Opinion ID: 2550813
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Juror LeChina Clay

Text: Defense counsel noted that Ms. Clay believes [m]ore along the lines of an eye for an eye, and that if you take a life. . . I think you should give your life for that. During voir dire, Ms. Clay stated that, while she is for the death penalty, she would be able to consider both a death and a life sentence. She reaffirmed that belief by later stating that in situations where manslaughter or self-defense had been ruled out and the defendant had been found guilty of first degree murder, she could still consider a life sentence. She also stated that she would have to consider the mitigating circumstances before making a decision on a penalty. In this case, defense counsel apparently chose to include only the small portion of Clay's testimony that would suggest she was unable to consider a life sentence. However, as the record reveals, she repeatedly stated that she was willing to impose a life or death sentence, depending on the circumstances presented. When considering the entire record, we find it is clear that defendant's claim has no merit.