Opinion ID: 1135905
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Dunn's Request for Self-Representation-

Text: There were numerous occasions during the court proceedings where Dunn's appointed attorneys stated to the court that Dunn had refused to have them represent him and he wished to represent himself. These statements were made in Dunn's presence. He had the capacity to object or refute the statements by the attorneys but did not say anything. Dunn at no time gave any indication that what the attorneys were saying was not true or that he disagreed with those statements. In fact the judge asked him if he wanted to represent himself. Dunn refused to answer. Specifically the following exchange took place: MR. COOPER: Your Honor, the defendant informed me that after the jury is seated that he would take over the defense of his own case; and I will advise the jury of that in opening statement.       THE COURT: Mr. Dunn, let me ask you this: Is that your request that you take over your defense? [12] THE DEFENDANT: (No Response). THE COURT: If you don't want to respond now, I'm going to let these lawyers defend you because I don't know. What I'm hearing is from someone else and not from you. MR. COOPER: Your Honor, let the record reflect that the defendant requested that I advise the Court of that fact, which my statement earlier is the reason I brought that up. Under these circumstances, the trial judge was fully justified in taking Dunn's silence as admissions of his attorney's recitals. Graves v. State, 627 So.2d 360, 361 (Miss. 1993); see Folk v. State, 576 So.2d 1243, 1246 n. 4. (Miss. 1991).