IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI

NO. 1999-DP-00317-SCT

KEVIN SCOTT

v.

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

DATE OF JUDGMENT: 10/23/1998

TRIAL JUDGE: HON. KENNETH L. THOMAS

COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: BOLIVAR COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: RAYMOND L. WONG

CLIVE ADRIAN STAFFORD-SMITH

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

BY: JUDY T. MARTIN

 MARVIN L. WHITE, JR.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY: LAURENCE Y. MELLEN

NATURE OF THE CASE: CRIMINAL - DEATH PENALTY - DIRECT

APPEAL

DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 06/10/2004

MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:

MANDATE ISSUED:

EN BANC.

EASLEY, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

¶1. Kevin Scott (Scott) appeals his capital murder conviction and sentence of death determined by a

Bolivar County Circuit Court jury. The jury returned a guilty verdict against Scott as to Count I of the

indictment finding that he killed seventy-four year old Richard Lee (Lee) on November 15, 1995, in the

course of a robbery. After a separate sentencing hearing, the jury determined that Scott should be given

the penalty of death for the capital murder of Lee. The trial court entered judgment and sentenced Scott
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to death by lethal injection as provided by Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-51, for the capital murder of Lee.

The jury also found Scott guilty as to Count II of the indictment for aggravated assault of Lee’s wife, Lurline

Lee (Lurline). Scott was sentenced to serve a term of ten (10) years for the aggravated assault. Scott

subsequently made a motion for judgment of acquittal notwithstanding the verdict or in the alternative a new

trial. The trial court denied Scott’s motion. Scott filed his notice of appeal in forma pauperis to this Court.

FACTS

¶2. On November 14, 1995, Scott wrecked his white 1988 Oldsmobile Sierra with a luggage rack on

the trunk. The next day, Scot and Leroy Lynch (Lynch) went to Cleveland, Mississippi. Scott had

borrowed his brother’s car.

¶3. Lurline testified that on Wednesday, November 15, 1995, she and Lee were living in Boyle,

Mississippi. They had been married for almost 52 years, lacking a month and four days. Lee who was 74

years old, was retired. Lee had gone that day to Jitney-Jungle in Cleveland, Mississippi, to pick up some

sandwiches as well as make some other stops to pick up things to stock their camper. The Lees were

preparing to visit their daughter, Sandra Dixon, on Friday and then their deer camp in Kosciusko,

Mississippi. 

¶4. Lee left the house around 11:00 a.m. The Lees owned a white 1990 Oldsmobile Sierra with a

luggage rack on the trunk. Lee returned home shortly after noon. Lurline could hear Lee drive in the

carport. She heard talking outside. When Lee did not come inside, she went to the door. Lurline saw their

car in the carport and a black guy wearing a cap standing by the driver’s side of their car. Lee was still in

the car. She heard Lee say, “Well, what do you want me to do?” Lee had his hands lifted. Lurline pointed

to and identified Scott at trial at the man that she saw on her carport.

¶5. Lurline testified:
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I opened the door to see what was going on. And I suppose he heard the door

open, because my husband did. And he looked up, and my husband just matter of factly,

like, this is it, you know, and says, “Honey, he’s got a gun.” And the minute – the second

he said that, that boy over there raised that gun and started firing at me. Twice I saw the

fire.

But the minute I saw, I was – I ducked down and shoved the door with my arm

and ran around the corner into the bathroom. I went in there and I locked the door and

called 911. And I just sat on the floor scared death.

¶6. Lurline testified that she saw the pistol. Lurline testified that when Scott raised the pistol to fire

twice at her, she ducked. One of the bullets deflected off of the door as she slammed it causing it to shoot

across the family room through the bedroom wall and into the dresser and mirror. Lurline did not come

out of the bathroom until the police arrived approximately 4-5 minutes later. The police would not allow

her to see her husband. Lurline testified she never saw Lee alive again. Lurline testified that she never saw

Scott before that day, “[b]ut I will remember you as long as I live. You took my husband from me.”

¶7. Robert Haney (Officer Haney) testified that on November 15, 1995, he was employed at the Delta

State University Police Department. On that day, Officer Haney had been in Clarksdale, Mississippi,

investigating a credit card fraud case that had occurred on campus. Officer Haney was driving his campus

patrol car. Over the radio he heard radio traffic concerning a shooting in Boyle. Officer Haney requested

further description of the car. The description provided was a 1990 Oldsmobile Sierra, white in color, with

a luggage rack on the back. Approximately two miles inside of Bolivar County, Mississippi, he noticed a

car that met that description. The driver was a black male wearing a baseball type cap.

¶8. After performing the internal checklist as to what he was supposed to look for, Officer Haney

began pursuit. Officer Haney attempted to get the tag number. He informed Bolivar County that he was

in pursuit. Officer Haney testified that he was doing in the neighborhood of 115 miles an hour with his blue
4

lights running. The car never pulled over, but it did turn off onto Bobo Road. He lost sight of the car, but

he noticed tracks where a car had spun out of control. He followed the tracks and located the car. 

¶9. The car was empty when Officer Haney discovered it. The car was in a field near an abandoned

gin in Bobo. Officer Haney radioed the state police network for assistance. Approximately ten minutes

later, three units from Clarksdale arrived to assist. The tag number was confirmed as being the Lees'

automobile. Later, units from Bolivar County also arrived at the scene.

¶10. Ida Mae Zanders (Zanders) testified that on November 15, 1995, she lived in Bobo, Mississippi.

At around 12:30 or 1:00 p.m. that day, a black male came to her house and asked to use her telephone.

She had never seen him before that day. She testified that she felt strange, but she allowed him to use her

telephone. He identified himself to her as Kevin Scott. She testified that he was acting “funny.” Since he

was a stranger, Zanders testified she continued to hold her butcher knife that she had been using to cook.

¶11. He walked to her back door and saw that she had a car outside. He asked Zanders to drive him

home. She told him that she could not leave because she was waiting on her grandson to get out of school.

Scott thanked her and left. She testified that he had been there for only approximately three minutes.

When he left, she locked her door.

¶12. Doris Ivy (Doris), a resident of Bobo, Mississippi, testified that on November 15, 1995,

approximately between 12:30 and 1:00 p.m., a young man met her as she was coming out of her trailer.

He asked her for a ride. Doris testified that he scared her. He was “sweating.” He asked if he could be

dropped off at the Davenport turn. Doris told him she was not going that way. He had a baseball cap in

his hands. According to Doris, even though it was cool outside, he was not wearing a jacket. He acted

nervous and in a rush to get home.
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¶13. Doris told the man that her husband , Steven Ivy (Steven), might be able to give him a ride. He

knocked on the door. Doris’s husband was in the kitchen. Doris testified that it was approximately 12:45

p.m. Doris was on her way to a meeting. Doris did not leave until her husband came out of the trailer.

She pulled her husband aside to discuss Scott in private. Steven stated he knew Scott identifying him as

“Diane and Parnell’s son.”

¶14. Steven agreed to drive Scott home. Doris and Steven left at the same time. She followed Steven

to the store. Doris noticed all the police cars in the area. As she continued to follow her husband, Doris

saw Lynch turn off of Hwy. 61 and turn on Davenport – Bobo Road in front of her. Doris was in a hurry

to get to her meeting. Lynch was driving extremely slow. Lynch then pulled over to the side of the road.

Doris testified that where Lynch pulled off the road, you had a clear view of the old gin. Doris identified

the car Lynch was driving.

¶15. Steven testified that Zanders was his mother-in-law. Zanders’s house was approximately 15 to

20 feet from his trailer. Steven testified that on November 15, 1995, at approximately 1:00 p.m., Kevin

Scott came to his trailer. Steven testified that he knew Scott and he pointed him out for the record. Scott

wanted a ride home. Scott was sweating. Scott was not wearing a jacket. Steven testified he knew that

Scott had a car and asked him why he needed a ride. Scott told Steven that he needed a ride because his

car was at home. 

¶16. On the way, Steven stated that they stopped at a store because Scott thought his father might be

there. Scott kept looking off to the left toward the gin. There were police cars in the area. Scott never

got out of Steven's car. Steven carried Scott to his house in Davenport. Steven testified that he made a

point of looking to see if Scott’s car was at home. His white Oldsmobile had been wrecked. He let Scott

out approximately 200 yards from his house. On the way back home to Bobo, Steve met Lynch driving
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 Both Doris and Steven identified photographs of a car as being the car driven by Lynch that day.

Steven also identified photographs of Scott’s wrecked car that he saw when he dropped him off at his

house.

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a little brown car. Steven recognized the car as being Scott’s brother’s car.1 Lynch was driving slow. He

was headed toward Davenport.

¶17. Steven testified that he could still see police activity down near the gin on his way back to Bobo.

Police were also still at the store. He stated he saw K-9 units and flashing blue lights. 

¶18. Billy Joe Estes (Estes), chief investigator for the Bolivar County Sheriff’s Department, testified that

on November 15, 1995, he was involved in investigating the shooting that had occurred in Boyle,

Mississippi, at the Lees' residence. He arrived at the Lees' residence around 12:30 p.m. Estes had

officers, Bill Quinton (Quinton) and Murry Roark (Roark) secure the crime scene and collect evidence.

Estes testified that he left looking for the Lees' white 1990 white four door Oldsmobile, tag number BDB

842.

¶19. Estes received information over the radio from Officer Haney with Delta State Police that he had

seen a car fitting the description of the Lee’s car in Bobo, Mississippi. He headed toward Bobo. The car

had been found at an old abandoned gin in Bobo. Units from Coahoma County were already at the scene

when he arrived. K-9 units were called out of Parchman to search.

¶20. The Lees' automobile was found abandoned on the west side of the old gin on an old turn road.

The car door was open. Blood was on the car seat. A Miami Hurricane jacket, the pistol and wallet were

found at the back of the old shop in the gin area. One of the K-9 units discovered the jacket. The .380

automatic pistol was found wrapped inside the jacket. Scott’s driver license was discovered inside on of

the pockets of the bloody jacket. There was also a letter from a girlfriend addressed to Scott and some
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money wrapped in the jacket. The jacket also contained an money envelope from the First National Bank

with bloody fingerprints on it. 

¶21. The driver’s license discovered was issued to Kevin D. Scott, 104 Davenport Road, Third Street,

Clarksdale, Mississippi. Estes furnished that information to the Sheriff of Coahoma County. The Coahoma

County Sheriff and some other officers left for Davenport to look for Scott. Scott was arrested by the

Coahoma County Sheriff’s Office between 2:00 - 2:30 p.m. on November 15, 1995. Estes brought Scott

back to Cleveland from the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Office. 

¶22. Estes took two statements from Scott on November 15, 1995, and Scott signed two

acknowledgment of rights forms. Scott’s acknowledgment of rights form, exhibit 14, had the time marked

at 4:45 p.m. Scott was advised of his rights, and Estes checked off the rights and signed the form. Scott

also signed the form. H. M. Mack Grimmett, Sheriff of Bolivar County, witnessed the rights being read

to Scott.

¶23. Scott was advised of his rights a second time. Scott’s second acknowledgment of rights statement,

exhibit 16, had the time marked as 7:05 p.m. Officer Charlie Griffin, Sheriff Grimmett, Scott’s mother,

Diane Scott (Diane), and stepfather, Parnell Andrews (Andrews), were present when Estes advised Scott

of his rights. Scott signed the second acknowledgment. Estes again checked off the rights and signed the

acknowledgment form along with two witnesses. Estes testified that Scott appeared knowledgeable and

voluntarily acknowledgeable to his rights and signed the acknowledgments. No threats or promises were

made to Scott. 

¶24. Scott identified himself at the first questioning. He denied knowing where Boyle, Mississippi, was

and stated he had only been to Cleveland once with his mother. At the second questioning with his mother

and stepfather present, Scott admitted to being in Cleveland and Boyle on November 15, 1995. He also
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admitted to shooting Lee and shooting at Lee’s wife, Lurline. In his statement, Scott claimed that Lee was

cussing him and he got Lee’s gun away from him and shot Lee and shot at Lurline. He then panicked and

took the car and left. 

¶25. Andrews, Scott’s stepfather, testified the photographs identified as being the car driven by Lynch

on November 15, 1995, belonged to his “other son”, Parnell Scott, Jr. 

¶26. Kenneth Gill (Gill), a latent print examiner with the Mississippi Crime Laboratory in Batesville,

testified he compared the known ink fingerprint card taken from Kevin B. Scott, exhibit 11, to a money

envelope from First National Bank, exhibit 20. Gill found fingerprints on the envelope from First National

Bank using ninhydrin to enhance any latent fingerprints. One latent print of “value” was discovered. By

“value,” the print had enough characteristics to make an identification. When compared to Scott’s ink print,

there was a match to Scott’s left ring fingerprint. 

¶27. Dr. Steven Hayne (Dr. Hayne), the State pathologist, testified as to Lee’s injuries. Dr. Hayne

stated that the cause of death was homicide from a gunshot wound to the left temple of the head. Dr.

Hayne testified that based on the gunshot wound through the brain, Lee would not have been expected to

remain conscious or functional for any period of time after infliction of the would. The bullet went through

the cerebral hemispheres producing a gaping hole through the brain. Pressure from the bleeding did further

damage to the brain. 

¶28. Debbie Haller (Haller), an employee of the Mississippi Crime Laboratory in Jackson, was qualified

by the trial court as an expert in forensic serology and DNA examination. Haller collected and tested a

sample from the stain on the jacket, exhibit 23, car seat corner, exhibit 34, bottom car seat, exhibit 25,

baseball cap, exhibit 35, pair of brown pants, exhibit 22 and a money envelope, exhibit 20. Haller tested

blood samples from Scott, exhibit 37, and Lee, exhibit 28. 
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¶29. Dana Johnson, Mississippi Crime Laboratory in Jackson, had previously testified as the blood

samples. Johnson had been qualified by the trial court as an expert in forensic serology, the examination

of body fluid stains. On cross-examination, Haller testified that based on the seven markers used, the

samples taken from exhibit 20, 22, 23, 25, 34 and 35 did not come from Scott. However, the samples

are consistent with Lee, and therefore, could have come from Lee. 

¶30. Scott raises the following claims for consideration by this Court:

I. WHETHER SCOTT WAS MENTALLY RETARDED SO AS

TO BAR THE DEATH PENALTY.

II. WHETHER SCOTT WAS DENIED HIS RIGHT TO A FAIR

TRIAL WHEN THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO HOLD A

COMPETENCY HEARING.

III. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO

DECLARE SUA SPONTE A MISTRIAL.

IV. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT’S ERROR IN STRIKING

PROSPECTIVE JURORS.

V. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN NOT

STRIKING JURORS.

VI. WHETHER THE PROSECUTION IMPERMISSIBLY PUT

VICTIM IMPACT EVIDENCE INTO THE JURY’S

CONSIDERATION DURING THE GUILT PHASE.

VII. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN NOT GIVING

A LESSER INCLUDED OFFENSE INSTRUCTION.

VIII. WHETHER THE JURY AS THE FINDER OF FACT WAS

ENTITLED TO AN INSTRUCTION PURSUANT TO CRANE

V. KENTUCKY ON THE WEIGHT IT SHOULD AFFORD

SCOTT'S CONFESSION.

IX. WHETHER SCOTT WAS ENTITLED TO JURY

INSTRUCTION ON EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATION.
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X. WHETHER SCOTT WAS ENTITLED TO A JURY

INSTRUCTION THAT FAILING TO STOP LEROY LYNCH

FROM KILLING LEE WAS NOT MURDER AND

CERTAINLY NOT A DEATH ELIGIBLE MURDER.

XI. WHETHER VICTIM IMPACT WAS IMPERMISSIBLY

INFLAMMATORY AND TOO ATTENUATED FOR

PURPOSES OF MEETING EVEN DE MINIMIS DUE

PROCESS.

XII. WHETHER THE PROSECUTION ARGUED THAT THE

JURY SHOULD FOLLOW GOD’S LAW, IN PLACE OF

THE LAW OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND

THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

XIII. WHETHER THE PROSECUTION’S RELIANCE ON

RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY AND OTHER IMPERMISSIBLE

FACTORS DIMINISHED THE JURY’S SENSE OF

RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS SENTENCING

DETERMINATION.

XIV. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN NOT GIVING

A VICTIM IMPACT INSTRUCTION, DEFENSE

INSTRUCTION D1A.

XV. WHETHER TRIAL COURT IMPERMISSIBLY LOWERED

THE BURDEN ON THE PROSECUTION BY A CONFUSING

AND IMPROPER UNANIMITY INSTRUCTION.

XVI. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY FAILING TO

GIVE AN INSTRUCTION WITH THE BURDEN OF PROOF

FOR MITIGATION.

XVII. WHETHER THE AGGRAVATING FACTOR, THAT THE

CAPITAL OFFENSE WAS COMMITTED FOR THE

PURPOSE OF AVOIDING OR PREVENTING A LAWFUL

ARREST IS AGAINST THE OVERWHELMING WEIGHT

OF EVIDENCE.

XVIII. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN INSTRUCTING

THE JURY THEY COULD NOT CONSIDER SYMPATHY.
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XIX. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ALLOWING

THE STATE TO INTRODUCE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE

VICTIM.

XX. WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT IMPERMISSIBLY

RETURNED THE JURY TO DELIBERATE AFTER IT

RETURNED A VERDICT LESS THAN DEATH.

XXI. WHETHER THE PROSECUTION MISSTATED THE LAW

TO THE JURY, INFRINGING ON SCOTT’S RIGHT TO

HAVE HIS JURY CONSIDER MITIGATING EVIDENCE.

XXII. WHETHER MISSISSIPPI’S STATUTE, WHICH EXCLUDES

PROSPECTIVE JURORS WHO ARE, FOR ANY REASON,

UNABLE TO COMPLETE A JURY QUESTIONNAIRE, IS

UNCONSTITUTIONAL ON ITS FACE AND AS APPLIED TO

SCOTT.

XXIII. WHETHER DISCRIMINATION IN PROSECUTION

OCCURRED BASED ON THE RACE OF THE VICTIM AND

RACE OF OFFENDER.

XXIV. WHETHER AT LEAST ONE INVALID AGGRAVATING

CIRCUMSTANCE WOULD REQUIRE THIS COURT TO

REMAND FOR A NEW CAPITAL SENTENCING

PROCEEDING.

XXV. WHETHER ERRORS TAKEN TOGETHER ARE CAUSE

FOR REVERSAL.

XXVI. WHETHER THE IMPOSITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY

WAS EXCESSIVE OR DISPROPORTIONATE IN THIS

CASE.

LEGAL ANALYSIS

I. Mental Retardation

¶31. Scott alleges that he is mentally retarded and that under Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304, 122

S.Ct. 2242, 153 L.Ed.2d 335 (2002), his sentence of the death penalty is barred as prohibited by the

Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The United States Supreme Court stated in Atkins:
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To the extent there is serious disagreement about the execution of mentally retarded

offenders, it is in determining which offenders are in fact retarded. In this case, for

instance, the Commonwealth of Virginia disputes that Atkins suffers from mental

retardation. Not all people who claim to be mentally retarded will be so impaired as to fall

within the range of mentally retarded offenders about whom there is a national consensus.

As was our approach in Ford v. Wainwright, with regard to insanity, "we leave to the

State[s] the task of developing appropriate ways to enforce the constitutional restriction

upon its execution of sentences." 477 U.S. 399, 405, 416-17, 106 S.Ct. 2595, 91

L.Ed.2d 335 (1986).

Atkins, 536 U.S. at 317, 122 S.Ct. at 2250.

¶32. The State contends that Scott bears the burden of proving he is mentally retarded. Under

Mississippi law, the State does not bear the burden of proof when a question of competency arises. See

Emanuel v. State, 412 So.2d 1187, 1188 (Miss. 1982) ("it naturally devolves upon the defendant to go

forward with the evidence to show his probable incapacity to make a rational defense."). See also

Medina v. California, 505 U.S. 437, 445, 112 S.Ct. 2572, 2577, 120 L.Ed.2d 353 (1992) (the United

States Supreme Court concluded that the allocation of the burden of proof to a criminal defendant to

establish does not violate his constitutional rights). The State draws the analogy to the burden of proof

when a defendant claims incompetency to that of mental retardation, citing State v. Dunn, 831 So.2d 862,

883-85 (La. 2002) (finding that the State does not bear the burden of proof as to questions of mental

retardation, it should be handled as in the same manner as questions of competency); State v. Lott, 779

N.E.2d 1011, 1015-16 (Ohio 2002) (applied Medina burden of proof analysis for competency to

question of mental retardation); Morrison v. State, 583 S.E.2d 873, 878-79 (Ga. 2003) (Georgia statute

requiring the defendant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence mental retardation, not

unconstitutional).
2

 As a footnote to Scott's brief, he notes that in 1992 at age 14 his I.Q. was tested for purposes

of his unsuccessful attempt to obtain social security benefits. The I.Q. score was 48. Scott's own expert,

Dr. Tetlow, disputed the validity of that test. According to the evaluator who conducted the 1992 test, the

I.Q. test did not yield valid results due to Scott's malingering.

In fact, Scott's own brief states that, "while the validity of the test may be suspect, the test was

relied upon, in part as back up for the State's expert during the penalty phase." However, the record does

not reflect that the State's expert, Dr. Lott, relied upon the test. The record only reflects that Dr. Lott

reviewed the 1992 report. Both Dr. Tetlow and Dr. Lott performed I.Q. tests on Scott in 1998 when

Scott was age 20, and both assessed his I.Q. to be substantially higher than the 1992 report reflected.

Both Dr. Tetlow and Dr. Lott noted a lack of cooperation by Scott to produce an

accurate test result.

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¶33. The United States Supreme Court noted that "[t]he statutory definitions of mental retardation are

not identical, but generally conform to the clinical definitions set forth in n. 3 supra," Id. at 317 n. 22, 122

S.Ct 2242, as stated below:

The American Association of Mental Retardation (AAMR) defines mental retardation as

follows: "Mental retardation refers to substantial limitations in present

functioning. It is characterized by significantly subaverage intellectual functioning existing

concurrently with related limitations in two or more of the following applicable adaptive

skill areas: communication, self-care, home living, social skills,

community use, self-direction, health and safety, functional academics,

leisure, and work. Mental retardation manifests before age 18." Mental Retardation:

Definition, Classification, and Systems of Supports 5 (9th ed.1992). The American

Psychiatric Association's definition is similar: "The essential feature of Mental Retardation

is significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning (Criterion A) that is

accompanied by significant limitations in adaptive functioning in at least

two of the following skill areas: communication, self-care, home living,

social/interpersonal skills, use of community resources, self-direction,

functional academic skills, work, leisure, health and safety (Criterion B).

The onset must occur before age 18 years (Criterion C). Mental Retardation has many

different etiologies and may be seen as a final common pathway of various pathological

processes that affect the functioning of the central nervous system." American Psychiatric

Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 41 (4th ed.2000). 

Atkins, 536 U.S. at 308 n.3, 122 S.Ct. at 2245 n.3 (emphasis added).

¶34. The argument made by Scott to support his claim of being mentally retarded is based on the

testimony of Dr. Mulry Tetlow (Dr. Tetlow), that Scott had an I.Q. (intelligence quotient) of 60.2
14

¶35. The trial court accepted Dr. Tetlow as a clinical psychologist and as a diagnostician. Dr. Tetlow

testified that based on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Test he administered, Scott yielded an I.Q. score

of 60. However, Dr. Tetlow testified that in his opinion, Scott was functioning in a "higher probability

borderline retardation rather than mentally retarded." As to the 1992 test administered to Scott for

purposes of the social security application, which yielded an I.Q. of 48, Dr. Tetlow stated, "[I]t was

completely inadequate that Kevin [Scott] obviously had a higher I.Q. than was measured."

¶36. On cross-examination by the State, Dr. Tetlow testified that Scott was functioning in general at the

borderline range of intelligence which is 70 to 79. The State argues that borderline intellectual functioning

is not mentally retarded. Borderline intellectual functioning "describes an IQ range that is higher than

that for Mental Retardation (generally 71-84)." APA, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental

Disorders Fourth Edition (hereinafter "DSM-IV") at 45 (emphasis added). 

¶37. Dr. Tetlow testified that during an interview with Scott, Scott claimed that he had no memory of

killing someone and all that he knew was that his mother told him that he had told her that he had hurt

someone. After a heated exchange on cross-examination, Dr. Tetlow stated that Scott was probably lying

to him about his memory of events. Dr. Tetlow found the most likely explanation was that Scott did

remember but claimed he did not remember. During his first involvement with Scott and before

administering any tests, Dr. Tetlow did not talk with any member of Scott's family or read any witness

statements. The only other person Dr. Tetlow spoke with was Scott's attorney. 

¶38. The State called William Cris Lott, Ph.D. (Dr. Lott), clinical psychologist and clinical director of

Baptist Health Systems in Jackson, Mississippi, as an expert. Prior to being employed at Baptist Health

Systems, Dr. Lott was the director of forensic outpatient service at the Mississippi State Hospital. The trial

court accepted Dr. Lott as being an expert in the field of clinical and forensic psychology. 
15

¶39. Dr. Lott saw Scott in July of 1998. Dr. Lott had Scott's 1992 test, several police reports, Scott's

school records and Dr. Tetlow's test report. Dr. Lott talked with Scott's mother, Diane Scott, his girlfriend,

Valerie, and Deputy Roark. Dr. Lott testified that Scott was very uncooperative, resistant

to testing and gave inconsistent statements. According to Dr. Lott, uncooperativeness could be

a characteristic of malingering which is by definition grossly exaggerating or fabricating information. One

reason for malingering could be for the purpose of avoiding arrest or evading prosecution and incarceration.

Scott's girlfriend told Dr. Lott that Scott was reasonably well-liked at school, was not seen as an aggressive

or violent person at school and was very caring and loving with their child. In his free time, Scott watched

movies and played Nintendo.

¶40. Dr. Lott observed that Scott had the word "Kevin" tattooed across his chest, and the word

"psycho" with a Jason mask underneath it tattooed on his right leg. 

¶41. When questioned on cross-examination, Dr. Tetlow did not know what the term ecological validity

meant. Dr. Lott testified that ecological validity basically is whether the test results are consistent with a

person's behaviors, activities or abilities to provide and care for themselves. According to Dr. Lott, this

also is a key component of testing an individual's capacity. Dr. Lott also administered the Wechsler Adult

Intelligence Test to Scott which produced a full scale I.Q. of 73. 

¶42. Dr. Lott further stated that he generally uses the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-II

(MMPI-II), as an objective pencil and paper test that has several scales to measure malingering or faking

good and faking bad. He testified that he was unable to complete the MMPI-II in this case, "because Mr.

Scott was unwilling to participate." 

¶43. In his opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part in Russell v. State, 849 So.2d 95, 148

(Miss. 2003), Then-Presiding Justice Smith wrote "[c]learly, I.Q. alone is not determinative of
16

whether...any person is mentally retarded." Id., 849 So.2d at 150. In Russell, the Court accepted

Justice Smith's position that in considering Atkins, the MMPI-II should be administered. Id. at 148.

According to Dr. Lott, Scott refused to complete the MMPI-II. 

¶44. As alluded to by Dr. Lott's testimony and in Justice Smith's concurring in part and dissenting in part

opinion in Russell, there is more to establishing mental retardation than a low I.Q. "[A] diagnosis of

mental retardation requires more than a low I.Q. score, as inability to function adaptively in society also is

necessary." In re Holladay, 331 F.3d 1169, 1175 n.3 (11th Cir. 2003). 

¶45. The State argues that Scott does not specifically allege how or in what areas his adaptive

functioning is supposedly impaired. He only makes the general statement that "the uncontroverted

testimony showed serious limitations in his adaptive skills." The State contends that this is completely

inaccurate and submits that the record is replete with examples of Scott's excellent adaptive skills:

1. The facts of this crime indicate that Scott had more than adequate adaptive skills.

He premeditated the crime. He went to another town to commit the crime, in

order to keep from being recognized and to avoid suspicion. Also, Scott chose

to steal a car that looked identical to his car that he had wrecked on the previous

day. He fled from the police. He hid evidence. He managed to find a way home

from Bobo when things did not go as he had planned. After he was caught, he lied

to authorities.

2. Scott's expert, Dr. Tetlow, stated that Scott's various tales about the facts of the

crime were an attempt not to get caught with what he did and not to be punished.

Dr. Lott also noted that Scott attempted to avoid prosecution and/or incarceration

by telling inconsistent stories to the authorities. 

3. The record reflects that Scott carried on an adult relationship with a girlfriend, and

he was a good father to his child. Dr. Lott testified that Scott's girlfriend, Valerie,

stated she saw Scott daily. She described him as a loving, gentle father to their

child. Scott's mother, Diane, testified that Scott took care of his three-year-old

child, before he got into trouble.

4. According to Dr. Lott, Scott told him that prior to the crime, he spent his free time

playing Nintendo and watching movies.

5. Scott had a driver's license. Scott obviously possessed the ability to drive.
3The Chase hearing to be conducted by the trial court explores whether the defendant is mentally

retarded and, thus, exempt from the death penalty.

17

6. Scott testified that his mother trusted him with money and sent him to pay bills for

her. Scott also testified that he was passing the eleventh grade at the time of the

crime.

¶46. This Court finds that the proof in this record does not support Scott's claim of being mentally

retarded as to require remand to the trial court for an Atkins hearing. At the time of Scott’s trial in

October, 1998, there existed no constitutional prohibition from executing mentally retarded criminals. Four

years later, while Scott’s appeal was pending before this Court, the United States Supreme Court handed

down Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304, 122 S.Ct. 2242, 153 L.Ed.2d 335 (2002), which held that

execution of mentally retarded criminals violates the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

¶47. In response to Atkins, we recently handed down Chase v. State, 2004 WL 1118688 (Miss.

2004), in which we set forth the criteria and procedure to be used both in applying for, and conducting,

a hearing3 for a determination of mental retardation. For criminal defendants who file applications for postconviction relief subsequent to Chase, a defendant must provide “an affidavit from at least one expert .

. . who opines, to a reasonable degree of certainty, that: (1) the defendant has a combined Intelligence

Quotient (“IQ”) of 75 or below, and; (2) in the opinion of the expert, there is a reasonable basis to believe

that, upon further testing, the defendant will be found to be mentally retarded, as defined [in the Chase

opinion].” Id. 

¶48. For direct appeals and applications for post-conviction relief which were already pending before

this Court at the time Chase was handed down, we have ordered a Chase hearing without requiring an
4We found no reason to require a defendant to provide us with an affidavit which restated an

opinion already contained in the record before us.

18

affidavit, where the record before us reflected a qualified opinion that the defendant was mentally retarded.4

¶49. In the case sub judice, Scott directs us to the testimony of Dr. Tetlow, who stated that Scott had

an IQ of 60. However, Dr. Tetlow did not offer any opinion that Scott was mentally retarded. Instead,

he testified that Scott functioned in the range of borderline retardation which, "describes an IQ range that

is higher than that for Mental Retardation (generally 71-84)." See APA, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual

of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition. 

¶50. Thus, on the record before us, Scott has not established that he is entitled to an Chase hearing.

However, should Scott provide the appropriate affidavit which complies with the requirements set forth in

Chase as an attachment to an application for post conviction relief, pursuant to the Mississippi Uniform

Post-Conviction Collateral Relief Act, Miss. Code Ann. §§ 99-39-1 et seq., he could be entitled to a

hearing as provided in Chase. 

¶51. As no qualified expert testified that Scott was mentally retarded, we find this issue to be without

merit.

II. Competency

¶52. Scott argues that the trial court erred by failing to conduct a competency hearing sua sponte

following the impaneling of the jury despite his erratic behavior. During the course of the trial, Scott

allegedly complained of voices in his head, tore at his skin and acted in a “deranged” manner. In addition,

Scott complains that the trial court applied the incorrect legal standard to determine competency. Scott

claims that being placed in solitary confinement during the beginning of the trial instead of with the general
5

 UCCCR 9.06 for the competency of a defendant states the following:

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

ground to believe that the defendant is incompetent to stand trial, the court shall order the defendant

to submit to a mental examination by some competent psychiatrist selected by the court in accordance

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

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

competent to stand trial. After hearing all the evidence, the court shall weigh the evidence and make

a determination of whether the defendant is competent to stand trial. If the court finds that the

defendant is competent to stand trial, then the court shall make the finding a matter of record and the

case will then proceed to trial. If the court finds that the defendant is incompetent to stand trial, then

the court shall commit the defendant to the Mississippi State Hospital or other appropriate mental

health facility. The order of commitment shall require that the defendant be examined and a written

report be furnished to the court every four calendar months, stating:

A. Whether there is a substantial probability that the defendant will become

mentally competent to stand trial within the foreseeable future; and

B. Whether progress toward that goal is being made.

 The defendant's attorney, as the defendant's representative, shall not waive any hearing

authorized by this rule, but is authorized to consent, on behalf of the defendant, to necessary surgical

19

population exacerbated his competency or lack thereof, impaired his ability to aid in his own defense and

denied him a fair trial under the Mississippi Constitution and the Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments.

¶53. In Snow v. State, 800 So.2d 472, 489 (Miss. 2001), this Court held:

The standard for competence to stand trial is whether the defendant has "sufficient present

ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding" and

"has a rational as well as factual understanding of the proceedings against him." Dusky v.

United States, 362 U.S. 402, 80 S.Ct. 788, 4 L.Ed.2d 824 (1960). 

This Court in Snow further relied upon Emanuel v. State, 412 So.2d 1187, 1188-89 (Miss. 1982)

which sets forth the procedures for a competency hearing. 

When the trial court has made a finding that the evidence does not show a probability that

the defendant is incapable of making a rational defense, we will not overturn that finding

unless we can say, from the evidence, that the finding was manifestly against the

overwhelming weight of the evidence. The evidence must show more than a possibility that

defendant is incompetent to stand trial-the evidence must go further until it appears to the

trial court that there is a probability that defendant is incapable of making a rational

defense. In this initial inquiry, the trial judge must weigh the evidence and be the trier of the

facts. Emanuel, 412 So.2d at 1189.

Snow, 800 So.2d at 490 (citing Emanuel, 412 So.2d at 1189). In addition, the Uniform Circuit and

County Court Rule 9.065 set forth the actions that a trial court must perform in matters of competency. 
or medical treatment and procedures. If at any time during such commitment, the court decides, after

a hearing, that the defendant is competent to stand trial, it shall enter its order so finding and declaring

the defendant competent to stand trial, after which the court shall proceed to trial.

If at any time during such commitment, the proper official at the Mississippi State Hospital

or other appropriate mental health facility shall consider that the defendant is competent to stand trial,

such official shall promptly notify the court of that effect in writing, and place the defendant in the

custody of the sheriff. The court shall then proceed to conduct a hearing on the competency of the

defendant to stand trial. If the court finds the defendant is not competent to stand trial, it shall order

the defendant committed as provided above. If the court finds the defendant is competent to stand

trial, then the case shall proceed to trial.

If within a reasonable period of time after commitment under the provisions of this rule, there

is neither a determination that there is substantial probability that the defendant will become mentally

competent to stand trial nor progress toward that goal, the judge shall order that civil proceedings as

provided in §§ 41-21-61 to 41-21-107 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 be instituted. Said proceedings

shall proceed notwithstanding that the defendant has criminal charges pending against him/her. The

defendant shall remain in custody until determination of the civil proceedings.

20

¶54. On October 16, 1998, the trial court issued an order concerning Scott’s competency to stand trial.

According to the order Scott previously filed a notice of a special plea of incompetency to stand trial on

June 9, 1998. Part of the notice included a psychological report performed by Dr. Tetlow. 

¶55. Dr. Tetlow’s conclusion, at that time, was that Scott was unable to assist his attorney with his

defense but with time and treatment Scott may be able to assist his attorney. The report was dated March

12, 1998. Thereafter, the trial court conducted a hearing on June 19, 1998, ordering a mental examination

and a supplemental order followed requiring a mental examination on July 16, 1998, by Dr. Lott, a

psychologist, as to Scott's competency to stand trial. On July 29, 1998, the trial court received Dr. Lott's

report.

¶56. Dr. Lott concluded that Scott did have the capacity to confer with his attorney, understand the

proceedings against him, assist his attorney, appreciate the criminality of the actions, understand and

knowingly and intelligently waive or assert his rights, and that he was not suffering from a mental illness at

the time of the acts. Considering Dr. Lott’s report and the other evidence before him, the trial judge ruled

that Scott was mentally competent to stand trial.
21

¶57. It is from these events and ruling that the trial began on October 19, 1998. The first day of trial,

however, the trial court addressed defense counsel’s request to cross-examine Dr. Lott. The trial judge

also gave a synopsis of the events leading to trial and stated:

The Court is now entertaining a matter regarding the defendant’s competence to stand trial.

Let me say at the onset that back in May, or thereabouts, defense counsel stated that he

would not be entering a plea of insanity, but he thereafter did file a motion entitled “Special

Plea of Incompetency to Stand Trial.” Mr. Wong submitted to the Court a report of a Dr.

Tetlow out of New Orleans, Louisiana....

The Court conducted a hearing and thereafter ordered additional reports in order - a

report from Dr. Lott, who’s here from the State of Mississippi. And after receiving all of

the evaluations and reports, etcetera, the Court entered an order after not having received

a request from either the District Attorney of [sic] defense counsel for a further hearing on

this matter. It is my understanding that Mr. Wong [defense counsel] wishes in some way

to - and at some point to cross-examine Dr. Lott. 

Defense counsel asked for a follow-up hearing on the matter on October 16, 1998. The trial court heard

arguments and ruled:

All right. Well, again, the Court insists that there has been a competency hearing,

and the Court recognizes that Dr. Lott was not here for purposes of cross-examination.

But to act out of an abundance of caution, when Dr. Lott does arise, Mr.

Wong - does arrive, Mr. Wong the Court will allow you, in some manner,

to question; that is cross-examine Dr. Lott, and this matter will be

reconsidered. The competency decision that the Court has made based on information

already available to the Court will incorporate that cross-examination into the record, it will

consider it along with other matters that Court has before it, to make the determination as

to whether the defendant is competent to stand trial.

I cannot defer this trial....

(emphasis added). 

¶58. Voir dire commenced and indeed the proceedings were stopped a number of times and

discussions occurred in the judge’s chambers concerning Scott’s behavior. Each time the record reflects

that the trial judge had discussions in chambers with Scott present. 
22

¶59. When voir dire was completed and testimony began, the trial court noted Scott’s improved

behavior on the record and outside the presence of the jury. Later, when a witness testified concerning

Scott’s confession, Scott interrupted the proceedings. The trial judge had discussions in his chambers and

outside the presence of the jury. During this time, Scott complained to the trial court that his problem was

the fact that he was in solitary confinement. The trial court ordered Scott taken out of solitary confinement.

Scott's attorney noted Scott's improvement the next morning. Indeed, the trial judge later stated on the

record:

The defendant informed the Court informally that the basis for his problem was the place

where he had slept the night - or nights before did not lend itself to his maintaining his

composure during the course of the day. He asked to be put in the general population; that

is, among other inmates in this jail facility here at the Bolivar County Jail in Cleveland.

And the Court asked the sheriff to facilitate the defendant’s request.

The record contains references to occasions where Scott conferred with his attorney during the trial. 

¶60. On October 23, 1998, the trial court had another competency hearing and heard testimony from

Dr. Tetlow and Dr. Lott. Dr. Tetlow changed his earlier opinion and stated that Scott could

stand trial. Likewise, Dr. Lott stated that the new information did not change his finding that Scott could

stand trial. The trial court ruled: 

The Court: We’re still in chambers outside the presence of the jury. And the

defendant, his attorney and the prosecuting attorneys are all present.

The Court has entertained reports - has previously entertained reports

regarding defendant’s competency to stand trial; and this morning the

Court entertained additional evidence by way of testimony of both Dr.

Tetlow and Dr. Lott.

The Court took a recess to reflect on what its ruling would be, and the

Court has prepared its ruling, which it is now about to make. Heretofore,

an issue arose as to the defendant’s competence to stand trial to thereby

assist his attorney with his defense.
23

At the request of defense counsel, the Honorable Raymond Wong, the

defendant was allowed to submit to mental examination with Dr. L. Mulry

Tetlow. A report of that examination was provided to the Court. A

competency hearing was held, but no decision was made at that time.

The court, on its own motion, ordered that the defendant be further

examined by Dr. William Chris Lott. After receiving that report, the Court

found the defendant to be competent to stand trial. But on a day prior to

trial, one workday before trial defense counsel asked to exercise the

defendant’s right to cross-examine Dr. Lott.

The Court responded by saying that the defendant may exercise that right,

but the trial shall proceed as scheduled on October 19, 1998, that it wold

be sometime during the course of the trial before Dr. Lott could and would

arrive, and upon his arrival in court, Mr. Wong could cross-examine him;

Dr. Lott, before the trial was completed.

Now, pursuant to the Uniform Circuit and County Court rule 9.06, a

competency hearing was again held this morning, October 23rd, 1998,

wherein both Dr. Tetlow and Dr. Lott testified as to the defendant’s

competence.

Dr. Tetlow stated that, as he reported previously, the defendant could not

adequately assist counsel with his defense on the date of the report in

March of 1998, but in time, he may become able to do so; that it is his

present opinion that the defendant is competent to stand trial and assist his

counsel with his defense. 

Dr. Lott testified that it is his opinion that the defendant is competent to

stand trial and assist his counsel with his defense.

After hearing all the evidence, including medical reports,

testimony, etcetera on the defendant’s competence to stand

trial as of October 19th , 1998, and after observing the

defendant’s demeanor for and during the course of the trial,

the Court has weighed the evidence and does hereby make

the determination that the defendant was competent to assist

his counsel and stand trial on October 19th, 1998, and that he

remains competent in those regards.

(emphasis added).
24

¶61. We find that a review of the record shows a discrepancy with Scott’s assertions that there was no

competency hearing following the impaneling of the jury. First, the record shows that Scott had two

competency hearings, one before trial and one before the State rested its case-in-chief. In the first hearing,

the trial court made a determination that Scott was competent before trial was set to begin. The second

hearing was conducted during the trial. The trial court relied in part upon the testimony of both Scott’s

expert, Dr. Tetlow, and the State’s expert, Dr. Lott, that he was competent to stand trial. Therefore,

Scott’s assertion that the trial court failed to hold a competency hearing is a misstatement of the record. 

¶62. As to whether the trial court applied the correct standard of review, this Court finds that this issue

was not raised during the trial. Indeed, the trial court gave an extensive order concerning Scott’s

competency before trial. Some of the specifics of the order are cited above. Then, at trial a second

competency hearing was conducted on October 23, 1998. The trial court gave a detailed on the record

ruling which is also cited above and in compliance with UCCCR 9.06. The rule requires that a hearing

be conducted after an examination is performed and that the trial court, considering all the evidence, makes

a determination as to competency and places the findings in the record. This was done by the trial judge

as evidence by the ruling cited above. In fact, the trial judge referenced Rule 9.06 in his decision. We

cannot say that the ruling was manifestly against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. The trial judge

considered such things as: expert testimony, Scott’s behavior, and medical reports. This issue is also

without merit.

¶63. Scott also claims that being placed in solitary confinement was unconstitutional and interfered with

his right to trial. This Court finds that the defense never raised this issue during trial and is therefore

procedurally barred from raising it on appeal. “[H]eightened appellate scrutiny in death penalty cases does

not require abandonment of our contemporaneous objection rule which applies with equal force to death
25

cases. For many years this Court has held that trial errors cannot be raised in this Court for the first time

on appeal.” Williams v. State, 684 So.2d 1179, 1203 (Miss. 1996). “If no contemporaneous objection

is made, the error, if any, is waived. This rule's applicability is not diminished in a capital case.” Cole v.

State, 525 So.2d 365, 368 (Miss. 1988) (citations omitted).

¶64. While he did not raise at trial that his solitary confinement was unconstitutional, Scott did express

to the trial court outside the presence of the jury that his behavior was caused by being held in solitary

confinement. Once Scott expressed his concerns to the trial court, he was removed from solitary

confinement. Two experts testified as to Scott's competency. In conclusion, we find that there is ample

evidence to support that Scott was competent to stand trial. Also, as to Scott's claim on appeal that being

in solitary confinement affected his ability to prepare for trial, this Court finds that it is without merit.

III. Opening Statement

¶65. Scott contends that his trial counsel admitted to the charge and aggravating factor of robbery,

therefore, de facto, pleaded him guilty in the opening statement. Based on the alleged admission Scott

argues that the trial judge should have sua sponte declared a mistrial. Scott's trial counsel, R. L. Wong

(Wong), is also Scott's counsel on appeal making this argument. In effect, Wong is making an ineffective

assistance of counsel argument that he sabotaged Scott's trial without raising ineffective assistance of

counsel as an issue. Wong does not cite any authority to support an ineffective assistance argument.

¶66. The record reflects the following opening statement:

[W]hat we expect the evidence to show is that Mr. Scott was at Mr. and Mrs.

Lee's house in Boyle on the 15th of November, 1995, at about, say a little before noon.

What we expect the evidence to show is that Mr. Scott stayed in the car.

And this car that we're talking about that he came to Cleveland in was a two-door gold

Chrysler Lager automobile, which was his brother's car.
26

At that time, while they were in the driveway of Mr. Lee's home, Mr. Lynch got

out. Unbeknown to my client, Mr. Lynch had a pistol, which was, I think,

a .380 automatic.

There is a distance from the beginning of the driveway to the garage. The house

faces -- is on Lee Avenue and faces north. The garage isn't built into the side of the house,

it goes, and you have to drive into the side. It is on the east side of the house. The view

from the -- where the driveway begins and to the garage you cannot see because of this

turning in at right angles.

As Mr. Scott was listening to the music, he heard some shots, he got

out. He walked toward the garage. When he walked toward the garage,

he saw Mr. Lynch coming back towards him. 

He gave him a gun, which was the .380, he gave him a baseball cap, and he gave

him the keys to Mr. Lee's car, and he told him to go get the car.

As he was going toward the garage, unknowing what happened at that time, and as he

turned in, Mr. Lynch had gotten into the two-door gold Lager automobile

and had driven off. Mr. Scott was now at Mr. Lee's residence. Mr. Lee is

now lying on the ground.

He did not know anyone. Being scared, he got into the white

Oldsmobile car and left, and then drove north on Highway 61.

The evidence will show that Mr. Scott did not know what was going

to happen at Mr. Lee's residence. When he found out about the gun was when Mr.

Lynch gave it to him and told him to get rid of it. And he went and -- to get the car.

The evidence will show that he knows [sic] Leroy Lynch for some period of time.

The evidence will show that as he left and went to Bobo, he did put his coat -- and I think

his wallet was in there -- under a -- an abandoned building. I think also the .380 automatic

pistol was there, too.

The evidence will show that he took the baseball cap with him. The evidence will

also show that he went back to Davenport. He got a ride from, I think, a Mr. Ivy, after

asking Ms. Ivy in Bobo for a ride. The evidence will show that Mr. Lynch wore a baseball

cap. The evidence will show that this baseball cap was turned over to the Sheriff's

department by Ms. Diane Scott, the mother.

The evidence will show that my client did not shoot at Mrs. Lee at her home. The

evidence will show that my client did not shoot and kill Mr. Richard [Lee]. The evidence

will show that he was arrested approximately on the same day or a few hours later.

Evidence will show that two statements were given to the Bolivar County Sheriff's

Department. The evidence will show that the first statement was not true, that he had

never been to Cleveland. The second statement, that he -- that he had shot and killed Mr.

Lee, is also not true.

The evidence will show why did he -- would he confess or make a statement that

he had committed the crime. Mr. -- the evidence will show that un- -- or that Mr. Scott

believed Mr. Lynch when he said, "We won't get into any trouble," that "You are young,

they won't come after you. Just keep me out of it." And that's the reason why he told the

police that.
27

The evidence will show that he did not commit the crime of capital murder and the

crime of aggravated assault.

(emphasis added).

¶67. At trial, the version of facts testified to by Scott on his direct examination placed blame on Lynch

for bringing the gun, going to the Lee's residence, shooting Lee, and shooting at Lurline. According to

Scott, Lynch left him at the Lee's residence with the keys to lee's car and with not other way to leave. The

defense's opening statement is virtually identical to the testimony later provided by Scott at trial. The record

reflects the following exchange:

Defense [Wong]: Mr. Scott, I want to call your attention back to November the

15th of 1995 in the Davenport area. It's the morning of the 15th.

When did you and Leroy Lynch get together? About what time?

Scott: Well, about 9:00 or something like that.

Defense: In the morning?

Scott: Yes.

Defense: All right. And what was the purpose for you and Mr. Lynch

getting together?

Scott: That early morning, I had got some money from my mother. And

she had told me to pay some bills and stuff. Just before I had

came out the door, he had called me and told me to come pick

him up.

Defense: All right. And was that in a First National Bank envelope?

Scott: Yes.

Defense: Some cash money?

Scott: Yes.

Defense: All right. And did you have a coat on?

Scott: Yes.

Defense: What kind of coat was it?

Scott: Miami.

Defense: I beg your pardon? A University of Miami coat?

Scott: Yes.

Defense: All right. I think it was orange, green, and white?

Scott: Yes.

Defense: Did you have any type of cap on?

Scott: No.

Defense: And where did you pick up Mr. Lynch?

Scott: He told me to come pick him up at the project.
28

Defense: All right. Now, what kind of car were you driving then?

Scott: A little gold-colored car....

Defense: You picked up Mr. Lynch in the gold car at the projects. What

did ya'll do then?

Scott: At first, I had paid some bills before I had when and picked him

up. And then, I picked him up. Then he asked me to take him to

Cleveland....

Defense: [W]here was your coat?

Scott: On the armrest in the car....

Defense: Who was wearing the black baseball cap?

Scott: He had on the cap once he came out of the house.

Defense: Whose house? His house?

Scott: His house it was....

Defense: Whose idea was it to come -- to come to Cleveland?

Scott: His idea. I didn't ask no questions, because he's my friend or

whatever.... And then, after the gas was pumped or whatever, he

asked me to drive. So I came around the passenger's side of the

car and laid the seat all the way back, and he drove the car down

to Cleveland....

Defense: And who had the Miami Hurricane Coat?

Scott: He had it on....

Defense: He didn't take it off after he got through pumping gas, you

know.... [Y]ou said Leroy was driving the car to Cleveland?

Scott: Yes.

Defense: What happened when ya'll got to Cleveland?

Scott: He came to Jitney Jungle's. And while I had my seat still laid

back, he parked, got out of the car, went in the store for about

two to three minutes, I guess, and then he came back and got in

the car.... I was still laying down in the seat, so -- he came back

and got in the car and then got back on the highway....

Defense: And did he ever stop anywhere else?

Scott: No....

Defense: Did he stop the car at Mr. Lee's house?

Scott: After we came from there --

Defense: Was that Jitney Jungle?

Scott: Yes.... He got back on the highway. I could hardly see, noway,

you know, because I had my seat laid down. So the car had

pulled up to a stop again, so at that time, whatever, he got out of

the car....

Defense: Now, when he got out of the --

Scott: At --

Defense: Go ahead.

Scott: Mr. Lee's house.... That was the other time he had stopped....
29

Defense: When he got out of the car, what were you doing?

Scott: Still laid back in the seat playing with the radio....

Defense: What happened after -- where you were at, could you see the

inside of the garage?

Scott: No. I -- like, the driveway was right here.... And then the garage

was, like, around that way. And how he had it parked, it was

close to the road there....

Defense: Now, after you heard the shots, what did you do then?

Scott: I jumped up out of the seat, opened the door, came around the

car....

Defense: And where were you going?

Scott: To see what was going on....

Defense: And were you headed toward the garage?

Scott: Yes, I was about two or three steps in front of the car....

Defense: And that's the gold car, right?

Scott: Yes.

Defense: What happened when you were in front of the gold car?...

Scott: Leroy came back out of the garage way.... Ran out of the garage

way, and then he seen me and started pacing, like, really slow....

Defense: [W]hat happened then?

Scott: He seen me, he came to a pace, and then he started taking off my

coat, then he gave me his hat. He took off the coat, right, and put

it in my hand, then he took off his hat, put it on top of my coat.

Then he had some keys in his hand.

Defense: All right. And were you told by someone to get the car?

Scott: Yes. After he gave me all that stuff, he said, "Get in the car," just

like that.... So at that point, I didn't know what was going on,

really. I heard some shots, so I was going to go and see what

was going on, but -- so he gave me all that stuff and was walking

back towards the car, so I had --

Defense: Who was walking back towards the car? Which car?

Scott: Leroy was walking back towards the gold car....

Defense: And where were you headed?

Scott: I was, like, at the – coming up to the corner of the garage.

Defense: All right.

Scott: And then I had seen Mr. Lee laying on the ground.... And then

I was just shocked, I guess, because when I -- then I turned back

-- turned back and looked to see where he was at or whatever.

Defense: When you're talking about "he," who are you talking about?

Scott: I looked back to see where Leroy was at or whatever. He had

hopped in my car and left. He pulled off real fast.

Defense: What did you do then?

Scott: After I looked back?
30

Defense: Yeah.

Scott: The car was pulling off. And then I was still shocked from seeing

Mr. Lee laying there on the ground....

Defense: Did you shoot Mr. Lee?

Scott: No.

Defense: Did you ever shoot at Mrs. Lee?

Scott: No. I didn't do none of that.

Defense: After you were panicked and you were there by yourself, what

did you do then?

Scott: I had throwed all the stuff he had gave me back, and then --

Defense: Where did -- where did you put it?

Scott: After all that had went on or whatever, I had -- because the car

door was still open on Lee's car.... His car door was open, so

after all that had went on or whatever, I had throwed everything

he gave me in the car, plus the keys that to -- he had gave me,

too.

Defense: At that time, did you know that -- did you ever know before this

shooting that Leroy Lynch had a pistol -- or a gun?

Scott: No, I didn't know he had no pistol. That's how come I had

hopped out of the car and stuff, because I heard some shots.

Defense: And did he also give you the pistol? Did Leroy also give you the

pistol?

Scott: Inside the pocket.... Inside the coat pocket.

Defense: What happened after you got into Mr. Lee's car.

Scott: I had took the keys off the hat, because he put the keys on top of

the hat he gave me, too. I put them in the switch and left.

¶68. Scott's testimony confirmed the defense's statements made in the opening remark. Scott cannot

testify to his account of the facts on one hand and then also raise on appeal that his case should be reversed

because his counsel gave the same facts as a preview of what the evidence would show. This argument

is illogical.

¶69. This Court finds that the defense's opening statement is not inconsistent with the testimony provided

by Scott, himself, on direct examination. Therefore, this issue is wholly without merit and unsupported by

the record.

IV. Prospective Juror 57
31

¶70. Scott argues that the trial court erred in striking jurors who stated in the abstract that they opposed

the death penalty but stated they could follow the law. The only juror that Scott alleged was improperly

struck was Juror 57, Alma Wallace. The State contends that no objection was made by the defense,

therefore procedurally barring the issue. The record contains an extensive individual voir dire on the State's

challenge as to Juror 57 being stricken for cause. The record reflects the following exchange transpired:

The Court: Ms. Wallace, did you indicate to us on yesterday that you are opposed to

the death penalty?

Juror 57: Yes, I did.

The Court: Since you tell me you are, would the fact that your sitting on the jury

involving potential consideration of the death sentence, would that in any

way hinder you in reaching a verdict on the guilt phase or affect your

ability to vote guilty or not guilty in the guilty phase.

Juror 57: No.

The Court: It wouldn't?

Juror 57: No.

The Court: If you're a member of the jury that return a verdict of guilty of capital

murder in the guilt phase, would you automatically vote against the death

penalty, even if the facts justify the death penalty beyond a reasonable

doubt, and the law given to you by the Court allowed the death penalty to

be returned by unanimous vote of the jury?

Juror 57: Right.

The Court: You're saying you would not automatically vote against the death penalty

or you would automatically vote against the death penalty?

Juror 57: I wouldn't automatically vote against it.

The Court: What are some of the things you would take into consideration before you

would vote one way or the other?

Juror 57: Just the evidence, I guess....

The Court: The jury, on which you sit, has already under this analogy, reached a

verdict of guilty. Now Mr. Mellen [State] has put on facts and

circumstances showing why the death penalty should be imposed. Mr.

Wong [Defense] will then have an opportunity to put on evidence to show

why the death penalty should not be imposed. Now, could you made up

your mind -- would you make up your mind only after they have put on

this evidence, or just because you're against the death penalty, you would

vote against the death penalty regardless?

Juror 57: I'd wait until after.
32

The Court: Okay. You will wait until after. You'll sit objectively, in a fair and

impartial manner, and listen to both sides. If the facts justified it and the

law allow it, could you then vote to impose death?

Juror 57: Yes.

The Court: And if the mitigating circumstances outweigh the aggravating

circumstances, could you vote for life without parole?

Juror 57: Yes....

State: What did you mean when you said that you are against the

death penalty?

Juror 57: I just don't believe that I could really vote for it.

State: Okay. So in no circumstance would you vote for it because of your

beliefs?

Juror 57: Would I vote for the --

State: For the death.

Juror 57: Just because of my beliefs?

State: Yeah.

Juror 57: No.

State: Are you saying you could not vote for death?

Juror 57: I could vote for it, but it -- really.

State: Okay. Do you fell like you could not vote for the death sentence on

somebody right now?

Juror 57: Well.

State: You're not sure?

Juror 57: No.

State: You know, the Judge asked those question. Did you understand that

when he was talking about weighing and all that?

Juror 57: I understand it, but I don't really get it.

State: Well, it's difficult. I mean, we understand that. That's the only thing,

maybe, we understand. But when the -- when the jury decides, if they

give the penalty of -- or find him guilty of capital murder, then the jury has

to decide if he gets death or not.

And just simply from the evidence, from those things to justify the death

penalty and then those things that would justify not giving death is a

weighing for the jury. And some jurors simply cannot give death; just say

they're against it. Some say they could follow the law and would do the

weighing process. How do you feel, that you could not --

Juror 57: I don't think I could do that.

State: That's all.

The Court: Mr. Wong.

Defense: Ms. Wallace, let me see if I can try to clarify. You have -- your opinion

is, you are against the death penalty; is that correct?

Juror 57: Yes.
33

Defense: All right. But what is required if you are seated as a penalty phase juror,

is that you must follow the law that's given to you by the Court, even

though you have an opinion against the death penalty. Do you understand

that?

Juror 57: Uh-huh (affirmative response).

Defense: You have to answer for her.

Juror 57: Yes, sir.

Defense: What the Court is asking you, is that you are sitting in the penalty phase.

Juror 57: Uh-huh (affirmative response).

Defense: You will follow the law as given to you by the Court in making your

determination of life or death based on the aggravating circumstances that

are presented to you and the mitigating circumstances that are given to

you. From that, you must decide which weighs more. And for the -- from

that, you will make a decision whether life or death is the appropriate

penalty. Do you understand that?

Juror 57: Yes.

Defense: And it will require you to put aside you opinion about the death penalty

and follow the law of the case -- in the penalty phase. And the question

is, could you do that? Even if -- even when the facts justify and

the law allows it, could you impose the death penalty? That

is the question.

Juror 57: I don't -- I don't think I can.

Defense: All right.

The Court: Thank you very much.

(JUROR 57 EXCUSED FROM CHAMBERS.)

(emphasis added).

¶71. The State submits that Juror 57 concluded that she could not impose the death penalty, and at a

minimum, she definitely equivocated back and forth. Based on the record this Court agrees. This Court

has examined the proper standard for exclusion of a juror in death penalty cases under Witherspoon v.

Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 20 L.Ed.2d 776 (1968), as follows:

InWainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 105 S.Ct. 844, 83 L.Ed.2d 841 (1985),

the United States Supreme Court attempted to clarify the Witherspoon juror exclusion

standard in death penalty cases. See Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 88 S.Ct.

1770, 20 L.Ed.2d 776 (1968). The proper standard it as follows:

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
34

his oath." We note that, in addition to dispensing with Witherspoon's

reference to "automatic" decision making, this standard likewise does not

require that a juror's bias be proved with "unmistakable clarity." This is

because determinations of juror bias cannot be reduced to question-andanswer sessions which obtain results in the manner of catechism. ... many

veniremen simply cannot be asked enough questions to reach the point

where their bias has been made "unmistakably clear"; these veniremen

may not know how they will react when faced with imposing the death

sentence, or may be unable to articulate, or may wish to hide their true

feelings.... 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.... deference must be paid to the trial judge

who sees and hears the juror.

Wainwright, 469 U.S. at 424-25, 105 S.Ct. at 852-53, 83 L.Ed.2d at 851-53;

Pinkney v. State, 538 So.2d 329, 345 (Miss. 1988) (judgment vacated and case

remanded in light of Clemons v. Mississippi, 494 U.S. 738, 110 S.Ct. 1441, 108

L.Ed.2d 725 (1990)); Lockett v. State, 517 So.2d 1317, 1335 (Miss. 1987); Fuselier

v. State, 468 So.2d 45, 53-54 (Miss. 1985).

However, jurors who oppose the death penalty or believe it unjust, may serve as

jurors in capital cases "so long as they state clearly that they are willing to temporarily set

aside their own beliefs in deference to the rule of law." Lockhart v. McCree, 476 U.S.

162, 176 S.Ct. 1758, 1766, 90 L.Ed.2d 137, 149-50 (1986); Hansen v. State, 592

So.2d 114, 128 (Miss. 1991).

Balfour v. State, 598 So.2d 731, 755 (Miss. 1992) (quoting Wainwright, 469 U.S. at 424-25, 1055

S.Ct. at 852-53).

¶72. In Manning v. State, 726 So.2d 1152, 1886-87 (Miss. 1998), this Court was faced with a

factually similar situation. Manning was convicted in the Circuit Court of Oktibbeha County, Mississippi,

on two counts of capital murder while engaged in commission of a robbery and was sentenced to death.

Id. at 1152-53. Manning argued that potential juror, Chanteau Bowens, was excluded for cause in

violation of Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 20 L.Ed.2d 776 (1968). In

Manning, the Court stated:
35

Manning argues that it is clear from the record that Bowens was able to consider

the death penalty, and that her statements concerning the imposition of it were unequivocal.

This contention is not supported by the record. On her jury questionnaire Bowens stated

that she could never vote to impose the death penalty. On individual voir dire,

Bowens equivocated back and forth. She first said that she could give the death

penalty if it was due. She also said that at the beginning of the sentencing phase she would

be favoring life over death. Then, she again stated that if the evidence warranted it, she

could give the death penalty. Next, she said that given the two options, she would have

to choose life over death. Then, one more time, she said that she could vote for the death

penalty....

It is clear from a reading of the record that Bowens was excused, over defense

objection, because of her equivocation on the death penalty.... Affording the appropriate

deference to the trial judge who saw and heard Bowens, we cannot say that he abused his

discretion.

Manning, 726 So.2d at 1186-87 (emphasis added).

¶73. This Court has held that the trial judge has "wide discretion in determining whether to excuse any

prospective juror, including one challenged for cause." King v. State, 784 So.2d 884, 887 (Miss. 2001).

A trial judge does not commit reversible error by excusing for cause a prospective juror "who gave

contradictory responses, wavered on their position, and generally appeared confused regarding the death

penalty issue." Id. at 888 (citing Dufour v. State, 453 So.2d 337, 341-45 (Miss. 1984)).

¶74. This Court finds that this issue is without merit. Clearly, Juror 57 went back and forth on the death

penalty issue. In fact, the record reflects that the last response given by Juror 57 was "I don't think I can,"

when asked for the last time if she could impose the death penalty. Therefore, we find that after conducting

an individualvoir dire of Juror 57, the trial court did not err in striking Juror 57 for cause.

V. Whether the trial court erred by striking prospective jurors 

¶75. Scott next argues that the trial court erred by not striking jurors 7, 15, 68 and 74. According to

Scott these four jurors stated that they could not conform their conduct to the law and would automatically

return a verdict of death. Scott claims that the jurors should be excluded pursuant to Witherspoon v.
36

Illinois, 391 U.S. 510 (1968) and its progeny. He claims that counsel was denied a meaningful

opportunity to ask substantive questions (i.e., their view of the death penalty) of the venire panel. 

¶76. This Court finds that none of these four jurors actually served as part of the jury. Scott struck

jurors 7, 15, and 68 as part of his peremptory challenges. The record reflects that the defense exercised

its peremptory strikes as follows: D-1 struck juror 7, D-3 struck juror 15, and the alternate strike DA-3

struck juror 68. As for juror 74, the last possible juror seated was alternate juror 71, therefore, juror 74

was not even considered for jury service. The record reflects the prosecution, clarifying the alternates for

the jury, stated to the trial court “[a]nd the alternates, Your Honor, that will be 59, 62, 69 and 71.” The

trial court then immediately stated “All right. We’ll impanel the jury without swearing them in and release

the other jurors for the week....” Thus, juror 74 was not part of the impaneled jury. 

¶77. Notwithstanding that none of the jurors in question were part of the impaneled jury, all of these

jurors stated that they could set aside there opinions and follow the law in the case. The trial court posed

the following questions with the juror answers:

The Court: All right. Now let me ask you my ultimate questions. If you’re a

member of the jury that returns a verdict of guilty of capital

murder in the guilt phase, part one, would you automatically vote

for the death penalty, even if the mitigating facts and

circumstances justified a life sentence, and the law given to you by

the Court allowed a life sentence to be returned by the jury?

Would you automatically vote death, or would you enter in to this

weighing process, weighing the aggravating factors against the

mitigating factors? Could you follow the law and first do this

weighing thing?

(JURORS RESPOND IN THE AFFIRMATIVE)

The Court: Can anybody not do that?

(NO RESPONSE FROM THE JURORS)
37

The Court: If you can find, if you can’t find, I just want to know.

Juror No. 7: I can.

Juror No. 68: I can.

Juror No. 15: I can.

Juror No. 74: I don’t know whether I can, because it’s kind of a toss up there. They’ve

already presented the facts and they’re just reviewing the facts again.

After some further discussions with juror 74 on the process, the juror stated that he could consider

aggravating and mitigating factors before making a decision on whether the defendant should receive the

death penalty. Following the trial courts questions, the prosecution and defense conducted individual voir

dire on these four jurors. The prosecution asked generally if the jurors could consider all the evidence and

consider mitigating and aggravating factors before making a decision. The defense then individually voir

dired each juror. Each juror indicated that they would not automatically impose the death penalty without

first considering and weighing the mitigating and aggravating factors. At the conclusion of this questioning

by the trial court, the prosecution and the defense, the trial court ruled:

Okay. The court finds that after the Court further advised the - - these four jurors and after

they, therefore, became more informed, they were, in fact, rehabilitated, and they shall not

be stricken for cause. 

¶78. This Court in Simmons v. State, 805 So.2d 452, 503 (Miss. 2001), considered an issue similar

to Scott’s complaint raised on appeal. In Simmons, this Court first addressed the fact that Simmons had

not used all his peremptory challenges and none of the jurors actually sat on his jury.

Our settled rule requires that, before an appellant may challenge a trial court's refusal to

excuse a juror for cause, he must show that he utilized all of his peremptory challenges. 

Simmons, 805 So.2d at 503 (citing Hansen v. State, 592 So.2d 114, 129 (Miss. 1991)). The Court

also considered the jurors statements that they could follow the law and put aside their personal views on

the death penalty. The Court stated:
38

Further, each juror testified that they could put aside their personal views about the death

penalty and follow the law in regard to Simmons' case. It appears that, by this

admission, they rehabilitated themselves. This language of "putting aside"

personal beliefs was approved in the following passage of Leatherwood v. State: 

The two veniremen, Robert Nations and Mary Garrett, indicated that they

had strong views in favor of the death penalty. After the court overruled

appellant's challenge to the jurors, appellant used two of his peremptory

challenges to strike them. We have carefully considered the questions

propounded to and responses of Nations and Garrett and are of the

opinion that the trial court's ruling was in full compliance with

Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 20 L.Ed.2d

776 (1968). When questioned by counsel both jurors said that they could

put aside their personal feelings, follow the law and instructions of the

court and return a verdict based solely upon the law and the evidence and

not vote for the death penalty unless the evidence warranted it. 

Leatherwood v. State, 435 So.2d 645, 654 (Miss.1983). The trial court cannot be said

to have erred by following this language.

Simmons, 805 So.2d at 503 (emphasis added). Simmons also complained about individualized voir dire

for prospective jurors that were in favor of the death penalty, to which this Court held:

[V]oir 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. Ballenger, 667 So.2d at

1250. There is no error here. 

Simmons, 805 So.2d at 503. 

¶79. This Court finds that the trial court did not err by denying strikes for cause on jurors 7, 15, 68, and

74. The prospective jurors all stated that they could follow the law and weigh the evidence and mitigating

and aggravating factors before making a determination of whether Scott should receive the death penalty.

The record is full of questions from the trial court, the State, and the defense concerning the death penalty.

The four jurors in question also appeared in the trial judge’s chambers and were questioned more

extensively by the trial court, prosecution and defense. The record reflects that the defense individually

questioned each of the four jurors in chambers. The trial judge placed no restrictions on the attorneys'
39

questions in chambers. Lastly, we find that none of the jurors ever sat on the final impaneled jury, and thus,

never even voted on the issue of Scott’s guilt or whether he should receive a death or life sentence. This

Court finds that this issue is without merit.

VI. Victim Impact Evidence - Guilt Phase

¶80. On appeal, Scott argues that the trial court erred in allowing the prosecution to admit what Scott

alleges to be victim impact evidence from Lurline's testimony during the guilt phase. Scott contends that

the testimony was irrelevant and inadmissible during the guilt phase. Scott focuses only on the following

testimony from Lurline on direct examination by the State:

State: And, Mrs. Lee, you live where?

Lurline: 305 Lee Street, Boyle, Mississippi.

State: And for how long have you lived there?

Lurline: Seven years.

State: And who bought that house?

Lurline: My husband and I.

State: And that would be who?

Lurline: Richard Lee, the deceased.

State: Mrs. Lee, how long were you and Richard Lee married?

Lurline: Almost 52 years, lacking a month and four days.

State: And was he employed?

Lurline: He had been retired for about 10 or 11 years.

State: I call your attention to 1995 on November 15. Were you living, you and

Richard, in that house in Boyle at that time?

Lurline: Yes, we were.

State: And you and he were retired. Can you tell us what you did, if anything,

or what kind of activities you were engaged in?

Lurline: Fishing and hunting.

State: Enjoying retirement?

Lurline: Enjoying retirement.

State: And on this particular day, can you tell us if there was anything that you

particularly were going to be doing?

Lurline: Yes. Richard went to town for last-minute shopping before we would go

to my daughter, Sandra Dixon's house, and we were going to deer hunt.

We had a camp there.
40

¶81. The trial record reflects that during the testimony solicited by the State from Lurline the defense did

not object to any question or any of the testimony. Furthermore, as Scott did not raise any objection at

trial to the line of questioning or testimony, this Court finds that this issue is now procedurally barred from

being raised for the first time on appeal. See Williams v. State, 684 So.2d at 1203 (contemporaneous

objection rule is applicable in death penalty cases). Alternatively, without waiving any procedural bar, the

State argues the testimony was not "victim impact" testimony. See Crawford v. State, 716 So.2d 1028,

1046 (Miss. 1998) (overruled on other grounds) ("Victim impact statements are those which describe the

victim's personal characteristics, the emotional effect of the crimes on the victim's family, and the family's

opinion of the crimes and the defendant."). The State contends that Lurline's testimony was that of one of

the victim's regarding the circumstances of the crime: (1) the location of the home; (2) the fact that they

were retired and were at home; and (3) the purpose of Lee's trip to town that day. The testimony

pinpointed the location of the crime, the witness's relationship to the victim, why the witness was at the

location of the crime and the actions of the victim the day of the crime.

¶82. This Court finds that the testimony was not "victim impact" testimony. Lurline's testimony was

presented as a witness and a victim of the charged crimes. Her testimony was solicited to explained the

circumstances surrounding the crime and established guilt. Moreover, Scott's lack of objection in the

record to contest the testimony from Lurline acts now to procedurally bar this issue on appeal.

VII. Lesser Included Offense Instruction of Murder

¶83. Scott briefly argues that the trial court erred by denying an instruction on the lesser-included offense

of murder. Scott states generally "[t]he evidence supported a lesser included jury instruction" without

providing any specific facts or evidence in the record to support such a statement. 
41

¶84. The record does not reflect that Scott offered a written lesser-included offense of murder instruction

to the trial court. Also, Scott does not cite to any such written instruction in the record. Scott cites the

following generic authority in support of his argument:

A lesser included instruction is appropriate where a lesser offense is identified within the

charged offense and a rational jury could find the defendant guilty of the lesser offense but

not guilty of the greater one. Beck v. Alabama, 447 U.S. 625 (1980). The lesser

offense must not include all of the elements of the greater offense. Sansone v. United

States, 380 U.S. 343, 349-50 (1965). It cannot include an additional element to those

in the greater offense. It is "identified" within the greater offense only if it is "necessarily

presented as part of the showing of the greater offense, and both crimes relate to the

protection of the same interests." E.g., United States v. Raborn, 575 F.2d 688, 691

(9th Cir. 1978). The lesser included offense instruction must be given if it is requested and

is appropriate to the case. E.g., Keeble v. United States, 412 U.S. 205, 208 (1973).

¶85. The trial court conducted a hearing prior to the conclusion of the State's case-in-chief where the

State requested to withdraw its pre-filed murder instruction. The State argued that the instruction should

be withdrawn, as "there being no showing here that it [Lee's murder] was anything other than a killing during

the course of robbery." Scott's counsel did not request a murder instruction. However, the defense stated

its objection to withdrawing the State's instruction before the defense presented its portion of the trial. The

defense also stated the lesser-included instruction should be granted only if the evidence warrants it. The

trial court deferred consideration until the conclusion of all the evidence. 

¶86. Even though Scott had not offered a written jury instruction, the trial court did consider Scott's

request for a lesser-included instruction of murder and the State's request to withdraw the lesser-included

instruction it had pre-filed with the clerk's office. The following exchanged occurred on the record:

The Court: Now, Mr. Wong, we come back to your lesser included instruction

involving murder.

Defense: Your Honor, if there is no robbery by my client but he's involved in the

homicide, then that would make it a murder case. We would think that a

lesser included instruction regarding murder is warranted.
42

The Court: Give me the factual basis for it. Your client admitted he got into the car

and drive it off.

Defense: But he did not take it against the will of Mr. Lee. The Court -- there's not

-- the Court -- the jury may find, based on what the jury will believe or

not believe, that he was involved in the homicide but not the robbery. If

that is the situation, then he would be guilty of murder. It would state that

the lesser included offense of murder also be submitted to the jury.

The Court: Is your client contending that he had permission to take it or implied

permission to take it?

Defense: No, sir, but the basis is what will the jury believe, which they can believe

or disbelieve anything they want. If they disbelieve the robbery portion of

it, then we have a homicide, which is -- in that case, would be murder.

The Court: Let me hear from the State.

State: Your Honor, I would say there, that in Bail v. Watkins, which is 692 Federal

Second, 999, it says when the defendant admits committing the underlying offense,

but denies committing the murder, no proof exist sufficient to grant a lesser

included offense instruction of simple murder. That's in point.

The Court: All right.

¶87. In Presley v. State, 321 So.2d 309, 310 (Miss. 1975), this Court said:

[T]he jury should not be instructed as to a lesser-included offense in such a way as to

ignore the primary charge as this would be confusing to the jury. It is also true that if the

evidence does not justify submission of a lesser-included offense, the court should refuse

to do so. Unwarranted submission of a lesser offense is an invitation to the jury to

disregard the law.

See Grace v. State, 375 So.2d 419, 420 (Miss. 1979).

¶88. The Court further stated that:

[L]esser-included offense instructions should be given if there is an evidentiary basis in the

record that would permit a jury rationally to find the defendant guilty of the lesser offense

and to acquit him of the greater offense." Hobson v. State, 730 So.2d 20, 26 (Miss.

1998) (quoting Welch v. State, 566 So.2d 680, 684 (Miss. 1990)). 

Mitchell v. State, 792 So.2d 192, 218 (Miss. 2001).

¶89. Therefore, evidence must be presented at trial to support the trial court granting a lesser-included

instruction on murder. See Edwards v. State, 737 So.2d 275, 310-11 (Miss. 1999); Turner v. State,

732 So.2d 937, 948-50 (Miss. 1999); Bell v. State, 725 So.2d 836, 854 (Miss. 1998); Evans v.
43

State, 725 So.2d 613, 664-66 (Miss. 1997); Conner v. State, 632 So.2d 1239, 1253-55 (Miss. 1993)

(overruled on other grounds).

¶90. The evidence presented at trial, including Scott's own testimony, established that he took Lee's

automobile. The evidence also established that Lee was murdered. If Scott was involved in Lee's murder,

as the jury determined, the taking of Lee's automobile was by definition robbery. Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-

73 defines robbery as follows:

Every person who shall feloniously take the personal property of another, in his presence

or from his person and against his will, by violence to his person or by putting such person

in fear of some immediate injury to his person, shall be guilty of robbery.

¶91. This Court finds that the evidence presented in the case does not support a reasonable jury finding

Scott guilty of murder rather than capital murder. Granting a jury on the lesser-included offense of murder

was not warranted under the facts presented. We find that the trial court did not err in denying Scott's

request for a jury instruction on the lesser-included offense of murder.

VIII, IX & X. Proposed Jury Instructions: D-2, D-3, D-4

¶92. This Court has repeatedly reiterated the standard of appellate review applicable to questions of

denial of jury instructions as follows:

When considering a challenge to a jury instruction on appeal, we do not review jury

instructions in isolation; rather, we read them as a whole to determine if the jury was

properly instructed. Burton ex rel. Bradford v. Barnett, 615 So.2d 580, 583 (Miss.

1993). Similarly, this Court has stated that "[i]n determining whether error lies in the

granting or refusal of various instructions, the instructions actually given must be read as a

whole. When so read, if the instructions fairly announce the law of the case and create no

injustice, no reversible error will be found." Coleman v. State, 697 So.2d 777, 782

(Miss. 1997) (quoting Collins v. State, 691 So.2d 918 (Miss. 1997)). In other words,

if all instructions taken as a whole fairly, but not necessarily perfectly, announce the

applicable rules of law, no error results.
44

Milano v. State, 790 So.2d 179, 184 (Miss. 2001). See Austin v. State, 784 So.2d 186, 193 (Miss.

2001). See also Agnew v. State, 783 So.2d 699, 701 (Miss. 2001).

A. Proposed Instruction D-2

¶93. Scott briefly contends that the trial court erred in denying proposed instruction D-2, which stated:

The Court instructs the jury that a confession is not conclusive and may be of little weight

or of great weight or of no weight according to the circumstances of this case; the

determination of weight to be accorded a confession is for the jury to determine.

¶94. After a discussion on the record, the trial court denied the instruction finding that it was included

in the court's instruction, C1. The trial court's instruction C1 states in pertinent part:

You are not to single out one instruction alone as stating the law, but you must

consider there instructions as a whole.

It is your exclusive province to determine the facts in this case and

consider and weigh the evidence for that purpose. The authority thus vested in

you is not an arbitrary power but must be exercised with sincere judgment, sound

discretion and in accordance with the rules of law stated to you by the court.

Both the State of Mississippi and the defendant(s) have a right to expect that you

will conscientiously consider and weigh the evidence and apply the law of the case and that

you will reach a jury verdict regardless of what the consequences of such verdict may be....

As sole judges of the facts in this case, your exclusive province is to

determine what weight and what credibility will be assigned the

testimony and supporting evidence of each witness in this case. You are

required and expected to use your good common sense and sound honest judgment in

considering and weighing the testimony of each witness who was testified in this case. 

(emphasis added).

¶95. The record indicates the following exchange:

The Court: Mr. Mellon [State], your response to D-2....

State: [W]e don't agree to that instruction. I don't know where he gets this....

[H]e's commenting on evidence there.

The Court: (Court reads instruction.) Mr. Wong, where is that coming from?

Defense: Diddlemeyer versus State,... 234 Southern Second 292, a

Mississippi 1970 case. Wilson v. State, 451 Southern Second, 724 a

Mississippi 1984 case. Here is Diddlemeyer.
45

State: If that's -- if that's not a comment on the evidence, I don't know what

would be.

The Court: Mr. Wong [Defense] what is that really saying? In the absence of that

instruction, wouldn't it be up to the jury, anyway.

Defense: Well, how do they know what standard to apply?

State: Judge, may I see C-1, your instruction C-1? And can I respond to your

question, even though you did address that to Mr. Wong?...

State: You say in C-1, "As sole judges of the facts in the case, your exclusive

judges province is to determine what weight....

Defense: [A]nd credibility will be assigned to the testimony and supporting evidence

of the witnesses in this case." And this is another instruction, and it singles

out some testimony concerning the confession. I just really don't -- have

never heard of something that would go to that. Did he confess? Is

accepting these as confessions of capital murder?...

Defense: Your Honor, Mr. Mellen put on Mr. Estes, who stated that ... Mr. Scott

stated that he shot Mr. Lee and he shot as Ms. Lurline Lee.

The Court: [D]oes the defendant conceive that he confessed.

Defense: No, sir, but that is just what it is....

The Court: Wee, he can't confess and not confess at the same time, is what he's

pointing out. Now, did he confess or not?

Defense: Based on the legal definition of confession -- based on Mr. Estes'

statement that Mr. Scott had supposedly give, that is a legal definition of

confession.

The Court: So there is a concession that he confessed.

Defense: Under the legal definition.... But, we have this supposedly confession

made by Mr. Scott, given to an officer. The jury may think this is

conclusive, but it is not. That's what the law says. This is for them to

determine. He may, for example, be a true confession of all the elements

of the crime, but it tells the jury what weight it is to apply to the confession:

Great weight, little weight, or no weight, without telling the jury this is not

conclusive of anything.

State: Can I get an instruction, Judge, that a witness which the defense is calling,

that that testimony is not conclusive and may not be given any weight?

Can I get an instruction for every defense witness that testifies?

Absolutely not. And that's what this is doing, is singling out one aspect of

the case.... I think that that paragraph, which is coming out of the C-1

instruction, is a all-encompassing, so far as an instruction to the jury. This

is an instruction given by the Court to tell the jury how to do this. And

when you start singling out certain aspects of the case and give separate

instructions on that, then that's where the errors come in.

The Court: Well the Court rules that Mr. Wong is entitled to single out. But the

singling out is limited to your closing argument. C-1, I agree, is allencompassing. It says the jury shall determine the weight and credibility.
46

And you can single out that part about the confession and say it applies

even to the confession.

Defense: All right. But, Your Honor, there's also the Court's instruction that the

attorneys arguments are to help refresh your memory, and you can give it

any weight or no weight that you want.

The Court: That's true.... But there is a law that says you cannot otherwise single out,

too.

Defense: Yes, sir. I understand that.

The Court: And there's another that says instructions should not be redundant,

repetitive, superfluous.

Defense: But I don't think this is redundant or superfluous because it does not tell

them the law on confessions.

State: Raymond, if you're quoting Wilson versus State, 451 7-24 --

Defense: Yeah.

State: This only says that the Court makes a determination as to the admissibility,

and the jury determines the weight and credibility.

Defense: That's right. That's the support for doing that. That's a now later case.

The Court: But C-1 tells them they determine the weight and credibility. And that

would be telling them all over again, would it not?

Defense: Well, that -- we have just proposed that instruction for the Court.

The Court: All right. You come up with a good one. And if it would not redundant,

it would have a lot of merit. It's not wrong. It's not improper. But it's allencompassed in C-1, the Court finds and rules.

Defense: And denies?

The Court: Denies.

Defense: Okay.

¶96. In support of instruction D-2, Scott cites Crane v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 683, 106 S.Ct. 2142,

90 L.Ed.2d 636 (1986) on appeal, but not at trial, and also Wilson v. State, 451 So.2d 724 (Miss.

1984). In Crane, the United States Supreme Court concluded that circumstances surrounding a

confession cannot be excluded as evidence when the confession is admitted. Crane, 476 U.S. at 690-91,

106 S.Ct. at 2147. On appeal, Scott quotes in his brief from Wilson, as follows:

The admissibility of a confession ... is to be distinguished from the issue of its

credibility and its weight ... '[T]he competency of a confession as evidence

is for the court to decide as a matter of law, while the weight and

credibility of a confession is for the jury to decide along with other testimony

and physical evidence...'
47

Once a confession is admitted into evidence, a defendant is entitle to submit evidence and

have the jury pass upon the factual issues of its truth and voluntariness and upon its weight

and credibility ... [T]he jury may concluded that the confession, though found by the court

to be voluntary, is untrue and not entitled to any weight ... Confessions are not conclusive

and may be weighed as to their credibility under the circumstances by the jury. This is a

matter for the jury and not the court.

Wilson v. State, 451 So.2d at 726 (emphasis added). In Wilson, the Court defined the roles of the trial

court judge and the jury when a confession is admitted. Id. The Court held that the trial court judge is to

determine the voluntariness of a confession or its admissibility, and the jury is to determine the weight and

credibility to assign to a confession. Id. However, this Court did not require in Wilson that separate

instruction on the weight and credibility to be afforded when a confession is admitted. Id. In the case sub

judice, the trial court's instruction C-1 adequately instructed the jury on its role as the sole judge of the

weight and credibility to assign to all testimony and evidence presented.

¶97. This Court finds that the jury was properly instructed. Scott cites no authority to merit reversal.

B. Proposed Instruction D-4

¶98. Scott contends that the trial court erred by allowing instruction D-4, which stated:

The Court instructs the Jury that in reaching your verdict you are to consider all of

the evidence concerning the entire case and the circumstances surrounding the crime. One

of the issues in this case is the identification of Kevin Scott as the perpetrator of the crime.

As with each element of the crime charged, the State has the burden of proving identity

beyond a reasonable doubt, and before you may convict Kevin Scott, you must be

satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of the accuracy of the identification of Kevin Scott.

If, after considering all of the evidence concerning the crime and the witness' identification

of Kevin Scott as the person who committed the crime, you are not convinced beyond a

reasonable doubt that he is the person who committed the crime, then you must find him

not guilty.

Identification testimony is an expression or belief or impression by the witness.

You must judge its value and reliability from the totality of the circumstances surrounding

the crime and the subsequent identification. In appraising the identification testimony of a

witness, you should consider the following:
48

1) Did the witness have an adequate opportunity to observe the

offender?

2) Did the witness observe the defender with an adequate degree of

attention?

3) Did the witness provide an accurate description of the offender

after the crime?

4) How certain is the witness of the identification?

5) How much time passed between the crime and the identification?

If, after examining all of the testimony and the evidence, you have a reasonable

doubt that Kevin Scott was the person who committed the crime, then you find Kevin

Scott not guilty.

¶99. Scott argues that the instruction was necessary because "the case hinges on whether Mrs. Lee's

identification was correct..." Scott ignores all the other evidence presented at trial against Scott including

his confession, the DNA evidence, possession of items that belonged to Lee and items recovered that were

covered in Lee's DNA. Scott focuses solely on Lurline's eyewitness identification. Scott cites Davis v.

State, 568 So.2d 277 (Miss. 1990) and Warren v. State, 709 So.2d 415 (Miss. 1998), in support of

his position.

¶100. In Davis, this Court stated that the identification instruction offered could have been granted.

Davis, 568 So.2d at 280-81. The Court did not state that Davis's instruction was required to be given

just because their existed eyewitness identification. See id. However, this Court determined that where

only a part of an identification instruction was granted, Davis was not prejudiced by the deletion. Id. The

Court held that there was no adverse affect on Davis's case because Davis's guilt was established beyond

a reasonable doubt by the overwhelming weight of evidence. Id. at 281.

¶101. The defense also cited Warren on appeal and at trial. In Warren, this Court found that trial

court's failure to instruct the jury on the law of identification was reversible error. Warren, 709 So.2d at

421. However, the facts in Warren and the facts here are clearly distinguishable. The Court in Warren
49

determined that the identification instruction should have been allowed because the "case turned on the

identification of Warren by a single person." Id. at 421 (emphasis added).

¶102. Here, the record reflects that the trial court conducted an extensive eight-page examination of the

defense's request for the identification instruction, D-4. The trial court concluded that the case against Scott

was not based solely on the testimony of one eyewitness. Therefore, Warren is not applicable to the case

at hand. 

¶103. Scott gave a confession when arrested that he killed Lee and shot at Lurline; Officer Estes testified

as to Scott's confession at trial; Scott testified that he took the Lee's automobile; Lee's DNA was found

on among other things, Scott's jacket, money envelop, the Lee's automobile; witnesses established that after

Scott admitted abandoning the Lee's automobile, he sought and received a ride home rather than going to

the police. The evidence also reflects that Scott had wrecked his white 1988 Oldsmobile Sierra the day

before he ended up taking Lee's white 1990 Oldsmobile Sierra. Clearly, Lurline's identification was only

part of the evidence introduced against Scott. In fact, Scott was taken into custody based on the bloody

jacket and driver's license found near Lee's abandoned automobile, not Lurline's eyewitness identification.

¶104. In further support of its position, the State cites Francis v. State, 791 So.2d 904, 908-09 (Miss.

Ct. App. 2001) and Thomas v. State, 766 So.2d 809, 811 (Miss. Ct. App. 2000), in support of its

position that the instruction offered by Scott on identification was not required.

¶105. In Francis, the Mississippi Court of Appeals determined that Warren was not applicable to

require an identification instruction because the identification did not rest solely on the testimony of one

eyewitness, Wilkes. Francis, 791 So.2d at 908. The court stated that Francis disclosed to Lt. Walker

where the gun used to commit the robbery had been hidden and led the police to that location. Id.

Therefore, the court determined no error existed in not allowing the identification instruction. Id. at 908-09.
50

¶106. In Thomas, the Mississippi Court of Appeals addressed our holding in Warren, stating:

The Mississippi Supreme Court has held that the failure to give an identification instruction,

upon request, is reversible error where the identification of the accused rests entirely upon

the testimony of a single witness. See Warren v. State, 709 So.2d 415, 420 (Miss.

1998).... Mrs. McQuillan's testimony was not the sole evidentiary basis upon which the

identification of Thomas rested. Thomas's location near the crash sight of the stolen vehicle

and his flight from law enforcement officers provided independent evidence of his

involvement in the crimes.

766 So.2d at 811.

¶107. This Court finds that Scott does not establish that instruction D-4 was required given the other

evidence introduced against him. The case against Scott did not rest solely on the testimony of a single

eyewitness. This issue does not merit reversal.

C. Proposed Jury Instruction D-3

¶108. Scott contends that the trial court erred in not granting proposed instruction D-3 which stated as

follows:

The Court instructs the jury that some degree of participation in a criminal act must be

shown in order to establish liability, and proof that one has stood by at the commission of

a crime without taking [sic] steps to prevent it does not alone indicate participation or

combination in the wrong done, although he approves the act.

¶109. Scott based his proposed instruction on Cochran v. State, 191 Miss. 273, 276, 2 So.2d 822,

823 (1941). However, this case is clearly distinguishable from the circumstances in Cochran. In

Cochran, the Sheriff of Attala County found beer and slot machines in a dance hall. Id. at 822. When

the sheriff found beer and slot machines, he went outside to make an arrest. Id. The defendant was

arrested outside the premises. Id. After the arrest, the sheriff conducted a search upon the defendant's

person, finding two concealed bottles of whiskey. The defendant was prosecuted and convicted on the

possession of whiskey. Id. at 822-23. "The sheriff had no warrant for the arrest of appellant, and it is
51

admitted that the officer had no probably cause at the time which would authorize the arrest for the

possession of the whiskey." Id. at 823. The Court considered whether the arrest was authorized for the

possession of the beer or slot machines. Id. The defendant was merely standing outside the premises as

a bystander when the arrest occurred. The Court, quoting Harper v. State, 83 Miss. 402, 415, 35

So.2d 573 (1904), stated that "some degree of participation in the criminal act must be shown in order to

establish any criminal liability." Id. As the arrest on the possession of beer and slot machines was not

proper, the evidence of the concealed whiskey was not admissible. Id. 

¶110. In Branning v. State, 215 Miss. 223, 229, 60 So.2d 633, 634 (1952), a drugstore in

Brooksville, Noxubee County, Mississippi, was burglarized. Id. at 633. The defendant was suspected

of committing the burglary solely because he had been in the drugstore the day before the night the burglary

was committed. Id. The Sheriff of Noxubee County traveled to Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi,

to arrest the defendant. Id. The defendant was arrested, and without a warrant, a small box containing

five morphine tablets was taken from the ashtray in the defendant's automobile. Id. Based on this

evidence, the defendant was convicted. Id. The defendant objected to use of the evidence of his

possession of the morphine. Id. at 634. On appeal, this Court, citing Cochran, reversed the conviction.

Id. at 634, 637. The Court stated, "[i]n the case at bar, the most that is shown is that appellant was in the

drugstore some time during the day prior to the commission of the crime the night following." Id. at 634.

The Court further concluded that "as a matter of logic and common sense" there was not reasonable

grounds to believe that the defendant "committed the burglary simply and alone because he, along with

others, was seen in the store during the day prior to the night the store was burglarized." Id. at 636-37.
52

¶111. In Davis v. State, 409 F.2d 1095, 1100 (5th Cir. 1969), the Fifth Circuit cited to this Court's

holding in Cochran. Davis involved a bank robbery that occurred in Hickory Flat, Mississippi. Id. at

1096. The defendant was caught in the act of burglarizing the bank. Id. at 1098. The defendant's clothing

revealed, after FBI analysis, debris that matched debris on the bank's floor at the point where the bank had

been entered. Id. at 1098. In affirming the conviction, the Fifth Circuit held:

In Cochran v. State, 191 Miss. 273, 276, 2 So.2d 822, 823, a case where an

arrest was made on direct information that the person arrested was present, and wherein

nevertheless the arrest was held to have been unlawful, for the reason that 'some degree

of participation in the criminal act must be shown in order to establish any criminal liability.

Proof that one (was present or) has stood by at the commission of a crime without taking

any steps to prevent it does not alone indicate such participation or combination in the

wrong done as to show criminal liability, although he approves of the act'.

Two years earlier, in Leflore v. State, 197 Miss. 337, 22 So.2d 368 (1945) ...

the Mississippi Supreme Court read the other side of the coin. There a dead body,

obviously dispatched by violent means, was found by the roadside. The sheriff was

notified. He followed a trail of blood, broken twigs, and disturbed grass up to where it

stopped at the home of the defendant. He there discovered that the yard had recently

been throughly swept; there was blood near the front steps covered with ashes; there was

a smouldering fire wherein clothing had been burned; and there were blood stained blocks

concealed in a hollow tree. The Supreme Court held that probably cause existed for the

arrest of the defendant without a warrant.

In the case now before us it is not to be doubted that Mr. Ash and the other

officers had credible information that the bank was being burglarized. Moreover, from

what he observed with his own senses Mr. Ash had good reason to believe that Davis was

one of those engaged in the felony. The arrest without a warrant was perfectly lawful.

This being true, the officers acted within their lawful authority in removing the

clothing of the defendant and subjecting it to laboratory analysis. The results were

admissible in evidence, Warden v. Hayden, 387 U.S. 294, 87 S.Ct. 1642, 18 L.Ed.2d

782 (1967)....

The evidence was more than sufficient to establish that Davis aided and abetted

the others in the commission of the bank burglary. It has long been settled that the acts of

all participants in the commission of a crime are admissible against the others even though

no conspiracy is charged. United States v. Messina, 2 Cir. 1968, 388 F.2d 393, 394;

United States v. Sears, 7 Cir. 1964, 332 F.2d 199, 201 (photograph of automobiles

and other objects used in the commission of a robbery and a sack dropped by one of the

robbers.).

Davis, 409 F.2d at 1100.
6

 While not waiving any procedural bar, the State does speculate that Scott may have been

referring to Lee's wife's testimony during the sentencing phase. Only two witnesses testified for the State

during the sentencing phase. Scott had specifically referenced alleged victim impact evidence from Lurline

in the guilt phase in Issue VI. However, Scott does not name Lurline in this issue. Lurline's testimony,

which was considerably brief, was the only testimony presented by the State regarding Lee's personal

history. The defense did not pose any questions on cross-examination to Lurline. The record further

reflects that Scott did not object to any of the questions posed to Lurline or her responses.

53

¶112. Cochran and subsequent cases that have been discussed this Court's holding in Cochran, have

all involved the question of whether probable cause existed to warrant arrest. Here, the record clearly

reflects evidence of Scott's participation in the criminal acts. Scott testified that he took Lee's automobile.

His fingerprints were found in the automobile. Lee's blood and DNA were found in the automobile, on

Scott's jacket, among other things recovered. Scott gave a confession that he killed Lee and shot at Lee's

wife, Lurline. Scott had wrecked his 1988 Oldsmobile, which was similar to Lee's 1990 Oldsmobile, the

day before. Lurline identified Scott as the person who shot and killed her husband and shot at her on

November 15, 1995. Obviously, this case is distinguishable from Cochran.

¶113. Therefore, we find that the trial court did not err in not granting Scott's proposed instruction D-3.

Sufficient evidence of Scott's participation renders this issue without merit.

XI. Victim Impact Evidence - Sentencing Phase

¶114. Scott contends that the trial court permitted improper use of victim impact evidence. However,

as the State correctly points out, Scott never identifies what evidence he considered improper. Also,

nothing in Scott's brief makes any reference to alleged improper testimony.6 Without specific evidence or

objection to consider, this Court finds that this issue is not properly before this Court. M.R.A.P. 28 (a)(6)

provides that: 
54

The argument shall contain the contentions of appellant with respect to the issues

presented, and the reasons for those contentions, with citations to the authorities, statutes

and parts of the record relied on.

¶115. In Conley v. State, 790 So.2d 773, 784 (Miss. 2001), Conley was convicted of capital murder

in the Circuit Court of Pike County. On appeal, Conley alleged that the trial court erred in not allowing a

full cross-examination of the State's witness. Id. The Court did not find any basis for the issue, stating:

Pursuant to M.R.A.P 28 (a)(6), this issue is not properly before the Court. Conley has

failed to cite any specific instance in the record where the trial court limited his crossexamination....

Id. 

¶116. We find that this issue is procedurally barred for failure to allege any specific error for this Court

to consider.

XII & XIII. Prosecutor's Closing Arguments - Sentencing Phase

¶117. In his twelfth and thirteenth issues, which will be combined, Scott contends that the State

impermissibly made reference from the Bible, to God and God's law. Scott argues that reference to the

Almighty crossed the line. In his brief, Scott does not discuss or distinguish the line of cases where this

Court has repeatedly held that comments to scriptural, religious or biblical references are proper in closing

arguments. See Berry v. State, 703 So.2d 269, 281 (Miss. 1997); Carr v. State, 655 So.2d 824, 853

(Miss. 1995). Furthermore, Scott does not address the State's closing remarks that the jurors were to

follow the instructions given by the trial court, explaining the instructions and application of the law to the

instructions. 

¶118. The State contends that this issue is not properly before this Court for consideration. A review of

the record reveals that Scott never objected to the statements made by the State on close. Accordingly,

this Court finds that we need not address issues that are not objected to and preserved for appeal.
55

¶119. In Wells v. State, 698 So.2d 497, 514 (Miss. 1997), this Court determined that the defendant

was procedurally barred from raising allegations of improper comment by the State in its closing arguments

for the first time on appeal, stating:

A review of the record reveals that no objection was raised to these comments at trial and

it is raised for the first time on this appeal. Any claim is waived for failure to raise a

contemporaneous objection. Ballenger v.State, 667 So.2d 1242, 1272 (Miss. 1995),

cert. denied, _____ U.S. _____, 116 S.Ct. 2565, 135 L.Ed.2d 1082 (1996); Davis

v. State, 660 So.2d 1228, 1245 (Miss. 1995), cert. denied, ____ U.S. ____, 116

S.Ct. 1684, 134 L.Ed.2d 785 (1996); Chase v. State, 645 So.2d 829, 854 (Miss.

1994), cert. denied, 515 U.S. 123, 115 S.Ct. 2279, 132 L.Ed.2d 282 (1995); Hansen

v. State, 592 So.2d 114, 139-40 (Miss. 1991), cert. denied, 504 U.S. 921, 112 S.Ct.

1970, 118 L.Ed.2d 570 (1992).

¶120. In Williams v. State, 684 So.2d at 1192, the Court determined that Williams's assignment of

error, on appeal, was procedurally barred where the alleged error was raised for the first time on appeal.

Despite the fact that Williams was a death penatly case, the Court found that the issue was procedurally

barred for failure to make a contemporaneous objection at trial in order to preserve the issue on appeal.

Id. In Cole v. State, 525 So.2d 365, 368 (Miss. 1988), which was cited by the Court in Williams, the

defendant argued that his rights had been violated by comments made by the prosecution. The Court held:

Counsel may not sit idly by making no protest as objectionable evidence is admitted, and

then raise the issue for the first time on appeal. If no contemporaneous objection is made,

the error, if any, is waived. This rule's applicability is not diminished in a capital case.

Irving v. State, 498 So.2d 305 (Miss. 1986), cert denied, ____ U.S. ____, 107 S.Ct.

1986, 95 L.Ed.2d 826 (1987); Johnson v. State, 477 So.2d 196 (Miss. 1985), cert.

denied, 476 U.S. 1109, 106 S.Ct. 1958, 90 L.Ed.2d 366 (1986); In re Hill, 460

So.2d 792 (Miss. 1984); Hill v. State, 432 So.2d 427 (Miss.), cert. denied, 464 U.S.

977, 104 S.Ct. 414, 78 L.Ed.2d 352 (1983).

¶121. Based on the lack of any objection in the record to any comments by the State in its closing

argument and based on the prior holdings of this Court, this Court finds that this issue is procedurally

barred.
56

XIV. Proposed Instruction D-1A

¶122. Scott argues that the trial court erred in denying proposed sentencing instruction D-1A, which

provided:

The prosecution has introduced what is known as victim impact evidence. Victim impact

evidence is not the same as evidence of a statutory aggravating circumstance. Introduction

of victim impact does not relieve the state of its burden to prove beyond a reasonable

doubt the existence of a statutory aggravating circumstance. This evidence is simply

another method of informing your [sic] about the harm caused by the crime in question.

To the extent that you find that his evidence reflects on the defendant's culpability you may

consider it, but you may not use it as a substitute for proof beyond a reasonable doubt of

the existence of a statutory aggravating circumstance.

¶123. Without providing any specific authority, Scott contends that "if the jury has received victim impact

evidence, and the defendant requests the jury to be instructed on their use of such evidence, an instruction

should be given." Scott further states that "at best such a lack of instruction is vague as to how the jury is

to use the evidence." The authority relied on by Scott in support of his vagueness argument is Maynard

v. Cartwright, 486 U.S. 356, 361, 108 S.Ct. 1853, 1957, 100 L.Ed.2d 372 (1988) ("[C]laims of

vagueness directed at aggravating circumstances defined in capital punishment statutes ... characteristically

assert that the challenged provision fails adequately to inform juries what they must find to impose the death

penalty.") and Espinosa v. Florida, 505 U.S. 1079, 1081, 112 S.Ct. 2926, 2928, 120 L.Ed.2d 854

(1992) ("Our cases ... establish that an aggravating circumstance is invalid ... if its description is so vague

as to leave the sentencer without sufficient guidance for determining the presence or absence of the

factor.").

¶124. The trial court gave jury instruction S-1A which instructed the jury as to the aggravating factors and

how to apply the aggravating factors. Furthermore, Instruction S-2A was given by the trial court which

instructed the jury to weight the aggravating and mitigating factors in sentencing. Instruction S-1A provided:
57

You have found the Defendant, Kevin B. Scott, guilty of the crime of capital

murder. You must now decide whether the defendant will be sentenced to death or life

imprisonment without parole. In reaching your decision, you may objectively consider the

detailed circumstances of the offense for which the defendant was convicted, and the

character and record of the defendant himself. You should consider and weigh and

aggravating and mitigating circumstances, as set forth later in this instruction, but you are

cautioned not to be swayed by mere sentiment, conjecture, sympathy,

passion, prejudice, public opinion or public feeling.

A.

To return the death penalty in this case you must first unanimously find from the

evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that one or more of the following facts existed:

1. That the defendant actually killed Richard Lee.

2. That the defendant attempted to kill Richard Lee.

3. That the defendant intended the killing of Richard Lee take place

or;

4. That the defendant contemplated that lethal force would be

employed.

B.

To return the death penalty you must find that the mitigating circumstances -- those

which tend to warrant the less severe penalty of life imprisonment without parole -- 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 capital offense was committed for the

purposed of avoiding or preventing a lawful arrest,

(2) whether the capital offense was committed while the

defendant was engaged, or was an accomplice, in the

commission of robbery.

You must unanimously find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that one or more of the

preceding aggravating circumstances exists in this case to return the death penalty. If none

of these aggravating circumstances are found to exist, the death penalty may not be

imposed, and you shall write the following verdict on a sheet of paper:

"We the jury, find the defendant should be sentenced to life imprisonment

without parole."
58

If one or more of the above aggravating circumstances is found to exist beyond a

reasonable doubt, then you must consider whether there are mitigating circumstances which

outweigh the aggravating circumstance (s). Consider the following elements of mitigation

in determining whether the death penalty should be imposed:

(1) any matter, any other aspect of the defendant's character or

record, any other circumstance of the offense brought to you

during the trial of this cause which you, the jury, deem to be

mitigating on behalf of the defendant.

If you find from the evidence that one or more of the preceding elements of

mitigating exists, then you must consider whether it (or they) outweigh(s) or overcome(s)

the aggravating circumstance(s) you previously found. In the event that you find that the

mitigating circumstance(s) do not outweigh or overcome the aggravating circumstance(s),

you may impose the death sentence.

(emphasis added).

¶125. Instruction S-2A, provides:

The Court instructs the jury that it must be emphasized that the procedure that you must

follow is not a mere counting process of a certain number of aggravating circumstances

versus the number of mitigating circumstances. Rather, you must apply your reasoned

judgment as to whether this situation calls for life imprisonment without parole, or whether

it requires the imposition of death, in light of the totality of the circumstances present.

¶126. This Court finds that there was nothing vague in instruction S-1A given by the trial court. The jury

was properly instructed as to what it could consider as an aggravating factor in this case.

¶127. As the State argues, Scott's proposed instruction D-1A requests the trial court to provide an

instruction on the weight to be given to particular evidence, notably Lurline's testimony. The trial court

should not grant instructions that do not provide a correct statement of law or provides improper comment

on the weight to be given to particular evidence. See Austin v. State, 784 So.2d 186, 193 (Miss.

2001)("Issues of fact and of weight and credibility for the jury to resolve."). See also Coleman v. State,

697 So.2d 777, 782 (Miss. 1997) (If instructions fairly state the law and create no injustice, no reversible

error will be found.). In fact, the authority cited by Scott does not support his position. Scott cites Hall
59

v. State, 83 So. 513, 522 (Fla. 1919) (It is improper segregate ... any fact from all the material facts

sought to be established), and Mills v. State, 625 S.W.2d 47 (Tex. App. 1981) (an instruction which

singles out limited parts of evidence is error), which also do not support singling out, Lurline's testimony.

¶128. In the case sub judice, the trial court, in denying the proposed instruction D-1A, stated that "[W]e

cannot have an all-inclusive list of those things that are not aggravating circumstances."

¶129. In S-1A, the trial court also cautioned the jury to "not to be swayed by mere sentiment, conjecture,

sympathy, passion, prejudice, public opinion or public feeling." This Court has repeatedly held that jury

instructions are to viewed as a whole. See Smith v. State, 835 So.2d 927, 937 (Miss. 2002) ("Jury

instructions are to be read together and taken as a whole with no one jury instruction taken out of content");

Milano v. State, 790 So.2d 179, 183 (Miss. 2001) ("When considering a challenged to a jury instruction

on appeal, we do not review jury instructions in isolation; rather, we read them as a whole to determine if

the jury was properly instruction."). 

¶130. This Court finds that this issue is without merit. Scott's concern that the jury know what aggravating

circumstances should be considered in sentencing was adequately addressed in instruction S-1A.

XV. Sentencing Instructions

¶131. Scott argues that the sentencing instruction given by the trial court improperly instructed the jury

that it had to unanimously find that mitigating circumstances exist, and that those mitigating circumstances

must outweigh any aggravating circumstances. The record reflects that in instruction S-1A which was also

discussed in Issue XIV, the trial court gave in pertinent part the following instruction on mitigating

circumstances:

If one or more of the above aggravating circumstances is found to exist beyond a

reasonable doubt, then you must consider whether there are mitigating circumstances which
60

outweigh the aggravating circumstance (s). Consider the following elements of mitigation

in determining whether the death penalty should be imposed:

(1) any matter, any other aspect of the defendant's character or

record, any other circumstance of the offense brought to you

during the trial of this cause which you, the jury, deem to be

mitigating on behalf of the defendant.

If you find from the evidence that one or more of the preceding elements of

mitigating exists, then you must consider whether it (or they) outweigh(s) or overcome(s)

the aggravating circumstance(s) you previously found. In the event that you find that the

mitigating circumstance(s) do not outweigh or overcome the aggravating circumstance(s),

you may impose the death sentence.

¶132. The trial court's instruction does not state that the jury must unanimously find the existence of

mitigating circumstances. Scott contends that because the trial court specifically instructed the jury that they

had to unanimously find the existence of one or more of the aggravating circumstances to impose the death

penalty, then the trial court should have specifically stated that the jury did not have to unanimously find the

existence of mitigating circumstances. We find that this issue is wholly without merit and contrary to prior

holdings of this Court. 

¶133. First, the State argues that Scott never objected to the instruction, and Scott does not indicate

where in the record he ever voiced any objection to the wording of the sentencing instruction as to

mitigating circumstances. Therefore, the State submits that Scott is procedurally barred from now raising

any objection for the first time on appeal. See Williams v. State, 684 So.2d at 1203.

¶134. Second, this Court has repeatedly approved sentencing instructions similar to the one in the case

sub judice. In Edwards v. State, 737 So.2d 275, 313 (Miss. 1999), the Court addressed similar

argument raised regarding the requirement for an unanimous finding as to aggravating circumstances but

silence as the need for a unanimous finding as to mitigating circumstances. The Court did not require the
61

instruction to specifically stated that the jury was not required to unanimously find the existence of mitigating

circumstances. Id. Silence, as we have in the case sub judice, was proper. Id. The Court stated:

In Shell v. State, 554 So.2d 887 (Miss. 1989), this Court addressed this very issue

holding that since "unanimous" was only found in section for aggravating circumstances

there was no corresponding requirement for the mitigating circumstances. Shell v. State,

554 So.2d 887, 905 (Miss. 1989), rev'd on other grounds, 498 U.S. 1, 111 S.Ct. 313,

112 L.Ed.2d 1 (1990). In the present case, there is no such unanimity requirement for

mitigating circumstances in these instructions. Instructions CS-2 and CS-3 required a

unanimous finding beyond a reasonable doubt of aggravating circumstances. It cannot be

reasonably inferred that the silence of instruction CS-2 as to finding mitigating

circumstances would likely cause the jury to assume that unanimity was also a requirement.

This assignment of error is without merit.

737 So.2d at 313.

¶135. Scott argued that the sentencing instruction violated the holdings of Mills v. Maryland, 486 U.S.

367, 108 S.Ct. 1860, 100 L.Ed.2d 384 (1988) and McKoy v. North Carolina, 494 U.S. 433, 110

S.Ct. 1227, 108 L.Ed.2d 369 (1990). This Court in Davis v. State, 684 So.2d 643, 664-65 (Miss.

1996), addressed the same argument made by Scott regarding Mills and McKoy. The Court stated:

Davis complains that the jury was never instructed that mitigating circumstances

were to be found individually and not unanimously prior to being considered in the weighing

process. In summary, Davis argues that because findings of aggravating circumstances had

to be unanimous, reasonable jurors may have reached a like conclusion concerning the

finding of mitigating circumstances. Davis relies upon McKoy v. North Carolina, 494

U.S. 433, 110 S.Ct. 1227, 108 L.Ed.2d 369 (1990); Mills v. Maryland, 486 U.S.

367, 108 S.Ct. 1860, 100 L.Ed.2d 384 (1988); and State v. McNeil, 327 N.C. 388,

395 S.E.2d 106 (1990), cert. denied,North Carolina v. McNeil, 499 U.S. 942, 111

S.Ct. 1403, 113 L.Ed.2d 459 (1991) (holding that oral instructions which require a jury

to find mitigating circumstances unanimously to be reversible error).

Other courts have extended the holdings of McKoy and Mills to reverse death

sentences where the jury was not told explicitly that mitigating circumstances are to be

found and weighed by individual jurors. However, this Court in Hansen v. State, 592

So.2d 114, 149-50 (Miss. 1991), declined to extend these holdings. Where the

instruction does not use the words "unanimously" nor "unanimous" in the mitigating

circumstances portion of the jury instructions "but instead is found only in the aggravating

circumstances portion," we have held that the instruction does not offend the holding in
62

Mills. Id. This Court has previously rejected this argument. See, e.g., Ladner v. State,

584 So.2d 743, 760 (Miss. 1991); Willie v. State, 585 So.2d 660, 681 (Miss. 1991);

Turner v. State, 573 So.2d 657, 668 (Miss. 1990); and Shell v. State, 554 So.2d 887

(Miss. 1989), reversing on other grounds, 498 U.S. 1, 111 S.Ct. 313, 112 L.Ed.2d

1 (1990).

As to mitigating circumstances, Sentencing Instruction S-2 in the case sub judice

reads:

Next, to return the death penalty, you must find that the mitigating

circumstances -- those which tend to warrant the less severe penalty of life

imprisonment -- do not outweigh the aggravating circumstances -- those

which tend to warrant the death penalty.

If you find from the evidence that one or more of the proceeding elements

of mitigation exists, then you must consider whether it (or they)

outweigh(s) or overcome(s) the aggravating circumstance(s) you

previously found. In the event that you find that the mitigating

circumstance(s) do not outweigh or overcome the aggravating

circumstance(s), you may impose the death penalty sentence. Should you

find that the mitigating circumstance(s) outweigh or overcome the

aggravating circumstance(s), you shall not impose the death sentence....

Davis fails to highlight any portion of the record in which the jury was instructed orally or

in writing that it should unanimously find mitigating circumstances. As it stands, Instruction

S-2 is not violative of the Mills/McKoy/McNeil line of cases. At no point was the jury

instructed that it was to determine mitigating circumstances unanimously. Had there been

an instruction to the jury that they were to find mitigating circumstances unanimously, then

Davis would have presented a meritorious claim. 

¶136. This Court finds that this assignment of error is without merit. Scott's argument ignores prior

holdings by this Court.

XVI. Defining Mitigation

¶137. Scott complains that the trial court gave the standard of proof for aggravating circumstances

numerous times in the instructions, yet never defined the standard of proof for mitigation. He claims that

the instruction that was given failed to adequately define the standard for mitigation and the jury was

uncertain, therefore, as to the standard to use when weighing the evidence of beyond a reasonable doubt
63

or preponderance of the evidence. The State asserts that Scott did not object to the instruction and it is

procedurally barred on appellate review. Indeed, the record reflects that Scott did not object to the

instruction.

¶138. This Court in Holland v. State, 705 So.2d 307, 354 (Miss. 1997), found no error when an

instruction failed to give the burden of proof for any mitigating factors. This Court held:

Holland also asserts that denial of the original D-22 was error. The amended D-22 omitted

the part of the original D-22 which stated, "You must find a mitigating circumstance if it is

proven by a preponderance of the evidence."

Holland cites no support for his assertion. Accordingly, it is barred under Kelly v. State,

553 So.2d 517, 521 (Miss.1989). Furthermore, alternatively, considering the merits

of this issue, this Court's holding in Conner v. State, 632 So.2d 1239,

1271-72 (Miss.1993), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 927, 115 S.Ct. 314, 130 L.Ed.2d

276 (1994), expressly refused to find error in an instruction which did not

give the exact burden of proof for mitigating factors. Thus, there is no

merit to this issue. 

Holland, 705 So.2d at 354 (emphasis added). Accordingly, we find that the trial court did not err by not

giving an instruction with the burden of proof for mitigating factors. This issue is without merit.

XVII. Avoiding Lawful Arrest Aggravator

¶139. Scott argues that "the trial court impermissibly submitted to the jury the aggravating circumstances

that the capital offense was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing a lawful arrest." Scott

further alleges that "no evidence was placed into evidence by the prosecution as to this aggravating

circumstance and none can be logically deduced from the evidence." Scott does not provide any relevant

authority, other than citing Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101(5) in support of his position. The jury
7

 Additionally, the jury also unanimously found the aggravating circumstance that Scott committed

the capital offense while engaged in or as an accomplice to the commission of the crime of robbery. 

64

unanimously found the aggravating circumstance that Scott committed the capital offense for the purpose

of avoiding or preventing a lawful arrest.7

¶140. The State argues that the evidence presented at trial amply supported the submission of this

aggravating circumstance. Alternatively, the State correctly contends that this Court is required to perform

a re-weighing/harmless error analysis should it determine that the "preventing a lawful arrest" aggravating

circumstance is invalid. See Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-105(5)(b). See also McGilberry v. State, 843

So.2d 21, 29 (Miss. 2003) ([I]f it deems an aggravator invalid, the Court is authorized to re-weigh the

remaining aggravators against the mitigating circumstances and affirm, hold the error to be harmless, or

remand for a new sentencing hearing).

¶141. Under Mississippi law, the death penalty may be imposed only where the jury unanimously finds

in writing that sufficient aggravating circumstances exist. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101(3)(b). One such

aggravating factor requires the jury to consider whether "[t]he capital offense was committed for the

purpose of avoiding or preventing a lawful arrest or effecting an escape from custody." Miss. Code Ann.

§ 99-19-101(5)(e).

¶142. "The standard for reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support an avoiding lawful arrest

instruction is well-settled[.]" Wiley v. State, 750 So.2d 1193, 1206 (Miss. 1999) (quoting Woodward

v. State, 726 So.2d 524, 541 (Miss. 1997) (internal quotation marks omitted)).

Each case must be decided on its own peculiar facts. If there is evidence from which is my

be reasonably inferred that a substantial reason for the killing was to conceal the identity

of the killer or killers or to 'cover their tracks' so as to avoid apprehension and eventual

arrest by authorities, then it is proper for the court to allow the jury to consider this

aggravating circumstance.
65

Wiley, 750 So.2d at 1206 (quoting Chase v. State, 645 So.2d 829, 858 (Miss. 1994)). Therefore, this

Court must determine whether "' there is any credible evidence upon which the jury could find the

aggravating circumstance in question.'" Id. (quoting Woodward, 726 So.2d at 541).

¶143. This Court has considered the "preventing lawful arrest" aggravating circumstance in numerous

cases. See, e.g., Hughes v. State, 735 So.2d 238 (Miss. 1999); Wiley v. State, 750 So.2d 1193

(Miss. 1999); Walker v. State, 740 So.2d 873 (Miss. 1999); Edwards v. State, 737 So.2d 275

(Miss. 1999); Foster v. State, 687 So.2d 1124 (Miss. 1996); Brown v. State, 682 So.2d 340 (Miss.

1997); Taylor v. State, 672 So.2d 1246 (Miss. 1996).

¶144. The Court's analysis on this issue is fact specific. Therefore, a review of the record is necessary

to determine whether the aggravating circumstance was properly submitted to the jury. The crimes in this

case were committed in Boyle, Mississippi. Scott did not live in Boyle or in Cleveland, Mississippi.

Therefore, the State argues that Scott and Lynch went to another town where their identities would be

unknown. Additionally, the State argues that Scott and Lynch followed Lee home rather than trying to take

his automobile at a public place. Scott testified that he "laid the seat all way back." The State submits he

laid the seat back to presumably avoid being seen or identified while waiting.

¶145. Two shots were fired at Lee's wife, Lurline. Lurline testified that when she opened the garage door

to see what was going on, Scott saw her and fired at her. Lurline testified that she ducked, narrowly

missing being shot and locked herself in the bathroom to call for assistance. Scott presumably did not want

Lurline to be able to later provide eye-witness identification.

¶146. Moreover, the State argues that the facts indicate that Scott and Lynch had "plotted from the

beginning to avoid arrest and cover their tracks." The State contends that it is reasonable to infer that Scott

and Lynch had planned to meet back up at the old gin in Bobo to hid the stolen car. 
66

¶147. Scott testified that he fled from the scene in the Lee's automobile. Officer Haney testified that he

chased Scott at speeds of up to 115 miles per hour, but he never caught up with the automobile. The

vehicle was found in an area that was "pretty well growed up" with "heavy weeds" behind the old gin in

Bobo. The gun used to kill Lee, Scott's jacket and wallet, which contained his identification, were found

near the abandoned automobile. Scott left the automobile in Bobo and returned home to Davenport by

getting a ride. Upon arriving at home, he changed clothes "because blood and stuff was on [his] pants and

everything." 

¶148. When Scott was arrested, he gave two different statements to the police before later testifying to

something different at trial. See Manning v. State, 735 So.2d 323, 350 (Miss. 1999) (where the

defendant lied to police and denied being present at the crime scene acted to support "avoiding lawful

arrest" as an aggravator).

¶149. Considering the sizeable amount of evidence in the record to support the aggravating factor, we

conclude that there is sufficient evidence from which it may be reasonably inferred that a substantial reason

for killing Lee was to conceal the identity of the killer or killers so as to avoid apprehension and eventual

arrest by authorities. Therefore, we find that the trial judge did not err in charging the jury as to the

"preventing lawful arrest" aggravator. Furthermore, as the record indicates, the jury also concluded that

Scott was engaged or acting as an accomplice in the commission of robbery which is another aggravating

factor.

XVIII. Sympathy Instruction.

¶150. Scott next argues that the trial court erred by instructing the jury that it could not consider sympathy.

 He cites to three portions of the record to support his proposition. These three instances occurred (1)

soon after the jury pool gathered together, (2) at the sentencing phase closing statements and (3) an
67

“antisympathy” instruction during guilt phase closing arguments. He claims that he has a right to not have

the jury instructed that they can disregard sympathy in toto. The instructions at issue are as follows:

1. Jury pool

Juror must be as free as humanly possible from bias, prejudice or

sympathy. And jurors must not be influenced by preconceived ideas,

either as to facts or as to the law.

2. Closing arguments (sentencing phase)

You should consider and weigh any aggravating and mitigating

circumstances as set forth later in this instruction, but you are cautioned

not to be swayed by mere sentiment, conjecture, sympathy, passion,

prejudice, public opinion, or public feeling.

3. Closing argument guilt phase 

It is your duty to determine the facts and to determine them from the

evidence that has been produced here in open court. You’re to apply the

law to the facts, and in this way, of course, you shall decide the case. You

should not be influenced by bias, sympathy or prejudice. Your verdicts

should be based on the evidence and not upon speculation, guesswork or

conjecture.

¶151. In Jordan v. State, 786 So.2d 987, 1025 (Miss. 2001), this Court addressed a similar issue

concerning sympathy instructions. This Court held:

Jordan claims that the court should not have given Instruction No. C-1, that the jury was

not to be influenced by sympathy. We have considered this exact issue in Holland v.

State, 705 So.2d at 351, where we approved a jury instruction which reads verbatim like

the one about which Jordan complains. In Holland, we found that such an instruction

does not mean that the jury should totally disregard sympathy and is, therefore,

permissible.

Jordan, 786 So.2d at 1025. Jordan does not give the language of the instruction other than to say the

language is “verbatim” in Holland. Accordingly, the language in Holland at issue was the following: 

The trial court instructed the jury in C-1 that it could not be influenced

by bias, sympathy, or prejudice, and that the verdict could not be based
68

upon speculation, guesswork or conjecture. Holland states that this instruction

was error. See Pinkney v. State, 538 So.2d 329, 351 (Miss.1988), vacated on other

grounds by Pinkney v. Mississippi, 494 U.S. 1075, 110 S.Ct. 1800, 108 L.Ed.2d 931

(1990). Holland's proposed instruction left out the word sympathy.

Recent Mississippi caselaw permits a C-1 type instruction if the instruction does not totally

shut off consideration of sympathy. Willie v. State, 585 So.2d 660, 677 (Miss.1991).

Court has also held that the use of the words "not to be influenced by sympathy" does not

mean that the jury is instructed to disregard sympathy. Ladner v. State, 584 So.2d 743,

759 (Miss.1991), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 1015, 112 S.Ct. 663, 116 L.Ed.2d 754 (1991).

Holland, 705 So.2d at 351 (emphasis added). Scott relies in part on King v. State, 784 So.2d 884,

889 (Miss. 2001), in which “King insists that no two instructions could have more clearly instructed the jury

to disregard sympathy in toto than ‘[y]ou ... must not consider sympathy as part of this case’ and ‘sympathy

[can] have no part in your deliberations.’" Id.

¶152. In King we held:

InBlue v. State, 674 So.2d 1184, 1225 (Miss.1996), we approved an instruction which

read in pertinent part as follows: 

[Y]ou are cautioned not to be swayed by mere sentiment, conjecture,

sympathy, passion, prejudice, public opinion or public feeling. 

"[B]ecause the instruction does not inform the jury that it must disregard in toto sympathy

... the instruction is a proper statement of the law." Id. While we have approved this type

of general instruction admonishing the jury not to be swayed by "sympathy" unrelated to

the evidence, we have guarded against any undue emphasis of the anti-sympathy

admonition so as not to fetter unduly reasoned consideration of factors offered as

mitigating. See Willie v. State, 585 So.2d 660, 677 (Miss.1991). We do this in full

recognition of the fact that the line between a rational and an emotional response is often

dim.

King, 784 So.2d at 889. This Court finds that the trial court never told the jury to completely disregard

sympathy in toto in violation of the Eighth Amendment. King, 784 So.2d at 899. “We have repeatedly

held that under the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ‘a jury may not be instructed to disregard,
69

in toto, sympathy’ in a capital case.” Id. (citing Pinkney v. State, 538 So.2d 329, 351 (Miss.1988),

vacated and remanded on other grounds, 494 U.S. 1075, 110 S.Ct. 1800, 108 L.Ed.2d 931

(1990)). Rather, this trial judge merely instructed the jury to “be as free as humanly possible from

...sympathy”, not to be “influenced” and not to be “swayed” by sympathy. Unlike the trial judge in King,

the trial judge here did not instruct the jury with the same language, that being “[y]ou ... must not consider

sympathy” and “sympathy [can] have no part in your deliberations” nor did he instruct the jury to definitively

disregard sympathy in toto. Further, the language of the trial court here has already passed muster with this

Court. See Holland, 705 So.2d at 351, Blue v. State, 674 So.2d at 1225; Ladner v. State, 584

So.2d at 759. Further, the jury received a catch-all instruction which stated:

Consider the following elements of mitigation in determining whether the death penalty

should not be imposed: Any matter - - any other aspect of the defendant’s character or

record, any other circumstances of the offense brought to you during the trial of this cause

which you, the jury, deem to be mitigating on behalf of the defendant. 

"This Court long has accepted the use of a 'catch-all' to encompass any mitigating circumstances not

specifically enumerated under Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101(6)[concerning the jury determination of death

penalty mitigating factors]." Wiley v. State, 750 So.2d 1193, 1204 (Miss. 1999) (quoting Jackson v.

State, 684 So.2d at 1213, 1238 (Miss. 1996)). We find that the language used by the trial court to

instruct the jury is well recognized as within the acceptable parameters designated in prior cited case law

by this Court and the jury also had the catch-all instruction in which it could consider any other matter.

Accordingly, this Court finds that the trial court did not err in giving these instructions and this issue is

without merit.

XIX. Photographs
70

¶153. Scott asserts that the trial court erred in allowing crime scene photographs of the victim into

evidence. Scott argues that the photographs offered little if any probative value. Specifically, Scott

references photographs S-36E and S-36 A-H. The defense erroneously refers to S-36 A-H as autopsy

photographs in its brief. However, the autopsy photographs are exhibits S-38 A-H.

¶154. The defense interestingly contends in this issue that "the identity of the perpetrators was hardly an

issue in this case. Kevin Scott and Leroy Lynch both gave statements to the police detailing their

involvement and numerous witnesses testified as to their identities." The defense further argues that the

photographs should not have been admitted into evidence because "the photographs were not needed to

prove any fact that was important to the State's case."

¶155. At trial, Scott objected to photograph S-36-E being admitted into evidence. Photograph S-36-E,

which was admitted by the first officer on the scene, Officer Quinton, was admitted during the guilt phase.

The photograph was of Lee's body taken from a distance, lying on the empty carport with emergency

personnel providing medical assistance. Lee's clothes, except for his underwear, had been removed by

the emergency personnel. As noted, by the trial court, no blood is shown in the photograph.

¶156. The record reflects the following exchange:

Defense: I will repeat my objection. I am objecting to S-36E for being more

prejudicial than probative.

The Court: May I see it, please? (Court reviews photograph.)

Your response Mr. Mellen?

State: I do not see how it would be prejudicial at all. This is the victim's -- at

the scene.

The Court: All right. Well, let me ask that you suggest to the Court that tends to

corroborate the testimony of Commander Quinton.

State: Well, Your Honor, he had stated that he arrived there, that the victim was

in the scene. He's shown a diagram where the victim's body is depicted

in the diagram. And then the witness has testified that personnel did arrive

and attempted to resuscitate. And -- could I approach just a moment with

Mr. Wong?
71

The Court: Yes, sir.

(CONFERENCE AT THE BENCH BETWEEN THE COURT AND

COUNSEL WITHOUT THE HEARING OF THE JURY AS

FOLLOWS, TO-WIT:)

State: Your Honor, you may recall that I had attempted to introduce several

photographs last time, and I think there was an objection because of the

number of them. We did not do that, but I ask to be allowed to introduce

one. And I'm only attempting to introduce the one --

The Court: You'll have to put something in the record to show probative value, that's

all.

State: Yes, sir. And this is the victim at the scene. And actually, there's not

blood or no anything. It just shows him with his clothing removed.

The Court: I was going to note that.

State: Yes, sir.

The Court:

(BENCH CONFERENCE CONCLUDED. THE FOLLOWING

PROCEEDINGS WERE HELD WITHIN THE HEARING OF THE

JURY AS FOLLOWS, TO-WIT:)

The Court: All right. Mr. Mellen, did you wish to say anything further in terms of the

probative value?

State: Your Honor, it just simply shows what the witness has testified to and the

victim there in the carport within a few moments of his arrival.

The Court: All right. The Court finds that the picture does not show any gruesome

scenes, that the picture does tend to corroborate the testimony of

Commander Quinton; therefore, the probative value does outweigh any

suggestive prejudicial effects. And in accordance therewith, it is hereby

admitted into evidence.

(WHEREUPON EXHIBIT 36-E IS RECEIVED IN EVIDENCE.)

¶157. In addition to S-36-E, Scott contends that the autopsy photographs, S-38-A-H, should not have

been admitted. The record reflects that the autopsy photographs were introduced, over the defendant's

objection, during the testimony of Dr. Hayne. The trial court conducted a bench conference as to the

photographs during which the following exchange occurred:

Defense: Your Honor, for purposes of the record, we are going to object to S-36A

through H [sic] [S-38A-H] inclusive, which are all -- I think the autopsy

photographs of Dr. Hayne concerning Mr. Richard Lee. I don't think they

are needed to clarify the testimony of Dr. Hayne. He has adequately

shown the results, and I think they're more prejudicial than probative is the

issue.
72

The Court: Okay. Let me go through them once more. And I have them back in

correct order. (Court reviews photographs.) The Court finds that the

pictures are not gruesome, that they are consistent with testimony given;

therefore, they tend to corroborate the testimony of Dr. Steven Hayne.

So the objection is overruled. The defendant's objection is noted on the

record.

Defense: All right.

¶158. This Court held that the admissibility of pictures of gruesome crime scenes is within the sound

discretion of the trial court. Chatman v. State, 761 So.2d 851, 854 (Miss. 2001). Reversal of the trial

court will occur only where there is a clear abuse of discretion. Id.; Davis v. State, 551 So.2d 165, 173

(Miss. 1989). "The discretion of the trial judge 'runs toward almost unlimited admissibility regardless of

the gruesomeness, repetitiveness, and the extenuation of probative value.'" Spann v. State, 771 So.2d

883, 895 (Miss. 2000) (quoting Williams v. State, 544 So.2d 782, 785 (Miss. 1987)). Some probative

value is the only requirement needed in order to support a trial judge's decision to admit photographs into

evidence. Jordan v. State, 728 So.2d 1088, 1094 (Miss. 1998).

¶159. Photographs are considered to have evidentiary value in the following instances:

(1) aid in describing the circumstances of the killing;

(2) describe the location of the body and cause of death;

(3) supplement or clarity witness testimony.

Spann v. State, 771 So.2d at 895 (quoting Westbrook v. State, 658 So.2d 847 (Miss. 1995)).

¶160. In Davis v. State, 551 So.2d at 173, this Court held that "photographs of the victim should not

ordinarily be admitted into evidence where the killing is not contradicted or denied, and the corpus delicti

and the identity of the deceased have been established." However, this Court stated that photographs of

bodies may be admitted into evidence if they have probative value, are not too gruesome and are not used

in an overly prejudicial or inflammatory way in a criminal case. Id. In Davis, this Court recognized that
73

the defendant killed the victim and as such there was no need to establish the identity of the killer or victim.

Id. The Court found that the photographs had probative value and were properly admitted into evidence.

Id.

¶161. Despite the objections at trial, Scott erroneously claims on appeal that the photographs had no

probative value since Scott's identity as the perpetrator was not an issue. However, in other issues, unlike

inDavis, defense counsel denies that Scott had anything to do with Lee's murder. Clearly, Scott has not

established that the trial court erred in admitting the photographs. This Court finds that this issue is without

merit.

XX. Jury Deliberations.

¶162. Scott contends that the trial court erred by returning the jury to deliberate after the jury had returned

a verdict less than death. The record reflects the following:

The Court: Juror No. 11 again. Has the jury reached a verdict?

Juror No. 11: We have.

The Court: Is that verdict unanimous?

Juror No. 11: No, it’s not.

The Court: All 12 of you did not agree on the verdict?

Juror No. 11: No, we did not.

The Court: I think I know what it is.

(CONFERENCE AT THE BENCH BETWEEN THE COURT AND

COUNSEL WITHOUT THE HEARING OF THE JURY AS

FOLLOWS, TO-WIT:)

Defense: There is an - - if I may, if (inaudible) one of the three choices, I’m

denying unanimity of a sentence.

The Court: Wait a minute.

State: I don’t understand a word he said.

Defense: All right. I think one of the choices was a unanimity of the

sentence as the choices, That’s the three choices that they had,

life, death, or we can’t reach an agreement.

The Court: All right. Do ya’ll [have] any problem with the Court looking into

the verdict?

State: Yes, sir. I don’t think you should. I think they should be sent

back, actually, and try to reach a verdict.
74

The Court: I think - - I could be in error, but I think what it is, is that due to

their failure to reach a unanimous verdict, they have chosen the

third option.

State: Well, i understand that. I mean, that is definitely what they’re

doing, but - - 

The Court: I understand what you’re saying.

Defense: All right.

The Court: Okay.

(BENCH CONFERENCE CONCLUDED. THE FOLLOWING

PROCEEDINGS WERE HELD WITHIN THE HEARING OF THE

JURY AS FOLLOWS, TO-WIT:)

The Court: To the jury, I take it that you are saying to the Court that - - and

I think you have already said to the Court all 12 of you could not

agree upon a verdict, but you have nevertheless, in some way or

another, reached a decision as to what you would do; is that

correct?

Juror No. 11: That is correct.

The Court: Let me ask, would further deliberation among yourselves enhance

the chances of you reaching some consensus as to a verdict in this

case?

Juror No. 11: We tried, Your Honor.

The Court: I know you did try. But I’m asking are there any chances?

Juror No. 11: No, sir.

The Court: After - - if the Court admonishes you all to go back and

deliberate further - - 

Juror No. 11: - - we could try.

The Court: All right. One moment, please.

Okay. In such an instance as this, the Court routinely reads an

additional instruction for you. I ask that you give it your careful

attention.

Defense: Your Honor, before we do that, can we approach the bench at

this time?

The Court: Yes, sir.

(CONFERENCE AT THE BENCH BETWEEN THE COURT AND

COUNSEL WITHOUT THE HEARING OF THE JURY AS

FOLLOWS, TO-WIT:)

Defense: They have chosen a non[-]unanimity as a verdict, and that means

they have a split somewhere. We will accept that.

State: Well, we don’t.

Defense: I mean, I - - okay. Well, I mean, I’m just letting you know for the

record that we accept it. All right. And the State has stated that

they don’t. I just want that on the record that we would accept

a nonunanimity - -
75

State: Judge, I think the record ought to show that they knocked in

something like 30 minutes of deliberation, and only that, for 29

minutes.

Defense: No, 33.

The Court: Okay.

Defense: All right.

(BENCH CONFERENCE CONCLUDED. THE FOLLOWING

PROCEEDINGS WERE HELD WITHIN THE HEARING OF THE

JURY AS FOLLOWS, TO-WIT:)

The Court: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, this is an instruction that the law

compels the presiding Judge to read in an instance where there is

nota unanimous verdict in a criminal case. Again, I ask that you

give it your careful attention.

I know that it was impossible - - I’m sorry, let me start again. I

know that it is possible for honest men and women to have honest

different opinions about the facts of the case, but if it is possible

to reconcile the differences of opinion and decide the case, then

you should do so accordingly. 

I remind you that the Court originally instructed you that the

verdict of the jury must represent the considered judgment of each

juror. It is your duty as jurors to consult with one another and to

deliberate in view of reaching an agreement if you can do so

without violence to you individual judgment. Each of you must

decide the case for yourself, but only after an impartial

consideration fo evidence with your fellow jurors.

In the course of your deliberations, do not hesitate to reexamine

your own views and change your opinions if you are convinced

that it is erroneous. Bt do not surrender your honest convictions

as to the weight or effect of the evidence solely because of the

opinion of your fellow jurors of for the mere purpose of returning

a verdict. 

I ask, therefore, that you please continue your deliberations.

Please return to the jury room.

After further deliberations, the jury unanimously found that Scott should suffer the death penalty for the

killing of Lee.
76

¶163. Scott argues that the jury instructions gave the jury three options; those being, the death penalty,

life imprisonment without parole and the jury’s inability to agree unanimously on a punishment. Relying

uponBullington v. Missouri, 451 U.S. 430, 101 S.Ct. 1852, 68 L.Ed.2d 270 (1981), Scott contends

that the prosecution failed to present a case in which all jurors were convinced of the imposition of the death

penalty, therefore, the trial judge should have sentenced Scott to life imprisonment. From these

proceedings, Scott appears to maintain that he actually received a life sentence but for the fact that the trial

court incorrectly subjected him to a second capital sentencing determination by sending the jury back for

further deliberations. Scott argues that the first time the jury came out of deliberations and told the judge

that they had no unanimous verdict, he should have received life imprisonment. He argues that sending the

jury back for further deliberations violated the double jeopardy clause of the Fifth Amendment

¶164. The State argues that this issue is procedurally barred by Scott’s failure to object, not raising the

issues at trial, nor requesting a mistrial citing Williams v. State, 684 So.2d at 1203. Even assuming ad

arguendo that the defense objected by claiming he would accept a non-unanimous verdict, the State claims

that Scott never claimed a due process or double jeopardy violation and thus the issue was not preserved

for appellate review. We find that the State is correct, Scott never objected at trial and never raised the

due process or double jeopardy claims.

¶165. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-103 states in part: “If the jury cannot, within a reasonable time, agree

as to punishment, the judge shall dismiss the jury and impose a sentence of imprisonment for life.”

However, in Smith v. State, 729 So.2d 1191, 1221 (Miss. 1998), this Court held that pursuant to the

statute, the trial court determines what constitutes a “reasonable time.” “[I]t was up to the trial judge to

dismiss the jury and impose a life sentence if the jury had not reached a verdict within a reasonable amount

of time. The trial judge was in a much better position than this Court to determine what was in fact a
77

reasonable time.” Id. Here, no imposition of a life sentence was given by the jury, and the trial court

determined what the reasonable time period was for the jury. 

¶166. Scott made no objection at trial based on double jeopardy, and he did not request a mistrial.

Although we review death penalty cases under a heightened standard of scrutiny, our contemporaneous

objection rule nevertheless remains unaltered and applicable in such cases. Williams, 684 So.2d at 1203.

That is, the contemporaneous objection rule applies with equal force in death penalty cases, and we have

long “held that trial errors cannot be raised in this Court for the first time on appeal.” Id.(citing Jefferson

v. State, 386 So.2d 200, 202 (Miss. 1980)). Scott’s attorney stated at trial that he would accept a nonunanimous jury decision as the verdict. Specifically, he stated: “I’m just letting [the court] know for the

record that we accept it,” referring to the non-unanimous decision of the jury. This statement could not be

considered an objection. This is a statement of acquiescence, not opposition. Such a statement of

acceptance or acquiescence cannot be interpreted as an objection. Scott did not object on the grounds

of due process, and his acceptance of the decision as non-unanimous was not an objection at all. Because

Scott did not at the trial object on any ground, we are procedurally barred from considering this issue.

Even though this is a death penalty case subject to heightened scrutiny, Scott’s failure to make a timely

objection bars us from considering these arguments. 

¶167. The trial court's decision to return the jury to deliberate did not constitute plain error. Under

Mississippi law, juries have three options during the sentencing phase of a capital case. Specifically, the

jury must decide “whether the defendant should be sentenced to life imprisonment, life imprisonment without

the eligibility of parole, or death.” Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101. 

¶168. It is true that the jury foreperson stated the jury had not yet reached a unanimous verdict. The

foreperson also expressed doubt as to whether further deliberations would produce a unanimous verdict.
78

However, the jury foreperson stated the jury could endeavor to reach a unanimous verdict. The trial

court stated: “if the [c]ourt admonishes you all to go back and deliberate further,” and the foreperson

interrupted the question, stating, “we could try.” This is clearly not evidence of an inability to reach a

unanimous verdict. It is merely evidence of sharp disagreement between the jurors. Such disagreement

is natural in a stressful trial such as the one below. It is common that during jury deliberations in a death

penalty case there will be heated debates and passionate discussion of the issues, and reasonable people

disagree even in less serious cases. But what we have here is not a statement by the jury that they would

forever be unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The foreperson stated that the jury could try - that is,

try to resolve their disagreements and reach a unanimous verdict. It is also noteworthy that the jury had

only deliberated for thirty minutes, which obviously the trial judge considered as insufficient for discussion

regarding a death penalty case. 

¶169. Next, a signed jury instruction indicating a non-unanimous verdict in this case is in the court file.

However, nothing in the record demonstrates that the trial judge ever saw this document after it was given

to the jury. The State objected when the trial judge inquired whether to read the jury verdict. Because the

State objected, the judge did not read it and instead gave the jury an additional Sharplin instruction. If

a mistake was made, it was that the trial judge should have looked at whatever the jury foreman possessed.

He did not do so, and we cannot speculate. Thus, at the point the trial judge gave the Sharplin

instruction, there had been no jury verdict submitted to the court. 

¶170. At oral arguments before this Court, Scott’s defense counsel admitted he had fished out of a jury

room trash can a document which also purportedly shows that there was not a unanimous verdict. As

Scott's attorney, Wong, stated at oral arguments, he found it and “stuck it in the record.” However, this

document was not submitted by the jury to the trial court as a verdict. Also, it was not submitted on post-
79

trial motion to the trial court. The only reason we are even aware of this piece of trash recovered from the

receptacle is that Scott’s attorney had it added to the court papers after the trial. Thus, we find that the

only verdict actually given to the court was the one sentencing Scott to death, and we should give effect

to that legally-imposed sentence. 

¶171. The overriding and inescapable principle in this case is that this Court does not decide cases based

on items that are not in the record. More specifically, we cannot, should not, and before today, would not

reverse any case based on facts that are not in the official court record. It is inconceivable that any court

would make such a decision. We find that the trial court did not commit any error in sending the jury to

deliberate further. 

¶172. Of course, the two documents discussed previously appear in the court papers submitted to this

Court, but the trial judge never saw either of them. The only verdict in the record is the one sentencing

Scott to death by lethal injection. Deciding cases based on items found in the courtroom trash can and

mysteriously inserted into the record is not and should not become the business of this Court, or for that

matter, any court. 

¶173. Accordingly, we find that this issue is without merit.

XXI. Prosecutions misstatement of the law on mitigating circumstances.

¶174. Scott argues that the prosecution denigrated his evidence offered as mitigation factors at trial. In

addition, Scott argues that the prosecution misstated the law in three ways: (1) the jury was told their

responsibility under the law of God and man was to return a verdict for death; (2) the prosecution

attempted to persuade the jury that mitigating evidence was merely an “excuse”; and (3) the prosecution

implied that the prosecutors and jury share a common role in this case.
80

¶175. A review of the entire section of the closing statements by the prosecution and defense reveals that

there were no contemporaneous objections by defense counsel. This Court has held that contemporaneous

objects rules for the preservation of an issue on appeal apply in death penalty cases. Williams v. State,

684 So.2d at 1203; See also Simmons v. State, 805 So.2d 452, 489 (Miss. 2001)(death penalty

case); Cole v. State, 525 So.2d 365, 368 (Miss. 1988). Accordingly, this Court finds that this issue is

procedurally barred from review.

XXII. Juror's difficulty in answering questionnaire. 

¶176. Scott next complains that his constitutional rights of equal protection were violated by excluding

Juror 293, Geneva Bradley (Juror Bradley), from service without precisely knowing why she was unable

to complete the juror questionnaire.

¶177. Miss. Code Ann. § 13-5-1 requires that potential jurors are literate. The statute states:

Every citizen not under the age of twenty-one years, who is either a qualified

elector, or a resident freeholder of the county for more than one year, is able to read

and write, and has not been convicted of an infamous crime, or the unlawful sale of

intoxicating liquors within a period of five years and who is not a common gambler or

habitual drunkard, is a competent juror. No person who is or has been within twelve

months the overseer of a public road or road contractor shall, however, be competent to

serve as a grand juror. The lack of any such qualifications on the part of one or more jurors

shall not, however, vitiate an indictment or verdict. Moreover, no talesman or tales juror

shall be qualified who has served as such talesman or tales juror in the last preceding two

years, and no juror shall serve on any jury who has served as such for the last preceding

two years. No juror shall serve who has a case of his own pending in that court, provided

there are sufficient qualified jurors in the

district,

and for

trial at

that

term.

In order to determine that prospective jurors can read and write, the

presiding judge shall, with the assistance of the clerk, distribute to the
81

jury panel a form to be completed personally by each juror prior to being

empaneled as follows:

"1. Your name __________ Last __________ First __________

Middle initial

2. Your home address __________

3. Your occupation __________

4. Your age __________

5. Your telephone number __________ If none, write none

6. If you live outside the county seat, the number of miles you live

from the courthouse __________ Miles

__________ 

Sign your name"

The judge shall personally examine the answers of each juror prior to

empaneling the jury and each juror who cannot complete the above form

shall be disqualified as a juror and discharged.

A list of any jurors disqualified for jury duty by reason of inability to complete the form

shall be kept by the circuit clerk and their names shall not be placed in the jury box

thereafter until such person can qualify as above provided.

Miss. Code Ann. § 13-5-1 (emphasis added). Clearly, this statute provides that among other things a

competent juror be able to read and write. In order to determine whether a prospective juror can read or

write, a form is distributed with questions to filled out by the juror. Prior to empaneling the jury, the judge

will review the questionnaire answers and any juror who is unable to complete the form shall be disqualified

and discharged. 

¶178. The record shows the following exchange:

The Court: The law requires that all jurors be able to read and write. And in

order to accomplish this, a form has been prescribed which

consists of six questions. They must be answered by you, and
82

they must be answered by you in your own handwriting. Let me

ask: Are each of you able to read and write? Do we have anyone

sitting among us who cannot read and write?

 (No jurors respond in the affirmative.)

The Court: That's very good for such a large pool or jurors.

(Juror no. 293 responds.)

Almost very good. Come forward please.

Deputy Anderson: 293.

(Conference at the bench between court and juror. )

The Court: Geneva Bradley? How far did you go in school?

Juror Bradley: Sixth. Sixth grade.

The Court: Well, you have to know our ABC's, you have to know how to

count.

Juror Bradley: I know all of that. I know all of that.

The Court: Who filled this form here out?

Juror Bradley: I got my sister-in-law. Her name is Debra.

The Court: You got who to fill it out?

Juror Bradley: My sister-in-law. Her name is Debra.

The Court: Where is she?

Juror Bradley: I don't know.

The Court: You can't fill out your own form?

Juror Bradley: I can fill out some things.

The Court: What are you doing about your problem? are you - - do you

know they have courses over in the library in Cleveland?

Juror Bradley: I ain't going to school. I hadn't started to school because I have - - my

mother is sick and stuff, I just hadn't yet.

The Court: Do you have a driver's license?

Juror Bradley: No.

The Court: Why you don't have a driver's license?

Juror Bradley: Well, I just hadn't gotten it.

The Court: All right. you may go.

Juror Bradley: Thank you.

The Court: 293

(Juror no. 293 excused.)

¶179. Scott claims that Bradley was never asked directly whether she could read and understand

documents. Scott then argues that it is just as plausible that she suffered from a "physical limitation" that

prevented her from writing or driving than that she could not read or understand court documents. Scott

continues this logic by citing to numerous cases concerning equal protection and citing cases that do not
83

allow the disabled to be excluded from jury service simply because of a disability. He concludes his

argument by asserting that his conviction must be vacated because his constitutional rights were violated

by excluding Juror Bradley from the jury without knowing why she was unable to complete the

questionnaire.

¶180. This Court has upheld the requirement that jurors must have the ability to read and write. In

Edwards v. State, 737 So.2d 275, 318-19 (Miss. 1999), a death penalty case, this Court held that Miss.

Code Ann. § 13-5-1 literacy requirements are constitutional. Other cases have stated the following:

It is unclear from Milano's brief exactly what his complaint is in regards to Miss. Code

Ann. § 13-5-1 other than unconstitutionality. This statute provides that the jury venire can

be composed of (1) qualified electors, (2) persons 21 or older, and (3) persons who can

read and write. Miss.Code Ann. § 13-5-1.

This Court has previously considered the exclusion of persons under age 21 from jury

service and has consistently held that the exclusion does not violate the state or federal

constitution. Turner v. State, 573 So.2d 657, 666 (Miss.1990), rev'd on other grounds;

Irving v. State, 498 So.2d 305, 319 (Miss.1986), cert. denied, 481 U.S. 1042, 107

S.Ct. 1986, 95 L.Ed.2d 826 (1987); Fermo v. State, 370 So.2d 930, 934 (Miss.1979);

Joyce v. State, 327 So.2d 255, 261 (Miss.1976); Johnson v. State, 260 So.2d 436,

437 (Miss.1972).

Additionally, this Court has also upheld the requirement that jurors are required to be

literate. 

In Milano this Court relied upon Terrell v. State, 262 So.2d 179 (Miss.1972) which ruled on "the

predecessor statute to § 13-5-1, which also required that a prospective juror be able to read and write."

The Court reasoned that with the mix of cases in the court system in addition to the "numerous written

documents that are introduced into evidence, the requirement that a juror be able to read and write is

reasonable." Literacy requirements pursuant to § 13-5-1 are constitutional. Id. Indeed, in the murder

case, Wilson v. State, 574 So.2d 1324, 1331 (Miss. 1990), this Court stated that the Legislature has

"the power to prescribe the qualifications for jurors" and the "right to impose reasonable qualifications for
84

jurors when such qualifications do not violate the constitutional rights of accused persons to be tried by an

impartial jury." See also Jordan v. State, 786 So.2d 987, 1023-24 (Miss. 2001) ("We have held that

Mississippi's jury eligibility statute with regard to age and literacy is constitutional"). 

¶181. We find that this issue is without merit. The Legislature may impose reasonable requirements for

qualifying a prospective juror. Wilson, 574 So.2d at 1331. Miss. Code Ann. § 13-5-1 places a literacy

requirement on prospective jurors which this Court has upheld on numerous occasions. This Court finds

that the record reflects that the trial judge asked if there was anyone that could not read or write in the jury.

While Juror Bradley did not initially respond, she did come up to the bench and explain that she had

someone else filled out the questionnaire. She stated that she fill out "some things" on the form. 

¶182. The statute requires that a prospective juror who cannot complete the above form shall be

disqualified as a juror and discharged. Clearly, Juror Bradley stated that she could fill out some of the form

and she had her sister-in-law actually fill out the form for her. This Court finds that the trial judge was

within his discretion when he dismissed Juror Bradley based upon her answers and inability to complete

the form. Scott's argument that Juror Bradley was perhaps suffering from a physical limitation and also that

she was somehow a disabled person, this Court finds, is unfounded and speculative. Furthermore, we find

that the last alternate juror in this case was juror 71, accordingly Juror Bradley as juror 293 would never

have been on the jury in any event, and thus Scott cannot support a claim that Juror Bradley's discharge

in any way affected the final make up of his jury panel. 

XXIII. Discrimination: Race of the victim and race of the offender.

¶183. Scott argues that there is discrimination on the application of the death penalty in Mississippi. In

this case, Scott, a black male, was convicted of killing Lee, a white male. He claims that because he is a

black defendant and the victim is white, the race differences increases his chances of receiving the death
85

penalty by 500%. Scott suggests a reexamination of McCleskey v. Kemp, 481 U.S. 279, 107 S.Ct.

1756, 95 L.Ed.2d 262 (1987). ¶184. The State argues that Scott never raised this issue at trial, and it

is therefore barred. In the alternative, the State claims that Scott conceded that his argument is legally

insufficient. Indeed, the brief filed by Scott contains a section starting at issue XXII entitled as "preservation

issues" with a footnote stating:

As this is a capital case, Appellant has raised several issues which either this Court or the

United States Supreme Court has previously overruled. Appellant concedes the following

issues are foreclosed by existing precedent of the court and under a normal appeal he

would not address these issues; death, in its finality and byzantine rules of procedure, is

different. These issues are raised solely on a good faith basis to provide this Court an

opportunity to review its or the United States Supreme Court holdings (where so possible),

as well as to protect Scott's full panoply of rights should counsel have misguaged the

perceived strength of the issues raised herein and this Court deny Scott relief.

Finally, Scott presents these issues in order to preserve these issues for federal review,

either by the Supreme Court or lesser federal court. 

In McCleskey, the Court stated: 

Our analysis begins with the basic principle that a defendant who alleges an equal

protection violation has the burden of proving "the existence of purposeful

discrimination." Whitus v. Georgia, 385 U.S. 545, 550, 87 S.Ct. 643, 646, 17

L.Ed.2d 599 (1967). [FN10] A corollary to this principle is that a criminal defendant must

prove that the purposeful discrimination "had a discriminatory effect" on him. Wayte v.

United States, 470 U.S. 598, 608, 105

S.Ct.

1524,

1531,

8 4

L.Ed.2

d 547

(1985).

Thus, to

prevail

under

the

Equal

Protecti
86

o n

Clause,

McCle

skey

must

prove

that

the

decisi

onmak

ers in

his

case

acted

with

discri

minat

ory

purpo

se. He

offers

n o

evidenc

e

specific

to his

own

case

that

would

support

a n

inferenc

e that

racial

conside

rations

played

a part in

his

sentenc

e .

Instead,
87

he relies

solely

on the

Baldus

study.

[FN11]

McCle

skey

argues

that the

Baldus

study

compel

s an

inferenc

e that

his

sentenc

e rests

o n

purpos

eful

discrimi

nation.

McCle

skey's

claim

that

these

statistic

s are

sufficie

nt proof

o f

discrimi

nation,

without

regard

to the

facts of

a

particul

ar case,
88

would

extend

to all

capital

cases in

Georgi

a, at

least

where

the

victim

was

white

and the

defend

ant is

black.

McCleskey, 481 U.S. at 292-93 (footnotes omitted). Therefore, pursuant to McCleskey, Scott has the

burden of proving the existence of purposeful discrimination and in that he must prove that "the

decisionmakers in his case acted with discriminatory purpose." Id. Scott has cited no instance in the

record where the decisionmakers in his capital murder case acted with a discriminatory purpose. In

McCleskey, the United States Supreme Court found that the study was "insufficient to support an

inference that any of the decisionmakers in McCleskey's case acted with discriminatory purpose. " Id. at

297. In the case sub judice, Scott only cites to some studies. In Underwood v. State, 708 So.2d 18,

38 (Miss. 1998), this Court reviewed whether the death penalty can be applied fairly or in compliance with

equal protection when it is allegedly disproportionately applied against black defendants in Mississippi. This

Court held:

The United States Supreme Court rejected this identical argument in McCleskey v.

Kemp, 481 U.S. 279, 107 S.Ct. 1756, 95 L.Ed.2d 262 (1987). McCleskey argued that

Georgia's capital punishment statute violated equal protection, based upon a study showing

that black defendants were more likely to be sentenced to death than white defendants,

and defendants murdering whites were more likely to be sentenced to death than
8

 Miss Code Ann. § 99-19-105 states in part:

(3) With regard to the sentence, the court shall determine:

(a) Whether the sentence of death was imposed under the influence

of passion, prejudice or any other arbitrary factor;

(b) Whether the evidence supports the jury's or judge's

finding of a statutory aggravating circumstance as

enumerated in Section 99-19-101;

(c) Whether the sentence of death is excessive or disproportionate to

89

defendants who murdered blacks. McCleskey, 481 U.S. at 291-92, 107 S.Ct. at

1766-67. The Court held that in order to raise a successful claim of an equal protection

violation, the criminal defendant must prove that "the decisionmakers in his case acted with

discriminatory purpose." Id. at 292, 107 S.Ct. at 1767. McCleskey's only proof

supporting his claim were the results of the study. The Court determined that due to the

number of variables inherent in capital sentencing and the discretion allowed trial courts in

implementing criminal justice, the use of statistical evidence was insufficient to prove

purposeful discrimination. Id. at 292-97, 107 S.Ct. at 1767-70.

Underwood has failed to offer any substantial proof that the death penalty is applied in a

discriminatory manner in Mississippi today, or that he suffered discriminatory application

of the law. Underwood's argument is based solely on insufficient statistical evidence and

the bald assertion that had he been convicted of murdering an African-American instead

of a white woman, he would have been sentenced to life imprisonment. We refuse to

reverse Underwood's sentence of death based upon this assignment of error.

708 So.2d at 38.

¶185. This Court finds that Scott has not shown any proof as to how the decionsmakers in his case acted

with a discriminatory intent. Without specific examples demonstrating discrimination by the decisionmakers,

we find that there is nothing for this Court to review and make a ruling, accordingly this issue is without

merit. 

XXIV. Aggravating Circumstance.

¶186. Scott argues that at least one and probably all three of the aggravating circumstances in this case

were invalid. Thus, Scott contends that the remedy is to reverse and remand for a new trial, and there is

no option of reweighing or applying a harmless error analysis pursuant to Miss. Code Ann § 99-19-105.8
the penalty imposed in similar cases, considering both the crime

and the defendant; and

(d) Should one or more of the aggravating circumstances

be found invalid on appeal, the Mississippi Supreme

Court shall determine whether the remaining

aggravating circumstances are outweighed by the

mitigating circumstances or whether the inclusion of

any invalid circumstance was harmless error, or

both...

(5) The court shall include in its decision a reference to those similar cases which it

took into consideration. In addition to its authority regarding correction of errors,

the court, with regard to review of death sentences, shall be authorized to:

(a) Affirm the sentence of death;

(b) Reweigh the remaining aggravating circumstances against the

mitigating circumstances should one or more of the aggravating

circumstances be found to be invalid, and (i) affirm the sentence

of death or (ii) hold the error in the sentence phase harmless error

and affirm the sentence of death or (iii) remand the case for a new

sentencing hearing; or

(c) Set the sentence aside and remand the case for modification of the

sentence to imprisonment for life.

9

 Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101(3) states in part that aggravating circumstances shall be limited

to the following:

(d) The capital offense was committed while the defendant was engaged, or was an

accomplice, in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after

committing or attempting to commit, any robbery...

(e) The capital offense was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing a

lawful arrest or effecting an escape from custody.

(h) The capital offense was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel.

90

Scott states that the three (3) aggravating circumstances found by the jury were "[w]hether (1) the capital

offense was committed for the purpose or avoiding a lawful arrest, (2) the capital offense was committed

while the defendant was engaged or was an accomplice in the commission of the crime of robbery, and (3)

the capital offense was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel." The State correctly claims that only two of

the three alleged aggravating circumstances were considered by the jury in their instructions.9

¶187. The actual sentencing instruction, S-1A, stated in part:
91

To return that death penalty you must find that the mitigating circumstances - - those which

tend to warrant the less severe penalty of life imprisonment without parole - - 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 capital offense was committed for the purpose of avoiding or

preventing a lawful arrest,

(2) Whether the capital offense was committed while the defendant was engaged, or

was an accomplice, in the commission of the crime of robbery.

You must unanimously find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that one or more of the preceding

aggravating circumstances exists in this case to return the death penalty. If none of these

aggravating circumstances are found to exist, the death penalty may not be imposed...

¶188. The jury verdict read into the record stated that the jury found the aggravating circumstances that

the capital murder was committed for the purpose of avoiding or protecting a lawful arrest and while the

defendant was engaged or was an accomplice in the commission of the crime of robbery. Accordingly,

the alleged aggravating circumstance that the capital offense was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel was

not submitted to the jury and this Court finds that any argument referencing this alleged factor will not be

considered by this Court. However, Scott does argue that the avoiding lawful arrest circumstance was

invalid because there was insufficient evidence. He does not argue anything in regard to the second given

aggravating circumstance of whether the capital offense was committed while the defendant was engaged,

or was an accomplice, in the commission of the crime of robbery. Therefore, only the issue of whether the

avoiding lawful arrest will be discussed by this Court.

¶189. In the post-conviction relief case, Wiley v. State, 750 So.2d 1193, 1206 (Miss. 2000), this Court

set forth the standard of review for the sufficiency of the evidence to support an instruction for avoiding

lawful arrest, stating: 
92

Each case must be decided on its own peculiar facts. If there is evidence from which it may

be reasonably inferred that a substantial reason for the killing was to conceal the identity

of the killer or killers or to 'cover their tracks' so as to avoid apprehension and eventual

arrest by authorities, then it is proper for the court to allow the jury to consider this

aggravating circumstance. Chase v. State, 645 So.2d 829, 858 (Miss.1994) (quoting

Hansen v. State, 592 So.2d 114, 153 (Miss.1991)).

Wiley, 750 So.2d at 1206. 

¶190. Thus, this Court must determine "whether there is any credible evidence upon which the jury could

find the aggravating circumstance in question." Id. (quoting Woodward v. State, 726 So.2d 524, 541

(Miss. 1997)). In McGilberry v. State, 843 So.2d at 29, this Court addressed the aggravating

circumstance of whether McGilberry created a great risk of death to many persons. In its opinion this

Court held that "[i]f one aggravator is found to be invalid, we are authorized to reweigh the remaining

aggravators against the mitigating circumstances and affirm, hold the error to be harmless, or remand for

a new sentencing hearing. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-105(5)(b) (Rev. 2000)."

¶191. Reviewing the facts of this case, this Court finds that there is abundant evidence to support the

aggravating circumstance that the capital offense was committed by Scott for the purpose of avoiding or

preventing a lawful arrest. Lurline testified that sometime after noon Scott saw her open the door to her

house and he then shot at her two times. Lee was shot and killed in his driveway. Officer Haney spotted

a car that met the description of the Lee's vehicle. He pursued the vehicle with his blue lights on, traveling

up to 115 miles per hour at one point, yet the driver of the car never pulled over to the side of the road.

By the time Officer Haney turned onto Bobo Road, the vehicle was gone leaving only tracks on the ground.

When the police found the empty vehicle near an old gin, the driver was not present at the scene. Scott

stopped at the Ivy's home around 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. in Bobo to ask for a ride home, both Doris and

Steven noticed that Scott was sweating and that he had no jacket. Officer Estes testified that the Lee's
93

vehicle, a gun, a bloody jacket containing Scott's driver's license, a letter from Scott's girlfriend and some

other items were found near the gin. While driving Scott home, Steven observed Scott looking at the gin.

¶192. This Court finds that the evidence shows that the person that Lurline identified as Scott was clearly

trying to avoid lawful arrest. Sometime near noon, Scott shot at her twice when she came to her door and

spoke to her husband, who was at that point still inside his automobile. Officer Haney pursued a driver in

a vehicle that matched the description of the Lee's vehicle and despite flashing the blue lights and traveling

near 115 miles per hour in pursuit, the driver never pulled the vehicle over the side of the road. The Lee's

automobile was later found abandoned in the old gin by police. Various articles such as a bloody coat, gun,

and Scott's driver's licence and letter from his girlfriend were found near the old gin and the Lee's

abandoned automobile. 

¶193. Other witnesses testified that Scott came by their house sweating and without a jacket around

12:30 to 1:00 p.m. asking for a ride home. On the drive back to his house, Scott looked over at the gin.

Clearly, the preceding evidence supports an aggravating circumstances that Scott tried to avoid lawful

arrest by shooting at a potential witness, Lurline, that could identify him; taking a vehicle that was not his

and refusing to stop the vehicle when pursued by police; dumping items of evidence; and asking for a ride

back home to get farther away from the crime scene rather than going to the police station. This Court finds

that there is sufficient evidence to support the aggravating circumstance presented at trial. Therefore, this

issue is without merit.

XXV. Cumulative Error

¶194. Scott argues that the cumulative effect of the errors in his trial warrant reversal. In Wilburn v.

State, 608 So.2d 702, 705 (Miss. 1992), this Court held that “individual errors, not reversible in

themselves, may combine with other errors to make up reversible error.” The question that must be asked
94

in these instances is whether the defendant was deprived of a “fundamentally fair and impartial trial” as a

results of the cumulative effect of all errors at trial. Id. If there is “no reversible error in any part, so there

is no reversible error to the whole. McFee v. State, 511 So.2d 130, 136 (Miss. 1987).

¶195. None of the issues raised by Scott in this assignment or any of those discussed previously, rise to

the level of reversible error either standing alone or when considered together. The verdict finds substantial

support in the evidence and Scott failed to demonstrate any procedural or substantive errors that warrant

reversal. Based on the finding of no error, this Court finds that there is no cumulative effect for all the

alleged errors and, therefore, his convictions and sentences should be affirmed by this Court.

XXVI. Proportionality Review of Death Sentence

¶196. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-105(3) (2000) requires this Court to perform a proportionality review

of a death sentence in a capital case. Section 99-19-105(3) states:

(3) With regard to the sentence, the court shall determine:

(a) Whether the sentence of death was imposed under the influence of

passion, prejudice or any other arbitrary factor; 

(b) Whether the evidence supports the jury's or judge's finding of a statutory

aggravating circumstance as enumerated in Section 99-19-101; 

(c) Whether the sentence of death is excessive of disproportionate to the

penalty imposed in similar cases, considering both the crime and the

defendant; and 

(d) Should one or more of the aggravating circumstances be found invalid on

appeal, the Mississippi Supreme Court shall determine whether the

remaining aggravating circumstances are outweighed by the mitigating

circumstances or whether the inclusion of any invalid circumstances was

harmless error, or both.

¶197. After reviewing the record in this appeal as well as the death penalty cases listed in the appendix,

we conclude that Scott's death sentence was not imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or any

other factor. We further find that the evidence is more than sufficient to support the jury's finding of
95

statutory aggravating circumstances. In comparison to other factually similar cases where the death

sentences was imposed, the sentence of death is neither excessive of disproportionate in this case. Finally,

the jury did not consider any invalid aggravating circumstances. Therefore, we affirm the death sentence

imposed in this case.

CONCLUSION

¶198. For these reasons, the judgment of the Bolivar County Circuit Court is affirmed.

¶199. CONVICTION OF CAPITAL MURDER AND SENTENCE OF DEATH BY

LETHAL INJECTION AFFIRMED. 

SMITH, C.J., WALLER AND COBB, P.JJ., CARLSON, DICKINSON AND

RANDOLPH, JJ., CONCUR. GRAVES, J., CONCURS IN PART AND DISSENTS IN

PART WITHOUT SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION. DIAZ, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.
i

APPENDIX

DEATH CASES AFFIRMED BY THIS COURT

Byrom v. State, 863 So.2d 836 (Miss. 2003).

Howell v. State, 860 So.2d 704 (Miss. 2003).

Howard v. State, 853 So.2d 781 (Miss. 2003).

Walker v. State, 815 So.2d 1209 (Miss. 2002). *following remand.

Bishop v. State, 812 So.2d 934 (Miss. 2002).

Stevens v. State, 806 So.2d 1031 (Miss. 2002).

Grayson v. State, 806 So.2d 241 (Miss. 2002).

Knox v. State, 805 So.2d 527 (Miss. 2002).

Simmons v. State, 805 So.2d 452 (Miss. 2002).

Berry v. State, 802 So.2d 1033 (Miss. 2001).

Snow v. State, 800 So.2d 472 (Miss. 2001).

Mitchell v. State, 792 So.2d 192 (Miss. 2001).

Puckett v. State, 788 So.2d 752 (Miss. 2001). * following remand.

Goodin v. State, 787 So.2d 639 (Miss. 2001).

Jordan v. State, 786 So.2d 987 (Miss. 2001).

Manning v. State, 765 So.2d 516 (Miss. 2000). *following remand.

Eskridge v. State, 765 So.2d 508 (Miss. 2000).

McGilberry v. State, 741 So. 2d 894 (Miss. 1999).

Puckett v. State, 737 So. 2d 322 (Miss. 1999). *remanded for Batson hearing.

Manning v. State, 735 So. 2d 323 (Miss. 1999). *remanded for Batson hearing.

Hughes v. State, 735 So. 2d 238 (Miss. 1999).

Turner v. State, 732 So. 2d 937 (Miss. 1999).

Smith v. State, 729 So. 2d 1191 (Miss. 1998).

Burns v. State, 729 So. 2d 203 (Miss. 1998).

Jordan v. State, 728 So. 2d 1088 (Miss. 1998).
ii

Gray v. State, 728 So. 2d 36 (Miss. 1998).

DEATH CASES AFFIRMED BY THIS COURT

(continued)

Manning v. State, 726 So. 2d 1152 (Miss. 1998).

Woodward v. State, 726 So. 2d 524 (Miss. 1997).

Bell v. State, 725 So. 2d 836 (Miss. 1998).

Evans v. State, 725 So. 2d 613 (Miss. 1997).

Brewer v. State, 725 So. 2d 106 (Miss. 1998).

Crawford v. State, 716 So. 2d 1028 (Miss. 1998).

Doss v. State, 709 So. 2d 369 (Miss. 1996).

Underwood v. State, 708 So. 2d 18 (Miss. 1998).

Holland v. State, 705 So. 2d 307 (Miss. 1997).

Wells v. State, 698 So. 2d 497 (Miss. 1997).

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

Wiley v. State, 691 So. 2d 959 (Miss. 1997).

Brown v. State, 690 So. 2d 276 (Miss. 1996).

Simon v. State, 688 So. 2d 791 (Miss.1997).

Jackson v. State, 684 So. 2d 1213 (Miss. 1996).

Williams v. State, 684 So. 2d 1179 (Miss. 1996).

Davis v. State, 684 So. 2d 643 (Miss. 1996).

Taylor v. State, 682 So. 2d. 359 (Miss. 1996).

Brown v. State, 682 So. 2d 340 (Miss. 1996).

Blue v. State, 674 So. 2d 1184 (Miss. 1996).

Holly v. State, 671 So. 2d 32 (Miss. 1996). 

Walker v. State, 671 So. 2d 581(Miss. 1995).

Russell v. State, 670 So. 2d 816 (Miss. 1995).

Ballenger v. State, 667 So. 2d 1242 (Miss. 1995).
iii

Davis v. State, 660 So. 2d 1228 (Miss. 1995).

DEATH CASES AFFIRMED BY THIS COURT

(continued)

Carr v. State, 655 So. 2d 824 (Miss. 1995).

Mack v. State, 650 So. 2d 1289 (Miss. 1994).

Chase v. State, 645 So. 2d 829 (Miss. 1994).

Foster v. State, 639 So. 2d 1263 (Miss. 1994).

Conner v. State, 632 So. 2d 1239 (Miss. 1993).

Hansen v. State, 592 So. 2d 114 (Miss. 1991).

*Shell v. State, 554 So. 2d 887 (Miss. 1989), Shell v. Mississippi, 498 U.S. 1 (1990)

reversing, in part, and remanding, Shell v. State, 595 So. 2d 1323 (Miss. 1992) remanding for new

sentencing hearing.

Davis v. State, 551 So. 2d 165 (Miss. 1989).

Minnick v. State, 551 So. 2d 77 (Miss. 1989).

*Pinkney v. State, 538 So. 2d 329 (Miss. 1989), Pinkney v. Mississippi, 494 U.S. 1075

(1990) vacating and remanding Pinkney v. State, 602 So. 2d 1177 (Miss. 1992) remanding for new

sentencing hearing.

*Clemons v. State, 535 So. 2d 1354 (Miss. 1988), Clemons v. Mississippi, 494 U.S. 738

(1990) vacating and remanding, Clemons v. State, 593 So. 2d 1004 (Miss. 1992) remanding for new

sentencing hearing. 

Woodward v. State, 533 So. 2d 418 (Miss. 1988).

Nixon v. State, 533 So. 2d 1078 (Miss. 1987).

Cole v. State, 525 So. 2d 365 (Miss. 1987).

Lockett v. State, 517 So. 2d 1346 (Miss. 1987).

Lockett v. State, 517 So. 2d 1317 (Miss. 1987).
iv

Faraga v. State, 514 So. 2d 295 (Miss. 1987).

DEATH CASES AFFIRMED BY THIS COURT

(continued)

*Jones v. State, 517 So. 2d 1295 (Miss. 1987), Jones v. Mississippi, 487 U.S. 1230 (1988)

vacating and remanding, Jones v. State, 602 So. 2d 1170 (Miss. 1992) remanding for new

sentencing hearing.

Wiley v. State, 484 So. 2d 339 (Miss. 1986).

Johnson v. State, 477 So. 2d 196 (Miss. 1985).

Gray v. State, 472 So. 2d 409 (Miss. 1985).

Cabello v. State, 471 So. 2d 332 (Miss. 1985).

Jordan v. State, 464 So. 2d 475 (Miss. 1985).

Wilcher v. State, 455 So. 2d 727 (Miss. 1984).

Billiot v. State, 454 So. 2d 445 (Miss. 1984).

Stringer v. State, 454 So. 2d 468 (Miss. 1984).

Dufour v. State, 453 So. 2d 337 (Miss. 1984).

Neal v. State, 451 So. 2d 743 (Miss. 1984).

Booker v. State, 449 So. 2d 209 (Miss. 1984).

Wilcher v. State, 448 So. 2d 927 (Miss. 1984).

Caldwell v. State, 443 So. 2d 806 (Miss. 1983).

Irving v. State, 441 So. 2d 846 (Miss. 1983).

Tokman v. State, 435 So. 2d 664 (Miss. 1983).

Leatherwood v. State, 435 So. 2d 645 (Miss. 1983).

Hill v. State, 432 So. 2d 427 (Miss. 1983).

Pruett v. State, 431 So. 2d 1101 (Miss. 1983).

Gilliard v. State, 428 So. 2d 576 (Miss. 1983).

Evans v. State, 422 So. 2d 737 (Miss. 1982).

King v. State, 421 So. 2d 1009 (Miss. 1982).
v

DEATH CASES AFFIRMED BY THIS COURT

(continued)

Wheat v. State, 420 So. 2d 229 (Miss. 1982).

Smith v. State, 419 So. 2d 563 (Miss. 1982).

Johnson v. State, 416 So. 2d 383 (Miss.1982).

Edwards v. State, 413 So. 2d 1007 (Miss. 1982).

Bullock v. State, 391 So. 2d 601 (Miss. 1980).

Reddix v. State, 381 So. 2d 999 (Miss. 1980).

Jones v. State, 381 So. 2d 983 (Miss. 1980).

Culberson v. State, 379 So. 2d 499 (Miss. 1979).

Gray v. State, 375 So. 2d 994 (Miss. 1979).

Jordan v. State, 365 So. 2d 1198 (Miss. 1978).

Voyles v. State, 362 So. 2d 1236 (Miss. 1978).

Irving v. State, 361 So. 2d 1360 (Miss. 1978).

Washington v. State, 361 So. 2d 6l (Miss. 1978).

Bell v. State, 360 So. 2d 1206 (Miss. 1978).

 * Case was originally affirmed in this Court but on remand from U. S. Supreme Court, case was

remanded by this Court for a new sentencing hearing.
vi

DEATH CASES REVERSED AS TO GUILT PHASE

AND SENTENCE PHASE

Flowers v. State, 842 So.2d 531 (Miss. 2003).

Randall v. State, 806 So. 2d 185 (Miss. 2002).

Flowers v. State, 773 So.2d 309 (Miss. 2000).

Edwards v. State, 737 So. 2d 275 (Miss. 1999).

Smith v. State, 733 So. 2d 793 (Miss. 1999).

Porter v. State, 732 So.2d 899 (Miss. 1999).

Kolberg v. State, 704 So. 2d 1307 (Miss. 1997).

Snelson v. State, 704 So. 2d 452 (Miss. 1997).

Fusilier v. State, 702 So. 2d 388 (Miss. 1997).

Howard v. State, 701 So. 2d 274 (Miss. 1997).

Lester v. State, 692 So. 2d 755 (Miss. 1997).

Hunter v. State, 684 So. 2d 625 (Miss. 1996).

Lanier v. State, 684 So. 2d 93 (Miss. 1996).

Giles v. State, 650 So. 2d 846 (Miss. 1995).

Duplantis v. State, 644 So. 2d 1235 (Miss. 1994).

Harrison v. State, 635 So. 2d 894 (Miss. 1994).

Butler v. State, 608 So. 2d 314 (Miss. 1992).

Jenkins v. State, 607 So. 2d 1171 (Miss. 1992).

Abram v. State, 606 So. 2d 1015 (Miss. 1992).

Balfour v. State, 598 So. 2d 731 (Miss. 1992).

Griffin v. State, 557 So. 2d 542 (Miss. 1990).

Bevill v. State, 556 So. 2d 699 (Miss. 1990).

West v. State, 553 So. 2d 8 (Miss. 1989).

Leatherwood v. State, 548 So. 2d 389 (Miss. 1989).

Mease v. State, 539 So. 2d 1324 (Miss. 1989).
vii

DEATH CASES REVERSED AS TO GUILT PHASE

AND SENTENCE PHASE

(continued)

Houston v. State, 531 So. 2d 598 (Miss. 1988).

West v. State, 519 So. 2d 418 (Miss. 1988).

Davis v. State, 512 So. 2d 129l (Miss. 1987).

Williamson v. State, 512 So. 2d 868 (Miss. 1987).

Foster v. State, 508 So. 2d 1111 (Miss. 1987).

Smith v. State, 499 So. 2d 750 (Miss. 1986).

West v. State, 485 So. 2d 681 (Miss. 1985).

Fisher v. State, 481 So. 2d 203 (Miss. 1985).

Johnson v. State, 476 So. 2d 1195 (Miss. 1985).

Fuselier v. State, 468 So. 2d 45 (Miss. 1985).

West v. State, 463 So. 2d 1048 (Miss. 1985).

Jones v. State, 461 So. 2d 686 (Miss. 1984).

Moffett v. State, 456 So. 2d 714 (Miss. 1984).

Lanier v. State, 450 So. 2d 69 (Miss. 1984).

Laney v. State, 421 So. 2d 1216 (Miss. 1982).
viii

DEATH CASES REVERSED

AS TO PUNISHMENT AND REMANDED

FOR RESENTENCING TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT

Reddix v. State, 547 So. 2d 792 (Miss. 1989).

Wheeler v. State, 536 So. 2d 1341 (Miss. 1988).

White v. State, 532 So. 2d 1207 (Miss. 1988).

Bullock v. State, 525 So. 2d 764 (Miss. 1987).

Edwards v. State, 441 So. 2d 84 (Miss. l983).

Dycus v. State, 440 So. 2d 246 (Miss. 1983).

Coleman v. State, 378 So. 2d 640 (Miss. 1979).
ix

DEATH CASES REVERSED AS TO

PUNISHMENT AND REMANDED FOR A NEW TRIAL

ON SENTENCING PHASE ONLY

King v. State, 784 So.2d 884 (Miss. 2001).

Walker v. State, 740 So.2d 873 (Miss. 1999).

Watts v. State, 733 So.2d 214 (Miss. 1999).

West v. State, 725 So. 2d 872 (Miss. 1998).

Smith v. State, 724 So. 2d 280 (Miss. 1998).

Berry v. State, 703 So. 2d 269 (Miss. 1997).

Booker v. State, 699 So. 2d 132 (Miss. 1997).

Taylor v. State, 672 So. 2d 1246 (Miss. 1996).

 *Shell v. State, 554 So. 2d 887 (Miss. 1989), Shell v. Mississippi, 498 U.S. 1 (1990)

reversing, in part, and remanding, Shell v. State 595 So. 2d 1323 (Miss. 1992) remanding for new

sentencing hearing.

 *Pinkney v. State, 538 So. 2d 329 (Miss. 1989), Pinkney v. Mississippi, 494 U.S. 1075

(1990) vacating and remanding, Pinkney v. State, 602 So. 2d 1177 (Miss. 1992) remanding for

new sentencing hearing.

 *Clemons v. State, 535 So. 2d 1354 (Miss. 1988), Clemons v. Mississippi, 494 U.S. 738

(1990) vacating and remanding, Clemons v. State, 593 So. 2d 1004 (Miss. 1992) remanding for

new sentencing hearing. 

 *Jones v. State, 517 So. 2d 1295 (Miss. 1987), Jones v. Mississippi, 487 U.S. 1230 (1988)

vacating and remanding, Jones v. State, 602 So. 2d 1170 (Miss. 1992) remanding for new

sentencing hearing.

Russell v. State, 607 So. 2d 1107 (Miss. 1992).

Holland v. State, 587 So. 2d 848 (Miss. 1991).

Willie v. State, 585 So. 2d 660 (Miss. 1991).

Ladner v. State, 584 So. 2d 743 (Miss. 1991).

Mackbee v. State, 575 So. 2d 16 (Miss. 1990).
x

DEATH CASES REVERSED AS TO

PUNISHMENT AND REMANDED FOR A NEW TRIAL

ON SENTENCING PHASE ONLY

(continued)

Berry v. State, 575 So. 2d 1 (Miss. 1990).

Turner v. State, 573 So. 2d 657 (Miss. 1990).

State v. Tokman, 564 So. 2d 1339 (Miss. 1990).

Johnson v. State, 547 So. 2d 59 (Miss. 1989).

Williams v. State, 544 So. 2d 782 (Miss. 1989); sentence aff'd 684 So. 2d 1179 (1996).

Lanier v. State, 533 So. 2d 473 (Miss. 1988).

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

Pinkton v. State, 481 So. 2d 306 (Miss. 1985).

Mhoon v. State, 464 So. 2d 77 (Miss. 1985).

Cannaday v. State, 455 So. 2d 713 (Miss. 1984).

Wiley v. State, 449 So. 2d 756 (Miss. 1984); resentencing affirmed, Wiley v. State, 484 So. 2d

339 (Miss. 1986), cert. denied Wiley v. Mississippi, 479 U.S. 1036 (1988); resentencing

ordered, Wiley v. State, 635 So. 2d 802 (Miss. 1993) following writ of habeas corpus issued

pursuant to Wiley v. Puckett, 969 So. 2d 86, 105-106 (5th Cir. 1992); resentencing affirmed,

Wiley v. State, 95-DP-00149, February 13, 1997 (rehearing pending).

Williams v. State, 445 So. 2d 798 (Miss. 1984). * Case was originally affirmed in this Court but

on remand from U. S. Supreme Court, case was remanded by this Court for a new sentencing

hearing.