Opinion ID: 2454387
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Individual or Small-Group Voir Dire

Text: Storey claims a constitutional right to individual or small-group voir dire on death qualification and pretrial publicity. Control of voir dire is within the discretion of the trial judge; only abuse of discretion and likely injury justify reversal. State v. Bannister, 680 S.W.2d 141, 145 (Mo. banc 1984), cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1009, 105 S.Ct. 1879, 85 L.Ed.2d 170 (1985). This Court has repeatedly rejected claims for individual or small-group voir dire on death qualification. See State v. Chambers, 891 S.W.2d 93, 102 (Mo. banc 1994); State v. McMillin, 783 S.W.2d 82, 94-95 (Mo. banc), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 881, 111 S.Ct. 225, 112 L.Ed.2d 179 (1990). As to publicity, the trial judge asked the venire about their knowledge of the case. Several venirepersons had heard about it; they were individually questioned at the bench. Those who had prejudged the case or could not be impartial were excused for cause. This individual questioning of those who indicated knowledge was not an abuse of discretion.