excluded in order to

convict. Sanders v. State, 286 So. 2d 825, 828 (Miss. 1973); Matula v. State,

220 So. 2d 833, 836 (Miss. 1969). Also where the evidence is purely

circumstantial, the trial court must grant a “two-theory” instruction. Johnson

v. State, 347 So. 2d 358, 360 (Miss. 1977); Nester v. State, 254 Miss. 25, 29,

179 So. 2d 565, 566 (1965). 

Id. Johnson, cited by Henderson for authority, affirmed the trial court’s decision denying

the requested two-theory instruction both because the requested instruction did not contain

the language “reasonable doubt” and the case was not entirely circumstantial. Johnson, 347

So. 2d at 360. Johnson, in addressing the appellant’s argument, merely opined that “[t]he

two-theory instruction may be given only in an entirely circumstantial evidence case.” Id.
60

¶162. We hold today that Kitchens provides the better rule: “In a case based entirely on

circumstantial evidence, if an instruction is allowed that the evidence must exclude every

reasonable theory other than that of guilt, that is held to embody the essentials of the

two-theory instruction, . . . refusal of the latter is not reversible error.” Kitchens, 300 So. 2d

at 926 (quoting Coward v. State, 223 Miss. 538, 78 So. 2d 605 (1955)). To the extent that

Parker, Henderson, and other cases suggest otherwise, they are hereby overruled. 

VII. Instruction Embodying the Theory of Defense

¶163. Our standard for review for the denial of jury instructions is as follows: 

Jury instructions are to be read together and taken as a whole with no one

instruction taken out of context. A defendant is entitled to have jury

instructions given which present his theory of the case; however, this

entitlement is limited in that the court may refuse an instruction which

incorrectly states the law, is covered fairly elsewhere in the instructions, or is

without foundation in the evidence.

Chandler v. State, 946 So. 2d 355, 360 (Miss. 2006) (quoting Ladnier v. State, 878 So. 2d

926, 931 (Miss. 2004)).

¶164. Goff contends that the trial court, by refusing his submitted instruction D-16, denied

him the only opportunity he had for the jury to consider his theory of defense. Goff’s theory

of defense is that Brandy’s husband, James, not Goff, killed Brandy. In support of this

contention, Goff points to his own statement to police, admitted as Exhibit 70, that it must

have been Brandy’s husband that killed her. Goff also points to James’s alleged history of

domestic violence and the testimony of Detective Lambert.
61

¶165. Submitted instruction D-16 provides:

I charge you, members of the jury, that one charged with a crime is permitted

to introduce evidence, in exoneration of himself, which if believed by the jury

will tend to show that some other person committed the offense charged. In

order to justify an acquittal, the totality of any evidence offered to show the

guilt of another need not be of such strength as to warrant a finding by the jury

that such other did, in fact, commit the crime charged. If the jury believes there

is evidence which reasonably tends to show that some other person committed

the crime charged, and this evidence, when considered with all the other

evidence in the case, generates a reasonable doubt in the minds of the jury as

to whether the Defendant is the perpetrator of the criminal act, the Defendant

must be acquitted.

¶166. The trial court denied the instruction, stating, “I believe it’s improper comment by the

Court upon the weight of the evidence. That will be refused.”

¶167. We find that the trial court did not err in denying instruction D-16 for the following

two reasons: (1) the instruction is without foundation in the evidence, and (2) the instruction

is covered fairly elsewhere in the instructions.

¶168. In addition to his own statement to police that James must have been the one who

killed Brandy, Goff offers that James, during his testimony, admitted to a past domestic

incident involving Brandy. James’s testimony on cross-examination was as follows:

BY COUNSEL FOR GOFF (DEEN): You said you were having marital

problems. Right?

BY JAMES: Correct.

BY COUNSEL FOR GOFF (DEEN): And that you were on again, off again

with her. Is that right?

BY JAMES: We had split up one time before. This would be the second time.

BY COUNSEL FOR GOFF (DEEN): Was it in 2004 you had split up?
62

BY JAMES: I would say 2003.

BY COUNSEL FOR GOFF (DEEN): Was that over domestic violence that

ya’ll split up?

BY JAMES: No, sir.

BY COUNSEL FOR GOFF (DEEN): It had nothing to do with that?

BY JAMES: No, sir.

BY COUNSEL FOR GOFF (DEEN): Was that ever a problem in your

household?

BY JAMES: Direct problem, no.

BY COUNSEL FOR GOFF (DEEN): Sir?

BY JAMES: Direct problem, no.

BY COUNSEL FOR GOFF (DEEN): A direct problem. But there was a

problem with fights and stuff with ya’ll, wasn’t there?

BY JAMES: There was disagreements and arguments, yeah.

BY COUNSEL FOR GOFF (DEEN): Physical fights.

BY JAMES: Physical fighting, no.

BY COUNSEL FOR GOFF (DEEN): The law never was called to your

house?

BY JAMES: One time.

BY COUNSEL FOR GOFF (DEEN): How close was that to when, to August

of 2004 that the law was called to your house because of fighting going on

there.

BY JAMES: Three or four years ago.

¶169. The record also shows that the jury heard evidence that the investigators reviewed

James’s phone records, which corroborated his whereabouts at the time of Brandy’s murder,

and took photographs of his body, prior to excluding him as a suspect in the matter. In sum,

Goff failed to establish a sufficient evidentiary foundation to warrant this instruction.

¶170. Further, the jury also was properly instructed elsewhere in the instructions, when it
63

was told that it could convict Goff of capital murder only if the State proved, beyond a

reasonable doubt and to the exclusion of every reasonable hypothesis consistent with

innocence, each and every element of the crime. This was set out in instruction S-2A, which

provided:

The Defendant, Joseph Bishop Goff, has been charged in the indictment with

the crime of Count I: Capital Murder for having killed Brandy S. Yates during

the commission of the felony crime of Robbery of Brandy S. Yates.

If you find from the evidence in this case, beyond a reasonable doubt and to

the exclusion of every reasonable hypothesis consistent with innocence:

(1) Joseph Bishop Goff, on or about August 27, 2004, in George County,

Mississippi; 

(2) did willfully, unlawfully, feloniously and without authority of law and not

in necessary self-defense; 

(3) with or without any design to effect the death, kill and murder Brandy S.

Yates, a human being; 

(4) at a time when Joseph Bishop Goff was engaged in the commission of the

felony crime of Robbery, by taking the personal property of Brandy S. Yates

in her presence or from her person against her will by violence to the person

of Brandy S. Yates; then you shall find the Defendant, Joseph Bishop Goff

guilty of Capital Murder.

If the State has failed to prove any one or more of the above elements beyond

a reasonable doubt and to the exclusion of every reasonable hypothesis

consistent with innocence, then you shall find the Defendant, Joseph Bishop

Goff not guilty of Capital Murder.

¶171. For the foregoing reasons, we hold that this assignment of error is without merit.

VIII. Whether the Indictment Charged a Death-Penalty Eligible Offense.

¶172. Count I of the indictment, which charges Goff with capital murder pursuant to
64

Mississippi Code Section 97-3-19(2)(e), that Goff:

In George County, Mississippi, on or about August 27, 2004, did then and

there willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously, and with or without any design to

effect the death, kill and murder Brandy S. Yates, a human being, while in the

commission of the crime and felony of Robbery, as defined by Section 97-3-

73, Miss. Code of 1972, as amended.

¶173. Goff argues that his death sentence must be vacated because the indictment failed to

include a statutory aggravating factor or the mens rea standard required for capital murder.

In support of this argument, Goff cites Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S. Ct.

2348, 147 L. Ed. 2d 435 (2000), and Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584, 122 S. Ct. 2428, 153 L.

Ed. 2d 556 (2002).

¶174. This Court repeatedly has rejected this type of argument. See, e.g., Spicer, 921 So.

2d at 319; Brown v. State, 890 So. 2d 901, 918 (Miss. 2004); Stevens v. State, 867 So. 2d

219, 225-27 (Miss. 2003). We have held that Apprendi and Ring address issues wholly

distinct from the present one, and in fact do not address indictments at all. Spicer, 921 So.

2d at 319 (citing Brown, 890 So. 2d at 918).

¶175. The purpose of an indictment is to furnish the defendant with notice and a reasonable

description of the charges against him so that he may prepare his defense. Spicer, 921 So.

2d at 319 (citing Williams v. State, 445 So. 2d 798, 804 (Miss. 1984)). An indictment is

required only to have a clear and concise statement of the elements of the crime with which

the defendant is charged. Id.

¶176. Under Mississippi law, the underlying felony that elevates the crime to capital murder
65

must be identified in the indictment along with the section and subsection of the statute under

which the defendant is being charged. Bennett v. State, 933 So. 2d 930, 952 (Miss. 2006)

(citing Miss. Code Ann. § 99-17-20)). In addition, “[o]ur death penalty statute clearly states

the only aggravating circumstances which may be relied upon by the prosecution in seeking

the ultimate punishment.” Spicer, 921 So. 2d at 319 (quoting Brown, 890 So. 2d at 918).

¶177. When Goff was charged with capital murder, he was put on notice that the death

penalty might result, what aggravating factors might be used, and the mens rea standard that

was required. See Stevens, 867 So. 2d at 227. This assertion of error is without merit.

IX. Lethal Injection Protocol

¶178. Goff asserts that execution by lethal injection, under the current Mississippi protocol,

would violate the First and Eighth Amendments of the United States Constitution,

corresponding provisions of the Mississippi Constitution, and state law.

¶179. Goff’s claim that Mississippi’s method of inflicting death by lethal injection

constitutes cruel and unusual punishment was dispositively rejected in favor of the State by

the United States Supreme Court’s holding in Baze v. Rees and by this Court’s holding in

Bennett v. State. In Bennett, this Court stated:

On April 16, 2008, the United States Supreme Court decided Baze v. Rees,

upholding the State of Kentucky’s lethal-injection protocol as not being

vocative of the Eighth Amendment. Base v. Rees, 553 U.S. , 128 S. Ct. 1520,

170 L. Ed. 2d 420 (2008). In so doing, Chief Justice Roberts’s plurality

opinion announced the standard which we must use to determine whether our

method of execution violates the Eighth Amendment. Id. The Supreme Court's

plurality found that cruel and unusual punishment occurs where lethal injection
66

as an execution method presents a “substantial” or “objectively intolerable risk

of serious harm” in light of “feasible, readily implemented” alternative

procedures. Id. at 1531, 1532. However, the analysis was focused on the

manner of lethal injection, and did not question the validity of lethal injection

or the constitutionality of the death penalty as such. Id. at 1537. The Base

Court held: Kentucky has adopted a method of execution believed to be the

most humane available, one it shares with 35 other States . . . [which] if

administered as intended . . . will result in a painless death. The risks of

maladministration . . . such as improper mixing of chemicals and improper

setting of IVs by trained and experienced personnel - cannot be remotely

characterized as “objectively intolerable.” Kentucky’s decision to adhere to

its protocol despite these asserted risks, while adopting safeguards to protect

against them, cannot be viewed as probative of the wanton infliction of pain

under the Eighth Amendment. Base, 128 S. Ct. at 1537.

For “the disposition of other cases uncertain,” Justice Roberts clearly stated

that “[a] State with a lethal injection protocol substantially similar to the

protocol we uphold today would not create a risk that meets [the ‘substantial

risk’] standard.” Id. at 1537 (emphasis added). 

If differences exist between Mississippi's execution protocols and those used

in Kentucky, then, the inquiry is whether Mississippi’s lethal-injection

protocol meets Constitutional muster in light of this recent Supreme Court

decision. The Fifth Circuit, when considering inmate Dale Leo Bishop’s

Eighth-Amendment challenge to Mississippi’s lethal-injection procedures,

recently announced that “Mississippi’s lethal injection protocol appears to be

substantially similar to Kentucky's protocol that was examined in Base.”

Walker v. Epps, 2008 U.S. App. LEXIS 15547 at [*13] (5th Cir. Miss. July 21,

2008). We agree with the Fifth Circuit’s analysis, and hold that Bennett’s

Eighth Amendment challenge to the lethal injection protocol in Mississippi is

without merit.

Bennett v. State, 990 So. 2d at 160-61.

¶180. We find no merit in Goff’s Eighth-Amendment argument.

¶181. Goff’s First-Amendment claim is procedurally barred, as Goff offers no discussion

and cites no authority in support of this claim. See Byrom, 863 So. 2d at 891 (appellants
67

alleging errors must present us with a complete record highlighting the alleged errors

supported by citation to relevant case law); Randolph, 852 So. 2d at 558 (in the absence of

meaningful argument and citation of authority this Court will generally not consider the

assignment of error).

¶182. Procedural bar notwithstanding, for reasons articulated in Spicer, 973 So. 2d at 207-

08, Goff’s First-Amendment claim is wholly without merit. 

X. Aggravating Factors

¶183. At the conclusion of the sentencing phase, the jury found that the following

aggravating circumstances existed: (1) Goff previously was convicted of a felony involving

the use or threat of violence to the person; (2) Goff knowingly created a great risk of death

to many persons; (3) the capital offense was committed while Goff was engaged in the

commission of a robbery; (4) the capital offense was committed for the purpose of avoiding

or preventing lawful arrest; and (5) the capital offense was especially heinous, atrocious, and

cruel. See Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101(5) (Rev. 2007).

¶184. Goff alleges that error was committed when certain aggravating factors were

submitted to the jury. In particular, Goff asserts that there was insufficient evidence to

support three of the aggravating factors: that the killing took place while in the commission

of a robbery, that Goff knowingly created a great risk of death to many persons, and that the

killing was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing his arrest. While Goff does

not challenge the submission of the aggravating factor that the capital offense was especially
68

heinous, atrocious, or cruel, he does challenge the constitutionality of the “heinous, atrocious,

or cruel” limiting instruction given.

¶185. Mississippi Code Section 99-19-105(3)(b) states that this Court must consider the

sufficiency of the evidence to support the aggravating circumstances. See Simmons v. State,

805 So. 2d 452, 495-96 (Miss. 2001).

A. Previously convicted of a felony involving the use or threat of violence to

the person

¶186. The State presented evidence that Goff had previously been convicted of seconddegree assault and discharge of a gun in an occupied building and vehicle, which Goff does

not the challenge.

B. Killing in the commission of a robbery

¶187. Goff contends that the evidence was insufficient to support the robbery aggravator.

This issue is without merit for the reasons discussed in Issue III, supra. 

C. Knowingly creating a great risk of death to many persons

¶188. We find that it was proper for the jury to consider whether Goff knowingly created

a great risk of death to many persons. “Use of this aggravating circumstance is not limited

to those crimes where very large numbers of individuals are at risk or those where the safety

of others than the intended few was jeopardized.” Simmons, 805 So. 2d at 495 (citing

Jackson v. State, 684 So. 2d 1213, 1235 (Miss. 1996)). Goff admitted to deliberately setting

fire to Room 121, and the testimony at trial showed that, in addition to the desk clerk on duty,
69

and at least one other guest was staying at the Rocky Creek Inn on the night in question.

¶189. Goff cites Meeks v. State, 604 So. 2d 748, 752 (Miss. 1992), for the proposition that

the State erroneously used the evidence of arson to support the aggravating circumstances

although he was separately convicted and sentenced for the crime of arson. In other words,

Goff contends that the State cannot use this evidence a second time to support the

aggravating circumstances. However, Meeks is distinguishable from the facts before this

Court today.

¶190. In Meeks, the defendant was indicted in Count I and convicted for capital murder with

the underlying felony of kidnapping and separately indicted in Count II and convicted for

kidnapping. Meeks, 604 So. 2d at 751. Meeks was sentenced to life imprisonment for

capital murder and separately sentenced to thirty years for the kidnapping. Id. at 750. The

record indicated that the only person kidnapped was Meeks’s wife, Tana. Id. at 750 n. 1.

This Court held that Meeks could not be placed in jeopardy twice, first for the penalty of

death for capital murder with the underlying felony of kidnapping and a second for the

punishment of kidnapping as a separate offense. Id. at 753. The fact that Meeks ultimately

received a life sentence, instead of the death penalty, for the capital murder, and a thirty-year

sentence for the kidnapping was of no moment, as the double-jeopardy issue still remained.

Id.

¶191. Here, Goff was indicted in Court I on capital murder with the underlying felony of

robbery and separately indicted in Count II on arson. Unlike Meeks, Goff was never indicted
70

or convicted for a separate offense that was also the basis of the underlying felony supporting

and elevating a murder to capital murder.

D. Killing committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing arrest

¶192. This Court has stated the standard for reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to

support an “avoiding-lawful-arrest” instruction:

[I]f there is evidence from which it may be reasonably inferred that a

substantial reason for the killing was to conceal the identity of the killer or

killings to “cover their tracks” so as to avoid apprehension and eventual arrest

by authorities, then it is proper for the court to allow the jury to consider this

aggravating circumstance.

Under this construction the Court properly submits this aggravator to the jury

if evidence existed from which the jury could reasonably infer that concealing

the killer’s identity, or covering the killer’s tracks to avoid apprehension and

arrest, was a substantial reason for the killing.

Mitchell, 792 So. 2d at 219 (quoting Manning v. State, 735 So. 2d 323, 350 (Miss. 1999)).

¶193. We find that it was proper for the trial court to allow the jury to consider this

aggravating factor. Goff, by his own admission, removed all items from the motel room

which be believed might contain his fingerprints and which might tie him to the crime. Goff

also admitted that he set fire to the motel room to avoid detection of this crime. Goff’s

contention as to Meeks was discussed in Section B., supra.

¶194. Therefore, this issue is without merit.

E. Heinous, atrocious, and cruel limiting instruction
71

¶195. Goff argues that the limiting instruction given was unconstitutionally vague. The jury

was charged in sentencing instruction S-12 as follows:

The Court instructs the Jury that in considering whether the capital offense was

especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel: heinous means extremely wicked or

shockingly evil; atrocious means outrageously wicked and vile; and cruel

means designed to inflict a high degree of pain with indifference to, or even

enjoyment of the suffering of others.

An especially heinous, atrocious or cruel capital offense is one accompanied

by such additional acts as to set the crime apart from the norm of capital

murders—the conscienceless or pitiless crime which is unnecessarily tortuous

[sic] to the victim. If you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt

that the defendant utilized a method of killing which caused serious mutilation,

that there was dismemberment of the body prior to death, that the defendant

inflicted physical or mental pain before death, that there was mental torture

and aggravation before death, or that a lingering or torturous death was

suffered by the victim then you may find this aggravating circumstance.

¶196. The exact language of this instruction has been found to be legally sufficient so as to

satisfy constitutional requirements in previous decisions by this Court. See Bennett, 933 So.

2d at 955-56; Havard v. State, 928 So. 2d 771, 799-800 (Miss. 2006); Knox, 805 So. 2d at

533; Stevens v. State, 806 So. 2d 1031, 1060 (Miss. 2001).

¶197. In Stevens, we held that the “‘especially heinous, atrocious or cruel’ provision of

Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101 (5)(h) is not so vague and overbroad as to violate the United

States Constitution.” Stevens, 806 So. 2d at 1060.

¶198. The trial court’s decision to grant this instruction was in accordance with established

precedent and was not error. 
 Goff presents no evidence that his sentence was imposed under the influence of 32

passion or prejudice or any other arbitrary factor.

72

XI. Proportionality of Off’s sentence

¶199. This Court is required by statute to perform a proportionality review when reviewing

the imposition of a death sentence. Mississippi Code Section 99-19-105(3) states: 

(3) With regard to the sentence, the court shall determine:

(a) Whether the sentence of death was imposed under the influence of passion,

prejudice or any other arbitrary factor; 

(b) Whether the evidence supports the jury's or judge's finding of a statutory

aggravating circumstance as enumerated in Section 99-19-101; 

(c) Whether the sentence of death is excessive or disproportionate to the

penalty imposed in similar cases, considering both the crime and the defendant

. . . . 

Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-105(3) (Rev. 2007). 

¶200. After reviewing the record in this appeal as well as the death penalty cases listed in

the appendix, we find Goff’s death sentence was not imposed under the influence of passion,

prejudice, or any other arbitrary factor. See Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-105(3)(a). 32

¶201. We further find that, as discussed in issue X, supra, the evidence is more than

sufficient to support the jury’s finding of statutory aggravating circumstances. See

Mississippi Code Annotated § 99-19-105(3)(b)(Rev. 2007).

¶202. With regard to Mississippi Code Section 99-19-105(3)(c), Goff claims that it is clear

that his death sentence is both excessive and disproportionate to the penalty imposed in other

capital cases. According to Goff, because of the gravity of his mental disabilities, his
 The following tests were administered to Goff: the Wexler Adult Intelligence 33

Scale, Third Edition; the Minnesota Multi-Phasic Personality Inventory, Version 2; the

Mayung Multi-Axial Clinical Inventory, Version 3; and the Rorschach inkblot method.

73

sentence should be vacated, and the case should be remanded for modification of the

sentence to life imprisonment pursuant to Mississippi Code Section 99-19-105(5)(c).

¶203. Goff claims that the “record is replete with evidence which demonstrates the degree

to which Goff is impaired mentally” and that the “record demonstrates that he has been

diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic features.” In particular, Goff references his

bizarre behavior at trial and his inappropriate laughter during questioning by police, as well

as the testimony of both Dr. Van Rosen and Lessie Goff during sentencing that Goff was

suffering from the disorder the night Brandy was killed.

¶204. During the sentencing phase of trial, Dr. Rosen stated that he had interviewed Goff

twice, and he explained the tests which were used in evaluation of Goff. Dr. Rosen testified 33

that Goff had a full scale IQ score of 102, which is in the average-to-slightly-above average

range. Dr. Rosen believed that Goff “was trying very hard to convince [him] that he did not

have a mental disorder”and that the results of the testing reveal that Goff does not want to

be seen as mentally ill. The testing further indicated to Dr. Rosen that Goff has a “terrifically

bad self-image,” that Goff has “periods of high energy, even excitement,” and that Goff has

a “strong tendency towards substance abuse.” The results of the inkblot test suggested to Dr.

Rosen that Goff “is a gentleman who has periods of significant depression” and “pointed to

probably a bipolar disorder.” Based on his interviews with Goff, Dr. Rosen gave Goff the
74

diagnosis of “personality disorder with prominent antisocial and schizotypal traits, coupled

with bipolar disorder with occasional psychotic features.” With regard to Goff’s condition

on the night of Brandy’s murder, Dr. Rosen believed that Goff “was in the midst of a bipolar

disorder psychotic episode.”

¶205. We find, however, that Goff has submitted no proof of any mental defect of any

degree, with the exception of Dr. Rosen’s testimony, and this testimony is admittedly based

on Goff’s unverified self-reporting of past problems. While testifying, Dr. Rosen stated that

Goff was not “terrifically cooperative,” that Goff would not allow him access to his past

psychiatric records, and that Goff provided only vague information in response to questions.

In fact, Dr. Rosen stated that Goff’s history was incomplete, and thus the diagnosis given was

not as firm as it could have been under normal circumstances.

¶206. In addition, after comparing the facts of this instant case with factually similar cases

in which the death sentence was imposed, we conclude that the sentence of death was neither

excessive nor disproportionate.

¶207. This Court has upheld the death penalty in cases involving capital murders during the

commission of a robbery. In Doss v. State, 709 So. 2d 369, 401 (Miss. 1996), this Court

found that both the conviction and the sentence were appropriate. In Doss, during the course

of a robbery of a grocery store, a store clerk was shot and killed. Id. This Court has found

that the sentence of death was proportionate where the defendant had strangled and robbed

the victim. Cabello v. State, 471 So. 2d 332 (Miss. 1985). Cabello observed that “this Court
75

has recently affirmed several convictions and death sentences where the defendant was found

guilty of robbery/murder . . . .” Id. at 350 (citing Dufour v. State, 453 So. 2d 337 (Miss.

1984); Stringer v. State, 454 So. 2d 468 (Miss. 1984); Booker v. State, 449 So. 2d 209

(Miss. 1984). In Evans v. State, 422 So. 2d 737, 747 (Miss. 1982), as in Doss, this Court

held that the sentence of death was not excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed

in similar cases, considering both the crime and the manner in which it was committed as

well as the defendant. Like the defendant in Doss, the defendant in Evans had shot a store

clerk during the course of a store robbery.

¶208. This Court also has upheld the use of the death penalty in cases in which the defendant

claimed to have mental problems. In Berry v. State, 703 So. 2d 269, 293-94 (Miss. 1997),

this Court found that Berry’s death sentence was not excessive or disproportionate in relation

to other cases, despite the fact that Berry was a paranoid schizophrenic functioning with

brain damage and an impaired intellectual capacity. Goff, like the defendant in Berry, cites

this Court’s decision in Edwards v. State, wherein this Court found the death penalty

disproportionate because the defendant suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. Id. at 293

(citing Edwards v. State, 441 So. 2d 84, 93 (Miss. 1983)). The following discussion found

in Berry is instructive:

Indeed, we recently held that a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia does not

necessarily prohibit the imposition of the death penalty where the defendant

is competent to be executed. See Billiot v. State, 655 So. 2d 1, 17 (Miss. 1995),

cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1095, 133 L. Ed. 2d 762, 116 S. Ct. 818 (1996). Expert

testimony at Berry’s trial revealed that he is indeed competent to be executed.

See Lowenfield v. Butler, 843 F.2d 183, 187 (5th Cir. 1988), cert. denied, 485
76

U.S. 1014, 99 L. Ed. 2d 714, 108 S. Ct. 1487 (1988) (stating that for one to be

competent to be executed he has to be aware of the punishment he is about to

suffer and why he must suffer it).

Edwards is also distinguishable because the evidence of Edwards’ affliction,

unlike that in Berry’s case, was “overwhelming, if indeed not without

contradiction . . . .” Edwards, 441 So. 2d at 93. Edwards had been committed

to the Mississippi State Hospital at Whitfield on two occasions and had a long

history of hallucinations in which people were out to “get” or kill him. Id. at

87-88. Physicians had treated Edwards’ condition for years with the drugs

prolixin, cogentin, valium, and stelazine. Id. at 87. There is no evidence, on the

other hand, that Berry had ever been diagnosed and/or treated, much less

institutionalized, for his various afflictions prior to his killing Mary Bounds.

There is also no evidence of Berry ever having suffered from any hallucinations.

Berry’s I.Q. of 76 and his frontal lobe impairment afford him no relief either.

According to Dr. Blanton, an I.Q. of 76 is in the borderline range of

intellectual function and does not render one mentally retarded. In Lanier v.

State, 533 So. 2d 473, 492 (Miss. 1988), the defendant had an I.Q. of 61 and

suffered from hallucinations, yet we held that such disorders were not on the

same level as those found in the Edwards case. The defendant, in Neal v.

State, 451 So. 2d 743, 752 (Miss. 1984), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 1098, 83 L. Ed.

2d 716, 105 S. Ct. 607 (1984), post-conviction relief granted in part on other

grounds, 525 So. 2d 1279 (Miss. 1987), had an I.Q. of 54 and suffered from

the organic brain disorder dementia. This disease, which according to Dr.

Blanton, is quite similar to Berry’s frontal lobe impairment, affects a person’s

memory and ability to control his impulses. Id. Despite that fact, we held that

Neal’s disturbances were not on par with those in Edwards. 451 So. 2d at 762.

It appears then that Berry’s mental state is more comparable to that of the

defendants in Lanier and Neal than that of Hezekiah Edwards. As such,

Berry’s death sentence is not excessive or disproportionate in relation to other

cases, and we reject this claim.

Berry, 703 So. 2d at 293-94. Goff has an full scale IQ score of 104, which, according to Dr.

Rosen, places him the average-to-slightly-above-average range. Also, as noted above, Goff

refused to allow Dr. Rosen access to his past psychiatric records and refused to effectively
77

participate in Dr. Rosen’s evaluation, thus making Dr. Rosen’s diagnosis less than reliable.

In light of the foregoing, we find that the death sentence imposed in this case is neither

excessive nor disproportionate.

XII. Cumulative Error

¶209. Goff submits that, should this Court not find any one error sufficient to warrant

reversal of the death sentence in this case, the accumulation of such errors should be taken

into consideration and the sentence reversed because of cumulative error. 

¶210. This Court may reverse a conviction and/or sentence based upon the cumulative effect

of errors that independently would not require reversal. Jenkins v. State, 607 So. 2d 1171,

1183-84 (Miss. 1992); Hansen v. State, 592 So. 2d 114, 153 (Miss. 1991). “It is true that

in capital cases, although no error, standing alone, requires reversal, the aggregate effect of

various errors may create an atmosphere of bias, passion and prejudice that they effectively

deny the defendant a fundamentally fair trial.” Woodward v. State, 533 So. 2d 418, 432

(Miss. 1988), cert. denied, 490 U.S. 1028, 109 S. Ct. 1767 , 104 L. Ed. 2d 202 (1989).

¶211. After conducting a thorough review of the record, the briefs, and the argument, this

Court has determined that there are no individual errors, or cumulative near errors, which

require reversal of either Goff’s conviction or his sentence.

CONCLUSION

¶212. Goff’s convictions and death sentence were properly decided by the jury. Based on

the foregoing analysis, we affirm both the convictions and the sentences.
78

¶213. COUNT I: CONVICTION OF CAPITAL MURDER AND SENTENCE OF

DEATH BY LETHAL INJECTION, AFFIRMED. COUNT II: CONVICTION OF

ARSON (SECOND DEGREE) AND THE SENTENCE OF TEN (10) YEARS IN THE

CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS,

AFFIRMED. THE SENTENCE IN COUNT II IS TO RUN CONSECUTIVE TO THE

SENTENCE IN COUNT I.

CARLSON, P.J., DICKINSON, RANDOLPH AND LAMAR, JJ., CONCUR.

DICKINSON, J., SPECIALLY CONCURS WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION

JOINED BY CARLSON, P.J., RANDOLPH, LAMAR AND PIERCE, JJ.

RANDOLPH, J., SPECIALLY CONCURS WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION

JOINED BY CARLSON, P.J., DICKINSON, LAMAR AND PIERCE, JJ. WALLER,

C.J., DISSENTS WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION JOINED BY GRAVES,

P.J. KITCHENS, J., DISSENTS WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION JOINED

BY CHANDLER, J.

DICKINSON, JUSTICE, SPECIALLY CONCURRING:

¶214. Although I concur with the majority opinion, I write separately to address Goff’s

argument that the evidence was insufficient to establish the underlying felony of robbery.

In essence, the only proof of robbery in this case is that Goff was discovered soon after the

murder with the victim’s property. This Court has long and consistently held that no more

than this single piece of circumstantial evidence is needed to create a jury question as to the

robbery.

¶215. In Wheat v. State, 420 So. 2d 229 (Miss. 1982), Joseph Mayer and Teresa Hayes

married and traveled to the Mississippi Coast for their honeymoon. Id. at 230. After a phone

conversation with Mayer’s father, they were not seen or heard from again until their bodies

were found in a wooded area north of Gulfport. Id. at 231. Their hands and feet were tied

behind them, and each was shot in the back of the head. Id.
Wheat was tried separately for the murder of the couple. He was convicted of the 34

wife’s murder, but the jury could not agree on a punishment. This trial was for the murder

of the husband.

79

¶216. After it was reported that the Mayers had been driving a 1976 Cutlass with a

Kentucky license plate, four witnesses came forward and stated that a man had come to their

house and asked for assistance getting a car of that description out of a ditch. Id. From the

witnesses’ descriptions a composite sketch was made and circulated. Id. Kenneth Wheat was

arrested and indicted by a Harrison County grand jury for capital murder, with the underlying

crime of robbery. Id. The jury found him guilty and sentenced him to death.

¶217. Wheat appealed, claiming, inter alia, that he should not receive the death penalty

because there was no proof of the crime of robbery in connection with the alleged murder.

Id. at 238. This Court affirmed Wheat’s conviction, stating:

At approximately 9:30 p.m. on the night Joseph Mayer[ ] was killed, he was 34

at the Worth Motel on the beach 26 miles from where he was killed that same

night. The jury found that appellant killed him. Approximately two and

one-half hours after the young couple were together at the motel, appellant

appeared at the Netto home with the Mayer car which place was approximately

1.4 miles from where Mayer was killed. Appellant was in complete possession

of the Mayer car, along with its contents, consisting of a leather case, luggage,

books, camera, radio, baseball bat, and maps.

****

Fully considering the history of all that occurred on the night in question, the

condition of Mayer’s body with his hands and feet tied, and a bullet hole

through the back of his head and shortly thereafter appellant being solely in

full possession of the Mayer vehicle and its contents, is clearly a question for

the jury as to whether or not he “robbed” Mayer of his car. There certainly is

no other reason shown in this record for the brutal murder of young Mayer.
80

Id. at 238-39.

¶218. In Billiot v. State, 454 So. 2d 445 (Miss. 1984), Wallace Croll, Jr., his wife and

daughter were found bludgeoned to death in their home. Id. at 451. The bodies were found

by 12-year-old Stephen Croll and some of his friends, after they saw defendant James Billiot

driving Wallace Croll’s car and became suspicious. Id. When the bodies were found, an

all-points bulletin was issued in Mississippi and Louisiana, and two days later Billiot was

arrested. Id. He was tried and convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death.

¶219. Billiot appealed, claiming, inter alia, that the verdict was against the overwhelming

weight of the evidence because the State failed to prove the underlying felony of robbery. Id.

at 462-63. This Court affirmed Billiot’s conviction, stating:

Billiot was seen driving away from the scene in the car owned by the deceased

Croll. Billiot also admitted he took $60.00 from Wallace Croll’s wallet. The

issue of intent was a question of fact for the jury. Having been properly

instructed on the elements of robbery and capital murder, taking the evidence

as a whole, it was reasonable for the jury to conclude that Billiot committed

the murder while engaged in the crime of robbery.

Id. at 463.

¶220. In Fisher v. State, 481 So. 2d 203 (Miss. 1985), Melinda Weathers was reported

missing when she failed to return home from a softball game. Her car was later found

abandoned along Highway 11/80 outside of Meridian. Id. at 206. Four days later, her naked

body was discovered by a search party on an old logging trail outside of Meridian. Id. After

the discovery of Melinda’s body, law enforcement authorities theorized that the suspect
81

might be the same individual that had stopped and raped another female near that area. Id.

Authorities organized a decoy operation designed to attract a suspect whose mode of

operation was to stop lone female drivers along Highway 11/80. Id. at 207.

¶221. A month after Melinda’s body was found, the decoy was driving along Highway

11/80 when a pickup truck approached her car from behind and flashed its lights. Id. When

the driver of the pickup approached the car, a detective who was hiding in the backseat

jumped out and arrested the man, defendant Larry Fisher. Id. After Fisher’s arrest, a gold

pendant and the back of an earring were discovered in his truck. Id. Melinda’s mother

identified the gold pendant as Melinda’s. Id. at 207-08.

¶222. Fisher was subsequently charged with the capital murder of Melinda Gail Weathers

while he was engaged in the crimes of rape and robbery. Id. at 210. After a trial, the jury

found him guilty of capital murder and sentenced him to death. Id. at 211. Fisher appealed,

claiming, inter alia, that the State’s evidence was legally insufficient to establish certain

elements of the crime of capital murder, particularly the underlying felonies of rape and

robbery. Id.

¶223. Although this Court reversed and remanded the case for a new trial in a different

venue, this Court stated that the evidence of robbery was sufficient for a conviction:

There is evidence that Fisher took from Melinda Gail Weathers several pieces

of jewelry, personal property having some value, although modest. The same

evidence mentioned above [speaking of evidence of the rape] would enable

any reasonable juror to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that this taking

was by violence to her person or by putting her in fear of immediate personal
This was Duplantis’s second trial. His first trial, which resulted in a death sentence, 35

was overturned by this Court on grounds not related to the underlying robbery. 

82

injury. Fisher’s felonious intent is similarly shown by that which the

established facts and circumstances show that he did. Wheat v. State, 420

So.2d 229, 238-39 (Miss.1982); Voyles v. State, 362 So.2d 1236, 1242-43

(Miss.1978). We hold that the evidence in this case was legally adequate to

establish that Larry Fisher committed the underlying felony of robbery of

Melinda Gail Weathers.

481 So. 2d at 214.

¶224. In Duplantis v. State, 708 So. 2d 1327 (Miss. 1998), Gary Thrash went to his exwife’s house to check on her after he heard that two prisoners had escaped. Id. at 1333. His

body later found lying in a pool of his own blood on his ex-wife’s kitchen floor. Id. His

pockets were empty, and his truck was missing. Id. Thrash’s truck was subsequently found

abandoned in Memphis, Tennessee. Id.

¶225. After investigating two phone calls made from the residence where the murder had

taken place, the police arrested Ken Strickland and David Duplantis in Jackson, Tennessee.

Id. at 1334. Duplantis was indicted, tried and convicted for the capital murder of Gary

Thrash and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Id. at 1331. He appealed, claiming, 35

inter alia, that he did not possess the intent to rob the victim until after the killing, and thus

the killing could not have been done in the course of the robbery. Id. at 1341. This Court

affirmed his conviction, stating:

In the case sub judice, Duplantis was an escapee from jail. He had no money,

nor did he have access to it. It is not beyond the realm of inference to believe

that Duplantis first developed the intent to rob Gary Thrash of his truck and

money, and then killed Mr. Thrash when he did not cooperate. The jury
83

apparently drew this inference, or one similar thereto, from the facts. We

accept the jury’s finding. Furthermore, the possibility that the precise moment

of Thrash’s death may have preceded the actual consummation of the robbery

does not vitiate the capital charge. This assignment of error is without merit.

Id. at 1342.

¶226. In Knox v. State, 805 So. 2d 527 (Miss. 2002), while responding to a missing person

report, authorities found the victim dead in the trunk of her car in her carport. Id. at 529.

After discovering the body, the sheriff left the scene to interview people in the community

to “develop a suspect.” Id. at 529-30. An informant told him that Steve Knox was involved

in the victim’s death. Id. at 530. Authorities began searching for Knox based on the

description given to them by the informant. Id.

¶227. Officers found Knox walking in a field close by. Id. The officers questioned Knox

about the victim, and Knox denied knowing her. Id. One of the officers noticed some small

“brownish reddish” spots on Knox’s left thigh and decided to take Knox to the sheriff’s

station. Id. At the station, one of the officers found a set of keys in Knox’s back pocket,

which were later determined to be the victim’s missing house and car keys.

¶228. An Amite County grand jury indicted Knox for capital murder while in the

commission of a robbery pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-19. Id. After a trial, the jury

found him guilty of capital murder and sentenced him to death. Id. Knox appealed, claiming,

inter alia, that the State presented insufficient evidence of the underlying crime of robbery.

Id. at 531. We upheld the conviction, stating:
84

It is not necessary that the victim be deprived of property prior to death to

sustain a conviction for robbery. West v. State, 463 So. 2d 1048, 1056 (Miss.

1985). “An indictment charging a killing occurring ‘while engaged in the

commission of [robbery]’ includes the actions of the defendant leading up to

the felony, the attempted felony, and flight from the scene of the felony.” West

v. State, 553 So. 2d 8, 13 (Miss. 1989). See also Turner v. State, 732 So. 2d

937, 950 (Miss. 1999). “Intent to do an act or commit a crime is also a

question of fact to be gleaned by the jury from the facts shown in each case.”

Shanklin v. State, 290 So. 2d 625, 627 (Miss. 1974). Fully considering the

crime in question, the location of Spears’ body in the trunk of her car, and the

keys to that car in Knox’s possession even after he changed his clothes, it is

clearly a question for the jury whether Spears was robbed or whether it was

Knox’s intent to rob her. Unquestionably, the proof demonstrates that Spears

was strangled which caused large amounts of blood to accumulate in her lungs,

which would have resulted in a slow, heinous death. A blood trail led from a

spot in her garage to the trunk of her car, with no sign of entry into her home,

all of which indicates that Knox took the keys from Spears’s person while she

was in the garage. Furthermore, it is most significant that Knox was in

possession of Spears’s car and house keys - her personal property - at the time

he was arrested. Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-73 clearly establishes the necessary

elements for proof of robbery, including the taking of personal property of

another. The Legislature did not place a value in determining what constitutes

personal property of another. Had the Legislature intended otherwise it would

have so stated in the statute. This Court has stated, “The taking of property was

the element relevant to establish each charge regardless of its value.” Holly v.

State, 671 So. 2d 32, 45 (Miss. 1996). Thus, the fact that Knox took only the

victim’s house and car keys which were of mere nominal value is of no great

concern.

805 So. 2d at 531-32. This Court concluded its analysis of the robbery issue by stating:

Here, the elements of robbery by theft of house and car keys, the underlying

felony, was clearly established and proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Again,

when the defendant is discovered with the personal property of the deceased

on his person it is entirely within reason for the jury to find that this fact in

itself constitutes robbery. It is also within the jury’s province to conclude that

Knox killed Spears intending to take her car and that he either failed to do so

or intended to return at a later time.

Id. at 532.
85

¶229. Thus, our jurisprudence clearly establishes that the trial court did not err in sending

the question of robbery to the jury in this case, and the jury was within its discretion to find

Goff guilty of the robbery and, consequently, the capital murder.

CARLSON, P.J., RANDOLPH, LAMAR AND PIERCE, JJ., JOIN THIS

OPINION.

RANDOLPH, JUSTICE, SPECIALLY CONCURRING:

¶230. The dissent authored by my respected colleague, Justice Kitchens, incorrectly suggests

that the majority fell far short of the level of a thorough and objective analysis, while only

claiming to examine with heightened scrutiny, versus an actual heightened scrutiny.

Heightened scrutiny for appellate review does not alter or elevate the burden of proof beyond

a reasonable doubt. The dissent’s implication that the majority failed to honestly call “a ball

a ball and a strike a strike” is not only incorrect, but in error. These criticisms do little to

advance the administration of justice.

¶231. Had my colleague been the twelfth juror, he very well may have swayed the other

jurors to look through the lens prescribed in his dissent. Perhaps his skillful arguments

would have convinced them to conclude a capital offense had not occurred. However, as

succinctly laid out in the majority opinion, buttressed by Justice Dickinson’s excellent

concurrence, the facts presented to the jury in the guilt phase were sufficient to support its

finding of capital murder. The law does not require jurors to find guilt beyond all doubt, i.e.,
86

absolute certainty, but rather only beyond a reasonable doubt. This allows a zone of residual

doubt to exist without offending notions of fairness and justice. 

¶232. The dissent decries that the record is devoid of credible evidence on the question of

robbery, asserting not “a sliver of evidence” supports the jury’s determination. To support

this assertion, the dissent states that we know from the record that Mrs. Yates took her wallet

into the motel office, and returned to the car with the wallet. Dis. Op. ¶252. Having read the

record multiple times, I find no such testimony. The desk clerk, Pearl Boulware, never

referred to Yates using a wallet at check-in. The desk clerk, Pearl Boulware, never referred

to seeing a wallet. (Record at 468-75).

¶233. Next, the dissent finds significance in the “absence of biological matter on the

wallet, . . .” According to the dissent, this absence “suggests more heavily than not, that the

wallet was absent . . . .” Dis. Op. ¶255. An interpretation which fails to appreciate that

other physical evidence found in the defendant’s car showed no evidence of biological

matter. 

¶234. The dissent concludes that the penalty should be life, as opposed to death. The jurors,

who were already satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the State proved robbery, heard

additional evidence during the sentencing phase. The jury was required to consider whether

any one of five elements of aggravation existed, in determining whether the death penalty

should be imposed. The sentencing instruction required a separate finding by the jury, once
More precisely, the money found in defendant’s fleeing auto. 36

87

again beyond a reasonable doubt, that one or more of the aggravating circumstances existed,

before it could return a death penalty sentence.

¶235. In its consideration of aggravating circumstances, with additional evidence before

them, the jury once again concluded unanimously that one of the aggravating circumstances,

among others, was: 

(3) [t]he capital offense was committed while the defendant was engaged in the

commission of robbery.

¶236. Before the jury made its ultimate decision, any vestige of doubt regarding the

whereabouts of the money found in the wallet was answered by the testimony of the 36

defendant’s mother, who testified that on the night of the crime, the defendant was at her

house. He talked on the phone twice. During the second call, she listened to the

conversation on another phone. Goff was talking to a woman, and “the girl said, ‘Joseph you

can’t just put me in a motel and go off and leave me.’ ‘I’m hungry.’ And he said, ‘I left you

$500.00.’ And she said, ‘But there’s nothing to eat here.’”

¶237. The defendant’s own words belie the dissent’s alternative reasonable inference theory.

There has been no miscarriage of justice. There is overwhelming evidence of guilt. The

majority reviewed this case under the required heightened scrutiny standard. The majority

concluded that there was substantial evidence in support of the result, and it cannot fairly be

said that no reasonable juror could have found otherwise. 
88

¶238. I choose to follow the view announced by Chief Justice Burger of the United States

Supreme Court for that Court not to retry cases de novo on appeal, nor to close my eyes to

the reality of overwhelming evidence of guilt fairly established. See Milton v. Wainwright,

407 U.S. 371, 377, 92 S. Ct. 2174, 2178, 33 L. Ed. 2d 1, 6-7 (1972).

CARLSON, P.J., DICKINSON, LAMAR AND PIERCE, JJ., JOIN THIS

OPINION.

WALLER, CHIEF JUSTICE, DISSENTING:

¶239. In my view, while I agree with the majority conclusion regarding the sufficiency of

the evidence, the record supports two or more hypotheses of the crime committed and

therefore the circumstantial evidence (two-theory) instruction D-14 should have been given

to the jury. For this reason, I respectfully that because the trial court erred when it failed to

grant instruction D-14, a circumstantial evidence (two-theory) instruction, the trial court’s

judgment case must be reversed and this case remanded for a new trial. I write separately

to address this point. 

Circumstantial evidence (two-theory) instruction

¶240. The evidence in this case is purely circumstantial. See Lynch v. State, 877 So. 2d

1254, 1265 (Miss. 2004) (quoting State v. Rogers, 847 So. 2d 858, 863 (Miss. 2003) (For

purposes of granting a two-theory instruction, “[a] circumstantial evidence case . . . . is one

in which there is neither an eyewitness nor a confession to the crime.”). Goff gave no

confession nor were there any eyewitnesses. The State and Goff concede as much. 
 Instruction S-2A provided: 37

The Defendant, Joseph Bishop Goff, has been charged in the indictment with

the crime of Count I: Capital Murder for having killed Brandy S. Yates during

the commission of the felony crime of Robbery of Brandy S. Yates.

If you find from the evidence in this case, beyond a reasonable doubt and to

the exclusion of every reasonable hypothesis consistent with innocence:

(1) Joseph Bishop Goff, on or about August 27, 2004, in George County,

Mississippi; 

(2) did willfully, unlawfully, feloniously and without authority of law and not

in necessary self-defense; 

(3) with or without any design to effect the death, kill and murder Brandy S.

Yates, a human being; 

(4) at a time when Joseph Bishop Goff was engaged in the commission of the

felony crime of Robbery, by taking the personal property of Brandy S. Yates

in her presence or from her person against her will by violence to the person

of Brandy S. Yates; 

If the State has failed to prove any one or more of the above elements beyond

a reasonable doubt and to the exclusion of every reasonable hypothesis

consistent with innocence, then you shall find the Defendant, Joseph Bishop

Goff not guilty of Capital Murder.

89

¶241. Two instructions are required in circumstantial evidence cases such as this. The first

has been termed the “typical circumstantial instruction,” which requires the jury to exclude

every reasonable hypothesis other than guilt. We have stated:

A jury is instructed to exclude every other reasonable hypothesis than that of

guilt when a case is based entirely upon circumstantial evidence. A

circumstantial evidence instruction is required only when the prosecution can

produce neither an eyewitness nor a confession/statement by the defendant.

Hughes v. State, 983 So. 2d 270, 278 (Miss. 2008) (citations omitted). This type of

instruction was given in S-2A, and no issue exists about its propriety.37
90

¶242. The circumstantial evidence instruction that was not given is known as the

circumstantial evidence (two-theory) instruction. While the propriety of this instruction has

been questioned in the past, I believe that, in certain instances, the instruction must be given

to secure protection of an accused’s right to a fair trial. See Stringfellow v. State, 595 So.

2d 1320, 1322 (Miss. 1992). The instant case is such an occasion.

¶243. The designation “two-theory” is a misnomer. A better name would be a “twointerpretation” instruction, where the evidence can be argued, as in this case, to either

implicate Goff or to absolve Goff of the robbery of Brandy. The two-theory instruction does

not offer the jury the choice between two distinct theories for the murder, i.e., whether Goff

committed the murder or someone else committed the murder. The two-theory instruction

is not used to advance two distinct theories such as “murder or alibi; homicide or an accident;

homicide guilt or mistaken identity,” as was addressed in Kitchens v. State, 300 So. 2d 922,

926 (Miss. 1974).

¶244. Here, the jury had to exclude the reasonable hypothesis that Goff did not take the

wallet. Under the State’s theory, Goff stole the wallet as part of the murder. On the other

hand, the facts show that Brandy was driving when she and Goff checked into the Rocky

Creek Inn. It is plausible that Brandy left the wallet in the car, and thus the wallet was not

taken into the motel room. Goff could have killed Brandy in a rage and driven away in the

Mustang, unaware that Brandy’s wallet was in the vehicle. 
91

¶245. In Jones v. State, 797 So. 2d 922 (Miss. 2001), this Court reversed and remanded for

a new trial the capital-murder conviction of Kenneth Earl Jones for failure to give the twotheory instruction where the evidence was wholly circumstantial. We stated:

In a case where all the evidence tending to prove the guilt of the defendant is

circumstantial, the trial court must grant two jury instructions. First, the court

must grant a jury instruction that every reasonable hypothesis other than that

of guilt must be excluded in order to convict. As stated previously, the trial

court in this case did grant the typical circumstantial evidence instruction.

However, in addition to giving instruction on circumstantial evidence, the trial

court must grant a “two-theory” instruction such as D-7. In the case at bar, the

trial court refused to allow D-7, the two-theory instruction. The very same

two-theory instruction as D-7 was at issue in Henderson. This Court reversed

and remanded for a new trial because the trial judge refused the two-theory

instruction as well as the typical circumstantial evidence instruction.

Id. at 928-29 (citations omitted). See also Parker v. State, 606 So. 2d 1132, 1142 (Miss.

1992) (“Because the trial judge refused to grant a two theory instruction offered by the

defense in this case, the trial judge abused his discretion and this case must be remanded.”);

Henderson v. State, 453 So. 2d 708, 710 (Miss. 1984) (“[T]his case should be remanded for

a new trial because jury instructions required in a circumstantial evidence case were

refused.”); Nester v. State, 254 Miss. 25, 29, 179 So. 2d 565, 566 (1965) (case reversed and

remanded, as “[t]he evidence . . . was so circumstantial as to require the giving of the twotheory instruction and it was prejudicial error for the court to refuse it.”).

¶246. Instruction D-14, offered by Goff as a circumstantial evidence (two-theory)

instruction, is as follows:
92

The Court instructs the jury that if there may be a fact or circumstance in this

cause susceptible of two interpretations, one favorable and the other

unfavorable to the Defendant, and when the jury has considered such fact or

circumstance with all other evidence, there is a reasonable doubt as to the

correct interpretation, then you, the jury, must resolve such doubt in favor of

the Defendant, and place upon such fact or circumstance the interpretation

most favorable to the Defendant.

¶247. This instruction is very similar to other instructions approved by this Court, but was

refused by the trial court. See Hughes, 983 So. 2d at 278.

¶248. When the trial court considered instruction D-14, the following exchange occurred:

BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY: We object to D-14, Your Honor. I think

this is a circumstantial evidence case, and that has been defined in the elements

instruction. It’s improper under the law to give this instruction.

BY COUNSEL FOR GOFF (McNALLY): And Judge, we feel this is a twotheory case based on circumstantial evidence as far as the murder and the

robbery. We feel this charge is appropriate under Mississippi law.

. . . 

BY THE COURT: . . . I don’t think you’re entitled to this and a circumstantial

evidence instruction when the burden of proof is used in the elements

instruction. D-14 will be refused.

¶249. The law is clear–because the evidence in this case is purely circumstantial, the jury

should have received both the typical circumstantial evidence instruction, as well as the

circumstantial evidence (two-theory) instruction. In this case, only the typical circumstantial

evidence instruction was given. 
 “A motion for directed verdict challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence 38

offered to that point of trial to sustain a guilty verdict.” Morris v. State, 777 So. 2d 16, 22

(Miss. 2000) (emphasis added). Therefore, any evidence procured after Goff’s second

motion for a directed verdict during the guilt phase of his trial cannot enter in to our

93

¶250. As the jury was not fully and fairly instructed due to the trial court’s failure to grant

instruction D-14, I would reverse the trial court’s judgment and remand this case for a new

trial. See Jones, 797 So. 2d at 929.

GRAVES, P.J., JOINS THIS OPINION.

KITCHENS, JUSTICE, DISSENTING:

¶251. Were this case before us an appeal from a conviction of robbery and robbery alone,

we would use very little ink to reverse and render for lack of evidence. The three elements

of robbery are (1) the intentional (2) taking and carrying away of another’s property from his

person or presence (3) effectuated by force or threat of force. Crocker v. State, 272 So. 2d

664, 665 (Miss. 1973). It is fundamental criminal law that every element of a criminal statute

must be properly pled and sufficiently proven in order to permit conviction thereunder.

Taggart v. State, 957 So. 2d 981, 985-86 (Miss. 2007) (quoting Carr v. State, 208 So. 2d

886, 889 (Miss. 1968)). On challenges to the sufficiency of the evidence, we review the

evidence in the light most favorable to the jury’s verdict, Gleeton v. State, 716 So. 2d 1083,

1087 (Miss. 1998), but “if we determine the evidence points in favor of the defendant on any

element of the offense such that a reasonable juror could not have found the defendant guilty

beyond a reasonable doubt, we must reverse the conviction.” Coleman v. State, 947 So. 2d

878, 881 (Miss. 2006) (citing Edwards v. State, 469 So. 2d 68, 70 (Miss. 1985)).38
decision. In my view, today’s majority opinion contains no suggestion to the contrary, nor

do the separate opinions of the Chief Justice and Justice Dickinson.

 Justice Randolph contends that the evidence does not support this establishment of 39

a link between Mrs. Yates and her wallet. With humility, I disagree. Pages 468 through 474

of the record document the direct examination of Ms. Pearl Boulware, who managed the

front desk of the Rocky Creek Inn on the afternoon and evening of Aug. 26, 2004. Ms.

Boulware recounted checking Mrs. Yates into the motel, ascertaining Mrs. Yates’s method

of payment, and reviewing Mrs. Yates’s drivers license. Justice Randolph correctly notes

that the word “wallet” was absent from this account, but the description was detailed enough

to lead District Attorney Tony Lawrence to claim in his response to Goff’s first motion for

a directed verdict, in a statement memorialized on page 819 of the record, that “[t]he

evidence also showed that [Mrs. Yates] used that wallet to check into the hotel at

approximately 4:00 p.m.” Obviously, this statement was not evidence, but it was a reflection

of the evidence with which the trial judge clearly agreed in denying Goff’s motion. In my

view of this unique case, this interpretation of the evidence was reasonable. Given our

obligation to review denials of motions for directed verdict with the evidence cast in the light

most favorable to the jury’s verdict, Gleeton, 716 So. 2d at 1087, I am satisfied that the State

demonstrated that Mrs. Yates possessed the wallet when she arrived at the Rocky Creek Inn.

A conclusion to the contrary is one with which I would not agree; but that determination

would appear to obligate one to the judgment that the State failed to prove that Mrs. Yates

ever possessed the wallet, and a judge holding that opinion would be obligated to reverse

Goff’s conviction.

94

¶252. In order to sustain Goff’s conviction of capital murder, we must find that the evidence

supports the determination that he committed murder and the underlying crime of robbery.

Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-19 (Rev. 2006). On the question of murder, the evidence clearly is

sufficient to sustain the conviction. On the question of robbery, though, the record is utterly

devoid of credible evidence that sufficiently proves a felonious taking of Brandy Yates’s

wallet. We know from the record that Mrs. Yates took her wallet into the motel office when

she paid for the room that she was to share with Goff. We also glean from the record that 39

she returned from the office to the car, of which she was the driver at that time, with the

wallet. The next appearance the wallet makes in the record is its discovery in the area of the
95

car’s console, by police, the next day. The State provided no evidentiary basis on which the

jury could conclude that the wallet ever entered the motel room, where it could have been

taken from the victim’s person or presence, as is indisputably required by the robbery statute.

¶253. The State was unable to produce an eyewitness to the atrocities that were visited upon

Mrs. Yates by her cruel assailant. No one confessed to killing her or robbing her of her

wallet. Therefore, this is a case resting entirely upon circumstantial evidence, and as such

requires proof of the defendant’s guilt, both as to murder and robbery, beyond a reasonable

doubt and to the exclusion of every reasonable hypothesis consistent with innocence to

sustain a conviction of capital murder. Hughes v. State, 983 So. 2d 270, 278 (Miss. 2008).

This fundamental requirement goes all but unaddressed by today’s majority opinion, and the

Court’s mere passing references to it fall far short of the level of thorough and objective

analysis that should characterize opinions from Mississippi’s highest court, especially in

capital cases, which we claim to examine with heightened scrutiny. See Maj. Op. at 29, 32,

38. See also Bennett v. State, 990 So. 2d 155, 158 (Miss. 2008).

¶254. In the present case, the record plainly reveals that the State adduced evidence that

excludes every reasonable hypothesis consistent with Goff’s innocence on the charge of

murder. As to the allegation of robbery, the State’s proof fell far short of that evidentiary

standard. This Court’s duty, in these circumstances, is clear: we must be at least as honest

as we expect a home plate umpire to be and call a ball a ball and a strike a strike.
96

Notwithstanding the State’s admirable diligence, a ball was thrown on the robbery aspect of

this case, though the prosecution was well within the strike zone on the murder aspect.

¶255. Even unto the rendering of today’s judgment, the State has been unable to point to a

sliver of evidence that supports the jury’s robbery determination. When we held oral

arguments on this case in January, we put this very question to the State’s able counsel, who

candidly acknowledged that no evidence was adduced at trial to the effect that Mrs. Yates’s

wallet was in the motel room during the commission of this heinous homicide. Therefore, a

jury could not have determined beyond a reasonable doubt, let alone to the exclusion of every

reasonable hypothesis consistent with Goff’s innocence of robbery, that Mrs. Yates’s wallet

was in her presence at the time of her murder. Indeed, given the absence of biological matter

on the wallet, the evidence suggests more heavily than not that the wallet was absent from

this hellish murder scene. See Maj. Op. at 12.

¶256. The evidence does not, of course, altogether eliminate the possibility that Goff stole

the wallet in the same continuous transaction that led to Mrs. Yates’s death. As the majority

correctly asserts, the record in this case does lend itself to the hypothesis that Mrs. Yates did,

in fact, take her wallet with her from Goff’s car into the motel room and that Goff later

robbed her of this article of personal property. I agree that this hypothesis, obviously

consistent with guilt, is a reasonable one, and the jury could reasonably have inferred it from

the evidence. The proof in this case, however, falls far short of excluding all reasonable

hypotheses consistent with innocence of robbery, because the location of the wallet during
97

Goff’s barbaric act is a fact to which the evidence does not speak. Based upon the evidence

and the evidence alone, it is just as reasonable, if not more reasonable, to infer that the wallet

remained in the car as Goff returned to Alabama, while he perpetuated this brutal murder,

and during his flight from the crime scene. Such an hypothesis clearly is reasonable and

consistent with innocence of robbery. Yet the majority declines to analyze this hypothesis.

If it did, this fatal flaw in the State’s case would be exposed as irreparable, a deficiency that

would mandate reversal of Goff’s conviction for capital murder.

¶257. Finding that such an analysis leads to the inescapable conclusion that the evidence is

insufficient to exclude every reasonable hypothesis consistent with Goff’s innocence of the

crime of robbery, I would reverse the capital murder conviction, affirm the conviction for the

lesser-included offense of murder, and remand to the trial court with instructions to

resentence Goff accordingly. See Wheeler v. State, 536 So. 2d 1341 (Miss. 1988).

CHANDLER, J., JOINS THIS OPINION.
i

APPENDIX

DEATH CASES AFFIRMED BY THIS COURT

Chamberlin v. State, 989 So. 2d 320 (Miss. 2008).

Loden v. State, 971 So. 2d 548 (Miss. 2007).

King v. State, 960 So. 2d 413 (Miss. 2007).

Bennett v. State, 933 So. 2d 930 (Miss. 2006).

Havard v. State, 928 So. 2d 771 (Miss. 2006).

Spicer v. State, 921 So. 2d 292 (Miss. 2006).

Hodges v. State, 912 So. 2d 730 (Miss. 2005).

Walker v. State, 913 So. 2d 198 (Miss. 2005).

Le v. State, 913 So. 2d 913 (Miss. 2005).

Brown v. State, 890 So. 2d 901 (Miss. 2004).

Powers v. State 883 So. 2d 20 (Miss. 2004)

Branch v. State, 882 So. 2d 36 (Miss. 2004).

Scott v. State, 878 So. 2d 933 (Miss. 2004).

Lynch v. State, 877 So. 2d 1254 (Miss. 2004).

Dycus v. State, 875 So. 2d 140 (Miss. 2004).

Byrom v. State, 863 So. 2d 836 (Miss. 2003).
ii

Howell v. State, 860 So. 2d 704 (Miss. 2003).

Howard v. State, 853 So. 2d 781 (Miss. 2003).

Walker v. State, 815 So. 2d 1209 (Miss. 2002). *following remand.

Bishop v. State, 812 So. 2d 934 (Miss. 2002).

Stevens v. State, 806 So. 2d 1031 (Miss. 2002).

Grayson v. State, 806 So. 2d 241 (Miss. 2002).

Knox v. State, 805 So. 2d 527 (Miss. 2002).

Simmons v. State, 805 So. 2d 452 (Miss. 2002).

Berry v. State, 802 So. 2d 1033 (Miss. 2001).

Snow v. State, 800 So. 2d 472 (Miss. 2001).

Mitchell v. State, 792 So. 2d 192 (Miss. 2001).

Puckett v. State, 788 So. 2d 752 (Miss. 2001). * following remand.

Goodin v. State, 787 So. 2d 639 (Miss. 2001).

Jordan v. State, 786 So. 2d 987 (Miss. 2001).

Manning v. State, 765 So. 2d 516 (Miss. 2000). *following remand.

Eskridge v. State, 765 So. 2d 508 (Miss. 2000).

McGilberry v. State, 741 So. 2d 894 (Miss. 1999).

Puckett v. State, 737 So. 2d 322 (Miss. 1999). *remanded for Batson hearing.
iii

Manning v. State, 735 So. 2d 323 (Miss. 1999). *remanded for Batson hearing.

Hughes v. State, 735 So. 2d 238 (Miss. 1999).

Turner v. State, 732 So. 2d 937 (Miss. 1999).

Smith v. State, 729 So. 2d 1191 (Miss. 1998).

Burns v. State, 729 So. 2d 203 (Miss. 1998).

Jordan v. State, 728 So. 2d 1088 (Miss. 1998).

Gray v. State, 728 So. 2d 36 (Miss. 1998).

Manning v. State, 726 So. 2d 1152 (Miss. 1998).

Woodward v. State, 726 So. 2d 524 (Miss. 1997).

Bell v. State, 725 So. 2d 836 (Miss. 1998).

Evans v. State, 725 So. 2d 613 (Miss. 1997).

Brewer v. State, 725 So. 2d 106 (Miss. 1998).

Crawford v. State, 716 So. 2d 1028 (Miss. 1998).

Doss v. State, 709 So. 2d 369 (Miss. 1996).

Underwood v. State, 708 So. 2d 18 (Miss. 1998).

Holland v. State, 705 So. 2d 307 (Miss. 1997).

Wells v. State, 698 So. 2d 497 (Miss. 1997).

Wilcher v. State, 697 So. 2d 1087 (Miss. 1997).
iv

Wiley v. State, 691 So. 2d 959 (Miss. 1997).

Brown v. State, 690 So. 2d 276 (Miss. 1996).

Simon v. State, 688 So. 2d 791 (Miss.1997).

Jackson v. State, 684 So. 2d 1213 (Miss. 1996).

Williams v. State, 684 So. 2d 1179 (Miss. 1996).

Davis v. State, 684 So. 2d 643 (Miss. 1996).

Taylor v. State, 682 So. 2d. 359 (Miss. 1996).

Brown v. State, 682 So. 2d 340 (Miss. 1996).

Blue v. State, 674 So. 2d 1184 (Miss. 1996).

Holly v. State, 671 So. 2d 32 (Miss. 1996). 

Walker v. State, 671 So. 2d 581 (Miss. 1995).

Russell v. State, 670 So. 2d 816 (Miss. 1995).

Ballenger v. State, 667 So. 2d 1242 (Miss. 1995).

Davis v. State, 660 So. 2d 1228 (Miss. 1995).

Carr v. State, 655 So. 2d 824 (Miss. 1995).

Mack v. State, 650 So. 2d 1289 (Miss. 1994).

Chase v. State, 645 So. 2d 829 (Miss. 1994).

Foster v. State, 639 So. 2d 1263 (Miss. 1994).
v

Conner v. State, 632 So. 2d 1239 (Miss. 1993).

Hansen v. State, 592 So. 2d 114 (Miss. 1991).

*Shell v. State, 554 So. 2d 887 (Miss. 1989), Shell v. Mississippi, 498 U.S. 1 (1990)

reversing, in part, and remanding, Shell v. State, 595 So. 2d 1323 (Miss. 1992) remanding

for new sentencing hearing.

Davis v. State, 551 So. 2d 165 (Miss. 1989).

Minnick v. State, 551 So. 2d 77 (Miss. 1989).

*Pinkney v. State, 538 So. 2d 329 (Miss. 1989), Pinkney v. Mississippi, 494 U.S.

1075 (1990) vacating and remanding Pinkney v. State, 602 So. 2d 1177 (Miss. 1992)

remanding for new sentencing hearing.

*Clemons v. State, 535 So. 2d 1354 (Miss. 1988), Clemons v. Mississippi, 494 U.S.

738 (1990) vacating and remanding, Clemons v. State, 593 So. 2d 1004 (Miss. 1992)

remanding for new sentencing hearing. 

Woodward v. State, 533 So. 2d 418 (Miss. 1988).

Nixon v. State, 533 So. 2d 1078 (Miss. 1987).

Cole v. State, 525 So. 2d 365 (Miss. 1987).

Lockett v. State, 517 So. 2d 1346 (Miss. 1987).

Lockett v. State, 517 So. 2d 1317 (Miss. 1987).

Faraga v. State, 514 So. 2d 295 (Miss. 1987).
vi

*Jones v. State, 517 So. 2d 1295 (Miss. 1987), Jones v. Mississippi, 487 U.S. 1230

(1988) vacating and remanding, Jones v. State, 602 So. 2d 1170 (Miss. 1992) remanding for

new sentencing hearing.

Wiley v. State, 484 So. 2d 339 (Miss. 1986).

Johnson v. State, 477 So. 2d 196 (Miss. 1985).

Gray v. State, 472 So. 2d 409 (Miss. 1985).

Cabello v. State, 471 So. 2d 332 (Miss. 1985).

Jordan v. State, 464 So. 2d 475 (Miss. 1985).

Wilcher v. State, 455 So. 2d 727 (Miss. 1984).

Billiot v. State, 454 So. 2d 445 (Miss. 1984).

Stringer v. State, 454 So. 2d 468 (Miss. 1984).

Dufour v. State, 453 So. 2d 337 (Miss. 1984).

Neal v. State, 451 So. 2d 743 (Miss. 1984).

Booker v. State, 449 So. 2d 209 (Miss. 1984).

Wilcher v. State, 448 So. 2d 927 (Miss. 1984).

Caldwell v. State, 443 So. 2d 806 (Miss. 1983).

Irving v. State, 441 So. 2d 846 (Miss. 1983).
vii

Tokman v. State, 435 So. 2d 664 (Miss. 1983).

Leatherwood v. State, 435 So. 2d 645 (Miss. 1983).

Hill v. State, 432 So. 2d 427 (Miss. 1983).

Pruett v. State, 431 So. 2d 1101 (Miss. 1983).

Gilliard v. State, 428 So. 2d 576 (Miss. 1983).

Evans v. State, 422 So. 2d 737 (Miss. 1982).

King v. State, 421 So. 2d 1009 (Miss. 1982).

Wheat v. State, 420 So. 2d 229 (Miss. 1982).

Smith v. State, 419 So. 2d 563 (Miss. 1982).

Johnson v. State, 416 So. 2d 383 (Miss.1982).

Edwards v. State, 413 So. 2d 1007 (Miss. 1982).

Bullock v. State, 391 So. 2d 601 (Miss. 1980).

Reddix v. State, 381 So. 2d 999 (Miss. 1980).

Jones v. State, 381 So. 2d 983 (Miss. 1980).

Culberson v. State, 379 So. 2d 499 (Miss. 1979).

Gray v. State, 375 So. 2d 994 (Miss. 1979).
viii

Jordan v. State, 365 So. 2d 1198 (Miss. 1978).

Voyles v. State, 362 So. 2d 1236 (Miss. 1978).

Irving v. State, 361 So. 2d 1360 (Miss. 1978).

Washington v. State, 361 So. 2d 6l (Miss. 1978).

Bell v. State, 360 So. 2d 1206 (Miss. 1978).

*Case was originally affirmed in this Court but on remand from U. S. Supreme Court,

case was remanded by this Court for a new sentencing hearing.
ix

DEATH CASES REVERSED AS TO GUILT PHASE

AND SENTENCE PHASE

Ross v. State, 954 So. 2d 968 (Miss. 2007).

Flowers v. State, 947 So. 2d 910 (Miss. 2006).

Flowers v. State, 842 So. 2d 531 (Miss. 2003).

Randall v. State, 806 So. 2d 185 (Miss. 2002).

Flowers v. State, 773 So. 2d 309 (Miss. 2000).

Edwards v. State, 737 So. 2d 275 (Miss. 1999).

Smith v. State, 733 So. 2d 793 (Miss. 1999).

Porter v. State, 732 So. 2d 899 (Miss. 1999).

Kolberg v. State, 704 So. 2d 1307 (Miss. 1997).

Snelson v. State, 704 So. 2d 452 (Miss. 1997).

Fusilier v. State, 702 So. 2d 388 (Miss. 1997).

Howard v. State, 701 So. 2d 274 (Miss. 1997).

Lester v. State, 692 So. 2d 755 (Miss. 1997).

Hunter v. State, 684 So. 2d 625 (Miss. 1996).
x

Lanier v. State, 684 So. 2d 93 (Miss. 1996).

Giles v. State, 650 So. 2d 846 (Miss. 1995).

Duplantis v. State, 644 So. 2d 1235 (Miss. 1994).

Harrison v. State, 635 So. 2d 894 (Miss. 1994).

Butler v. State, 608 So. 2d 314 (Miss. 1992).

Jenkins v. State, 607 So. 2d 1171 (Miss. 1992).

Abram v. State, 606 So. 2d 1015 (Miss. 1992).

Balfour v. State, 598 So. 2d 731 (Miss. 1992).

Griffin v. State, 557 So. 2d 542 (Miss. 1990).

Bevill v. State, 556 So. 2d 699 (Miss. 1990).

West v. State, 553 So. 2d 8 (Miss. 1989).

Leatherwood v. State, 548 So. 2d 389 (Miss. 1989).

Mease v. State, 539 So. 2d 1324 (Miss. 1989).

Houston v. State, 531 So. 2d 598 (Miss. 1988).

West v. State, 519 So. 2d 418 (Miss. 1988).

Davis v. State, 512 So. 2d 129l (Miss. 1987).

Williamson v. State, 512 So. 2d 868 (Miss. 1987).
xi

Foster v. State, 508 So. 2d 1111 (Miss. 1987).

Smith v. State, 499 So. 2d 750 (Miss. 1986).

West v. State, 485 So. 2d 681 (Miss. 1985).

Fisher v. State, 481 So. 2d 203 (Miss. 1985).

Johnson v. State, 476 So. 2d 1195 (Miss. 1985).

Fuselier v. State, 468 So. 2d 45 (Miss. 1985).

West v. State, 463 So. 2d 1048 (Miss. 1985).

Jones v. State, 461 So. 2d 686 (Miss. 1984).

Moffett v. State, 456 So. 2d 714 (Miss. 1984).

Lanier v. State, 450 So. 2d 69 (Miss. 1984).

Laney v. State, 421 So. 2d 1216 (Miss. 1982).
xii

DEATH CASES REVERSED

AS TO PUNISHMENT AND REMANDED

FOR RESENTENCING TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT

Reddix v. State, 547 So. 2d 792 (Miss. 1989).

Wheeler v. State, 536 So. 2d 1341 (Miss. 1988).

White v. State, 532 So. 2d 1207 (Miss. 1988).

Bullock v. State, 525 So. 2d 764 (Miss. 1987).

Edwards v. State, 441 So. 2d 84 (Miss. l983).

Dycus v. State, 440 So. 2d 246 (Miss. 1983).

Coleman v. State, 378 So. 2d 640 (Miss. 1979).
xiii

DEATH CASES REVERSED AS TO

PUNISHMENT AND REMANDED FOR A NEW TRIAL

ON SENTENCING PHASE ONLY

Rubenstein v. State, 941 So. 2d 735 (Miss. 2006).

King v. State, 784 So. 2d 884 (Miss. 2001).

Walker v. State, 740 So. 2d 873 (Miss. 1999).

Watts v. State, 733 So. 2d 214 (Miss. 1999).

West v. State, 725 So. 2d 872 (Miss. 1998).

Smith v. State, 724 So. 2d 280 (Miss. 1998).

Berry v. State, 703 So. 2d 269 (Miss. 1997).

Booker v. State, 699 So. 2d 132 (Miss. 1997).

Taylor v. State, 672 So. 2d 1246 (Miss. 1996).

*Shell v. State, 554 So. 2d 887 (Miss. 1989), Shell v. Mississippi, 498 U.S. 1 (1990)

reversing, in part, and remanding, Shell v. State 595 So. 2d 1323 (Miss. 1992) remanding for

new sentencing hearing.

*Pinkney v. State, 538 So. 2d 329 (Miss. 1989), Pinkney v. Mississippi, 494 U.S.

1075 (1990) vacating and remanding, Pinkney v. State, 602 So. 2d 1177 (Miss. 1992)

remanding for new sentencing hearing.
xiv

*Clemons v. State, 535 So. 2d 1354 (Miss. 1988), Clemons v. Mississippi, 494 U.S.

738 (1990) vacating and remanding, Clemons v. State, 593 So. 2d 1004 (Miss. 1992)

remanding for new sentencing hearing. 

*Jones v. State, 517 So. 2d 1295 (Miss. 1987), Jones v. Mississippi, 487 U.S. 1230

(1988) vacating and remanding, Jones v. State, 602 So. 2d 1170 (Miss. 1992) remanding for

new sentencing hearing.

Russell v. State, 607 So. 2d 1107 (Miss. 1992).

Holland v. State, 587 So. 2d 848 (Miss. 1991).

Willie v. State, 585 So. 2d 660 (Miss. 1991).

Ladner v. State, 584 So. 2d 743 (Miss. 1991).

Mackbee v. State, 575 So. 2d 16 (Miss. 1990).

Berry v. State, 575 So. 2d 1 (Miss. 1990).

Turner v. State, 573 So. 2d 657 (Miss. 1990).

State v. Tokman, 564 So. 2d 1339 (Miss. 1990).

Johnson v. State, 547 So. 2d 59 (Miss. 1989).

Williams v. State, 544 So. 2d 782 (Miss. 1989); sentence aff'd 684 So. 2d 1179

(1996).

Lanier v. State, 533 So. 2d 473 (Miss. 1988).

Stringer v. State, 500 So. 2d 928 (Miss. 1986).
xv

Pinkton v. State, 481 So. 2d 306 (Miss. 1985).

Mhoon v. State, 464 So. 2d 77 (Miss. 1985).

Cannaday v. State, 455 So. 2d 713 (Miss. 1984).

Wiley v. State, 449 So. 2d 756 (Miss. 1984); resentencing affirmed, Wiley v. State,

484 So. 2d 339 (Miss. 1986), cert. denied Wiley v. Mississippi, 479 U.S. 1036 (1988);

resentencing ordered, Wiley v. State, 635 So. 2d 802 (Miss. 1993) following writ of habeas

corpus issued pursuant to Wiley v. Puckett, 969 So. 2d 86, 105-106 (5 Cir. 1992); th

resentencing affirmed, Wiley v. State, 95-DP-00149, February 13, 1997 (rehearing pending).

Williams v. State, 445 So. 2d 798 (Miss. 1984). *Case was originally affirmed in this

Court but on remand from U. S. Supreme Court, case was remanded by this Court for a new

sentencing hearing.