I N TH E S U PR EM E C O U R T O F M I S S I S S I PPI N O. 2 0 0 4 - KA- 0 1 8 6 8 - S CT A N D E R S ON C U R R Y a / k / a A N D E R S ON C U R R Y , II

v.
S TATE O F M

I S S I S S I PPI
D AT E O F JU D G M E N T : 06/ 18/ 2004 T R IA L JU D G E : H O N
. A L B E R T B
. S MIT H , III C O URT F RO M W HI C H AP P E

ALE D: BO L

I VAR C O UN T

Y C I RC UI T

C O URT ATTO RN E

Y F O R AP P E

L L AN T : J O HN N I E E
. W ALL S , J R. ATT O RN E

Y F O R A P P E L L E E : O F F I C E

O F T HE ATT O RN E

Y GE N E RA L B Y : J E FFR E Y A . K L I N G FU SS D I S TRI C T ATTO RN EY : LA U REN C E Y
. M ELLEN NAT U R E OF T HE C A S E : C R I M I NA L - F E L ONY D I SPO SI T

I O N : A FFI R M E D- 08/ 17/

2006 M O T I O N F O R R

E HE AR I N G F I L E D: M AN DAT

E I S S UE D:

B E F O R EC O B B , P .J., E A SL E Y A N D D I C K

I N SO N , JJ. CO B B , P R ES I D I N G

J US TI CE, F O R THE CO UR T: ¶ 1. A n der s on C u r r y w as i n di cted by a B o l i v ar C ou n t y g r an d j u r y f o r b ur gl ar y of a dw el l i n g , k i dn a p i n g , a n d a g g r a v ateda ss a u l t. A to tal o f f o u r j u ry tr i a l s w e re c o n

d u c tedb e c a u se th e ju ry
w as u n abl e to com e to a u n an i m ou s v erdi ct i n t h e f i r s t t h ree. A t t h e f ou r t h t r i a l , C ur r

y w as acqu i t t ed on t h e bu rg l ar y an d k i d na pi n g cou n t s , b u t f ou n d g u i l t y on t h e ch ar g e of ag g r av ated
as s au l t . H e was s en

t en ced to ser

v e t w en t y y ear s i n t h e cu s t od y of t h e M i s s i s s i pp i D epar t m en t
o f C o r r ecti o n s.2 F ACTS ¶2. A r ou n d 11 : 30 p. m

. o n a rai n y D ece m ber ev en i n g i n 20 01 , S t eph

an i e C u m m i n s r et u r n ed t o h e r h o m e a f te r v i s i ti n g wi th h e r f i a n c é at h i s re s i d e n c e . A s s h

e e n te re d h e r a p a rtm e n t, a ma n g r a bbe d h e r f r om be h i n d a n d pl a c e d a kn i f e t o h e r n e c k, u s i n g a t ow e l t o k e e p he r f

r om
s c r e am i n g , a n d du c t t a pe i n a n e f f or t t o r e s t r a i n h e r . T h e a s s a i l a n t , l a t e r i d e nt

i f i e d a s A n de r s on C u r r y , stabbed h

er an es ti m at ed 30 tim e s in t he back an d f l an k ar ea of h er bo dy . C u

m m i n s w as
s ev erel y i n j u r ed f r om t h i s at t ack, an d t h ere w ere bl

oo d stai n s on t h e c o uc h, t abl

e, f l oo r s , an d
w al l s. ¶ 3. A f

t e r t he at t a c k, C u m m i n s t ol d C u r r y s h e w a s t h i r s t y a n d C u r r y t ook a bot tl e d f r u i t d r ink
a n d p o u red so m e o f i t i n t o h e r m o u th
. W h e n h e l e f t t h e ro o m , sh e m a n a g e d to g e t u p a n d ru n
o u t o f th e a p a rt m e n t t o a f ri e n d ’s h o m e . S h e wa s th e n tr a n sp o rt e d to t h e h o sp i

tal i n v e ry
s e ri ou s c on di ti on . ¶4
. A f e w d a y s a f te r th e atta c k , w

h i l e s h e w a s s ti

l l m e d i c ate d , C u mmi

n s ta l k e d wi th I n v es ti g ator C h ar l es B i n g h am an d g av e a v ag u e des cr i pt i on of t h e as s ai l a nt as bet

w een f i v e- t en
an d si x f eet t al l an d sl i m . A t t ri al , C u m m i n s t es ti f i ed t h at s h e bel i ev ed t h e at t a c k e r w as a tal

l bl ack m al e w h o w o r e s o m

e ki n d o f m i l i t ar y cam ou f l ag e j acket wi t h a h oo d, w or e dar

k b ag g y p a n t s w it h s h

i n y te n n i s s h o e s , a n d h a d two d i am o n d s tu d e a rri n gs p i n n e d o n h i s w h i te ri b b e dts h i r t n ear h i s bel l y bu t t on . S h e f u r t h er t es ti f i ed t h at s h e h ad n ev er s een C u r r y bef or e. ¶ 5. W h

e n pr e s e n t e d wi t h a v oi c e t a pe , C u m m ins w a s a

bl e t o pi c k ou t C u r r y ba s e d on

h i s
v o i c e . S h e a l s o p o i n te d to C u rry ’s i m a g e i n a p h o t o lin e u

p , b u t w a s l e s s th a n c e rta i n a s to
w h et h er h e was h er as s ai l an t . S ub s e q uen

tl y a war r an t w as i s s u ed t o sea

r ch C u r r y ’ s h ou s e,3

w h ere t h e pol i ce f ou n d cl ot h i n g, a kn i f e, sh oes a n d o t h er t h i n gs t h at t h e per pet r ator h ad al l eg edl y w or n or u s ed du ri n g t h e at t ack on C u m m i n s . S u bsequ en t t o t h e s e a r c h, C u

r r y w as
a r r e s t e d. ¶ 6. A t t ri al s i x wi t n es s es t es ti

f i ed i n s u pp or t of C u r r y ’ s al i b i
. A d e B a r f

i el d t es ti f i ed t h at
o n t he da

y of t h e at t a c k, a r ou n d 10: 30 p.m

. or 11: 00 p.m

., s h e a n d C u r r y w e n t t o t h e r e s i d e nc e of K et ri ck an d K ei r H ay w oo d, w h er e t he y s t ay

ed u n ti l 3: 00 a.m

. B ar f i el d f u r t h er t es ti f i ed t h at C u rry w a s th e re th e w h o l e ti me . K e i

r H a y w o o d , D e v

o n n a H u tt o n , T e rv a ri u s M o n tg o m e ry , K e tr i c k H a y w o o d , a n d A n w a r F l e tch e r al so tes ti f i e d th e y w e re p re se n

t at t h e H a y w o o d ’s
r e s i d e nc e a n

d con f i r m ed C u r r y ’ s s t or y t h at h e was t h ere ar ou n d t h e s am e t i m e C u m m i n s w as
at t a c ke d. ¶ 7. A f t e r t h r e e j u r y t ri a l s t h at e a c h r e s u l t e d i n a h u n g j u r y, a f o ur t h j u r y c on v i c t e d C u r r y f or ag g r a v ated as s au

l t , b u t n ot f or bu rg l ar y of a dw el l i n g or ki dn api n g . T h e t ri al cou r t den i ed C u rry ’s m o ti o n f o r a ju d g me n t n o tw i th sta n d i n g th e v e rd i c t an d /o r a n e w tr i a l
. O n a p p e a l , C u rry
r ai s es t h r ee i s s u es : den i al of h i s m ot i on s r el ated t o t h e D N A r e p o r t ; pr osec u

t or i al m i s con du ct d u ri n g c l o si n g a rg u m e n t; a n d d e n i a l o f J. N
. O
. V
. F i

n d i n g n o rev e rsi b l e e rro r, w e a f

f i rm . A N A LY S IS I . M O T I O NS RE G A RDI NG DNA RE P O RT ¶ 8. T h e s t a n da rd of r e v i e w f or a t r i a l c ou

r t ’ s r u l i n g on a di s c ov e r y v i ol ati on i s a bu s e of di s c r e ti o n. M ont gom e r y v . St at e , 89 1 S o. 2d17 9, 18 2 ( M i s s . 2 00 4) . F u

r t h er , t h i s C ou r t h as
s t at e d n ot a l l f a i l u r e s t o di s c l o s e e xc ul

pat or y e v i de n c e c on s ti t u t e r e v e r s i bl e e r r or . C arr v. St at e , 873 So. 2d 9 9 1 , 999- 1000 ( M i s s . 2004) . T

h e qu e s ti on t o be a s ke d r e g

a rdi n g aA f t e r t h e s e c on d t ri a l , t h e St at e s e n t t h e kn i f e a n d c am ou f l a g e j a c ke t f ou n d i n C u r r y ’ s h om e t o be 1 r etes t ed f or D N A by R el i ag en e Tech n ol og i es . T h e t h i rd t ri al occu r r ed bef or e t h e res u l t s w ere com

pl ete. T h e l a w pe r t a i n i n g t o di s c ov e r y v i ol ati on s e s pou s e d i n B ox v . St at e , 437 So. 2d 19, 23- 26 2 ( M i s s . 1983) , i

s n ow r e f l e c t e d i n U .C .C .C .R
. 9.04. See K olbe r g v . St at e , 8 2 9 S o . 2 d

2 9 , 5 3 ( Mi

ss. 2002)
. 4 di s cov er y v i ol a t i o n i s w het

h er t h ere i s a reas on

abl e pr ob abi l i t y t h at t h e v erdi ct w ou l d h av e been di f f eren t bu t f or t h e g ov er n m en t al ev i den ti ar y s u pp r es s i on w h i ch u n der m ine s c on

f i den ce i n t h e ou t c om e o f t he t r i a l
. St e phensv . St at e , 9 1 1 S o . 2 d

4 2 4 , 4 4 0 (M i

s s . 2 0 0 5 ) (q u

o ti n g K yl es v. Whi t l ey , 5 1 4 U
. S
. 4 1 9 , 4 3 4 , 1 1 5 S
. C t. 1 5 5 5 , 1 3 1 L
. E d
. 2 d 4 9 0 (1 9 9 5 ) . ¶9
. C u

rry a rg u e s th e S tate ’s f

a i lure to d i s c l o s e th e S e p te m b e r 1 8 , 2 0 0 3 , D

N A re p o rt u n ti l 1 t h e f i r s t day of t h e f ou r t h t ri al on J un e 7 , 2 0 0 4, w as pr ej u di ci al . H e as s er

t s t h at t h e t ri al j u dg e ’ s de n i a l of h i s m oti on s f or a c on ti n u a n c e a n d/or a m i s t ri a l , w a s a n a bus e of di s c r e ti on . S p e c i f i c a l l y , C u rry c o n te n d s th e S t a t e v

i o l ate d R u l e 9
. 0 4 o f

th e U n i f o rm C i rc u i t a n d C o u n ty 2 C ou r t R u l es , an d t h i s v i ol at i on depr i v ed h i m of a v al ua b l e def en s e. T h e r u l e s t ates i n r el ev an t p a rt: A
. . . . th

e p ro se c u

ti o n m u st d i sc l o se to e a c h

d e f e n d a n t o r to d e f

e n d a n t’ s at t or n e y . . . t he f o l l o w ing [ e v

i de n c e ] w h i c h i s i n pos s e s s i on , c u s t ody , or c on t r ol of t h e St ate . . . t

h e ex i s t en ce of w h i ch i s k no w n or by ex erci s e of du e di l i g en ce m a y be c om e kn ow n t o t h e pr os e c u ti on :

. . . 4. A n y r e por t s , s t at e m

e n t s , or opi n i on s of e x pe r t s , w ri t t e n, r e c orde d or ot h er wi s e pr es er v ed, m ade i n con n ect i on wi t h t h e par ti cu l ar cas e.

. . . 6
. A n y e x c u l p ato ry m ate ri a l c o n c e rn i n g th e d e f e n d a n t.

. . . E
. B o th th e s t a t e a n d th e d e f e n d a n t h av e a d u ty to ti m e l y su p p l e m e n t d i sc o v e ry . If , s u b s e qu e n t to c o m p l i a n c e wi th th e s e ru l e s o r o rd e rs p u

rs u a n t th e re t o , a p a rty5

di s cov er s addi ti on al m ater i al or i n f or m at i on w h i ch i s s u bj ect t o d i s cl osu r e, t h at p a rty s h a l l p ro m p tl y n o ti f y th e o th e r p a rty o r th e o th e r p a rty ’s atto rn

e y o f th e e x i s t e n c e of s u c h a ddi ti on a l m at e ri a l , a n d i f t h e a ddi t i on a l m at e ri a l or i n f or m ati on i s di s c ov e r e d du ri n g t ri a l , t h e c ou r t s h a l l a l s o be n oti f i e d.

. . . I. If at a n y ti m e p ri o r to tri a l i t i s b ro u g h t t o t h e atte n

ti o n o f th e c o u rt th at a p a rty h as f ai l ed t o c o m

p l y w i t h an appl i cabl e di s cov er y r u l e or an or der i s s u ed pu r s u a n t t h e r e t o, t h e c ou r t m a y orde r s u c h a pa r t y t o pe r m i t t h e di s c ov e r y of m ater i al an d i n f o r m a t i o n n ot pr ev i ou s l y di s cl osed, g r an t a con ti n u an ce, or en t er su ch o rd er as i t d eem s j u st u n d er t h e ci r cu m stan ces.
U .C .C .C .R . 9.04. C u

r r y a rg u e s t h e D N A r e por t w a s e x c u l pat or y be c a u s e i t i n di c at e d t h e bl ood f o u n d o n t h e kn i f e r eco v er ed f ro m C u r r y ’ s resi d en ce w as h i s, n o t C u m m i n s’ s. ¶ 10. T h e t ri a l j u dg e , i n a c c orda n c e wi t h t he d i s c r e t i

on g r a n t e d h i m i n U .C .C .C .R . 9.04, d en i ed C u r r y ’ s m o ti o n s becau se t h e R el i ag en e rep o r t co n t ai n ed n o n ew i n f o r m ati o n , b ecau se C u r r y a l r e a dy p o s s e s s e d

t h e e x a c t s am e i n f o r m ati o n f r o m t h e M i s s i s s i p p i C ri m e La b
. Th e
ev i den ce was r ean

al y z ed by R el i ag en e beca u s e t he pr osec u

ti on h op ed f or a m or e detai l ed
an al y s i s . H ow ev

er , t h at di d n ot h appen . A cc o r d ing t o C ur r y , h ad h e poss es s ed t

h e R el i ag en e
r epor t h e wou l d h av e ca l l ed t h e R el i ag en e an al y s t t o t h e s t an d. H e was n

ot i n t eres t ed i n cal l i n g t h e M i s s i s s i p p i C ri m e L a b a n a l y s t, p re f e rri n g to c a l l R e l i a g e n e b e c a u s e i t i s a n p ri v ate e n ti ty , s e p a r ate f r o m th e S ta te o f

M i s s i s s i p p i
. S i n c e th e i n f o r m ati o n i n th e r e p o r t wa s d u p l i c ati v e , we dec l ine t o f

i n d r ev er s i bl e er r or on t h i s i s s u e. We do, h

ow ev er , cau ti on pr osec u t or s t h at w h en t h ey ch oo s e n ot t o d i s cl ose s u ch ev i den ce, t h ey do s o at

t he ir ow n peri l . T h e f i n al d e te rm i n ati o n a s to w

h at c o n s ti tu te s e x c u l p ato ry e v i d e n c e i s m a d e b y th e c o u rt, n o t th e pr os e c u t or . I n a s i t u ati on s u c h a s t h i s , t h e r e i s no g

ood r e a s on

w h y t h e n e w r e por t w a s n ot g i v e n t o t h e d e f e n d a n t , p u r s u a n t t o Rul e 9
. 0 4 E.6

¶ 11
. C u

r r y ’ s at t or n ey qu es ti on ed O f f i cer B i n g h am abou t t h e M i s s i s s i pp i C ri m e Lab an

d R e l i a g e n e t e s t r e s u l t s , a n d t h e j u r y h e a rd B i n g h am s a y t h e t e s t s r e v

e a l e d t h at t h e kn i f e f ou n d
at C u rry ’s re si d e n c e d i d n o t h a v e C u

m m i n s b l o o d o n i t. E v e n th o u g h th e R e l i a g e n e rep o rt i tse l f w a s n o t ad m i tte d i n to e v i d e n c e , th e su b sta n c e o f i ts c o n c l u si o n w a s b e f o re th e ju ry . C u r r y f ai l ed t o sh o w h e w as prej u

d i ced b y n o t p o sses si n g t h e R el i ag en e r ep o r t u n ti l t h e f ir st d a y o f th e f o u rt h tr i a l , a n d th e tr i a l ju d g e d i d n o t ab u se h i s d i sc reti o n b y d e n y i n g C u rry ’s
m ot i on f or a n ew t ri al an d m oti on f or a con ti n u an ce. ¶1 2
. In B r

a d y v . M a ryl a n d , 3 7 3 S o . 2 d

8 3 , 8 3 S
. C t. 1 1 9 4 , 1 0 L
. E d
. 2 d 2 1 5 (1 9 6 3 ), th

e U n i t e d St at e s Su

pr e m e C ou r t s a i d “ [ w ] e n

ow h ol d t h at t h e s u ppre s s i on by t h e pr os e c ut i o n o f
ev i den ce f av or abl e to an acc u s ed u po n r equ e s t vi ol ates du e pr oces s w

h ere t h e ev i den ce i s
m at e r ial e i th e r to g u i l t o r to p u

n i s h m e n t, i rre s p e c tiv e o f t h e g o o d f a i th o r b a d f a i th o f th e p r os e c u ti on ”
. I d. at 8 7 (em

p h a si s a d d e d ). C u

rry d i d m ak e a d i sc o v e ry req u e st to t h e S t a t e fo r al l r e p o r t s , bu

t t h e R el i ag en e ev i den ce was i

m m ater i al becau s e C u r r y al r eady po s s es s ed pr eci s el y t h e s am e i n f or m at i on . T h eref or e, t h e B r ad y r u l e h as n ot been v i o l a t e d in t hi

s cas e. W e f i n d C u rry ’s f i rs t a s s i g n m e n t o f e rro r wi th o u t m e ri t. I I . AL LE GED P

R OS EC UT OR I AL

M I S CON D UCT ¶ 13. T h e s t a nd a r d of

r e v i e w t h at a ppl i e s t o l a w y e r m i s c on du c t du ri n g ope n i n g s t at e m e n t s or
c l o s i n g a rg u m e n ts i s w h e th e r th e n atu ra l a n d p ro b a b l e e f f e c t o f th e i m p ro p e r a r g u me n t i

s to
c re ate u n ju s t p re ju d i c e a g a in s t th

e a c c u s e d s o a s to re s u

l t i n a d e c i s i o n i n f l u e n c e d b y th e pr e j u di c e s o c r e at e d. Sheppar d v . St at e , 777 So. 2d 659, 661 ( M i s s . 2000) . W h

e n m aki n g7

th i s d e te rm i n ati o n , th e s tate m e n t sh o u l d b e v i e w e d i n c o n te x t, ta k i n g i n to c o n s i d e ra ti o n th e
c i r c u m s t a n c e s of t h e c a s e . H

agge r t y v . F os t e r , 8 3 8 S o . 2 d

9 4 8 , 9 6 2 (Mi

ss . 2 0 0 2 ). T

h i s C o u rt
m us t a l s o b e m

i n df u l of t h e f a c t t h at t h e t ri a l c ou r t i s i n t h e be s t pos i ti on t o de t e r m i n e w h e t he r i r r e pa r a bl e h a r m r e s u l t e d f r om t h e a l l e g e dl y i m pr ope r s t at e m e n t . A l ph a G u l f C oa s t , Inc. v. Jac ks on, 8 0 1 S o . 2 d

7 0 9 , 7 2 7 (Mi

ss . 2 0 0 1 ). ¶14
. C u

r r y f i n d s er r o r i n t h e f o l l o wi n g stat em en t m ad e b y t h e p r o secu t o r i n cl o si n g : A n d M r. W a l

l s s a id t o y o uth

at M s . C um m i

ns ’ s i de nt i f ic at i on , t h a t d

o e sn ’t h a v e t o be a poss ibi l

i t y but i t has t o be be

y ond a re as onabl

e doubt . A nd I s ubm i t t o y o u , l adi e

s and ge nt l

e m e n, t hat t hat ’

s not s o. W e h

av e to p ro v e to yo u - - B Y

M R
. W A L L S : Y o u r H o n o r, I o b je c t. BY M S
. M I TC HELL:

- - The e nt i

re c as e be y ond a re as onabl

e doubt
. B Y T HE C O U R T : O v er r u l ed B Y M R
. W A L L S : Y o u r h o n o r , Iw a n t t o b e h e a rd
. Im e a n -- B Y T HE C O U R T : S t op t h e t i m e. B Y M R . WA

L L S : Y ou g av e t he j u r y an i n s t r u ct i on t h at s ay s t h at i d e n ti f i c ati o n h a s t o b e b e y

o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t . A n d s h e ’ s t e l l i n g t h e j u r y -- B Y T HE C O U R T : Y o u ’ v e m ad e - - y o u ’ v e n o t ed f o r t h e r eco rd , Mr
. Wal

l s. B Y M R . WA L L S : Im ov e f or a m i s t ri al
. B Y T HE C O U R T : O v e r r u l e d. C u r r y say s t h i s st at em en t w as i n cl ear co n t r ad i cti o n o f j u r y i n st r u cti o n D
- 7 , w h i ch stat es: A s wi t h e a c h

e l e m e n t of t h e c ri m e s c h a rg e d, t h e St at e h a s t h e bu rde n of pr ov i n g i d e n ti ty b e y o n d a r e a s o n

a b l e d o u b t, a n d b e f o re y o u m a y c o n v i c t A n d e rso n C u rry y o u m u s t b e s ati

s f i e d b e y o n d a re a s o n a b l e d o u b t o f th e a c c u ra c y o f th e i den ti f i cat i on of A n der s on C u

r r y . I f , af t er con s i deri n g al l t h e ev i den ce c on c e r n i n g t h e c ri m e s c h a rg e d a n d t h e i de n ti f i c a ti on of A n de r s on C u r r y by S tep h a n i e C u m m i n s a s th e p e rso n w h o c o m m i tte d th e c ri m e s c h a rg e d , y o ua

re n ot con v i n ced bey on d a r eas on

abl e dou bt t h at h e i s t h e per s on w ho c o m

m i t t ed t h e c ri m e s c h a rg e d, t h e n y ou m u s t f i n d h i m n ot g u i l t y of t h e c ri m e s c h a rg e d. C u r r y po i n t s ou t t h at t h e pr osec u

ti on w as pr es en

t t h r ou g h t h e i n s t r u ct i on con f eren ce a n d th e ref o re s h o u l d h av e kn o w n th at t h e statem e n t m a d e i n c l o si n g w a s l e g a l l y i n c o rrec t. F u

rt h e r,W e a re m i n d f u l th at th e p ro s e c u to r a c tu a lly s a id th

e S tate h a d “ to p ro v e to y o u th e 3 en ti r e ca sebey

on d a r eas on

abl e dou bt ” bu t w e s ee t

h i s as a di s ti n c t i o n w i t ho ut a di

f f eren ce, i n t h e c on t e x t i t w a s u s e d. 8 h e a rg u e s t h at h i s c a s e w a s pr e

j u di c e d by t h i s c om m e n t be c a u s e i t c a u s e d t h e j u r y t o be
con f u s ed, l eadi n g t o an i l l og i cal v erdi ct . C u r r y al s o say s t h e pr ej u di c e t o h

i s cas e was
c o m p ou n de d by t h e f a c t t h at i de n ti f i c ati on i s a pi v ot a l i s s u e i n t h i s c a s e , e s pe c i

a l l y c on s i d e r ing t h ere w ere t h r ee h u n g j u ri es bef or e t h i s on e. ¶ 15. T h e St at e c ou

n t e r s by a rguing t ha t t

h e s t at e m e n t i n c l os i n g w a s a c or r e c t s t at e m e n t of l a w ; s pe c i f i c a l l y , t ha t t he S t at e h

a d t o pr ov

e a l l t h e e l e m e n t s of t h e c ri m e be y on d a r e a s on a bl e 3 dou bt , a s s h ow n by t h e pr os e c u t or ’ s v e r y n e x t s e n t e n c e , t o w h i c h C u r r y obj e c t e d. I n

a ddi ti on , t he S t at e poi

n t s ou t t h at t h e j u r y h a d w ri t t e n a n d or a l i n s t r u c ti on s f r om t h e c ou r t e x pl a i n i ng t ha t
c o u n s e l ’s a rg u m e n t i n c l o s i n g s h o u l d n o t b e w e i

g h e d a s e v i d e n c e . T h e S ta t e a rg u e s th at th e ju d g e ’s c o n c l u si o n th at t h e statem e n t wa s n o t erro r, a n d th i s C o u rt sh o u l d a f f i rm . ¶1 6
. A lt h o u

g h th e p ro se c u to r’s statem

e n t wa s i n a rt f u l l y w o rd e d , i

t wa s n o t re v e rsi b l e e rro r. I t a p p e a r s t h

at e i th e r h e s i m p l y m i s - s p o k e , o r th

at h e m e a n t to s a y C u m m i n s ’s i d e n ti f i c atio n of C u r r y di d n ot h av e t o b e s e p a r at e l

y pr ov e n , be y on d a r e a s on a bl e dou bt . T h e D
- 7 i n s t r u c ti on i s br oader becau s e i t i n s t r u ct s t h e j u r y t h at “ [ i ] f , af t er ex am i n i n g al l of t he t e s t i m ony and t he
e v i de nc e , y o u h av e a re a s o n a b l e d o u b t th at A n d e rs o nC u

rry w a s th e p e rs o n w h o c o m m i tte d th e
c r ime s c h

a rg e d , th e n y o u m u s t f i n d A n d e rs o n C u rry n o t g u i l ty o f th e c ri m e s c h a rg e d
. ” T h is i n cl u des, bu t i s n ot l i m i t ed t o , C um

m in s ’ s t es ti m on y . H en ce, t h e pr osec u t or ’ s ar g u m en t w as
n o t er r o r , espec i

al l y co n si d eri n g t h e wi d e l ati t u d e g i v en t o at t o r n ey s i n t h ei r cl o si n g9

a rg u m e n t s . N e t her l and v. St at e

, 9 0 9 S o . 2 d 7 1 6 , 7 1 8 (Mi ss . 2 0 0 5 ). W e n

o te th at C u rry ’s at t or n ey cl ear l y addr es s ed t

h i s i s s u e i n h i s cl osi n g s t at em en t , s a yi n g “
. . . [ C u

m m i n s ] n ev er
s a i d , ‘ T h at i s t h e m a n .’ Sh e s a i d, ‘ T h at c ou l d be a pos s i bi l i t y .’ Pos s i bi l i t y doe s n ’ t m e a n b e yo nd
a reas on abl e dou bt , l adi es an d g en tl em en .” T h eref or e , e ve n i f

t h e pr osec u t or ’ s s t atem

en t w as i n c or r e c t , t h e j u r y w a s f u l l y i n f or m e d of t h e r e qu i r e m e n t r e g a rdi n g i de n ti f i c ati on . ¶1 7
. C u

rry ’s arg u m e n t t h at t h e p ro se c u to r’s statem

e n t co n f u se d t h e ju ry i s w i th o u t al so m e ri t becau s e j u r y i n s t r u ct i on D
- 7 cl ear l y l ai d o u t t h e bu rden of p r o o f f

or i den ti f i cat i on i n t h i s cas e,
an d t h e l aw pr es u m es t h e j u r y i s com pet en t an d f ol l ow s t he ins t r ucti

on s t h ey are g i v en . S h o e m a k e r v. S t a t e , 502 So.2d 1193, 1195 ( M i s s .1987) . T

h e r e f or e , t h i s i s s u e i s wi t h ou t
m e ri t. I I I . D EN I AL

OF J UD GM EN T N OTW

I THS TA N D I N G THE VE R D I CT ¶ 18
. T h e s t an dar d o f r ev i ew f or t h e t ri al cou r t ’ s den i al of a m ot i on f or j u dg m en t
n ot wi t h s t a n di n g t h e ve r d i c t i s s uf

f i c i e n c y of t h e e v i de n c e . B us h v. St at e

, 895 So. 2d 836, 842- 4 5 (Mi ss . 2 0 0 5 ). W i

th reg a rd to th e su f f i c i e n c y o f th e e v i d e n c e , th i s C o u rt mu s t a s k w h e t h

e r, af t er v i ew i n g t h e ev i den ce i n a l i g h t m ost f av or abl e to t h e pr osec u ti on , an y r at i on al t ri er of f act
c ou l d h av e f ound t h e e s s e n ti a l e l e m e n t s of t h e c ri m e be y on d a r e a s on a bl e dou bt
. I d. T he pr op er r em edy f or a v erdi ct base d o n

ins uf f i c i e nt ev i den ce i s f or t h i s C ou r t t o r ev er s e an d
r e n de r . I d. ¶1 9
. C u

rry c l a i m s th at b e c a u s e th e c ri m e s o f b u rg l a ry , k i dn a p i n g , a n d a g g rav ate d a s s a u l t i n th i s c a se a re s o i n tr i c atel y i n tertw i n e d w it h t h e i

d e n ti ty o f th e sa m e p e rp e tr ato r, th e ju ry ’s10

f i n di n g t h at C u r r y w a s n ot g u i l t y o f b urg

l a r y a n d ki dn a pi n g , w h i l e f i n di n g h i m g u i l t y of
a g g r av at e d a s s a u l t , i s i l l og i c a l a n d i n c on s i s t e n t . T h u s , C ur r y a r gu

e s , t h e t ri a l c ou r t e r r e d by d e n y i n g h i s mo t io nf

o r J
. N
. O
. V
. C i

ti n g H ol l om an v. St at e

, 65 6 S o. 2d11 34 ( M i

s s . 1 99 5) , an

d Un ite d S ta te sv . P o w e ll , 4 6 9 U
. S
. 5 7 , 1 0 5 S
. C t. 4 7 1 , 8 3 L
. E d
. 2 d 4 6 1 (1 9 8 4 ), C u

rry s u g g e s ts th i s C o u rt c a n rev e rse a n d ren d e r i f th e v e rd i c ts a re i l l o g i c a l a n d c o n tr a d i c to ry , w it h o u t re g a rd to a d d i ti o n a l e v i d e n c e . T h e S t a t e a r g u e s th

at t h e ju ry v e rd i c t sh o u l d b e a f f i rm e d b e c a u se th e re i s s u f f i c i e n t e v i de n c e i n t h e r e c ord t o s u

ppor t i t . We a g r e e wi t h t h e St at e . ¶20. T h e i l l og i c a l a n d i n c on s i s t e n t a rg u m e n t i s l a rg e l y r e s ol v e d by P ow e l l

, 469 U .S. 57, i

n
w h ic h t h e U n i t e d St at e s Su

pr e m e C ou r t s a i d: i n c o n s i s te n t v e rd i c ts . . . s h

o u l d n o t n e c e s s a ri l y b e i n te rp re te d a s a wi n d f a l l to th e G o v e rn m e n t at t h e d e f e n d a n t' s e x p e n se . It i s e qu a l l y p o ss i b l e th at t h e ju ry , con v i n ced of g u i l t , p r op er l y r eac h ed i t s con cl u s i on on t he c o m p o u n d o f f en s e, an d t h en t hr o u g h m i s t ake, com

pr om i s e, or l en i t y , ar ri v ed at an i n con s i s t en t co n c l u si o n o n t h e l esser o f f en se. B u t i n su ch si t u ati o n s t h e G o v er n m en t h as n o r ecou r s e i f i t wi s h es t o cor

r ect t h e j u r y ' s er r or ; t h e G ov er n m en t i s pr ecl u ded f r om a pp e a l i n g or ot h e r wi s e u ps e t ti n g s u c h a n a c qu i t t a l by t h e C on s ti t u ti on 's D ou bl e J eopar dy

C l au s e. I n co n si sten t v er d i ct s t h eref o r e p r esen

t a si t u a ti o n w h er e “ er r o r , ” i n t h e sen se t hat t h e j u r y h as n ot f ol l ow ed t h e cou r t ' s i n s t r u ct i on s , m ost cer t ai n l y h as occu r r ed, b u t i t i s u n cl ear w h ose ox h as been g or ed. G i v en t h i s u n cer t ai n t y , an d th e f a c t th at th e G o v e rn m e n t i s p re c l u d e d f ro m c h a l l e n g i n g th e a c qu i tta l , it is h a rd l y s ati s f a c to ry t o a l l o w th e d e f e n d a n t to re c e i

v e a n e w tri a l o n th e con v i ct i on as a m at t er of cou r s e.

. . . th e re i s n o re a s o n to v a c ate re s p o n

d e n t' s c o n v ic t io n m

e re l y b e c a u s e th e v erdi c t s c an

n ot r at i on al l y be r econ

ci l ed. R es po n den t i s g i v en t h e ben ef i t of h er a c qu i t t a l on t h e c ou n t s on w h i c h s h e w a s a c qu

i t t e d, a n d i t i s ne i t h e r i r r ati on a l n or i l l og i c a l t o r e quir e he r t o a c c e pt t h e bu rde n of c on v i c ti on on t h e c ou n t s on w h i c h t h e j u r y c on v i c te d.11

469 U .S. at

65, 69 ( c i

t ati on s o m i t t e d) . See a l

s o W o o te n v . S ta te , 5 1 3 S o . 2 d

1 2 5 1 ( Mi

ss. 19 87 ) . T

h i s C ou r t h as adop t ed t

h e r u l e t h at r ev i ew of t h e s u f f i ci en cy of t he e v

i den ce i s
a de qu at e pr ot e c ti

on f r om j u r y e r r or or i r r ati on a l i t y . H ol l om an v. St at e

, 656 So. 2d 1134, 1141 (Mi ss . 1 9 9 5 ). B e c a

u s e r e v i e wi n g t h e s u f f i c i e n c y of t h e e v i d e nc e p r o vi

de s e n ou g h pr ot e c ti on ag ai n s t an ar bi t r ar y v erdi ct , w e n eed n ot addr es s s peci

f i c l eg al i s s u es per t ai ni n g t o t h e i n t er pl ay of bu rg l ar y , k i dn api n g , an d ag g r av ated as s au

l t i n t h i s cas e. S u

f f i ce i t t o say t h at cer t ai n
e l e m e n ts n e c e ss a ry to p ro v e th e c ri m e o f b u rg l a ry , o r t h e c ri m e o f k i dn a p i n g , a re c l e a rl y d i f f e re n t th a n th o s e n e c e s s a ry to p ro v e th e c ri m e o f a g g ra v ate d a s s a u l t. ¶2 1
. T h e m o s t p ro b ati

v e e v i d e n c e o f C u rry ’s g u i l t w a s th e te s ti m o n y th at C u rry ’s f i n g e rp ri n ts
w e re f o u n d o n th e ju i c e b o tt l e at t h e sc e n e o f th e c r im e . T h is C o u

rt h a s s a i d “ [w ]h i l e f i n g er pr i n t ev i den ce a l on e . . . wi

l l no t s u f f i ce t o su pp or t a con v i ct i on , f i n g er pr i n t ev i den ce,
co u p l ed wi t h ev i d en ce o f o t h er c ir cu m stan ces t en d i n g t o r eason

ab l y ex cl u d e t h e h y p o t h esi s t h at t h e pri n t w a s im p r e s s e d a t a

ti m e ot h e r t h a n t h at of t h e c r i m e , wi l l .” W o o te n v . S ta te , 513 S o . 2 d 1 2 5 1 , 1 2 5 2 (M i

s s . 1 9 8 7 ). C l

e a rl y th e re a re c i rc u m s ta n c e s i n th i s c a s e th at l o g i c a l l y
ex cl u de t h e h y po t h es i s t hat t h e pri n t w as i m pr es s ed at

an ot h er ti m e. F i r s t , C u m m i n s t es ti f i ed t h at s h e as ked C u

r r y f or a dri n k o f j u i ce s h e h ad j u s t pu r ch as ed f r om t h e s t o r e a ndh

e pou r ed i t i n t o h er m ou t h . C u r r y ’ s f i n g er pr i n t w as t h e on l y di s cer n abl e pri n t f o un d o n t h at j u i ce bot tl e. S econ d, C u m m i n s s a i d s he h

ad n ot s een C u r r y bef or e. T h eref or e, i f C u r r y di d n ot i n f act
c o m m i t th e c ri m e i t i s h a rd to i m a g i n e a li k e l y s c e n a ri o th at wo u l d e x p l a i n w h y h i s p ri n ts
w ou l d b e t h e on l y di s cer n abl e p r i n t s on t h e j u i ce bot tl e i n C u m m i n s ’ s apar t m en t . Wh en12

l oo ki n g at t h es e c ir c um s t an

ces t og et h er , t h e ev i den ce i s s u f f i ci en t t o su s t ai n t h e v erdi ct u n der t h e W oo t e n s t a n da rd. ¶22. T h e r e c ord c on

t a i n s t h e f ol l owi n g a ddi ti on a l e v i de n c e pr obati

v e of C u r r y ’ s g u i l t : ( 1) af t er con du ct i n g a s ear ch of C u r r y ’ s r es i den ce, t h e pol i c e f

o un d cl ot h es , a kn i f e, sh oes a n d ot h er t h i n gs t ha t t he p er

pet rator h ad al l eg edl y w or n or u s ed du ri n g t h e at t ack; ( 2) w

h en p re s e n te d wi th a v o i c e ta p e , C u m m i n s w a s a b le t o id e n ti

f y C u rry ; a n d (3 ) w h e n p re s e n te d wi th a ph ot o l i n eu p, al bei t wi t h ou t cer t ai n t y , C u m m i n s po i n t ed on l y t o C u r r y ’ s pi ct u r e. ¶23
. B as ed on

t h e f i n g er pr i n t ev i den ce, an d t h e addi ti on al evi d e nc e , w e h

ol d t h at a rat i on al j u r or c ou l d h av e f ou n d C u r r y g u i l t y of a g g r av at e d a s s a u lt be y on d a r e a s on a bl e dou bt . C u r r y di d p ro v i d e te s timo n y

o f a n a l i b i , b u t th e ju ry m u s t h av e f o u n d i t u n p e rs u a s i v e . D e te rm

i n i n g th e
c r e di bi l i t y of wi t n e s s t e s ti m on y i s s qu a r e l y wi t h i n t h e pr ov i n c e of t h e f a c t - f i n de r . G rosecl o se v. S t at e, 440 So. 2d 297, 300- 01 ( M i s s . 1983) . T

h e r e f or e , C u r r y ’ s f i n a l a s s i g n m e n t of e r r or i s wi th o u t m e ri t. C ON C L U S I ON ¶24
. We c on

cl u de t h at C ur r y ’ s ar g u m en t s are w i t h ou t m er i t , an d w e af f i r m t h e j u dg m en t an d
s e n te n c e o f th e B o l i v a r C o u n ty C i rc u i t C o u rt. ¶25. CO N VI CTI O N O F AG GR AVA TED AS S AULT AN D S EN TEN CE O F TW EN TY (2 0 ) Y E A R S I N T HEC U S T OD Y OF T HEM I S S I S S I PP

I D E P A R T M E N T

OF COR R EC TI ON S , AFF

I R M ED . S EN TE N CEI M P OS ED I N THI S CAUS E S HALL R UN C O NS E C U T I V

ET O A NY A ND A L L S E NT E NC E S P

RE V I O U S LY I M P O S E D. S M I T H , C . J . , W

A L L E R, P . J . , DI A

Z , E A S L E Y

, C A RL S O N, DI C K

I NS ON A

ND RA NDO L PH , J J . , C O NC U

R. GRA V E S , J . , NO T

P A RT I C I P A T I NG
.