IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI

NO. 1998-DR-01820-SCT

BOBBY GLEN WILCHER a/k/a BOBBY GLENN

WILCHER

v.

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

DATE OF JUDGMENT: 7/21/1994

TRIAL JUDGE: HON. MARCUS D. GORDON

COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: SCOTT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: ROBERT M. RYAN

LOUWLYNN WILLIAMS

WILLIAM CLAYTON

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

BY: MARVIN L. WHITE, JR.

 CHARLENE R. PIERCE

 JO ANNE McLEOD

 JERROLYN M. OWENS

NATURE OF THE CASE: CIVIL - DEATH PENALTY - POST

CONVICTION

DISPOSITION: APPLICATIONS FOR LEAVE TO SEEK POSTCONVICTION RELIEF DENIED - 10/02/2003

MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:

MANDATE ISSUED:

EN BANC.

EASLEY, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

¶1. On March 11, 1982, Bobby Glen Wilcher (Wilcher) was indicted in the Circuit Court

of Scott County, Mississippi, for the capital murders of Velma Odell Noblin (Noblin) and

Katie Belle Moore (Moore). The indictment charged that Wilcher murdered these two women
1

 Appeal from capital murder conviction for the murder of Noblin. Trial held in Scott County.

2

 Appeal from capital murder conviction for the murder of Moore. Trial held in Harrison County.

2

while attempting to rob Noblin and while he was engaged in the kidnaping of both women.

Although these murders arose from a single incident, Wilcher was tried separately for these

murders in Scott County in 1982. Circuit Judge Marcus D. Gordon was the trial judge in both

cases. Wilcher was found guilty and sentenced to death pursuant to jury verdict in both cases

in 1982.

¶2. This Court affirmed both capital murder convictions and sentences of death. Wilcher

v. State, 448 So.2d 927 (Miss. 1984)1 and Wilcher v. State, 455 So.2d 727 (Miss. 1984)2.

The U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari on October 1, 1984. Wilcher v. Mississippi, 469

U.S. 873, 105 S.Ct. 231, 83 L.Ed.2d 160 (1984). Wilcher's subsequent motions for postconviction relief in these consolidated cases were denied on initial review. Wilcher v. State,

479 So.2d 710 (Miss. 1985). The U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari on March 31, 1986.

Wilcher v. Mississippi, 475 U.S. 1078, 106 S.Ct. 1501, 89 L.Ed.2d 901 (1986).

¶3. Wilcher then filed two separate petitions for writ of habeas corpus in the U.S. District

Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Wilcher v. Cabana, No. J86-0313 and

Wilcher v. Cabana, No. J86-0311 (S.D. Miss.). The district court consolidated the petitions

on November 26, 1986, and denied habeas relief on June 19, 1990. Wilcher filed a notice of

appeal and an application for certificate of probable cause, and the certificate was granted on

September 24, 1990.
3

 Direct appeal after being resentenced to death for the murder of Noblin in Rankin County.

4

 Direct appeal after being resentenced to death for the murder of Moore in Harrison County.

3

¶4. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that the sentences should be vacated

unless this Court reviewed the sentences under Clemons v. Mississippi, 494 U.S. 738, 110

S.Ct. 1441, 108 L.Ed.2d 725, (1990), because the use of the undefined "especially heinous"

aggravating factor during the sentencing phases. The Fifth Circuit denied relief on all other

claims raised by Wilcher. Wilcher v. Hargett, 978 F.2d 872 (5th Cir.), rehearing en banc

denied, 981 F.2d 1254 (5th Cir. 1992). Wilcher filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the

U.S. Supreme Court challenging the Fifth Circuit's affirmance of the district court and the

petition was denied on October 4, 1993. Wilcher v. Hargett, 510 U.S. 829, 114 S.Ct. 96, 126

L.Ed.2d 63 (1993).

¶5. This Court vacated both of Wilcher's death sentences and remanded for new sentencing

proceeding. Wilcher v. State, 635 So.2d 789 (Miss. 1993)(consolidated). Wilcher was

sentenced to death on June 23, 1994, in Rankin County, after a change of venue, for the capital

murder of Noblin. Wilcher was also sentenced to death on July 21, 1994, in Harrison County,

after a change of venue, for the capital murder of Moore. Circuit Judge Gordon presided at

both sentencing trials. Both sentences were affirmed by this Court on appeal. Wilcher v.

State, 697 So.2d 1087 (Miss. 1997) (Wilcher I)

3

; and Wilcher v. State, 697 So.2d 1123

(Miss. 1997) (Wilcher II)

4

, respectively. The U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari on January

12, 1998. Wilcher v. Mississippi, 522 U.S. 1053, 118 S.Ct. 705, 139 L.Ed.2d 647, and

rehearing 522 U.S. 1154, 118 S.Ct. 1181, 140 L.Ed.2d 188 (1998).
4

¶6. Pursuant to the Mississippi Uniform Post-Conviction Collateral Relief Act, Miss. Code

Ann. § § 99-39-1 to -29 (Rev. 2000 & Supp. 2003), Wilcher now files his post-conviction

application for leave of this Court to proceed in the trial court regarding his capital murder

conviction and death sentence for the death of Noblin. This Court denies the application.

FACTS

¶7. This Court's opinion on Wilcher's appeal contains the following facts:

This capital murder case is presently before this Court on direct appeal from a

1994 resentencing trial that resulted in Bobby Glenn Wilcher's second death

sentence for the 1982 murder and robbery of Velma Odell Noblin, a fiftytwo-year-old mother of six children.

The case arises out of the gruesome double murder and robbery of Velma Odell

Noblin and Katie Belle Moore. The evidence reflects that Bobby Glenn Wilcher,

age nineteen, met his two female victims at a Scott County bar on the night of

March 5, 1982. When the bar closed at midnight, Wilcher persuaded the women

to take him home. Under this pretext, he directed them down a deserted service

road in the Bienville National Forest--where he robbed and brutally murdered

the women by stabbing them a total of forty-six times.

Thereafter, Wilcher was stopped for speeding by the Forest Police Department

between 1:00 and 2:00 a.m. He was alone and was driving victim Noblin's car.

The victims' purses and one victim's brassiere were on the back seat. Wilcher

was covered in blood; he had a bloody knife in his back pocket that had flesh on

the blade. Wilcher explained his condition by telling the policeman that he had

cut his thumb while skinning a possum. The officer followed Wilcher to the

hospital, where Wilcher's wound was cleaned and covered with a band-aid.

Another officer was called to the hospital to observe Wilcher, the knife, the car,

the purses, and the brassiere.

The officers left the hospital on an emergency call. Wilcher went home. The

next morning, he abandoned Noblin's car at an apartment complex. Wilcher also

threw the victims' purses and the brassiere in a ditch. He was arrested later that

day. The victims' jewelry was subsequently found in Wilcher's bedroom.

Wilcher I, 697 So.2d at 1091-92.

ISSUES
5

A. WHETHER WILCHER'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO

CONFRONT A KEY WITNESS AND HIS RIGHT TO A FAIR AND

IMPARTIAL HEARING AND DUE PROCESS UNDER THE SIXTH,

EIGHTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS AND UNDER THE

MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION WERE VIOLATED BY THE TRIAL

COURT'S REFUSAL TO ALLOW CROSS-EXAMINATION OF

SHERIFF WARREN ON HIS CONVICTION FOR EXTORTION.

B. WHETHER WILCHER WAS DEPRIVED OF EFFECTIVE

ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL IN THE RE-SENTENCING TRIAL IN

VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHT TO COMPETENT COUNSEL UNDER

THE SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS OF THE

CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, AND

HIS RIGHT TO HAVE EVIDENCE PRESENTED TO THE JURY

UNDER THE EIGHTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS.

C. WHETHER TRIAL COUNSEL IMPROPERLY EXCUSED POTENTIAL

JURORS IN VIOLATION OF THE SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH

AMENDMENTS.

D. WHETHER WILCHER WAS DEPRIVED OF HIS RIGHT TO A

FAIR AND IMPARTIAL JURY UNDER THE SIXTH AND

FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS, AND UNDER ARTICLE 3,

SECTIONS 14 AND 26 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION BY

JURORS' FAILURE TO REVEAL AUTOMATIC DEATH PENALTY

TENDENCIES; DEFENSE COUNSEL WERE INEFFECTIVE IN

FAILING TO OBJECT TO THE STATE'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL

ARGUMENT.

E. WHETHER WILCHER WAS DENIED THE IMPARTIAL JURY

AFFORDED HIM UNDER THE SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH

AMENDMENTS, AND UNDER ARTICLE 3, SECTIONS 14 AND 26

OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION BY THE COURT'S

DENIAL OF HIS MOTION FOR INDIVIDUAL SEQUESTERED

VOIR DIRE.

F-1. WHETHER PROSECUTION'S USE OF SENTENCING

INSTRUCTIONS S-1, S-2, AND S-4 WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

AND DEFENSE COUNSEL WERE INEFFECTIVE FOR FAILING

TO RAISE THIS AT TRIAL AND ON DIRECT APPEAL.

F-2. WHETHER WILCHER'S FIFTH, EIGHTH AND/OR

FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED
5

 State's Exhibit 29, as it is referred to in the transcript of this case, was remarked as State's Exhibit

27 in Wilcher's subsequent resentencing trial for the capital murder of Katie Belle Moore, and is currently

before this Court marked as State's Exhibit 27.

6

BY THE LENGTH OF TIME ON MISSISSIPPI'S DEATH ROW

AND THE MANY EXECUTION DATES THAT HAVE BEEN SET.

G. WHETHER WILCHER'S RIGHT TO TRIAL BY A FAIR AND

IMPARTIAL JURY UNDER THE FEDERAL AND STATE

CONSTITUTIONS WAS VIOLATED TO HIS PREJUDICE BY

DEPUTIES' CONTACT WITH JURORS.

H. WHETHER WILCHER'S FEDERAL AND STATE

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL JURY

WERE DENIED BY THE JURY'S PREMATURE

DELIBERATIONS.

ANALYSIS

A. WHETHER WILCHER'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO

CONFRONT A KEY WITNESS AND HIS RIGHT TO A FAIR AND

IMPARTIAL HEARING AND DUE PROCESS UNDER THE SIXTH,

EIGHTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS AND UNDER THE

MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION WERE VIOLATED BY THE TRIAL

COURT'S REFUSAL TO ALLOW CROSS-EXAMINATION OF

SHERIFF WARREN ON HIS CONVICTION FOR EXTORTION.

¶8. Sheriff Glenn Warren (Sheriff Warren) took Wilcher's statements during the

investigation of these crimes and testified in 1982 during the guilt phase. In a statement to

Sheriff Warren, as Warren testified, Wilcher confessed to the murders of Moore and Noblin

and to the robbery of Noblin.5 In 1989, Sheriff Warren was convicted of extortion in violation

of the federal Hobbs Act. Shortly after his conviction and before Wilcher's re-sentencing,

Sheriff Warren died. At Wilcher's resentencing trial in 1994, Judge Gordon allowed Sheriff

Warren's 1982 testimony to be read into evidence, but would not allow the defense to

introduce evidence of the sheriff's 1989 extortion conviction for the purpose of impeachment.
7

The trial court's decision was based on Sheriff Warren's guilty plea being entered in 1989,

seven years after giving testimony against Wilcher in 1982. Wilcher asserts that the trial court

violated his rights under the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and

Article 3, Section 26, of the Mississippi Constitution and abused its discretion by denying him

the ability to introduce Sheriff Warren's 1989 conviction for impeachment purposes. 

¶9. The issue of whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying Wilcher's attempt

to introduce Sheriff Warren's 1989 conviction into evidence was fully addressed by this Court

on Wilcher's direct appeal. Wilcher I, 697 So.2d at 1102-03. In its discussion, this Court

recognized that not allowing the sheriff's conviction into evidence was within the trial judge's

discretion. M.R.E. 609(a)(1). In reviewing the trial judge's decision for an abuse of

discretion, this Court stated:

The trial judge stated that the conviction had no probative value because it

occurred seven years after the sheriff's original testimony. In analyzing the

probative value of the 1989 conviction, it is important to consider the unique

way this evidence was presented to the jury. The trial judge properly considered

the fact that the testimony given at the 1994 trial was given by someone who had

not been convicted of a crime at the time he originally made the statements at

issue. This would tend to decrease the probative value of the sheriff's 1989

extortion conviction. Furthermore, Wilcher has not demonstrated anything about

the sheriff's life that would have influenced the investigation of the case at hand.

Therefore, the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in excluding the

conviction. See also Turner v. State, 573 So.2d at 1340. Wilcher's argument to

the contrary is without merit.

Wilcher I, 697 So.2d at 1103.

¶10. The sheriff's prior testimony was admissible under M.R.E. 804. At the time Sheriff

Warren gave his original testimony in 1982, Wilcher was present with counsel and thus had the

ability to confront Sheriff Warren. "The doctrine of res judicata shall apply to all issues, both
8

factual and legal, decided at trial and on direct appeal." Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3). This

issue is procedurally barred. Without waiving the procedural bar, this issue is also without

merit.

Whether Circuit Judge Marcus D. Gordon should have recused himself.

¶11. Wilcher attempts a new angle of attack to convince this Court that the trial court abused

its discretion by not permitting Sheriff Warren's 1989 conviction to be introduced for

impeachment purposes. Wilcher asserts that Judge Gordon did not possess impartial judgment

and should have recused himself from the trial. In support of his assertion, Wilcher alleges

that Judge Gordon possessed personal knowledge about disputed facts. 

¶12. Wilcher also argues that other aspects of the trial tend to show that Judge Gordon was

biased in this case, such as: ex parte contact, judicial comments, and voir dire that resulted in

a tainted jury. We find that these issues are procedurally barred because they were capable of

being raised at trial or on direct appeal. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(1). Even if they were

not procedurally barred, Wilcher is attempting to convince this Court to reevaluate the

underlying claim that he should have been permitted to introduce Sheriff Warren's 1989

conviction for impeachment purposes. As stated before, this Court already discussed this

issue on the merits, found no abuse of discretion by the trial court, and the issue is therefore

barred. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3). However, without waiving the procedural bar, a

discussion on the merits follows.

¶13. Judge Gordon served as Circuit Judge of the Eighth Circuit Court Judicial District and

resigned to return to the practice of law in August of 1987. Wilcher asserts that, during the

period of time between Judge Gordon's resignation and his reelection to the bench, Judge

Gordon represented Sheriff Warren on the federal Hobbs Act charges. Wilcher offers Sheriff
9

Warren's Memorandum of Understanding dated April 1, 1988, and the sheriff's Entry of Guilty

Plea dated April 8, 1988, both of which have Judge Gordon listed as one of Sheriff Warren's

attorneys. Judge Gordon's signature does not appear anywhere on either of the two federal

documents presented by Wilcher.

¶14. On Wilcher's direct appeal, this Court stated that Wilcher had not demonstrated

anything about the sheriff's life that would have influenced the investigation of Wilcher's case.

Wilcher I, 697 So.2d at 1103. In an attempt to show that the sheriff was corrupt at the time

Wilcher's crimes were being investigated and that the trial judge knew it, Wilcher offers this

Court a character letter written by Judge Gordon to the sheriff's sentencing court on the

sheriff's behalf. The letter begins, "With deep regret, I now realize that Glenn Warren was

involved in corruption in Scott County, Mississippi, during the time that he served Scott

County as its Sheriff. However, I feel there are a number of facts that I possess particular

knowledge thereof, regarding Glenn and his involvement." Wilcher relies on the letter to

show that the trial judge had personal knowledge of disputed facts.

¶15. Wilcher directs this Court's attention to the Code of Judicial Ethics, Canon 3(C)(1)(a),

in effect during Wilcher's resentencing trial:

C. Disqualification

(1) A judge should disqualify himself in a proceeding in which his

impartiality might reasonably be questioned, including but not

limited to instances where:

(a) he has a personal bias or prejudice

concerning a party, or personal knowledge

of disputed evidentiary facts concerning

the proceedings;
10

(emphasis added).

¶16. The statements from the character letter are not conclusive of Wilcher's allegation.

Judge Gordon's character letter also states:

I also served with [Sheriff] Glenn [Warren] for one year while District Attorney,

and served thereafter for nine years as his Circuit Judge, and I had the

opportunity on many occasions to observe his efforts toward law enforcement.

In my opinion, he was an outstanding sheriff. I, on many occasions, had the

opportunity to observe where he would give answers from the witness chair that

were harmful to his case, but he was very candid and forthright with his

testimony and gave true testimony, although it was hurting his case. In addition,

I heard many cases that resulted in a conviction of a guilty defendant that was a

result of good law enforcement and investigation on the part of Glenn.

¶17. Wilcher attempts to convince this Court that Judge Gordon was biased and should have

recused himself because he had personal knowledge surrounding Sheriff Warren's 1989

conviction. Wilcher contends that the very fact that Judge Gordon did not let the conviction

into evidence tends to prove that Judge Gordon was biased. This Court finds that Wilcher has

not shown that Judge Gordon was biased.

¶18. Wilcher also argues that it would be an abuse of discretion for the trial judge to exclude

the sheriff's conviction solely on the basis that it transpired seven years after Sheriff Warren's

1982 testimony when the judge had personal knowledge that the sheriff's corruption occurred

much closer to the sheriff's 1982 testimony because the judge represented the sheriff.

¶19. In response, the State offers a sworn affidavit from Judge Gordon which states:

That heretofore the undersigned served as Circuit Judge of the Eighth Circuit

Court Judicial District and resigned to return to the practice of law in August,

1987, and that while practicing law, Sheriff Glenn Warren was indicted on a

Federal felony charge, and that he employed the Hon. Alvin Binder, Jackson,

Mississippi, as his attorney to represent him in the criminal proceedings. Some

great considerable time thereafter, Glenn Warren contacted the undersigned

about representation, but I advised Warren that he had a competent and capable
11

attorney and I could be of very little benefit to him. However, I did interview

one or possibly two witnesses, but took no further action in representing the

Sheriff. I made no Court appearances with him, filed no pleadings for him, was

not involved in the plea bargaining that was handled by Alvin Binder and was not

present at the time the Sheriff was sentenced. The only involvement I had was

one conversation with one, possibly two witnesses. I did not consider myself

an attorney representing Glenn Warren. I made no charge, nor did I receive any

compensation in any form for what little service I rendered.

¶20. Judge Gordon's involvement in Sheriff Warren's case was very limited and, as Judge

Gordon stated, he did not consider himself to represent Warren. However, we find that the test

is not what Judge Gordon considered. "A judge is required to disqualify himself if a reasonable

person, knowing all the circumstances, would harbor doubts about his impartiality." Jenkins

v. State, 570 So.2d 1191, 1192 (Miss. 1990) (quoting Rutland v. Pridgen, 493 So.2d 952,

954 (Miss. 1986)). 

¶21. Wilcher's attempts to show that Judge Gordon was biased are not convincing, but his

argument that Judge Gordon should have recused himself may have merit. However, the

evidence surrounding Wilcher's recusal claim was capable of being discovered and raised at

both the trial level and on direct appeal. Therefore, the issue is barred. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-

39-21(1) & (2). 

¶22. Wilcher cannot overcome the bar by showing actual prejudice because, despite his

contention, the sheriff's testimony was not the only link to robbery as an aggravating

circumstance to the capital murder charge. Throughout Wilcher's post-conviction application,

he complains that the sheriff's testimony regarding Wilcher's confession is the only evidence

that tends to show the aggravating circumstance of robbery. This simply is not so. 
12

¶23. The State correctly points out that, other than Wilcher's confession entered into

evidence through Sheriff Warren's testimony, the State introduced evidence of the robbery

through Albert Harkey's (Harkey) testimony. Harkey was a constable at the time of the

murders and he testified that he and Deputy Otis Kelly recovered a necklace, a watch and two

rings from Wilcher's bedroom. Bill Noblin, Odell Noblin's husband, identified the jewelry

items as belonging to his wife, and he testified that she had been wearing them when he last saw

her on the night of the murders. Nell Boykin, Odell Noblin's daughter, also identified the

jewelry items as those belonging to Odell Noblin. Additionally, Sid Salter, a journalist,

testified that Wilcher confessed to taking Odell Noblin's car after he had murdered her.

Therefore, even if Sheriff Warren's 1989 conviction had been admitted to impeach his

testimony, there was still enough other evidence introduced to support the finding of robbery

as an aggravating factor. 

¶24. The issue concerning Judge Gordon's recusal is procedurally barred in Wilcher's postconviction application. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(1). Wilcher cannot show prejudice to

overcome that bar. Additionally, Wilcher argues all of these points to again try and convince

this Court that Sheriff Warrens 1989 conviction should have been introduced into evidence.

This Court addressed this issue on direct appeal, and it is procedurally barred also. Miss. Code

Ann. § 99-39-21(3).

Intervening case

¶25. Wilcher contends that there has been an intervening decision by this Court rendered

between the time of his direct appeal and his post-conviction application, which "would have
13

actually adversely affected the outcome of his conviction or sentence." Miss. Code Ann. § 99-

39-27(9). The case on which Wilcher relies is Young v. State, 731 So.2d 1145 (Miss. 1999).

¶26. In Young, Ross was a witness for the State. On cross-examination, the defense asked

Ross if he had ever been convicted of a felony, to which Ross replied, "No, sir." Id. at 1149.

The trial judge declared that under M.R.E. 609 and 403, the evidence of Ross's prior conviction

for burglary was inadmissible. Id. This Court found that the trial judge abused his discretion.

Id. at 1151. Citing the dissenting opinion of Sullivan, P.J., in Wilcher II, 697 So.2d at 1143,

this Court determined that, since Ross was not a party, any prejudice to him was irrelevant and

to deny Young the right to fully explore this aspect of Ross's credibility was to deny Young the

right to fully confront the witness against him. Young, 731 So.2d at 1151. Wilcher asserts that

M.R.E. 609 should not have prevented him from presenting evidence of Sheriff Warren's

conviction since the sheriff was a non-party witness. 

¶27. Again, on Wilcher's direct appeal after being resentenced to death for the murder of

Noblin, this Court stated:

The trial judge stated that the conviction had no probative value because it

occurred seven years after the sheriff's original testimony. In analyzing the

probative value of the 1989 conviction, it is important to consider the unique

way this evidence was presented to the jury. The trial judge properly

considered the fact that the testimony given at the 1994 trial was given by

someone who had not been convicted of a crime at the time he originally made

the statements at issue. This would tend to decrease the probative value of the

sheriff's 1989 extortion conviction. Furthermore, Wilcher has not demonstrated

anything about the sheriff's life that would have influenced the investigation of

the case at hand. Therefore, the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in

excluding the conviction.

Wilcher I, 697 So.2d at 1103 (¶ 65) (emphasis added).
14

¶28. Young is distinguishable from the instant case. In the case sub judice, Sheriff Warren

was convicted for extortion seven years after his testimony was given in 1982. When his

testimony was given in 1982, Sheriff Warren did not have a prior felony conviction. Further,

the sheriff was not present to testify against Wilcher in 1994. In Young, Ross was present to

testify, and he had a prior felony conviction for burglary. Further, when Ross was asked if he

had ever been convicted of a felony, Ross replied "No, sir." Young, 731 So.2d at 1149. 

¶29. Young is distinguishable from this Court's reasoning in Wilcher's direct appeal and,

therefore, not an intervening case that would warrant a reversal of Wilcher's sentence of death.

 

B. WHETHER WILCHER WAS DEPRIVED OF EFFECTIVE

ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL IN THE RESENTENCING TRIAL IN

VIOLATION OF HIS RIGHT TO COMPETENT COUNSEL UNDER

THE SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS OF THE

CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI,

AND HIS RIGHT TO HAVE EVIDENCE PRESENTED TO THE

JURY UNDER THE EIGHTH AND FOURTEENTH

AMENDMENTS.

¶30. We have noted:

Post-conviction proceedings are for the purpose of bringing to the trial court's

attention [to] facts not known at the time of judgment. Smith v. State, 477 So.2d

191 (Miss.1985). The Post-conviction Collateral Relief Act provides a

procedure limited in nature to review those matters which, in practical reality,

could not or should not have been raised at trial or on direct appeal. Turner v.

State, 590 So.2d 871 (Miss.1991); Cabello v. State, 524 So.2d 313, 323

(Miss.1988).

Procedural bars of waiver, different theories, and res judicata and exception

thereto as defined in post-conviction relief statute are applicable in death

penalty post-conviction relief application. Lockett v. State, 614 So.2d 888

(Miss.1992), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 1040, 114 S.Ct. 681, 126 L.Ed.2d 649

(1994). We have repeatedly held that a defendant is procedurally barred by

waiver from making a challenge to a capital sentencing scheme as a whole in a
15

petition for post-conviction relief where the issue was capable of determination

at trial and/or on direct appeal but was not raised, and defendant failed to show

cause or actual prejudice for not raising the issue on direct appeal. Lockett v.

State, 614 So.2d 898 (Miss.1992), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 1040, 114 S.Ct. 681,

126 L.Ed.2d 649 (1994); Smith v. State, 477 So.2d 191 (Miss.1985).

Post-conviction relief is not granted upon facts and issues which could or

should have been litigated at trial and on appeal. 'The doctrine of res judicata

shall apply to all issues, both factual and legal, decided at trial and on direct

appeal.' Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39- 21(3) (Supp.1994). We must caution that

other issues which were either presented through direct appeal or could have

been presented on direct appeal or at trial are procedurally barred and cannot be

relitigated under the guise of poor representation by counsel.

Foster v. State, 687 So.2d 1124, 1129 (Miss. 1996). Further, we have stated:

The benchmark for judging any claim of ineffectiveness [of counsel] must be

whether counsel's conduct so undermined the proper functioning of the

adversarial process that the trial cannot be relied on as having produced a just

result. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 686, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 2064,

80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). The test is two pronged: The defendant must

demonstrate that his counsel's performance was deficient, and that the

deficiency prejudiced the defense of the case. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104

S.Ct. at 2064; Washington v. State, 620 So.2d 966 (Miss.1993). 'This requires

showing that counsel's errors were so serious as to deprive the defendant of a

fair trial, a trial whose result is reliable. Unless a defendant makes both

showings, it cannot be said that the conviction or death sentence resulted from

a breakdown in the adversary process that renders the result unreliable.' Stringer

v. State, 454 So.2d 468, 477 (Miss.1984), citing Strickland v. Washington,

466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. at 2064. 'In any case presenting an ineffectiveness

claim, the performance inquiry must be whether counsel's assistance was

reasonable considering all the circumstances.' Stringer at 477, citing

Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688, 104 S.Ct. at 2065; State v. Tokman, 564 So.2d

1339, 1343 (Miss.1990). 

Judicial scrutiny of counsel's performance must be highly deferential. (citation

omitted) ... A fair assessment of attorney performance requires that every effort

be made to eliminate the distorting effects of hindsight, to reconstruct the

circumstances of counsel's challenged conduct, and to evaluate the conduct

from counsel's perspective at the time. Because of the difficulties inherent in

making the evaluation, a court must indulge a strong presumption that counsel's

conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance; that

is, the defendant must overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances,

the challenged action 'might be considered sound trial strategy.'Stringer at 477;
16

Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S.Ct. at 2065. In short, defense counsel is

presumed competent. Johnson v. State, 476 So.2d 1195, 1204 (Miss.1985);

Washington v. State, 620 So.2d 966 (Miss.1993).

Then, to determine the second prong of prejudice to the defense, the standard

is 'a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the

result of the proceeding would have been different.' Mohr v. State, 584 So.2d

426, 430 (Miss.1991). This means a 'probability sufficient to undermine the

confidence in the outcome.' Id. The question here is whether there is a

reasonable probability that, absent the errors, the sentencer--including an

appellate court, to the extent it independently reweighs the evidence--would

have concluded that the balance of the aggravating and mitigating circumstances

did not warrant death. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 695, 104 S.Ct. at 2068.

There is no constitutional right then to errorless counsel. Cabello v. State, 524

So.2d 313, 315 (Miss.1988); Mohr v. State, 584 So.2d 426, 430 (Miss.1991)

(right to effective counsel does not entitle defendant to have an attorney who

makes no mistakes at trial; defendant just has right to have competent counsel).

If the post-conviction application fails on either of the Strickland prongs, the

proceedings end. Neal v. State, 525 So.2d 1279, 1281 (Miss.1987); Mohr v.

State, 584 So.2d 426 (Miss.1991).

Foster, 687 So.2d at 1129-30.

1. Whether trial counsel were ineffective for failing to protect

Wilcher's Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights. 

¶31. Wilcher contends that his trial counsel allowed his Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights

to be violated when they allowed him to be interviewed by the State's psychological and

psychiatric experts outside the presence of counsel. He contends that the interview was a

"critical stage" of the proceedings against him and that his counsel should have been present.

The information adduced at the interview was used in rebuttal of Wilcher's mitigating evidence

and showed that he was not under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance

at the time the murders were committed. Wilcher contends that his counsels' absence

prejudiced him because they were not there to protect his Fifth Amendment right against self-
17

incrimination and his Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights to counsel and due process at

crucial stages of proceedings against him.

¶32. As the State correctly points out, Wilcher raised the underlying issue at trial and on

direct appeal when asserting that the doctors' testimony resulted from an examination that went

beyond the scope of the trial court's order. In its opinion, this Court stated: 

The defense attorneys reviewed the order granting the State's motion for a

psychiatric evaluation, which instructed the doctors to perform an examination

to determine Wilcher's ability to stand trial and assist his attorneys in his own

defense, as well as Wilcher's ability to know the difference between right and

wrong and understand the nature of his actions at the time of the offense. The

defense attorneys did not object to this type examination, and, therefore, they

did not attend the doctors' interview of Wilcher.

* * * 

Furthermore, the doctors told Wilcher that anything he said could be used

against him during the sentencing phase. The doctors offered to allow Wilcher

to call his attorneys. Thus, to the extent that Wilcher answered the doctors'

questions, he did so with full knowledge of his rights.

The United States Supreme Court has "explicitly declined to hold that a

defendant who has obtained counsel cannot himself waive his right to counsel."

Michigan v. Harvey, 494 U.S. 344, 352, 110 S.Ct. 1176, 1181, 108 L.Ed.2d

293 (1990) (citing Estelle v. Smith, 451 U.S. 454, 471-472, n. 16, 101 S.Ct.

1866, 1877 n. 16, 68 L.Ed.2d 359 (1981)). "To hold that a defendant is

inherently incapable of relinquishing his right to counsel once it is invoked

would be 'to imprison a man in his privileges and call it the Constitution.' This

we decline to do." Michigan v. Harvey, 494 U.S. at 353, 110 S.Ct. at 1182

(quoting Adams v. United States ex re. McCann, 317 U.S. 269, 280, 63 S.Ct.

236, 242, 87 L.Ed. 268 (1942)).

Thus, defense counsel was aware of the psychological examination and prepared

Wilcher for the interview. The doctors warned Wilcher of his rights, and

Wilcher exercised those rights by refusing to answer some of the doctors'

questions during the examination. The trial judge limited Dr. Stanley's testimony

to that evidence adduced in compliance with the court order and at trial. For

these reasons, Wilcher's argument that Dr. Stanley's rebuttal testimony was

based on evidence obtained in violation of the Sixth Amendment fails.
18

Wilcher I, 697 So.2d at 1100-01. 

¶33. The State properly argues that since the underlying substantive claim used to support

the claim of ineffective assistance of counsel was found to be without merit by this Court,

Wilcher cannot show that his counsels' performance was deficient and cannot show actual

prejudice. Wilcher's claim does not pass the Strickland test. Further, this issue is

procedurally barred. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3). "We must caution that other issues

which were either presented through direct appeal or could have been presented on direct

appeal or at trial are procedurally barred and cannot be relitigated under the guise of poor

representation by counsel." Foster, 687 So.2d at 1129.

2. Whether Wilcher's counsel were ineffective for failing to introduce

rebuttal evidence regarding the State's experts.

¶34. The first part of this argument, that Wilcher's trial attorneys were ineffective for failing

to cross-examine Dr. Charles Stanley (Dr. Stanley) or Dr. Donald Guild (Dr. Guild), is without

merit. As just discussed in the previous claim of ineffective assistance by counsel, the State

called Dr. Stanley and Dr. Guild to rebut Wilcher's mitigating evidence. Dr. Stanley opined

that Wilcher was not under the influence of any kind of extreme mental or emotional

disturbance at the time of the murders.

¶35. Before Dr. Stanley took the stand to offer rebuttal testimony to Wilcher's mitigating

evidence, Wilcher's counsel objected asserting a violation of Estelle v. Smith, 451 U.S. 454,

101 S.Ct. 1866, 68 L.Ed.2d 359 (1981). The trial court conducted a suppression hearing to

determine the admissibility of Dr. Stanley's and Dr. Guild's testimonies. The trial court

determined that Wilcher had waived his rights under Estelle and permitted Dr. Stanley and Dr.
19

Guild to testify. Upon the conclusion of the State's direct examination of Dr. Stanley and Dr.

Guild, the trial court asked if the defense would like to cross-examine. Wilcher's counsel

declined to cross-examine the doctors believing that they would be waiving their objection.

The trial court then asked if the defense had any surrebuttal testimony, and the defense

indicated that they did not.

¶36. Wilcher avers that his attorneys were ineffective for failing to cross-examine Dr.

Stanley because cross-examination would not have waived the Estelle objection. Wilcher

asserts that his trial counsel should have delved into the prior cases in which Dr. Stanley and

Dr. Guild examined defendants and then testified against them in death penalty cases. Wilcher

provides this Court with such a list of cases.

¶37. Even assuming that Wilcher is correct that the objection would not have been waived

by cross-examining Dr. Stanley and Dr. Guild, eliciting further testimony about the doctors'

past trial experiences would have run the risk of bolstering the doctors' credibility. The State

asserts that Dr. Stanley and Dr. Guild have testified hundreds of times in criminal and civil

cases for both the State and the defense and that Wilcher fails to point that out. There is a

strong presumption that a counsel's conduct is reasonable and professional and that decisions

made are strategic. Murray v. Maggio, 736 F.2d 279, 282 (5th Cir. 1984). 

¶38. The record indicates that Wilcher's attorneys had already obtained favorable testimony

from two doctors called to testify on Wilcher's behalf. Dr. Doyle Smith, a physician

specializing in addiction medicine, and Dr. Patrick McLain, a physician specializing in the

treatment of addiction medicine. Dr. Stanley's and Dr. Guild's testimonies were offered by the

State in rebuttal. This Court finds that any failing to cross-examine the State's doctor is not
20

deficient on the part of Wilcher's attorneys as such could have bolstered the State's doctors'

testimonies and given the State more ammunition.

¶39. Wilcher also asserts that his attorneys were deficient for failing "to have Wilcher

examined by a psychologist to aid in the presentation of mitigating evidence of alcoholism and

inability to appreciate criminality or to conform his conduct and the influence of extreme

mental or emotional disturbances, and to counter the State's witnesses."

¶40. Wilcher faults his attorneys for failing to offer rebuttal testimony from a doctor in the

same field as Dr. Stanley and Dr. Guild in order to challenge or rebut their testimonies.

Wilcher offers a 107-page (plus attachments) affidavit from Dr. Mark Cunningham, a forensic

psychologist, who presents what is purported to be an extensive rebuttal of Dr. Stanley's

testimony. First, Wilcher fails to recognize that Dr. Stanley's and Dr. Guild's testimonies were

rebuttal and anything offered against their testimonies would be surrebuttal. However,

surrebuttal is not an entitlement. Surrebuttal is discretionary by the trial judge. Moody v.

State, 841 So.2d 1067, 1090 (Miss. 2003). 

¶41. Second, Dr. Smith and Dr. McLain, the two doctors that Wilcher's attorneys did call,

testified that Wilcher was an alcoholic and a drug addict, that he had the potential to inherit his

alcoholism genetically, that consequences do not matter to alcoholics and drug addicts, that

the combination of Wilcher's alcohol and drug use could cause psychotic behavior, and that

Wilcher's combination of alcohol and drug use would have put him under extreme mental and

emotional disturbance on the night of the murders. Given this proof, Wilcher's trial attorneys

were not deficient.
21

¶42. Again, there is a presumption that a counsel's conduct is reasonable and professional

and that decisions made are strategic. Murray, 736 F.2d at 282. Wilcher has not overcome

that presumption. However, even if it is assumed, for the sake of argument, that Wilcher's

attorneys were deficient for failing to cross-examine Dr. Stanley and Dr. Guild or offer to

offer testimony from a psychologist to challenge or surrebut the State's doctors, Wilcher

cannot show that his sentence would have been different; therefore, he cannot overcome the

second prong of Strickland.

3. Whether Wilcher's counsel failed to introduce rebuttal evidence

regarding Wilcher's interview with a journalist.

¶43. Sid Salter, a journalist, conducted two interviews with Wilcher. The first was in

October of 1985, and the second was in March of 1988. Wilcher asserts that he requested the

second interview in order to facilitate a "death wish." Wilcher contends that he was "suicidal"

during the 1988 interview, and he now claims that his defense attorneys were ineffective in

handling various aspects of the interview evidence presented at trial.

Favorable portions of the 1985 interview were not offered into evidence.

¶44. Wilcher contends that certain statements made in the 1985 interview and the 1988

interview conflict in many ways and that his attorneys should have offered statements from the

1985 interview in mitigation of the damning statements from the 1988 interview entered into

evidence. Wilcher asserts that the jury would have seen his state of mind during the 1988

interview and given his statements less weight.

¶45. The statements from the 1985 interview that Wilcher asserts would have been favorable

refer to his acceptance of Christ and his remorse for the crimes. The State contends that those
22

statements regarding Wilcher's religious conversion, as they are now offered by Wilcher, are

taken out of context. Further, the State argues that those statements, when put into proper

context, would have informed the jury that Wilcher had previously been sentenced to death.

Wilcher's attorneys had filed a motion in limine to exclude information regarding Wilcher's

prior death sentence. That motion was sustained. 

¶46. Second, the State argues that the remorseful statements made by Wilcher do not show

sorrow for having committed the murders but, instead, show sorrow for what Wilcher himself

had lost as a result of his actions. The statements from the 1985 interview that Wilcher

contends should have been proffered by his attorneys to show remorse are, in part, as follows:

Q: Was whatever satisfaction you got worth losing your life over?

A: I didn't get any satisfaction. I wouldn't have got any satisfaction if I had

gotten away with it. 

Q: What did you get?

A: It ain't what I got. It's what I lost.

Q: What did you lose?

A: I lost a wife, child, family, friends, relatives. You name it. I lost my

freedom, my rights, my dignity, my pride. Ain't but one thing I gained out

of the whole ordeal - that's God.

¶47. We find that the decision not to introduce statements from Wilcher's 1985 interview was

strategic. 

¶48. Even assuming that Wilcher is correct in his assumption that his attorneys were

deficient for not introducing the statements to show a difference in his state of mind during

the 1988 interview, Wilcher cannot show how the outcome of the proceedings would have

been different if the 1985 statements had been presented to the jury. Wilcher's argument does

not pass the Strickland test.

Favorable portions of the 1988 interview were not offered into evidence.
23

¶49. Over the objections of defense counsel, portions of the 1988 interview amounting to

a confession were introduced into evidence by the prosecution. Remarks regarding Wilcher

having killed because "it felt good" were introduced. Wilcher now contends that his attorneys

should have introduced portions of the interview where he told Salter that he wanted to drop

his appeal and that he was ready to die because he was tired of putting people through misery

and sleepless nights. Wilcher contends that this was mitigating evidence that would have

shown to the jury that he was suicidal and not in his right mind when the statements were made.

It cannot be said that informing the jury of his death wish and desire to forgo the appellate

process would have the effect on the jury that Wilcher now contends. In fact, such statements

could have been damning in and of themselves. A jury charged with deciding whether a

defendant should be put to death may find the task easier knowing that the defendant wants to

die. Additionally, such statements may have alluded to the fact that Wilcher had previously

been sentenced to death because those statements were made from death row. 

¶50. As stated previously, there is a strong presumption that counsel's conduct is reasonable

and professional and that decisions made are strategic. Murray, 736 F.2d at 282. Wilcher's

argument does not overcome that presumption and does not pass the Strickland test.

Wilcher's counsel failed to present evidence which would have shown

Wilcher's suicidal ideation and severe depression.

¶51. The issue presented here by Wilcher is very similar to that raised above. During the

1988 interview, Wilcher made statements reflecting his wish to drop the appeal and be

executed.

Q. [Sid Salter] Do you know that by dropping your appeals that you might

be hastening your execution?

A. [Wilcher] Yes, sir. That's my plan.
24

Q. In other words, you want to be executed as soon as

possible.

A. Yes, sir.

* * * * * 

Q. Are you prepared to die?

A. Yes, sir. Otherwise, I wouldn't be having the interview.

Q. When do you want that to occur?

A. Soon as possible. If it can be tomorrow, let it be tomorrow. If it can be

today, let it be today. It doesn't make any difference. Once you're dead,

you're dead.

¶52. Wilcher contends that these statements should have been introduced to show his

suicidal ideation and severe depression. Wilcher contends that his trial counsel was

ineffective by not introducing this evidence.

¶53. As stated before, Wilcher made these statements while sitting on death row facing

execution. It would have been difficult, if not impossible, for Wilcher's counsel to explain to

the jury why Wilcher made such statements of hopelessness while suffering from depression

without the jury learning or inferring from the circumstances surrounding those statements that

Wilcher had previously been sentenced to death. Wilcher's trial counsel cannot be said to be

deficient for wanting to keep such damaging information from the jury.

¶54. Wilcher offers other arguments to support the contention that he was suffering from

depression and suicidal tendencies. As stated above, a jury charged with deciding whether a

defendant should be put to death may find the task easier knowing that the defendant wants to

die.

¶55. There is a strong presumption that a counsel's conduct is reasonable and professional

and that decisions made are strategic. Murray, 736 F.2d at 282. Wilcher's contention does not

overcome that presumption and does not pass the standard of Strickland. Further, Wilcher
25

cannot show that the introduction of those statements would have changed the jury's decision.

Mohr, 584 So.2d at 430.

Wilcher's counsel failed to prepare and present evidence which would

have shown Wilcher's good character and his adaptability and good

behavior in confinement.

¶56. This sub-issue was made a part of Wilcher's original application, but was left out of the

amended application. Regardless, we will address it.

¶57. Wilcher contends that his attorneys were ineffective because they failed to present

evidence of his good behavior while incarcerated to refute any evidence by the prosecution that

Wilcher had the propensity to kill again. 

¶58. Wilcher's prison record from Parchman Penitentiary hardly reflects his good behavior.

Among other things, Wilcher's record shows numerous violations, some violent, including

assault on an officer, possession of a hacksaw blade, participation in a hunger strike on more

than one occasion, setting fires, making threats of bodily harm to an officer, refusing to

cooperate with disciplinary investigations, and engaging in or encouraging demonstrations that

disrupted or interfered with security. Wilcher's attorneys cannot be said to be ineffective for

failing to introduce his prison record into evidence. Wilcher's contention does not pass the

first prong of Strickland. 

4. Wilcher's counsel were ineffective for failing to properly develop

and present mitigating evidence at trial.

¶59. In this ineffective assistance of counsel claim, Wilcher asserts the following:

As demonstrated by the many affidavits of family and friends attached to this

motion, the type of evidence and testimony that could have been introduced

would have shown the interaction between the events of [Wilcher's] childhood

and adolescence, his family and social life, and his behavior. Trial counsel
26

failed to develop or present evidence, leaving the jury with only a sketch of

Bobby Wilcher as being merely young and the son of an alcoholic who had an

unpleasant upbringing.

¶60. Wilcher offers this Court a 107-page affidavit of Dr. Mark Cunningham, a psychologist

in Abilene, Texas, to support his contention that his trial attorneys failed to investigate

mitigating psychological evidence. Wilcher asserts that Dr. Cunningham was able to review

affidavits of Wilcher's family, friends, counselors, and an elementary school principal; records

of the institution where Wilcher was incarcerated as a child and an adult; and reports from

counselors and mental health workers; and come up with twenty one mitigating factors "that

could have been presented to the jury that singularly and collectively increased the likelihood

of psychological and social maladjustment, morality deficits, poor impulse control, substance

abuse and dependence, criminal activity, and violent criminal offending." 

Mitigating testimony offered at Wilcher's trial.

¶61. Wilcher's attorneys introduced evidence of mitigating factors through the testimony

of many witnesses which included: his aunt by marriage, Claudia Wilkerson; Wilcher's mother,

Mildred Wilcher Warren; Tommy Anderson, a neighbor of the Wilcher's while Bobby was a

young boy; Dr. Doyle Smith, a specialist in addiction medicine; Penny Wilcher Easterling,

Wilcher's younger sister; and Dr. Patrick McLain, a specialist in the treatment of addiction

medicines. 

¶62. Wilcher's attorneys presented evidence to the jury that Wilcher's father was an abusive

alcoholic; that Wilcher's mother and father had marital problems throughout his childhood; that

Wilcher himself was an alcoholic and drug addict; that Wilcher was suffering from extreme

mental and emotional disturbances on the night of the murders; and that Wilcher's capacity to

appreciate the criminality of his conduct on the night of the murders was impaired. Clearly,
27

Wilcher's attorneys' trial strategy was to portray Wilcher as an abused child with a troubled

family background, who grew up to become an alcoholic and drug addict with extreme mental

and emotional disturbances, and that he was substantially impaired on the night of the murders.

¶63. This Court has held that the "failure to present a case in mitigation during the sentencing

phase of a capital trial is not, per se, ineffective assistance of counsel." Williams v. State, 722

So.2d 447, 450 (Miss. 1998) (citing Williams v. Cain, 125 F.3d 269, 277 (5th Cir. 1997)).

In this case sub judice, Wilcher's attorneys did present a case in mitigation that can validly be

said to be strategic. Wilcher's attorneys also investigated and introduced mitigating evidence

from two doctors who, combined, testified that Wilcher was an alcoholic and drug addict and

that Wilcher suffered from extreme mental or emotional disturbance on the night of the

murders. Just because Dr. Cunningham would have testified differently or may have done

more, does not make Wilcher's representation deficient. As the State correctly points out, in

Brown v. State, 798 So. 2d 481 (Miss. 2001), this Court held:

Brown is essentially arguing that Dr. Little's testimony was ineffective; however,

he is not constitutionally entitled to the effective assistance of an expert

witness. Wilson v. Greene, 155 F.3d 396, 401 (4th Cir. 1998). The issue is

without merit.

Brown, 798 So.2d at 499. 

¶64. Further, "[n]o particular set of detailed rules for counsel's conduct can satisfactorily

take account of the variety of circumstances faced by defense counsel or the range of

legitimate decisions regarding how best to represent a criminal defendant. Any such set of

rules would interfere with the constitutionally protected independence of counsel and restrict
28

the wide latitude counsel must have in making tactical decisions." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688-

89. 

¶65. Recently, the United States Supreme Court rendered its decision in Wiggins v. Smith,

123 S.Ct. 2527, 156 L.Ed.2d 471 (2003). In that case, Wiggins's counsel presented no

mitigating evidence regarding Wiggins's horrible childhood. The Supreme Court determined

that counsel's investigation into Wiggins's background as a youth was insufficient to make an

informed strategic decision of presenting no mitigating evidence of Wiggins's life as a child.

In finding that [Wiggins's counsels'] investigation did not meet Strickland's

performance standards, we emphasize that Strickland does not require counsel

to investigate every conceivable line of mitigating evidence no matter how

unlikely the effort would be to assist the defendant at sentencing. Nor does

Strickland require defense counsel to present mitigating evidence at sentencing

in every case. Both conclusions would interfere with the 'constitutionally

protected independence of counsel' at the heart of Strickland. 466 U.S., at 689.

We base our conclusion on the much more limited principle that 'strategic

choices made after less than complete investigation are reasonable' only to the

extent that 'reasonable professional judgments support the limitations on

investigations." Id., at 690-691. A decision not to investigate thus 'must be

directly assessed for reasonableness in all circumstances.' Id., at 691.

Wiggins, 123 S.Ct. at 2541.

¶66. The problems at issue in Wiggins are non-existent in the case at bar. Wilcher's

attorneys did investigate his life as a child. The record is replete with testimony regarding

Wilcher's family life as a child. The fact that such testimony is in the record is indicative of

Wilcher's counsel's decision to introduce such evidence. We are not faced with the same

question that the U.S. Supreme Court addressed in Wiggins. Further, the informed strategic
29

decision of Wilcher's attorneys was to use what they learned through investigation of Wilcher's

childhood in mitigation. 

¶67. Wilcher cannot show that his attorney were deficient in a manner prejudicial to his case.

Additionally, even if it were assumed that Wilcher's attorneys were deficient, Wilcher cannot

show that the sentencing verdict that he received would have been different had his attorneys

presented the additional mitigating factors that Dr. Cunningham submitted through his affidavit.

Wilcher's claim does not pass the standard set forth in Strickland.

5. Wilcher's counsel failed to seek continuance in order to better

prepare. 

¶68. Wilcher's death sentence was vacated by this Court on October 7, 1993, and his case

was remanded for resentencing. Wilcher asserts that his trial counsel was appointed in late

March or early April of 1994. The trial was concluded, and Wilcher was sentenced to death

with the judgment and sentence being entered on June 23, 1994.

¶69. Wilcher contends that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to seek a continuance

in order to better prepare. Wilcher cites Triplett v. State, 666 So.2d 1356 (Miss. 1995),

wherein this Court found defense counsel in a manslaughter case ineffective for reasons which

included his failure to seek a continuance. Id. at 1361. However, in Triplett, this Court stated:

The Defendant is entitled to a basic defense. The basic defense set out herein is

not intended to become a standard of review or a template or criteria to be

applied in future cases where ineffective assistance of counsel is raised;

however, it is descriptive of the failure, in this case, of the defense attorney to

perform any act basic to the defense of the accused.

Id.

¶70. The situation in Triplett is quite different than the instant case. In Triplett, defense

counsel should have sought a continuance until he had opportunity to interview every possible
30

eyewitness, because the offense took place in county where neither the defendant, the victim,

nor the defense counsel lived, and the defense counsel had little knowledge of a number of

eyewitnesses or their names. Further, the defense counsel had some witnesses tell different

versions as to how the killing happened. There were numerous shortcomings in defense

counsel's performance that this Court recognized in Triplett. Those shortcomings strongly

suggested that the defense was poorly prepared. Such cannot be said about Wilcher's attorneys.

¶71. Wilcher's ineffective assistance of counsel claims are arising from the resentencing

phase of his trial. Wilcher's counsel, at that point, had the benefit of all of the State's evidence,

both physical and testimonial, that had been introduced during the guilt phase, as well as all

information regarding the proceeding of Wilcher's first sentencing trial. As the State

correctly points out, Wilcher's attorneys filed an abundance of worthy pretrial motions

including a "Motion for Discovery" and a "Request for Issuance of Subpoenas" consisting of

twenty-five potential witnesses. In Triplett, "[c]ounsel was derelict in failing to seek pre-trial

discovery and in requesting witness subpoenas." Triplett, 666 So.2d at 1361. 

¶72. Wilcher offers no specific instance where a continuance was necessary. The only proof

Wilcher offers to support this allegation is that his other allegations of ineffective assistance

could have been prevented. In order to prevail on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim,

"the post-conviction applicant to this Court must demonstrate with specificity and detail the

elements of the claim." Woodward v. State, 635 So.2d 805, 808 (Miss. 1997). Accord,

Foster, 687 So.2d at 1141. 

¶73. Additionally,
31

in order to sustain summary dismissal, of the ineffective assistance of counsel

claim, under Miss. Code Ann. § 99- 39-11(2) (Supp.1997), the allegation must

be alleged with specificity. "[H]e must specifically allege facts showing that

effective assistance of counsel was not in fact rendered, and he must allege with

specificity the fact that but for such purported actions by ineffective counsel,

the results of the trial court decision would have been different."Smith v. State,

434 So.2d 212, 219 (Miss.1983). See also Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-9(1)(c)

(1994). 

Ford v. State, 708 So.2d 73, 75 (Miss. 1998).

¶74. There is no indication from the record that Wilcher's attorneys were in need of

additional time or that their failure to obtain a continuance was deficient. Further, Wilcher has

failed to demonstrate how the result of his sentencing trial would have been different had his

attorneys obtained a continuance. Therefore, Wilcher's claim does not pass the standard set

forth in Strickland.

6. Wilcher's counsel were ineffective where they did not object or

argue against the introduction of both murder convictions as

aggravating circumstances.

¶75. The Post-Conviction Collateral Relief Act provides a procedure limited in nature to

review those matters which, in practical reality, could not or should not have been raised at trial

or on direct appeal. Turner v. State, 590 So.2d 871, 874-75 (Miss. 1991); Cabello v. State,

524 So.2d at 313, 323 (Miss. 1988). Wilcher argues that his capital murder conviction for the

murder of Moore was improperly introduced into evidence as an aggravating factor and that his

attorneys made no objection or argument to prevent its introduction. Wilcher has alleged

ineffective assistance of counsel. This argument is contrary to the record. These issues were

presented to the trial court in pretrial motions presented by Wilcher's attorneys and

subsequently denied. Wilcher's attorneys argued this point during the defense's objections to

jury instruction S-1. 
32

[By Mr. May, Wilcher's Attorney] The use of the conviction of the second

homicide in this double murder case as an aggravator, violates the Eighth

Amendment provision against cruel and unusual punishment, the double jeopardy

clause of the Fifth Amendment, the due process and fundamental fairness

guarantees of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The underlying issue of this ineffective assistance of counsel claim was not only raised in the

trial court, this Court addressed it on direct appeal and found it to be without merit. Wilcher

I, 697 So.2d at 1104-05. Therefore the issue is procedurally barred. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-

39-21(3). 

Thus, this issue is res adjudicata. That is, [the petitioner] unsuccessfully argued

the merits of the issue on appeal, and now 'is attempting to relitigate this issue

under a new heading.' See Foster, 687 So.2d at 1136. Where the merits of the

issue have been considered and rejected on direct appeal, and the appellant 'has

merely camouflaged the issue by couching the claim as ineffective assistance

of counsel', the doctrine of res adjudicata applies. See id. at 1135-37. If the

merits of the underlying issue have been considered and rejected on direct

appeal, then the appellant cannot show deficiency or prejudice in counsel's

performance with regard to that issue. See id. Therefore, [the petitioner's]

argument is res adjudicata and without merit. 

Wiley v. State, 750 So.2d 1193, 1200 (Miss. 1999). As we have noted, "issues which were

either presented through direct appeal or could have been presented on direct appeal or at trial

are procedurally barred and cannot be relitigated under the guise of poor representation by

counsel." Foster, 687 So.2d at 1129.

7. Wilcher's counsel were ineffective for introducing Wilcher's

conviction for the murder of Katie Moore and for introducing two

victims.

¶76. Again, Wilcher argues that the discussion of both murders throughout the trial gave the

jurors the opportunity to punish Wilcher for both crimes. Wilcher also blames one of his

attorneys for being the one to first introduce the murder of Moore to the jury during voir dire.
33

¶77. The admissibility of evidence pertaining to Wilcher's conviction for the murder of

Moore was discussed at great length by this Court on Wilcher's direct appeal. Wilcher I, 697

So.2d at 1104-06. Wilcher posed three arguments on the issue, and this Court held all three

to be without merit. Therefore, the issue is procedurally barred. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-

21(3); Wiley, 750 So.2d at 1200.

¶78. This Court has already ruled that the underlying issue is without merit. Therefore,

Wilcher's claim cannot succeed on his ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Foster, 687

So.2d at 1129.

8. Wilcher's counsel did not object or argue against the prosecution's

use of "especially heinous, atrocious or cruel" as an aggravating

circumstance. 

¶79. Wilcher asserts that his sentence was imposed because the jury considered the

aggravating circumstance of "especially heinous, atrocious or cruel" as one of the aggravating

circumstances. Wilcher contends that his attorneys were ineffective in failing to object to the

granting of the aggravator. The record indicates that Wilcher's attorneys objected on two

separate occasions.

¶80. Wilcher admits that his attorneys objected to the State's use of "especially heinous,

atrocious or cruel" during pretrial motions and that the trial court initially reserved its decision

until it could further consider the matter. Wilcher asserts, however, that his attorneys failed

to raise the objection again. This simply is not so. During objections to the instructions,

Wilcher's attorneys again raised their objection to the use of "especially heinous, atrocious or

cruel" as an aggravator, and the trial judge decided that the "especially heinous, atrocious or

cruel" aggravator could be given. 
34

¶81. This issue was litigated at the trial level and discussed on the merits by this Court on

Wilcher's direct appeal. Wilcher I, 697 So.2d at 1109-10. Therefore the underlying claim

is res judicata and thus barred from Wilcher's post-conviction application. Miss. Code Ann.

§ 99-39-21(3); Wiley, 750 So.2d at 1200. Without waiving the procedural bar, the issue is

also without merit. 

¶82. For the reasons just discussed, Wilcher's attorneys properly objected, and the issue was

preserved for appeal. Issues presented through direct appeal are procedurally barred and cannot

be relitigated under the guise of poor representation by counsel. Foster, 687 So.2d at 1129.

9. Wilcher's counsel were ineffective for failing to properly challenge

the testimony of the county sheriff who was in charge of the

investigation of Wilcher.

¶83. The central theme underlying this claim is, again, that the defense should have been

permitted to introduce Sheriff Warren's 1989 extortion conviction to impeach the sheriff's

testimony. In this claim, Wilcher addresses three assignments of ineffective assistance of

counsel. First, Wilcher asserts that his attorneys were ineffective for failing to discover that

Judge Gordon had represented Sheriff Warren and to argue that point at trial and on direct

appeal. Second, Wilcher asserts that his attorneys were ineffective for failing to argue that the

denial of Sheriff Warren's 1989 conviction into evidence denied Wilcher his fundamental right

under the Confrontation Clause. Finally, Wilcher asserts that his attorneys were ineffective

for failing to argue other examples of misconduct by Sheriff Warren or Deputy Sheriff Otis

Kelly.

Failure to discover and argue recusal issue.
35

¶84. This Court finds that even if it were assumed that Wilcher's attorneys were deficient for

failing to discover that Judge Gordon had represented Sheriff Warren regarding his conviction

in 1989, Wilcher cannot overcome the second prong of Strickland. To determine the second

prong of prejudice to the defense, the standard is "a reasonable probability that, but for

counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different." Mohr,

584 So.2d at 430. Wilcher has not demonstrated how the outcome of the proceedings would

have been different had his attorneys discovered that Judge Gordon's name appeared on Sheriff

Warren's Memorandum of Understanding dated April 1, 1988, and the sheriff's Entry of Guilty

Plea dated April 8, 1988. Wilcher, therefore, cannot overcome the second prong of

Strickland. Further, as to the underlying theme of Wilcher's claim, this Court has already

determined that the trial court did not err by denying evidence of the sheriff's 1989 conviction

for impeachment purposes. Wilcher I, 697 So.2d 1102-03.

Failure to argue Confrontation Clause issue.

¶85. In the second portion of his argument of ineffective assistance of counsel, Wilcher

contends that his counsel was ineffective for not arguing the confrontation clause of the Sixth

Amendment. Wilcher argues that the result was his inability to impeach Sheriff Warren's

credibility with Warren's prior conviction. As stated previously, this Court fully examined

the trial court's decision not to allow the sheriff's 1989 conviction into evidence. Wilcher I,

697 So.2d at 1102-03.

¶86. In its discussion, the Court recognized that not allowing the sheriff's conviction into

evidence was within the trial judge's discretion. M.R.E. 609(a)(1). In reviewing the trial

judge's decision for an abuse of discretion, this Court stated:
36

The trial judge stated that the conviction had no probative value because it

occurred seven years after the sheriff's original testimony. In analyzing the

probative value of the 1989 conviction, it is important to consider the unique

way this evidence was presented to the jury. The trial judge properly considered

the fact that the testimony given at the 1994 trial was given by someone who had

not been convicted of a crime at the time he originally made the statements at

issue. This would tend to decrease the probative value of the sheriff's 1989

extortion conviction. Furthermore, Wilcher has not demonstrated anything about

the sheriff's life that would have influenced the investigation of the case at hand.

Therefore, the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in excluding the

conviction. See also Turner v. State, 573 So.2d at 1340. Wilcher's argument

to the contrary is without merit.

Wilcher I, 697 So.2d 1103.

¶87. The sheriff's prior testimony was admissible under M.R.E. 804. At the time Sheriff

Warren gave his original testimony in 1982, Wilcher was present with counsel and the ability

to confront Sheriff Warren was made possible. Therefore, Wilcher's confrontation clause

rights were not violated. Wilcher's argument is without merit, and the ineffective assistance

of counsel claim does not pass the first prong set out in Strickland. Further, this issue is

procedurally barred pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3); Wiley, 750 So.2d at 1200.

As we have stated, "[w]e must caution that other issues which were either presented through

direct appeal or could have been presented on direct appeal or at trial are procedurally barred

and cannot be relitigated under the guise of poor representation by counsel." Foster, 687

So.2d at 1129.

Other examples of Misconduct by Sheriff Warren and Deputy Otis Kelly.

¶88. Wilcher asserts that Sheriff Warren's violation of the Hobbs Act was not the first time

that the sheriff or Deputy Otis Kelly were accused of misconduct. Wilcher asserts that in

1982, the same year he was convicted, Sheriff Warren and Deputy Kelly were sued in federal

court for false arrest and false imprisonment. See Dennis v. Warren, 779 F.2d 245 (5th Cir.
37

1985). However, the federal court also recognized that "Sheriff Warren was not involved in

any of the foregoing events." Id. at 247.

The district court correctly recognized that Sheriff Warren was not liable under

section 1983, since he was neither personally involved in the arrest or detention

of Dennis, nor was there a casual connection between his acts and the violation

of Dennis' federal rights. See Lozano v. Smith, 718 F.2d 756, 768 (5th Cir.

1983). However, the district court held Warren liable for damages under a

Mississippi statute which provides that '[a]ll sheriffs shall be liable for the acts

of their deputies, and for money collected by them." MISS.CODE ANN.§ 19-25-

19 (1972).

779 F.2d at 248.

¶89. Wilcher finds fault in his attorneys for failing to argue the Dennis lawsuit to attack the

credibility of Sheriff Warren and Deputy Kelly. Dennis clearly states that Sheriff Warren was

not involved. Therefore, it could have done little harm to Sheriff Warren's credibility. Even

assuming for the sake of argument that Wilcher's attorney's were deficient for failing to

attempt to introduce evidence of the Dennis lawsuit, this Court finds that it is obvious such

would have had no bearing on the outcome of the trial. Therefore, Wilcher cannot overcome

Strickland.

10. Wilcher's counsel were ineffective for failing to object to the

prosecution's putting on guilt phase, for failing to offer other

available evidence to challenge or impeach testimony of robbery or

kidnaping or underlying conviction, or for failing to effectively

challenge the State's case.

¶90. Wilcher's next assignment of ineffective assistance of counsel is nothing more than a

disorganized rambling assertion of ineffective assistance of counsel at every turn. We will

address each assertion of ineffective assistance of counsel.

State's reintroduction of evidence from the guilt phase.
6

 1984 direct appeal for the murder of Noblin.

7

 1994 direct appeal for the murder of Moore after the resentencing.

38

¶91. Wilcher's next claim is broken into several parts. First he asserts that his attorneys

were ineffective for failing to object to the State's reintroducing of evidence from the guilt

phase at the sentencing phase. "[T]his Court has held that it is 'preferable' for the State to move

for the reintroduction of the evidence produced at the guilt phase at the beginning of the

sentencing phase." Turner v. State, 732 So.2d 937, 953 (Miss. 1999) (citing Mack v. State,

650 So.2d 1289, 1323-24 (Miss. 1994)). However, failure to move for this reintroduction

is not fatal error. Id. As the State correctly points out, any attempt to object to the

reintroduction of evidence from the guilt phase by Wilcher's attorneys would have been

properly overruled. Therefore, Wilcher's attorneys were not deficient by failing to object.

Residual doubt.

¶92. Second, Wilcher contends that his attorneys were ineffective for failing to attack the

admission of his confessions. In his first direct appeal in 1984, Wilcher argued that his

confession was inadmissible due to a violation of his Sixth Amendment right to counsel.

Wilcher, 448 So.2d at 933-936. This Court found the issue to be without merit in 1984. Id.

This Court determined the issue to be res judicatawhen it was brought up again on direct appeal

after the resentencing trial. Wilcher II, 697 So.2d at 11287 (citing Jordan v. State, 518 So.2d

1186, 1189 (Miss. 1987)). At the resentencing trial, for the murder of Moore, Wilcher's

attorneys again attempted to prevent Wilcher's confessions from being introduced into

evidence by arguing an intervening case of Michigan v. Jackson, 475 U.S. 625, 106 S.Ct.
39

1404, 89 L.Ed.2d 631 (1986). Wilcher II, 697 So.2d at 1128. This Court distinguished

Michigan v. Jackson from the facts in Wilcher's case and, again, found the issue to be without

merit. Wilcher II, 697 So.2d 1128.

¶93. Wilcher now asserts that his attorneys were ineffective for failing to introduce evidence

and argue that Wilcher's confession was coerced so as to show "residual doubt that the

'confession' may not have been obtained in the manner presented by the State." During a

resentencing trial for a capital defendant, his guilt of capital murder is res judicata and may not

be relitigated. Jordan v. State, 786 So.2d 987, 1029 (Miss. 2001) (citing Holland v. State,

705 So.2d 307, 321-29 (Miss. 1997)). 

[O]ther courts have permitted evidence of findings of guilt to collaterally estop

the defendant in later proceedings.Hernandez-Urine v. United States, 515 F.2d

20, 21-22 (8th Cir.1975), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1057, 96 S.Ct. 791, 46 L.Ed.2d

647 (1976); United States v. Colacurcio, 514 F.2d 1, 6 (9th Cir.1975). We

adopt the logic of Hernandez-Urine[.] We hold that because of the finding of

guilt by the prior jury, Holland is barred by res judicata from relitigating the

prior jury verdict of guilt and is collaterally estopped in these proceedings from

attacking his guilt.

Holland argues that our case law requires the trial court to permit his

presentation of evidence on whimsical or residual doubt. Our case law has

prohibited counsel from doing more than asserting whimsical doubt at closing

argument.

Holland, 705 So.2d at 325.

¶94. The State properly argues that, based on Wilcher's inability to argue residual doubt in

this case, Wilcher's attorneys were unable to attack the murder, the robbery, or the kidnaping.

Therefore, Wilcher cannot established that his attorneys were deficient, and Wilcher cannot

overcome the first prong of Strickland.

The sheriff and deputy alone in Wilcher's bedroom.
40

¶95. Next, Wilcher provides an affidavit from his mother stating that Sheriff Warren and

Deputy Otis Kelly were left unattended in Wilcher's bedroom for several minutes. She also

states that she was in Wilcher's bedroom earlier that same morning and saw nothing out of the

ordinary. According to her affidavit, Wilcher's father found jewelry the next day in Wilcher's

bedroom that purportedly belonged to one of the victims. The affidavit does not say that

Wilcher's mother looked where the jewelry was ultimately found.

¶96. Wilcher's mother further states in her affidavit that she was called as a witness in the

1994 trial, but Wilcher's attorneys never questioned her in regards to Sheriff Warren and

Deputy Kelly being in Wilcher's room alone. Wilcher contends that his mother's testimony

regarding the sheriff's and deputy's investigation in his room would have cast doubt on the

reliability of Sheriff Warren's 1982 testimony regarding how the jewelry was found. For this,

Wilcher asserts that his trial counsel were ineffective. 

¶97. First, this question, again, goes to arguing residual doubt which was just addressed. See

Jordan,786 So.2d at 1029. Second, nothing in the affidavit avers that Wilcher's trial attorneys

had knowledge of the facts that Wilcher's mother alleges. Third, we find that even if it is

assumed, for argument sake, that Wilcher's attorneys were deficient for not questioning

Wilcher's mother in this regard, the second prong of Strickland cannot be met. 

¶98. In evaluating whether the second prong has been met, the standard is "a reasonable

probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would

have been different." Mohr, 584 So.2d at 430. This means a "probability sufficient to

undermine the confidence in the outcome." Id. Based on the overwhelming weight of the

evidence against Wilcher, it cannot be reasonably maintained that, had his mother testified
41

about the sheriff and deputy being alone in Wilcher's room, the outcome of the proceedings

would have been different. This argument fails.

DNA.

¶99. Wilcher next contends that his attorneys were ineffective for failing to obtain DNA

testing on the exhibits in order confirm inconsistencies between the State's version and the

purported "confessions" of Wilcher as given by Sheriff Warren's testimony. Again, this would

be an attack on Wilcher's guilt which was affirmed by this Court on direct appeal in 1984, and

as to which habeas corpus relief was denied by the federal courts. The matter of Wilcher's

guilt for the capital murder of Noblin is res judicata and not subject to attack. Jordan, 786

So.2d at 1029; Holland, 705 So.2d at 321-29. 

¶100. Wilcher's attorneys were not deficient for failing to obtain DNA evidence that could

not procedurally be introduced. Therefore, Wilcher's claim does not satisfy the standards set

forth in Strickland. 

11. Wilcher's counsel were ineffective for failing to object to removal

of the sentencing hearing to a death penalty prone contiguous

county.

¶101. Wilcher's defense attorneys were able to obtain a change of venue for the re-sentencing

from Scott County to Rankin County to insure that Wilcher received a fair trial from a jury that

had not been prejudiced by news coverage in the local Scott County newspaper. Wilcher

maintains that a capital murder case in Rankin County is more likely to return a sentence of

death than other counties in this state and that his attorneys were ineffective for not objecting

when the trial court transferred venue to Rankin County. 
42

¶102. First, before addressing the merits of this claim, Wilcher does not provide any case or

statutory authority to support his claim. This Court has continually considered issues of error

not supported by citation or authority as abandoned. Thibodeaux v. State, 652 So.2d 153, 155

(Miss. 1995). It is the duty of an appellant to provide authority and support of an assignment

of error. Drennan v. State, 695 So.2d 581, 585-86 (Miss. 1997); Hoops v. State, 681 So.2d

521, 526 (Miss. 1996); Kelly v. State, 553 So.2d 517, 521 (Miss. 1989);Smith v. State, 430

So.2d 406, 407 (Miss. 1983);Ramseur v. State, 368 So.2d 842, 844 (Miss. 1979). Because

Wilcher has failed to meet the burden of providing authority to support his assignment of

error, he is procedurally barred. Holland, 705 So.2d at 329; Drennan, 695 So.2d at 585-86.

Without waiving the procedural bar, this issue has no merit. 

¶103. In Faraga v. State, 514 So.2d 295, 307 (Miss. 1987), this Court held that defense

counsel is under no duty to attempt to transfer venue; therefore, the decision not to would fall

within the realm of strategy. Id.(citing Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478, 106 S.Ct. 2639, 91

L.Ed.2d 297 (1986)). This Court finds that, likewise, the decision to obtain a venue change is

within the realm of strategy. In Faraga we stated: 

There must be a weighing of the odds. Most of the judges and trial lawyers of

this state are aware of a statistical distinct disparity between counties in the

willingness of juries to impose the death penalty. For some reason, also, some

counties appear more "conviction prone" than others. We are also aware of

defense lawyers who, in hindsight, have profoundly regretted a circuit judge

sustaining their change of venue motion. In any event, it is unlikely the second

prong of Strickland, could be hurdled based on the overwhelming evidence

presented at trial.

Faraga, 514 So.2d at 307. 
43

¶104. We find that it is also unlikely that Wilcher could overcome the second prong of

Strickland given the overwhelming weight of the evidence against him. Further, it is difficult

to see how Wilcher's death penalty sentence was strictly the result of his trial being held in

Rankin County or that the outcome would have been different but for the trial being held in

Rankin County. Wilcher also received the death penalty at his resentencing trial in Harrison

County for the murder of Moore. This Court finds that the resulting death penalty sentence

coincides with the evidence against Wilcher rather than the venue being set in Rankin County.

This issue is both procedurally barred and without merit.

12. Wilcher's counsel were ineffective in refusing to redact improper

sentences from jury instructions.

¶105. At the resentencing trial, Wilcher proffered jury instruction D-4, which reads:

You are allowed to consider, as an aggravating circumstance in this case,

whether "the defendant was previously convicted of another capital offense or

a felony involving the use or threat of violence to the person." The state has

offered the conviction of Bobby Wilcher for the capital murder of Katie Belle

Moore as its evidence to support this aggravating circumstance.

The Court instructs the jury that the use of this aggravating circumstance does

not allow you to punish Bobby Wilcher for any crime other that [sic] the killing

of Velma Odell Noblin. Indeed, the punishment you assess for the capital

murder of Velma Odell Noblin will be served in addition to his punishment for

the capital murder of Katie Belle Moore.

Wilcher I, 697 So.2d at 1105-06. The trial judge refused the instruction, but indicated that he

would have given it if the last sentence were redacted. Defense counsel refused to amend the

instruction and tendered as written. The instruction was denied. On direct appeal, this Court

found no error by the trial court. Wilcher I, 697 So.2d at 1106. "Clearly, the instruction

would have been granted, but for the last sentence . . . ." Id. 
44

¶106. Wilcher now raises an ineffective assistance of counsel claim for his attorneys' failure

to agree with the trial court's suggested redaction. Wilcher alleges that jury instruction D-4

"was vital to clarifying the role of the jury regarding Wilcher's conviction for another murder

arising out of the same incident." Because the suggested redaction was not made and the

instruction was not given, Wilcher asserts that "the jury sentenced [him] in [the] trial for the

Noblin murder as punishment for the murder of Katie Moore." 

¶107. To support his assertion that the jury punished him for the murder of Moore, Wilcher

offers this Court his Exhibit 33, which he purports to be the affidavit of juror William Wann.

Exhibit 33 states at paragraph 9, "A big aggravating factor was the fact that he killed one woman

and then ran the other one down. And the way he did it, the brutality of it, because of that I

decided he was bad news." 

¶108. Wilcher's Exhibit 33 is an unsworn statement. An affidavit is "[a] written or printed

declaration or statement of facts, made voluntarily, and confirmed by the oath or affirmation

of the party making it, taken before a person having authority to administer such oath or

affirmation." Black's Law Dictionary 58 (6th ed. 1990) (emphasis added). Wilcher attaches

and relies on numerous statements which he refers to as "affidavits." Many of these "affidavits"

have not been notarized as made before any official. See Miss. Code Ann. § 11-1-1 (Rev.

2002). We will refer to those as "unsworn statements." 

¶109. Wann's unsworn statement bears only the signature of a witness. An unsworn statement

of a juror is insufficient evidence to support Wilcher's allegation. Russell v. State, 849 So.2d

95, 119 (Miss. 2003). Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-9(1)(e) requires that Wilcher furnish
45

affidavits to support his claims or show cause as to why he could not furnish them. Wilcher

has done neither.

¶110. Further, Wilcher cites no authority in support of his argument. This Court is not

obliged to consider assignments of error when no authority is cited. Hoops, 681 So.2d at 526.

Without waiving the procedural bar, Wilcher's argument is also without merit.

¶111. Defense counsel is presumed competent. Johnson v. State, 476 So.2d 1195, 1204

(Miss. 1985). This Court finds that the decision to redact a portion of the jury instruction or

tender it in its entirety falls within the realm of trial strategy. However, assuming error only

for the sake of argument, Wilcher does not make a showing that he was actually prejudiced.

¶112. This Court looks at jury instructions as a whole. Caston v. State, 823 So.2d 473, 506

(Miss. 2002). "Jury instructions will always be considered as a whole as opposed to the

singling out of any instructions." Goodin v. State, 787 So.2d 639, 655 (Miss. 2001). The

State properly argues that sentencing instructions S-1A and S-4, in conjunction, adequately

instructed the jury that they could only punish for the death of Katie Belle Moore.

¶113. After reviewing the jury instructions as a whole, we find that the jury was properly

instructed. Sentencing instruction S-1A (part A) instructed the jury that the death penalty could

only be returned if the jury first unanimously found from the evidence beyond a reasonable

doubt that one or more of the following facts existed:

1. That the Defendant actually killed Velma Odell Noblin;

2. That the Defendant attempted to kill Velma Odell Noblin;

3. That the Defendant intended that the killing of Velma Odell Noblin take

place; 

4. That the Defendant contemplated that lethal force would be employed;
46

The instruction also adequately instructed the jury as to the elements of aggravators and on

weighing mitigating circumstances, if any, against the aggravating circumstances, if any.

Sentencing instruct S-4 instructed the jury that Wilcher had already been found guilty of the

capital murder of Velma Odell Noblin. Therefore, the jury was properly instructed to return

its verdict for the death of Noblin, not Moore. Wilcher's claim is unsupported, procedurally

barred, and also without merit. 

13. Wilcher's counsel were ineffective for removing a request for a

special venire. 

¶114. During the pretrial motions hearing in Scott County, Wilcher's attorneys requested a

special venire pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 13-5-77 (Rev. 2002). Wilcher's attorneys also

informed the Court that a special venire would not be requested if venue was transferred from

Scott County and the jury panel had not "been involved in any previous criminal cases prior to

this one." The trial judge replied, "[I]f we go to another County, they will summons additional

jurors." Venue in this case was ultimately transferred from Scott County to Rankin County.

Wilcher asserts that his attorneys were ineffective for failing to pursue a special venire in

Rankin County.

¶115. This Court has stated that counsel's failure to request a special venire could easily be

characterized as trial strategy. Triplett, 666 So.2d at 1361. We find that nothing in the record

indicates that the jury panel was insufficient or that a special venire was necessary. Wilcher

cites no specific instance of prejudice suffered by the failure to request a special venire in

Rankin County. This issue does not pass Strickland.

14. Wilcher's counsel were ineffective for failing to rehabilitate a

potential juror challenged as opposing the death sentence.
47

¶116. Wilcher next argues that his attorneys were ineffective for failing to rehabilitate venire

person Linda Hales. Wilcher asserts that Hales was challenged on Witherspoon grounds.

Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 521-22, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 20 L.Ed.2d 776 (1968). In

Witherspoon, the United States Supreme Court held that "a sentence of death cannot be carried

out if the jury that imposed or recommended it was chosen by excluding veniremen for cause

simply because they voiced general objections to the death penalty or expressed conscientious

or religious scruples against its infliction." Id. at 522. The proper standard for determining

when a prospective juror may be excluded for cause because of his or her views on capital

punishment "is whether the juror's views would 'prevent or substantially impair the performance

of [her] duties as a juror in accordance with [her] instructions and [her] oath.'" Wainwright v.

Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 424, 105 S.Ct. 844, 83 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985).

¶117. During voir dire by the trial court, the judge asked potential jurors, "Now, do you, or any

member of this panel, have any conscientious or religious scruples against the infliction of the

death penalty in proper cases and the testimony warrants it?" Three venire members raised

their hands, and each of those three were individually questioned in chambers. Ultimately, all

three jurors indicating that they would automatically vote against the death penalty. These

jurors were excused pursuant to Wainwright. Linda Hales was not one of the three who raised

their hands in response to the trial court's question.

¶118. During the prosecution's voir dire, the prosecutor asked if there was anyone "that feels

that maybe not just in this case, but in any case in general, it is just not their place, so to speak,

to sit on a jury and to decide whether or not someone should receive a certain punishment?

Anyone feel like that?" At this point, Linda Hales indicated that she could not.
48

¶119. The judge, court reporter, Wilcher, and all attorneys retired to chambers with Hales to

continue the voir dire. The following dialogue took place in chambers:

By the Court: Mrs. Hales, we are here in Chambers regarding the

statement that you just made in the Courtroom, and the

question that was asked of you, could you make a decision,

unanimous decision, in the case, and you said you could

not.

Earlier, I had inquired of the jury whether they had

conscientious scruples against the infliction of the death

penalty, and you did not raise your hand. 

Do you have conscientious or religious scruples against

the infliction of the death penalty?

By Hales: I don't think -- I don't think I can do it, but I believe in it,

but I don't think I could do it. I don't think I could say it.

By the Court: Listen to my question then. Do you have conscientious or

religious scruples against the infliction of the death

penalty, in those cases where the law authorizes it, and

where the testimony warrants it? Do you have that?

By Hales: (Pause) I don't -- I don't understand.

By the Court: All right. Let me ask you again. If you do have

conscientious scruples against the infliction of the death

penalty, can you follow the testimony of the case, the

instructions of the Court that I will give you on the law,

and return a verdict inflicting the death penalty, if you are

convinced from the evidence, and you find that the

circumstances of the case warrants the infliction of the

death penalty?

By Hales: I just don't think that I -- unless I seen him kill her, I just

don't think I could -- you know, even though there's

witnesses, I just don't think I can give -- I don't think I can

do it.

By the Court: Now, you say you don't think you can. You have got to be

more firm than that. Can you, or can you not?

By Hales: Can I? Okay. I've got an uncle that was a Highway

Patrolman that was killed on the job at Parchman,

Mississippi. There's two stories. Some said that the

prisoner shot him, but other sources sais the Highway

patrol shot , the one that shot my uncle is Highway Patrol.

So, to this day, we don't know if the prisoner shot him or

the Highway Patrol, actually one of his buddies, shot him.

How can you go on a verdict when you don't know -- if
49

you weren't there and you didn't see it? I will never know

who shot him. I will never know if the prisoner shot him.

By the Court: Of course, a juror listens to the evidence of a case. You

will receive evidence in the form of testimony and also in

the form of documents. From that, you must make a

decision, that with the law I will give you in the form of

jury instructions. Those are the two things that you base

your decision upon. Now, can you -- but do I understand

you do not have conscientious scruples --

By Hales: I have -- I don't have enough -- I can give you another thing.

One time there was a wreck that I had.

By the Court: What you are saying, as I understand it, unless you see

someone doing it, you cannot from the evidence of others,

make a decision.

By Hales: I'm not going to hear any of the -- this has already been --

he's already guilty, and I'm not going to hear anybody

testify to this, so this --

By the Court: You are going to hear testimony of the facts of the case,

how it happened. 

By Hales: I don't believe I will be able to give a verdict one way or

the other. 

By the Court: Now, you say you don't believe. You are going to have to

be stronger than that. Either you can, or you cannot.

By Hales: I can't.

By the Court: Why is it you cannot?

By Hales: Well, what if he's innocent, and I send him to jail?

By the Court: What if he's guilty, and you turn him loose? But this case,

he has already been found guilty of the crime of capital

murder. It is now the question of penalty. To make a

decision upon penalty, you will hear the facts of the case

of how it happened.

By Hales: I'm not one to stand in front of everybody and say

anything, and I should have got up before, but I'm in the

middle of counseling right now. I've got some emotional

problems, and I really -- I mean, I was in counseling

Friday. I've got another counseling session tomorrow.

I've got nerve pills I'm taking.

By the Court: Are you under the care of a doctor?

By Hales: No, other than the nerve pills he's given me. I just don't

think I could sit up there and listen to it.
50

¶120. The prosecutor indicated that he had no questions for Hale, and Wilcher's attorney asked

one question of her. 

By Pearce: Mrs. Hales, if you were a juror, could you follow the law the

Judge would give you and do what you felt like your duty required

of you?

By Hales: I don't know. That's why I'm going to counseling. I don't know.

(Crying)

By Pearce: I have no other questions.

¶121. The trial judge asked Hales a few more question and allowed her to go back into the

courtroom. Mr. Pearce, one of Wilcher's attorneys, objected to Hales being excused because

she said nothing that would disqualify herself as a juror. The judge sustained the objection and

did not excuse Hales.

¶122. Wilcher asserts that his counsel were ineffective for completely failing to rehabilitate

Hales. This Court finds that the trial judge's ruling to sustain the defense's objection clearly

shows that Wilcher's attorneys were not deficient. It was not until the challenges for cause that

the trial judge changed his mind. When asked if he had excused Hales, the trial judge replied,

No, I didn't, and I think I should. This woman is obviously distraught. She has

been crying and real upset, and I have observed her out in the hallway crying.

She seems to be more composed at this time, but she has said she just couldn't

give a verdict, unless she saw an absolute.

¶123. It is obvious that Hales was not excused based on her religious scruples or her views

on the death penalty in violation of Witherspoon. She clearly indicated that she could not sit

in judgment of someone if she did not see the crime happen. She said that she could not

impose the death penalty unless she saw the murder herself. We find that Hales was excused

because she clearly indicated that she could not return a verdict either. "[T]he quest is for
51

jurors who will conscientiously apply the law and find the facts." Wainwright, 469 U.S. at

423.

¶124. Further, this Court has held that

The trial court, as a general rule, may remove a juror when it is of the opinion

that the juror can not decide the case competently or impartially, Pierre v. State,

607 So.2d 43, 49 (Miss.1992), or " '... for any reason personal to such person

which would make his service as a juror oppressive, or in fact for any reason

which to the judge seems sufficient.' " Nixon v. State, 533 So.2d 1078, 1085

(Miss.1987) (quoting 47 Am.Jur. Jury § 121 (1969)). "This Court has also

stated that a defendant does not have a vested right to any particular juror but

only the right to be tried by a fair and impartial jury." Johnson v. State, 631

So.2d 185, 191 (Miss.1994) (citing Gilliard, 428 So.2d at 581).

Smith v. State, 729 So.2d 1192, 1199-1200 (Miss. 1998). 

¶125. Wilcher's assertion that his attorneys were deficient for failing to rehabilitate Hales

resulting in her being excused on Witherspoon grounds is without merit.

15. Wilcher's counsel were ineffective for failing to move for recusal

of the judge.

¶126. In addition to the other arguments regarding whether Judge Gordon should have recused

himself, which were discussed above and not incorporated in the instant claim, Wilcher asserts

that his attorneys were ineffective for failing to move for the recusal of Judge Gordon. This

Court applies an objective standard in deciding whether a judge should have disqualified

himself. Miss. Code of Jud. Conduct Canon 3. "A judge is required to disqualify himself if a

reasonable person, knowing all the circumstances, would harbor doubts about his impartiality."

Jones v. State, 841 So.2d 115, 135 (Miss. 2003) (citing Jenkins v. Forrest County Gen.

Hosp., 542 So.2d 1180, 1181 (Miss. 1988)).
52

¶127. Wilcher contends that his attorneys were ineffective for failing to move Judge Gordon

to recuse himself for bias. Wilcher attempts to prove that Judge Gordon was biased by

showing that the judge had presided over the two 1982 trials in which Wilcher had been found

guilty and originally sentenced to death; Judge Gordon had previously been a prosecutor; Judge

Gordon transferred this case to another county based on its reputation; Judge Gordon would

not allow Sheriff Warren's 1989 conviction into evidence; and Judge Gordon made comments

that were partial in nature. Wilcher asserts that these facts establish that Judge Gordon's

judgment was influenced by his personal interest in this case. 

¶128. One of Judge Gordon's actions that Wilcher offers to illustrate bias is the judge's

decision to not allow the impeachment of Sheriff Warren's testimony with his extortion

conviction in 1989. This Court has determined that Judge Gordon did not err by disallowing

Sheriff Warren's conviction to be introduced for impeachment purposes. Wilcher I, 697

So.2d at 1102-03. Wilcher's allegation that Judge Gordon's decision was based on partiality

is misplaced. Therefore, Wilcher's contention that his attorneys were deficient for not moving

to recuse Judge Gordon, based on this argument, is without merit.

¶129. Wilcher also contends that certain statements made by Judge Gordon prove that he was

predisposed to having Wilcher resentenced to death. In a pretrial motion, Wilcher moved to

bar the use of the especially "cruel, heinous, and atrocious aggravating circumstances."

Wilcher quotes a portion of Judge Gordon's response and asserts that the trial judge was biased

for having stated that he was "proud that the [1982] trial of this case withstood the numerous

motions and objections made." 
53

¶130. Contrary to Wilcher's contention, this Court finds that the record, when placed in proper

context, reveals that Judge Gordon was actually concerned about giving Wilcher a fair trial and

not trying to insure that Wilcher was sentenced to death. After Judge Gordon heard arguments

from both sides on the motion to bar the use of those aggravating circumstances, Judge Gordon

responded:

By the Court: I'm going to permit aggravating circumstances being

previously convicted of the crime of murder. This Court

is going to reserve for a while for further consideration

the ruling on the matter of especially cruel, heinous, and

atrocious can be used. The problem that I am having,

Gentlemen, and I'll be very candid with you, is I know that

the Supreme Court has spoken to this matter. I know that

was the law when the case was tried. There was an

aggravating circumstance. I was proud that the trial of

this case withstood the numerous motions and

objections made. I want to make sure this case comes to

some conclusion. So, as a matter of caution, I'm going to

give it some thought. I'll make an announcement to you.

(emphasis added). We find that this comment does not evidence partiality. It shows that Judge

Gordon was proud that his rulings in the first trial were of sound judgment in accordance with

the laws of this state and that he wanted to insure that no mistakes would be made during the

resentencing trial. 

¶131. In an attempt to further prove Judge Gordon's partiality, Wilcher quotes Judge Gordon

as saying, "I am going to tell you, this case is one of the weaknesses of our law" and

"[Wilcher's] a murderer, and then we go through all this process." These remarks come during

objections to the jury instructions heard outside the presence of the jury. Again, we find that

these comments, when placed in proper context, do not show that Judge Gordon had a

predisposition to insure Wilcher's death sentence.
54

¶132. The defense tried to convince the judge to give jury instruction D-23 which stated:

If after a reasonable and conscientious consideration of the evidence, and your

duties as jurors, you cannot reach a unanimous decision concerning the

existence of an aggravating sentence, or about the appropriateness of sentencing

the Defendant to life in prison or death, you may cease deliberations and notify

the Court in the following written form:

"We, the Jury, are unable to agree as to punishment."

¶133. After considerable argument from both the prosecution and the defense, Judge Gordon

rejected the instruction and stated:

By the Court: I am going to tell you, this case here is one of the

weaknesses of our law. There is no doubt of his guilt,

absolutely no doubt. He is a guilty felon. I am not talking

about because we are now in this stage in the sentencing

phase. I'm talking about the facts established there is no

doubt of his guilt. He's a murderer, and then we go

through all this process. 

At that point, Wilcher's guilt was a matter of law that had already been proven and affirmed on

appeal. The State avers that, when properly put into context by a full reading of this section

of the transcript, it is easy to ascertain that the trial judge was frustrated at the back and forth

arguing between the State and the defense over the issue of how long the jury should be allowed

to deliberate and whether the jury should be instructed that it can determine what a reasonable

time for deliberation would be.

¶134. This Court has stated that "[s]hould a case arise in which it is obvious that a judge had

been partial, biased or prejudiced, and that his attitude and conduct had brought about an unfair

trial, the Court would reverse the case and grant a new trial." Garrett v. State, 187 Miss. 441,

455, 193 So. 452, 455 (1940). However, we find that Judge Gordon's remarks do not make

an obvious showing that he was partial or that his conduct brought about an unfair trial. 
55

¶135. Wilcher also attempts to show that Judge Gordon was biased because he was a

prosecutor before he was a circuit court judge. Clearly, without nothing more to support how

Wilcher was prejudiced, the fact that Judge Gordon had been a prosecutor is not indicative of

bias. Further, Wilcher's counsel cannot be held to be deficient for failing to seek Judge

Gordon's recusal on this basis.

¶136. Wilcher also argues that Judge Gordon "purposefully transferred the case to Rankin

County because of its reputation." This Court finds that Wilcher is referring to his previous

assumption that Rankin County was death penalty prone. Wilcher's attorneys were given a

choice of venues. Wilcher's previous claim that his attorneys were ineffective for not

objecting to Rankin County failed. Wilcher's assertion that Judge Gordon transferred the case

to Rankin County because he was biased against Wilcher is nothing more than a conclusory

allegation.

¶137. Wilcher's assertion that his attorneys were ineffective for not moving for the recusal

of Judge Gordon must fail. The record does not reflect anything that would have warranted

such a motion; therefore, counsel cannot be said to have been deficient for failure to do so.

This issue does not pass the first prong of Strickland. 

¶138. Further, assuming for argument sake, that Wilcher's attorneys were deficient and the

first prong of Strickland could be shown, the second prong under Strickland requires "a

reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the

proceeding would have been different."' Mohr, 584 So.2d at 430. This means a "probability

sufficient to undermine the confidence in the outcome." Id. The question becomes whether

there is a reasonable probability that, absent the errors, the sentencer--including an appellate

court, to the extent it independently reweighs the evidence--would have concluded that the
56

balance of the aggravating and mitigating circumstances did not warrant death. Strickland, 466

U.S. at 695. Based on the overwhelming weight of the evidence presented in this case, Wilcher

cannot overcome this second prong of Strickland, even if it were assumed that he satisfied the

first prong.

16. Wilcher's counsel were ineffective for failing to challenge the

State's use of peremptory challenges to exclude African-American

venire members.

¶139. Wilcher contends that he was provided ineffective assistance of counsel when his

attorney failed to make a challenge, based on Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct.

1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986), to the peremptory strikes made by the State during the jury

selection process. Batson challenges are utilized to contest whether one side is utilizing its

peremptory challenges to exclude potential jurors because of some discriminatory basis.

McGilberry v. State, 741 So.2d 894, 923 (¶ 119) (Miss. 1999). 

¶140. Wilcher's attorneys filed a motion prior to the beginning of trial that would preclude

the prosecution from using peremptory challenges to exclude black jurors and members of

other groups, which evidences their awareness of the potential Batson issues. Wilcher asserts

that the State used nine of its peremptory strikes, and that five of those were used to remove

the only five black venire members. He claims those jurors were Ruby L. Adams, Margie M.

Taylor, Laurie A. Graves, Jimmy C. Adams and Dinell Sayles. 

¶141. This Court finds that the decision to make a Batson challenge falls within counsel's trial

strategy and the wide latitude given to him. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 686; Hiter v. State,

660 So.2d 961, 965 (Miss. 1995). For example, the defense may find it strategic to forego

a Batson challenge and allow the State to exercise one of its peremptory challenges on a juror
57

that the defense finds less favorable than a juror further down the list when, by all accounts, the

defense attorney could have actually prevailed on a Batson challenge. Defense counsel is

presumed competent. Johnson v. State, 476 So.2d at 1204. 

¶142. Further, we find that the record before this Court is silent on the racial composition of

the venire members, except for Charles Harvey, making it impossible to conclude whether a

Batson challenge was warranted by Wilcher's attorneys and if the failure to make such a

challenge was prejudicial. In his motion for post-conviction relief, Wilcher provides an

affidavit from William May, one of his trial attorneys. In the affidavit, May states that he

placed a letter "B" next to the panel member's name on his list of venire members if he or she

was black. May provided the venire member list as "Exhibit B" attached to his affidavit.

¶143. The State argues several points regarding May's "Exhibit B" in an attempt to discredit

it reliability. We find that Charles Harvey is the only potential juror that the record clearly

indicates is black. May did not place a "B" next to his name. The record reflects that the jury

was empaneled before Harvey's name was called. Additionally, the record reflects that Dianne

Trudeau was accepted by the State and by the defense. May placed the letter "B" next to

Trudeau's name, which would indicate that a black juror was selected for Wilcher's jury if

May's list is reliable. May's list of potential jurors, as it reflects the racial composition, is

inaccurate.

¶144. Even if it is assumed that the five jurors at issue were black, Wilcher has not proven

that he was prejudiced in any fashion by his attorneys' decision not to assert a Batson

challenge. Wilcher only complains that his attorneys' "failure to raise a Batson objection

prejudiced [him] because it led to the exclusion of all African Americans from the jury, which
58

was unrepresentative of the community." This Court has held that,"[a]lthough the defendant

does have a right to be tried by a jury whose members were selected pursuant to a

nondiscriminatory criteria, the Batson court noted that the Sixth Amendment to the

Constitution of the United States has never been held to require that petit juries actually

chosen must mirror the community and reflect the various distinctive groups in the

populations." Simon v. State, 688 So.2d 791, 806 (Miss. 1997).

¶145. Wilcher has not "overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances, the

challenged action 'might be considered sound trial strategy.'" Stringer, 454 So.2d at 477

(quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689). 

17. Wilcher's counsel were ineffective for failing to limit the State's

use of victim impact evidence at trial and final argument.

¶146. Wilcher asserts that he received ineffective assistance of counsel because his trial

counsel did not try to limit the testimony of the victim's family to only that testimony which

would serve to explain any events of the murder. Wilcher contends that his attorneys did not

try to limit victim impact evidence. The record reflects otherwise. 

¶147. Wilcher cites to the testimony of Nell Boykin and Linda Sessums, Noblins' daughters.

During the testimony of Nell Boykin, defense counsel made the following objections:

Q. [Mr. Turner for the State] Okay. Mrs. Boykin, what effect has her

murder had on your family?

By Mr. May [Wilcher's counsel]: Your honor, if the Court, please, I realize

this is a sensitive nature, but the State's

proof is limited only to aggravating

circumstances, and this certainly does not

come within that statutory restriction, and

we would object to anything along these

lines.
59

The objection by Mr. May was overruled.

Q. [Mr. Turner] How old, approximately, was the

oldest grandchild at the time of her

death?

By Mr. Pearce [Wilcher's counsel]: Your Honor, please, may we have a

continuing objection?

The Court: Yes, sir. Overruled.

¶148. Wilcher's assertion is completely unsupported by the record. Wilcher's attorneys did

attempt to limit the victim impact evidence and asked for a continuing objection to that line

of questioning.

¶149. Further, the issue of victim impact testimony was raised on direct appeal. Wilcher I,

697 So.2d 1104. 

Wilcher also argues that the trial was fundamentally unfair because the trial

judge allowed the family of the victim, but not that of the defendant, to give their

subjective impressions about the effect of the crime and the alternatives for

punishment on them.

Victim Noblin's daughter, Nell Boykin, testified that Noblin was survived by six

children, five grandchildren, three siblings, and both parents. Boykin also

testified that the murder had a "terrible" effect on her family, particularly on

victim Noblin's mother.

* * *

In this case, Bobby Glen Wilcher killed Velma Odell Noblin by stabbing her

thirty-one times. The jury was entitled to know exactly who Velma Odell Noblin

was and what impact her death had. This information was relevant to the

circumstances of the crime. Therefore, the admission of the victim's family's

testimony was proper.

Id.

¶150. Wilcher's argument is not only without merit is procedural barred. Miss. Code Ann. §

99-39-21(3); Wiley, 750 So.2d at 1200. Further, "[w]e must caution that other issues which
60

were either presented through direct appeal or could have been presented on direct appeal or

at trial are procedurally barred and cannot be relitigated under the guise of poor representation

by counsel." Foster, 687 So.2d at 1129. 

18. Wilcher's counsel were ineffective for failing to formulate a sound

trial strategy for Wilcher's trial.

¶151. Wilcher next asserts that his trial attorneys were ineffective because they conducted

voir dire and the penalty trial without a cohesive strategy. This issue is unsupported and

without merit.

¶152. First, Wilcher offers no authority to support his claim that counsel was deficient. He

only offers this Court bare allegations. This Court is not obliged to consider assignments of

error when no authority is cited. Hoops, 681 So.2d at 526. However, without waiving the

procedural bar, further discussion reveals the issue to be without merit.

¶153. Wilcher asserts that his trial attorneys failed to introduce available mitigating evidence

and failed to properly challenge the State's version of events. Wilcher does not provide any

specific mitigating evidence that counsel should have offered in addition to the numerous

mitigating factors that were offered, nor does Wilcher specify how or with what evidence

counsel should have "properly challenged the State's version of events." 

¶154. Wilcher further complains that his attorneys' strategy was merely to assert that Wilcher

had an alcoholic, abusive father. The record, however, reveals that Wilcher's father's attributes

were only a part of the overall picture that Wilcher's attorneys were attempting to paint.

Testimony was offered not only about Wilcher's home life as a boy with a drunken father, but

also regarding Wilcher's own drug and alcohol addiction, as testified to by Dr. Smith and Dr.
61

McLain. Additionally, Dr. McLain testified that the combination of drugs that Wilcher had

been using put him under "extreme mental and emotional disturbance" at the time of the

murders. Wilcher also called friends and family that testified regarding Wilcher's father and

the type of family life Wilcher had growing up.

¶155. During closing argument, trial counsel attempted to show that Wilcher killed because

he was an extremely disturbed person suffering from extreme mental and emotional

disturbance. They attempted to persuade the jury that the turbulence of Wilcher's life at home,

i.e., his abusive alcoholic father and Wilcher's own drug and alcohol use, was the kind of

background that will make somebody extremely disturbed. It is quite clear from the record that

the trial strategy put forth by Wilcher's attorneys went far beyond Wilcher's drunken father.

In fact, the record reveals that Wilcher's attorneys tried to show the father was only a

contributory part of Wilcher's disturbed personality. This issue is both barred and without

merit.

19. Trial counsel were ineffective for failing to shield from the jury the

fact that Wilcher had been on death row.

¶156. In this claim for ineffective assistance of counsel, Wilcher asserts that his counsel

should have shielded the jury from references to the fact that he had been on death row. The

substantive merits of this claim were discussed on direct appeal. Wilcher I, 697 So.2d at

1101-02. This issue is procedurally barred. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3); Wiley, 750

So.2d at 1200. Further, because the merits of the underlying issue were addressed on direct

appeal, Wilcher is procedurally barred from relitigating the issue under the guise of poor

representation by counsel. Foster, 687 So.2d at 1129.
62

¶157. Without waiving the procedural bar, the record reflects that Wilcher's attorneys

objected to the comment in question, when it was made by Sid Salter during direct examination

by the State. Further, Wilcher's attorneys moved for a mistrial. We find that Wilcher's

attorneys' actions were not deficient. This claim is procedurally barred and does not pass

Strickland.

20. The State's invocation of higher biblical law violates Bobby

Wilcher's rights under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments,

and under Article 3, Section 14 of the Mississippi Constitution. 

¶158. Wilcher begins this argument by admitting that his attorneys, during closing argument,

made references to the Bible. Wilcher's attorneys told the jury that God has set examples for

all of us on how to deal with people who have broken the law or have killed. Wilcher's attorney

then encouraged the jury to follow those examples:

I will point out that Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden were told one thing not

to do by God, one thing. In other words, the only crime they could have

committed was to eat the forbidden fruit, and they did it. The only thing God

asked them not to do, they did it. What did God do? He didn't kill them. He

didn't sentence them to die. He banished them, banished them.

That first family, the son Cain, the son of Adam and Eve, what did he do? The

man killed his own brother; but, what did God do to Cain? He banished him. He

removed him from society.

King David, a murderer, he killed. What did God do to King David? He

subjected him to punishment of tribulations and inflictions; but, he didn't kill

him.

Moses, the giver of the laws from God, Moses killed? What did God do to

Moses? He didn't kill him. He kept him from going to the place he wanted to

go, the promise land. He banished him.

Paul, who formerly was Saul, a persecutor and killer of Christians, what did God

do to Paul? He didn't kill him for what he did. He turned his life into the

greatest missionary that the world has since known.
63

In every situation, God punished; but, not by death.

Don't get me wrong. If [the State] comes up here and says I'm comparing Bobby

Wilcher to any of those people, I'm not. I am merely showing you by example

what the greatest of all judges has done through history to people who have

killed.

¶159. Wilcher asserts that the prosecutor used the Bible to argue that there was no need to

weigh mitigating and aggravating factors. Wilcher asserts that the State's argument was "clearly

highly improper" and that it rendered the sentencing "fundamentally unfair" in violation of the

Eighth Amendment and of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Wilcher

argues that the impact of the State's argument was to instruct the jury that the greater authority,

i.e., God's law, mandated Wilcher's death for Noblin's death. 

¶160. The prosecutor's comments on the Bible during closing argument were as follows:

I am always glad when defense counsel injects the Bible or religion into closing

argument, because it gives me a chance to comment on it, too.

You know, when God first instituted government in this world, he also gave man

an important tool to use for self-government in order to execute justice and to

protect human lives and safety by means of capital punishment. It's in the first

book of the Bible, in Genesis. 'Who so sheddeth man's blood, by man should his

blood be shed.'

You might say, 'Well, wait, that's the Old Testament. What about the New

Testament?' In the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelations, Chapter

Thirteen, Verse Ten. 'If anyone slays with the sword, with the sword he must be

slain.'

Nowhere between the first book of the Bible and the last book of the Bible is

there any language against capital punishment, because that is a tool that God

gave man in order to protect the public and give safety to the people in this

world.

¶161. This Court has held that arguments with religious or biblical references are permissible

subjects for comment during closing argument, especially when the biblical comments made
64

by the prosecutor are in response to those made by the defense. Berry v. State, 703 So.2d

269, 281 (Miss. 1997); Carr v. State, 655 So.2d 824, 852-53 (Miss. 1995).

¶162. InCarr, the defendant argued that the prosecutor's Biblical references during the State's

closing arguments at the sentencing phase deprived him of a fair trial. This Court held:

Defense counsel made use of Biblical references in his own closing arguments

as well, which renders [Carr's] position highly tenuous. As Carr failed to make

a contemporaneous objection to the Biblical references, this issue is barred

from review by this Court. Hansen v. State, 592 So.2d 114, 140 (Miss.1991).

However, even if the issue were not procedurally barred, there is no merit to

Carr's argument. This Court has continually held that counsel is afforded broad

latitude in closing argument. This latitude, set out by the Court in Nelms &

Blum Co. v. Fink, 159 Miss. 372, 382-383, 131 So. 817, 820 (1930), has been

referred to in the context of capital cases. In Nelms, we stated that "[c]ounsel

may draw upon literature, history, science, religion, and philosophy for material

for his argument." Id. at 382-384. See Hansen v. State, 592 So.2d 114,

139-140 (Miss.1991); Shell v. State, 554 So.2d 887, 899 (Miss.1989), vacated

on other grounds, 498 U.S. 1, 111 S.Ct. 313, 112 L.Ed.2d 1 (1990); Johnson v.

State, 416 So.2d 383, 391 (Miss.1982).

This assignment of error is procedurally barred; alternatively, it has no merit.

Carr, 655 So.2d at 852-53.

¶163. The record here clearly reflects that the prosecutor was responding to the biblical

argument made by Wilcher's attorney. As stated above, it is not improper for the State to make

the biblical comments that were made, and even more proper given that the comments were in

response to those made by the defense. This issue is without merit.

¶164. Wilcher's ineffective assistance of counsel claim for counsels' failure to object to the

State's biblical references must also fail. Wilcher cannot show that counsel was deficient for
65

failing to object to something that was not objectionable. Wilcher cannot pass the first prong

of Strickland.

21. Wilcher's counsel were ineffective for failing to object or preserve

errors for review.

22. Wilcher's counsel were ineffective for failing to preserve errors

for review that are now raised in this post-conviction application.

¶165. Wilcher asserts that his attorneys were ineffective for failing to object and preserve

issues for review during the trial. Wilcher also contends that his attorneys were ineffective

because those issues were not preserved for review by the appellate court. Because of the

similarities in these two issues, they will be discussed together.

¶166. In Wilcher's first post-conviction application filed before the Supplemental and

Amended Motion, he contends that he was prejudice by his counsels' failures to object on

several occasions. However, he only refers to one such occasion, which was counsels' failure

to claim, prior to close of evidence, that the use of Moore's murder and the underlying felony

as aggravating circumstances violates the Fifth and Eighth Amendments. 

¶167. This issue was addressed, supra. As discussed, this issue was procedurally barred

pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3), because this Court dealt with the introduction of

such aggravating circumstances evidence on direct appeal. Wilcher I, 697 So.2d at 1104-06.

The issue is procedurally barred. Wiley, 750 So.2d at 1200. Because this Court determined

that no error was committed by admitting evidence of Moore's murder as an aggravating

circumstance, Wilcher is barred on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Foster, 687

So.2d at 1129. 
66

¶168. Wilcher offers no other specific instance of counsels' failure to preserve a fundamental

error at trial; therefore, he has failed to demonstrate that his counsel's performance was

deficient. This claim for ineffective assistance of counsel must fail. Strickland, 466 U.S. at

687.

¶169. In his Supplemental and Amended Motion, Wilcher asserts that his attorneys were

ineffective at the trial level for failing to object on several occasions and thereby, preserve the

record for appeal. However, Wilcher does not specify which instances should have prompted

objections by his attorneys. Wilcher only alleges that his attorneys failed to preserve the

record during bench conferences. Wilcher does not provide specific instances where this

occurred. Again, his conclusory allegations will not support a claim for ineffective assistance

of counsel where he fails to demonstrate that his attorneys were deficient.

¶170. As for the ineffective counsel claim at the appellate level, Wilcher asserts that his

attorneys were ineffective for failing to raise each of the issues now presented to this Court

in his post-conviction application. As will be discussed in the "accumulative error" issue

presented by Wilcher as claim "I" infra, a review of the record, the briefs, and the arguments

shows that there were no individual errors which required reversal and that there is no

aggregate collection of minor errors that would, as a whole, mandate a reversal of either the

conviction or sentence. Therefore, the failure by Wilcher's attorneys to present issues at the

trial or appellate level that Wilcher now presents to this Court in his post-conviction

application was not deficient and cannot pass the first prong of Strickland.

¶171. Further, many of the claims presented by Wilcher in his post-conviction application

were, in fact, presented by his trial attorneys, both at the trial and appellate levels, hence they
67

are procedurally barred. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3). This Court recognizes that there are

claims that were not capable of being raised at the trial or appellate level, such as claims for

ineffective assistance of counsel. As our Court of Appeals has noted,

It is unusual for this [c]ourt to consider a claim of ineffective assistance of

counsel when the claim is made on direct appeal. This is because we are limited

to the trial court record in our review of the claim and there is usually

insufficient evidence within the record to evaluate the claim. See Edwards v.

State, 797 So.2d 1049, 1060 (¶ 30) (Miss.Ct.App.2001). The Mississippi

Supreme Court has stated that, where the record cannot support an ineffective

assistance of counsel claim on direct appeal, the appropriate conclusion is to

deny relief, preserving the defendant's right to argue the same issue through a

petition for post-conviction relief. Read v. State, 430 So.2d 832, 837

(Miss.1983). This Court will rule on the merits on the rare occasions where "(1)

the record affirmatively shows ineffectiveness of constitutional dimensions, or

(2) the parties stipulate that the record is adequate to allow the appellate court

to make the finding without consideration of the findings of fact of the trial

judge." Colenburg v. State, 735 So.2d 1099, 1101 (¶ 5) (Miss.Ct.App.1999).

Aguilar v. State, 847 So.2d 871(Miss. Ct. App. 2002).

¶172. This Court finds that Wilcher fails to provide anything more than unsubstantiated

allegations. Therefore, Wilcher has failed to demonstrate that his attorneys were deficient.

This claim does not pass Strickland.

C. WHETHER TRIAL COUNSEL IMPROPERLY EXCUSED

POTENTIAL JURORS IN VIOLATION OF THE SIXTH AND

FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS.

¶173. Under this claim, Wilcher raises substantive issues and asserts that vacation of his

sentence is required. We find that Wilcher's claim is both procedurally barred and without

merit.

1. Trial court improperly excused potential juror Linda Hales in

violation of Witherspoon v. Illinois.
68

¶174. This issue regarding Linda Hales being excused as a potential juror was previously

discussed above under Wilcher's ineffective assistance of counsel claim, B-14. The underlying

issues as it is presented here was capable of being raised on direct appeal. Therefore, the issue

is procedurally barred. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(1). Without waiving the procedural bar,

the issue is also without merit. See discussion above pertaining to Wilcher's ineffective

assistance of counsel claim. This Court again finds that Hales was not excused in violation of

Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510 (1968). The U.S. Supreme Court has clarified the

Witherspoon rule:

We therefore take this opportunity to clarify our decision in Witherspoon, and

to reaffirm the above-quoted standard from Adams as the proper standard for

determining when a prospective juror may be excluded for cause because of his

or her views on capital punishment. That standard is whether the juror's

views would 'prevent or substantially impair the performance of his

duties as a juror in accordance with his instructions and his oath.' 

Wainwright, 469 U.S. at 424 (emphasis added).

Despite this lack of clarity in the printed record, however, there will be

situations where the trial judge is left with the definite impression that a

prospective juror would be unable to faithfully and impartially apply the law.

Id. at 425-26.

¶175. As discussed supra, Hales indicated that she could not deliver a verdict either way if

she did not see the crime. This Court finds that she was not excused for her views on the death

penalty in violation of Witherspoon. Quite the contrary. Based on her answers, the trial judge

sustained the defense's objection to excusing her. It was not until later when the trial judge

changed his mind regarding Hales. We find that the trial judge was justified in excusing Hale

because she "would be unable to faithfully and impartially apply the law." Wilcher's claim is

procedurally barred and without merit.
69

2. Trial court improperly excused potential jurors Diane Sanders,

Maureen Morely, and Janice Ann Spence in violation of the Sixth

and Fourteenth Amendments.

¶176. The trial court asked the question, "Now, do you, or any member of this panel, have any

conscientious or religious scruples against the infliction of the death penalty in proper cases

and the testimony warrants it?" Three venire members raised their hands, and they were

separately questioned in chambers. Those venire members were Diane Sanders, Maureen

Morely, and Janice Ann Spence. Ultimately, all three jurors indicated that they would

automatically vote against the death penalty. These jurors were excused pursuant to

Wainwright. 

¶177. Wilcher now argues that he

was denied an impartial jury taken from a representative cross section of the

community, and thus Wainwright was unconstitutionally applied to [him].

Specifically, Wainwright allows the dismissal of these potential jurors based

upon these jurors' personally beliefs regarding the death penalty, thus

eliminating a substantial portion of the population in capital cases, including the

three jurors dismissed in this case. Such exclusion violates Wilcher's Sixth

Amendment right to an impartial jury.

¶178. First of all, this issue was capable of being raised on direct appeal. Therefore, the issue

is procedurally barred. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(1); Wiley, 750 So.2d at 1101-02.

Second, without waiving the procedural bar, the issue is also without merit. 

¶179. This Court finds that Wainwright does not allow the dismissal of potential jurors based

on their personal beliefs regarding the death penalty. We find that Wainwright permits the

dismissal of potential jurors when a "juror's views would prevent or substantially impair the

performance of his duties as a juror in accordance with his instructions and his oath."
70

Wainwright, 469 U.S. at 424 (internal quotes omitted). Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court

stated in Witherspoon v. Illinois, 

nothing we say today bears upon the power of a State to execute a defendant

sentenced to death by a jury from which the only veniremen who were in fact

excluded for cause were those who made unmistakably clear (1) that they would

automatically vote against the imposition of capital punishment without

regard to any evidence that might be developed at the trial of the case before

them, or (2) that their attitude toward the death penalty would prevent them from

making an impartial decision as to the defendant's guilt.

391 U.S. at 522 n.21 (emphasis added).

¶180. This Court and the United States Supreme Court have settled the question presented by

Wilcher. In Jordan v. State, this Court stated:

Jordan alleges that the exercise of such peremptory challenges denied him a jury

composed of a fair cross-section of the community. We have held that a

prospective juror's views on the death penalty do not make one a member of a

distinctive class protected by Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712,

90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986), and its progeny. Holland, 705 So.2d at 340-41.

Therefore, the State was not prohibited from exercising peremptory challenges

to strike jurors based on their beliefs concerning the death penalty. Id. at 341.

Additionally, excusing all jurors who have conscientious scruples against the

death penalty does not deny a defendant his right to a representative

cross-section of the community. West v. State, 485 So.2d 681, 685

(Miss.1985). Therefore, these issues are without merit. 

786 So.2d at 1028-29.

¶181. Further the U.S. Supreme Court has stated:

The Court's reasoning in McCree requires rejection of petitioner's claim that

"death qualification" violated his right to a jury selected from a representative

cross section of the community. It was explained in McCree that the fair cross

section requirement applies only to venires, not to petit juries. Id., at 173, 106

S.Ct., at 1765. Accordingly, petit juries do not have to "reflect the composition

of the community at large." Ibid. More importantly, it was pointed out that, even

if this requirement were applied to petit juries, no fair cross section violation

would be established when "Witherspoon-excludables" were dismissed from a
8

 The record indicates that juror No. 70, William C. Bryant, indicated that he would not consider

mitigating factors. The trial judge would not sustain the defense's request to excuse Bryant for cause.

Regardless, the jury was empaneled before Bryant was proffered. 

71

petit jury, because they do not constitute a distinctive group for fair cross

section purposes. Id., at 174, 106 S.Ct., at 1765.

Buchanan v. Kentucky, 483 U.S. 402, 415, 107 S.Ct. 2906, 97 L.Ed.2d 336 (1987) (citing

Lockhart v. McCree, 476 U.S. 162, 173-74, 106 S.Ct. 1758, 90 L.Ed.2d 137 (1986)).

¶182. This issue is not only procedurally barred pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(1);

it is also without merit.

D. WHETHER WILCHER WAS DEPRIVED OF HIS RIGHT TO A

FAIR AND IMPARTIAL JURY UNDER THE SIXTH AND

FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS, AND UNDER ARTICLE 3,

SECTIONS 14 AND 26 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION BY

JURORS' FAILURE TO REVEAL AUTOMATIC DEATH PENALTY

TENDENCIES; DEFENSE COUNSEL WERE INEFFECTIVE IN

FAILING TO OBJECT TO THE STATE'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL

ARGUMENT.

¶183. During voir dire, the venire persons were repeatedly asked whether they were

predisposed to voting for the death penalty or whether they could follow the court's

instructions and weigh any mitigating circumstances. Throughout this line of questioning by

Wilcher's attorneys as well as the trial court, several jurors responded that they could not

consider mitigating circumstances and/or that they would vote automatically for the death

penalty. These jurors were excused for cause by the trial court.8

¶184. Wilcher contend that two of the jurors, Jon Burrage and Eleanor Rommerdale,

impaneled in his resentencing trial were not honest during voir dire despite the clearly worded

questions propounded by the defense counsel. Wilcher asserts that all through the questioning

of whether there was any venire person who could not follow the court's instruction and weigh
72

mitigating evidence or would otherwise automatically vote for the death penalty, Burrage and

Rommerdale remained silent. Wilcher contends that these two jurors were less than candid

and that, in reality, they were predisposed to voting for the death penalty without following the

court's instructions to consider mitigating circumstances.

¶185. To support this contention, Wilcher offers this Court his Exhibit 32, which he purports

to be the affidavit of Burrage, and Exhibit 62, which is purportedly the affidavit of

Rommerdale. 

¶186. Wilcher's Exhibit 32 at ¶ 8 reads as follows:

To me, if someone is guilty of murder, they should get the death sentence. In

this case, Bobby killed 2 women, one of them elderly, over some jewelry. I

remember right when I found that out that he should get the death penalty.

¶187. Wilcher's Exhibit 62 at ¶¶ 8, 9 reads as follows:

Bobby killed two victims, even though he may have had a difficult childhood, I

believe people can overcome hardships. When it comes to important things like

life and death, people make choices. No matter what his childhood was like,

Bobby chose to kill those women.

I think Bobby's lawyers said he had some mental problems, but he made a

choice. Unless he was absolutely out of his mind at the time of the crime,

nothing about his background or mental problems changes the fact that he made

a choice.

¶188. First of all, these exhibits are unsworn statements. An affidavit is "[a] written or printed

declaration or statement of facts, made voluntarily, and confirmed by the oath or affirmation

of the party making it, taken before a person having authority to administer such oath or

affirmation." Black's Law Dictionary 58 (6th ed. 1990) (emphasis added). The statements

from both Burrage and Rommerdale provide only the signature of a witness. An unsworn

statement of a juror is insufficient evidence to support Wilcher's allegation. Russell v. State,

849 So.2d at 119. Miss. Code Ann. §99-39-9(1)(e) requires that Wilcher furnish affidavits
73

to support his claims or show cause as to why he could not furnish them. Wilcher has done

neither.

¶189. Further, as the State correctly points out, Rule 606(b) of the Mississippi Rules of

Evidence provides:

(b) Inquiry Into Validity of Verdict or Indictment. Upon an inquiry into the

validity of a verdict or indictment, a juror may not testify as to any matter

or statement occurring during the course of the jury's deliberations or to

the effect of anything upon his or any other juror's mind or emotions as

influencing him to assent to or dissent from the verdict or indictment or

concerning his mental process in connection therewith, except that a

juror may testify on the question whether extraneous prejudicial

information was improperly brought to the jury's attention or whether

any outside influence was improperly brought to beat upon any juror.

Nor may his affidavit or evidence of any statement by him concerning

a matter about which would be precluded from testifying be received

for these purposes.

(emphasis added). 

¶190. Without disregarding the fact that Wilcher's claim is not supported by a sworn affidavit,

a discussion of the unsworn statement by Burrage and Rommerdale reveals that Wilcher's

claim is also without merit. 

¶191. This Court has discussed the issue of jurors remaining silent regarding their views

during voir dire. The Court held:

With regard to evidence that juror Jacobs remained silent during voir dire when

asked if she had been a victim of a violent crime: Odom v. State, 355 So.2d

1381 (Miss.1978) is our seminal case. Odom holds that the failure to respond

does not warrant this Court granting a defendant/appellant a new trial unless 

the question propounded to the juror was (1) relevant to the voir

dire examination; (2) ... unambiguous; ... (3) ... the juror had

substantial knowledge of the information sought to be elicited ...

[and (4) ] prejudice ... in selecting the jury could reasonably be

inferred from the juror's failure to respond. 
74

355 So.2d at 1383. Myers v. State, 565 So.2d 554, 558 (Miss.1990); Chase v.

State, 645 So.2d 829, 847 (Miss.1994).

However, assuming that the first three elements of the [sic] Odom were met,

Lewis has not shown that he was prejudiced by Jacobs' failure to respond during

voir dire. Moreover, even if Jacobs had disclosed that she had been raped, Lewis

would not necessarily have been entitled to a challenge for cause. Lester v.

State, 692 So.2d 755, 791 (Miss.1997) ("courts would be hard- pressed to find

people in Hinds County these days who have not at one time or another been

victims of crime"). In addition, this case was about murder and robbery, not rape.

Lewis v. State, 725 So. 2d 183, 191 (Miss. 1998).

¶192. Like the Lewis case, if we assume in the instant case that the first three elements of

Odom were met, Wilcher cannot pass the fourth element. Wilcher tries to prove prejudice by

showing that Burrage and Rommerdale were predisposed to voting for death without weighing

mitigating factors. The proof he offers through their unsworn statements does not evidence

their inabilities to weigh the mitigating factors. 

¶193. The State provides this Court with an enlightening affidavit from Burrage which reads

as follows:

On June 24, 2000, two people came to my home, a man and a woman. The [sic]

stated they were doing some follow up work for the defense counsel in the

Bobby Glen Wilcher case. They did not tell me that they were working to have

Mr. Wilcher's death penalty overturned. I felt uncomfortable talking with these

people and was in a rush to get them out of my house. I did not read the

statement they wrote for me to sign very carefully. Upon reviewing this

statement again I am very concerned that the statement as written makes it

appear that I was dishonest.

* * *

Wilcher 's attorneys have clearly twisted the words from my statement to reach

a conclusion that is not true.

I took the responsibility of being a juror in this case very seriously because it

involved the death penalty. It is very difficult to sit in judgment on someone and

vote to sentence them to die.
75

I listened to the questions asked by the judge and attorneys carefully and

responded truthfully to all of the questions asked.

I would never make a decision of whether to find someone guilty of a crime

without hearing all of the evidence in the case. In this case the question was life

or death making it all the more important that I heard all of the evidence before

making a decision.

I listened to the evidence presented by both the State and Wilcher as to why he

should or should not be given the sentence of death. I did not make up my mind

as to what sentence should be imposed until after I had heard all of the evidence.

The judge had instructed us not to consider the verdict until we had heard all of

the evidence and I followed those instructions.

I did not fail to answer the questions asked by the judge, the prosecutor or the

defense counsel truthfully. I did not remain silent to hide my "true opinions"

regarding whether I could consider Wilcher's mitigating evidence in this case.

I did not hide any opinion I held regarding this case from the judge or the

attorneys during voir dire. I did consider Wilcher's evidence during the jury

deliberations on this case.

Wilcher's counsel has misinterpreted my statement of June 24, 2000, to make

me appear as if I could not consider the decision on the proper sentence which

should be imposed in this case.

I am shocked and insulted by the manner in which my words have been used to

make my service as a juror in this case appear impartial. 

¶194. As for the unsworn statement of Rommerdale presented by Wilcher, the statement does

not state that she was silent during voir dire or that she lied about her views on mitigating

evidence. The statement does not show Rommerdale's unwillingness to consider mitigating

factors or that she had a predisposition to the death penalty that she did not disclose during voir

dire. To the contrary, her statement shows her recollection of hearing mitigating evidence

presented by Wilcher and apparently not being persuaded by it. Wilcher's claim is both

unsupported and without merit.
76

¶195. As for the second part of this issue, "Defense Counsel was ineffective for failing to

object to the State's unconstitutional argument," Wilcher makes no reference to what argument

by the State was unconstitutional. Wilcher presents nothing in the form of an ineffective

assistance of counsel argument in this claim. If Wilcher was going to present an ineffective

assistance of counsel argument with this claim, it appears that he has done so by title alone.

Therefore, it cannot be discussed other than to point out that this Court has said that voir dire

"is conducted under the supervision of the court, and a great deal must, of necessity, be left to

its sound discretion." Ballenger v. State, 667 So.2d 1242, 1250 (Miss. 1995). This Court has

directed the trial court to take a substantial role in conducting Witherspoon voir dire of

potential jurors in capital cases. Id.

E. WHETHER WILCHER WAS DENIED THE IMPARTIAL JURY

AFFORDED HIM UNDER THE SIXTH AND FOURTEENTH

AMENDMENTS, AND UNDER ARTICLE 3, SECTIONS 14 AND 26

OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION BY THE COURT'S

DENIAL OF HIS MOTION FOR INDIVIDUAL SEQUESTERED

VOIR DIRE.

¶196. Wilcher next contends that he was denied his state and federal constitutional rights

because the trial court denied his request for individual sequestered voir dire. This claim was

not raised on direct appeal, although it was capable of being raised. This claim is therefore

barred from consideration for the first time in Wilcher's post-conviction application. Miss.

Code Ann. § 99-39-21(1); Wiley, 517 So.2d at 1377-78. Further, Wilcher does not show

cause or actual prejudice to overcome this bar. Without waiving the procedural bar, a

discussion on the merits follows.

¶197. This Court has dealt with this identical issue:

Edwards asserts that the trial court's denial of his pre-trial request of an

individual, sequestered voir dire was error, given the publicity and circumstances
77

in this case. He further asserts that because of this error he was denied a fair

trial by an impartial jury. The manner in which voir dire in criminal cases will be

conducted is governed by Rule 3.05 of the Mississippi Uniform Circuit and

County Court Rules which provides: 

In the voir dire examination of jurors, the attorney will question

the entire venire only on matters not inquired into by the court.

Individual jurors may be examined only when proper to inquire as

to answers given or for other good cause allowed by the court. No

hypothetical questions requiring any juror to pledge a particular

verdict will be asked.

The decision to utilize an individualized, sequestered voir dire is a matter within

the sound discretion of the trial judge. Carr v. State, 655 So.2d 824, 842

(Miss.1995). While not requiring the use of sequestered voir dire, Rule 5.02 of

the Uniform Criminal Rules of Circuit Court Practice does, within the court's

discretion, allow it, but only on good cause shown. McFarland v. State, 707

So.2d 166, 169-70 (Miss.1997). This Court has further held, that the rule does

not require more than what it states on its face, and that trial judges who denied

individual sequestered voir dire acted within their discretion granted by the rule.

Carr, 655 So.2d at 842; Russell v. State, 607 So.2d 1107, 1110 (Miss.1992);

Hansen v. State, 592 So.2d 114, 126 (Miss.1991).

Edwards v. State, 737 So.2d 275, 307-08 (Miss. 1999).

¶198. The trial court in this case allowed individual sequestered voir dire when warranted

during jury selection. It cannot be said that the trial court abused its discretion in denying

individual sequestered voir dire of every prospective juror. Furthermore, the trial judge

inquired of the entire venire concerning pretrial publicity and knowledge of the case. Several

jurors raised their hands, and the judge questioned them further to determine whether their

knowledge might affect or prejudice them in any way. The jurors indicated that they only heard

about the case but knew nothing of the facts and that they could be fair and impartial. The

attorneys then conducted extensive examination of the potential jurors.
78

¶199. We find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Wilcher's motion for

individual sequestered voir dire, and Wilcher was not been denied a fair trial by an impartial

jury. Consequently, this issue is procedurally barred and without merit.

F-1. WHETHER THE PROSECUTION'S USE OF SENTENCING

INSTRUCTIONS S-1, S-2, AND S-4 WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

AND DEFENSE COUNSEL WERE INEFFECTIVE FOR FAILING

TO RAISE THIS AT TRIAL AND ON DIRECT APPEAL.

¶200. Wilcher asserts that the sentencing instructions submitted by the State conjunctively

"instructed the jury that the death penalty was demanded because Wilcher had already been

convicted of capital murder which was done while engaged in the commission of or an attempt

to commit the crime of robbery or kidnaping." 

¶201. The following are the pertinent parts of the instructions at issue that were submitted to

the jury:

Sentencing Instruction S-1A(part B)

Next, to return the death penalty, you must find that the mitigating

circumstances- those which tend to warrant the less sever penalty of life

imprisonment - do not outweigh the aggravating circumstances - those which

tend to warrant the death penalty. Consider only the following elements of

aggravation 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 capital offense was committed while the

Defendant was engaged in the commission of robbery;

(3) whether the capital offense was committed while the

Defendant was engaged in the commission of or an

attempt to commit the crime of kidnaping;

(4) whether the capital offense was especially heinous,

atrocious, or cruel.

Sentencing Instruction S-3
79

The Court instructs the jury that the killing of a human being without authority

of law, is Capital murder when done by any person while engaged in the

commission of or an attempt to commit either the crime of robbery or of

kidnaping. These are the statutory elements of the Capital offense of which

Bobby Glen Wilcher is charged. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt of the

statutory elements of the Capital offense with which the accused is charged shall

constitute sufficient circumstances to authorize imposition of the penalty of

death unless the mitigating circumstances shown by the evidence outweighed the

aggravating circumstances. You shall not be required to make a special finding

of any mitigating circumstances in order to return a verdict that the accused

should be sentenced to life in prison without parole, or to life in prison.

However, before you may return a verdict that the Defendant, Booby Glen

Wilcher, should suffer the penalty of death, you must unanimously find in

writing that after weighing the mitigating circumstances and the aggravating

circumstances one against the other that the mitigating circumstances do not

outweigh the aggravating circumstances and that the Defendant should suffer the

penalty of death.

Sentencing Instruction S-4

The Court instructs the Jury that another jury has already found the Defendant,

Booby Glen Wilcher, guilty of the Capital murder of Velma Odell Noblin

beyond a reasonable doubt. In your deliberations concerning whether the

defendant should receive the death penalty, life in prison without parole or life

in prison you should accept as fact that the Defendant is guilty of the capital

murder of Katie Belle Moore. 

¶202. Wilcher argues that the use of these sentencing instructions " obstructed the jury's

ability to determine whether aggravating factors existed to impose the death penalty was an

unconstitutional invasion of the right to be tried by jury." Wilcher further argues that his

counsel were ineffective for failing to preserve or raise this issue on appeal.

¶203. Wilcher relies on Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584, 122 S.Ct. 2428, 153 L.Ed.2d 556

(2002) (Arizona statute pursuant to which, following a jury adjudication of a defendant's guilt

of first-degree murder, the trial judge, sitting alone, determines the presence or absence of the

aggravating factors required by Arizona law for imposition of the death penalty, violates the
80

Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial in capital prosecutions), and Apprendi v. New Jersey,

530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). The United States Supreme Court

discussed Apprendi in support of its decision in Ring and held that "[c]apital defendants, no

less than non-capital defendants, we conclude, are entitled to a jury determination of any fact

on which the legislature conditions an increase in their maximum punishment." Ring, 536 U.S.

at 589. This Court finds that Wilcher's criminal proceedings are not inconsistent with

Apprendi andRing because here it was a jury, not a judge, that determined beyond a reasonable

doubt the existence of aggravating factors surrounding Wilcher's capital crimes. This was done

during the guilt phase of Wilcher's trial. 

¶204. It appears that Wilcher is under the impression that he had a right to relitigate his guilt

of the underlying capital murder in front of the jury during his resentencing. This Court has

held that the guilt of a capital murder is res judicata during the sentencing phase and may not

be relitigated. Holland v. State, 705 So.2d at 322-23. 

In that the conviction by the first jury was not disturbed on appeal, the present

sentencing jury was prohibited by the doctrine of res judicata from relitigating

the issue of guilty (sic). Rather, the second jury's function was to accept the first

jury's finding that Irving was guilty of felony-murder involving robbery and then

to determine sentence. 

Id. (citing Irving v. State, 441 So.2d 846, 851-52 (Miss. 1983)). During the guilt phase of

Wilcher's trial, a jury found beyond a reasonable doubt the existence of aggravating

circumstances. The jury impaneled for Wilcher's resentencing was charged with weighing

those aggravating circumstances against any mitigating circumstances. Wilcher's argument is

without merit. Wilcher's criminal proceeding is not inconsistent with Apprendi andRing. The

prosecution's use of these instructions was not unconstitutional.
81

¶205. As for Wilcher's ineffective assistance of counsel claim, the use of these jury

instructions was permissible, and any objection to them made by defense counsel would likely

have been overruled. Therefore, Wilcher's attorneys cannot be considered deficient for failing

to argue that the use of the instructions was unconstitutional. The ineffective assistance of

counsel claim does not pass Strickland.

F-2. WHETHER WILCHER'S FIFTH, EIGHTH AND/OR

FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED

BY THE LENGTH OF TIME ON MISSISSIPPI'S DEATH ROW

AND THE MANY EXECUTION DATES THAT HAVE BEEN SET.

¶206. Wilcher asserts that he has been subjected to "cruel and inhuman" treatment because he

has been kept in maximum confinement on Mississippi's Death Row under conditions

including lock-down and isolation for at least 23 hours out of the day, and because he has been

subjected to numerous execution dates during those 19-20 years. To support this argument,

Wilcher relies on dissenting opinions in Elledge v. Florida, 525 U.S. 944, 119 S.Ct. 366, 142

L.Ed.2d 303 (1998) (Breyer, J., dissenting from denial of certiorari) and Lackey v. Texas, 514

U.S. 1045, 1045-47, 115 S.Ct. 1421, 131 L.Ed.2d 304 (1995) (opinion of Stevens, J.,

respecting denial of certiorari).

¶207. This Court has spoken to this very issue before:

Jordan argues that he has been incarcerated on death row from the time the

crime was committed in this case, in 1976, until 1991, and then again in 1998,

when the life sentence was vacated, until now. He claims that he has suffered

psychological trauma waiting for his execution and that there is nothing gained

by the State from 22 years of needless infliction of pain and suffering. He

indicates that the United States Supreme Court has held that the death penalty

violates the Eighth Amendment when it makes no measurable contribution to

acceptable goals of punishment, i.e., retribution and deterrence, and is nothing

more than needless imposition of pain and suffering. Penry v. Lynaugh, 492

U.S. 302, 335, 109 S.Ct. 2934, 2956, 106 L.Ed.2d 256, 289 (1989).
82

* * * 

There is no precedent which supports Jordan's contention that his Eighth

Amendment right against cruel and unusual punishment has been violated.

Therefore, there are no grounds for reversal on this issue. 

Jordan, 786 So.2d at 1028. This Court's language in Jordan goes to the very heart of the issue

presented by Wilcher. There is no law of the United States or of this state to support Wilcher's

claim. There are no grounds for post-conviction relief on this issue. Jordan, 786 So.2d at

1028.

G. WHETHER WILCHER'S RIGHT TO TRIAL BY A FAIR AND

IMPARTIAL JURY UNDER THE FEDERAL AND STATE

CONSTITUTIONS WAS VIOLATED TO HIS PREJUDICE BY

DEPUTIES' CONTACT WITH JURORS.

¶208. In this claim, Wilcher alleges that deputies made comments amounting to unauthorized

communications with jurors that prejudiced Wilcher's case. To support this claim, Wilcher

again provides what he purports to be an affidavit of William Wann, one of the jurors on this

case. 

¶209. Wilcher has again relied un the unsworn statement of a juror. Wilcher's Exhibit 33 is

an unsworn statement and not an affidavit. An affidavit is "[a] written or printed declaration or

statement of facts, made voluntarily, and confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the party

making it, taken before a person having authority to administer such oath or affirmation."

Black's Law Dictionary 58 (6th ed.1990) (emphasis added). Wann's unsworn statement shows

only the signature of a witness. An unsworn statement of a juror is insufficient evidence to

support Wilcher's allegation. Russell v. State, 849 So.2d at 119. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-

9(1)(e) requires that Wilcher furnish affidavits to support his claims or show cause as to why

he could not furnish them. Wilcher has done neither.
83

¶210. Without waiving that argument that Wann's unsworn statement is not an affidavit, the

portion of the statement Wilcher relies on states, "Also, deputies were making comments that

could have swayed some of the jurors, such as "this should have been over and done with."

However, Wilcher does not include the insertion made and initialed by Wann, which states he

"really believes [he] is the only one who heard deputy's comment & it had no effect on [his]

vote." 

¶211. This Court finds that the statement, "This should have been over and done with," is too

innocuous to be prejudicial. The statement alone does not indicate what it was in reference to

or the context in which it was made. Further, such a statement, if it were made in reference to

Wilcher's case, does not show prejudice to Wilcher. 

¶212. We find that Wilcher's claim fails. Wilcher not only relies on the unsworn statement

of a juror, he cannot show how the deputy's statement in anyway prejudiced the case. 

H. WHETHER WILCHER'S FEDERAL AND STATE

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL JURY

WERE DENIED BY THE JURY'S PREMATURE

DELIBERATIONS.

¶213. Wilcher asserts that jurors deliberated amongst themselves prematurely before the trial

court delivered the jury instructions and sent the jury into deliberations. Wilcher again relies

on the unsworn statement of juror William Wann. 

¶214. Once again, an affidavit is "[a] written or printed declaration or statement of facts, made

voluntarily, and confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the party making it, taken before

a person having authority to administer such oath or affirmation." Black's Law Dictionary

58 (6th ed. 1990) (emphasis added). An unsworn statement of a juror is insufficient evidence

to support Wilcher's allegation. Russell v. State, 849 So.2d at 119. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-
84

9(1)(e) requires that Wilcher furnish affidavits to support his claims or show cause as to why

he could not furnish them. Wilcher has done neither.

¶215. Without waiving the argument that Wilcher has not supported his assertion with an

affidavit, Wilcher's claim is without merit. The unsworn statement relied upon by Wilcher

states: "Some things that went on weren't 'by the book.' I recall some comments among jurors

at dinner and talking about the trial before deliberations." Next to paragraph 10 of the unsworn

statement, apparently written and initialed by Wann, is the addition "only very brief comments."

¶216. For the sake of argument, even if this statement were a valid affidavit, it does not allege

what things were discussed or that anything prejudicial to Wilcher occurred. Without further

detail as to what was discussed, there is no error here. See Russell v. State, 849 So.2d at 119.

I. WHETHER THE ACCUMULATION OF ERROR IN THIS CASE

REQUIRES THAT THE DEATH SENTENCE BE SET ASIDE.

¶217. Wilcher argues that cumulative errors committed at trial denied him a fair trial. A

criminal defendant is not entitled to a perfect trial, only a fair trial. McGilberry v. State, 843

So.2d 21, 33 (Miss. 2003) (citing Sand v. State, 467 So.2d 907, 911 (Miss. 1985)). Wilcher

cannot support a contention that he has not received a fair trial. 

¶218. This Court may reverse a conviction and/or sentence based upon the cumulative effect

of errors that do not independently require a 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." Conner v. State, 632 So.2d 1239, 1278 (Miss.
85

1993) (citing Woodward v. State, 533 So.2d 418, 432 (Miss. 1988)). A review of the record,

the briefs, and the arguments shows that there were no individual errors which required reversal

and that there is no aggregate collection of minor errors that would, as a whole, mandate a

reversal of either the conviction or sentence. This issue itself is therefore without merit.

CONCLUSION

¶219. For these reasons, we deny all of Wilcher's applications for leave to seek postconviction relief.

¶220. APPLICATIONS FOR LEAVE TO SEEK POST-CONVICTION RELIEF, DENIED.

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

JJ., CONCUR. GRAVES, J., DISSENTS WITHOUT SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION.

DIAZ, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.