Opinion ID: 1913318
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 20

Heading: did the trial court err in denying holland's motion for change of venue?

Text: ¶ 94. Holland received a change of venue in the first trial, Holland I. The trial court refused to change venue at the resentencing trial. The trial court held a hearing with jurors selected for another case to determine the extent of their knowledge about Holland. Some jurors knew about the case and said it would affect their verdict, while others did not. ¶ 95. Holland asserts that at jury selection, several jurors knew about Holland's case and were affected by it, namely Mr. Joseph, who did not serve, Ms. Rosskopf, who did not serve, and Mr. Myrick, who did not serve. Other jurors who did serve knew of the case, but stated they could put aside their opinions, namely Ms. Larson and Ms. Scarborough. ¶ 96. A presumption of inability to conduct a fair trial in a venue arises with an application for change of venue, supported by two affidavits affirming the defendant's inability to receive a fair trial. Porter v. State, 616 So.2d 899, 905 (Miss. 1993). In addition, adverse and prejudicial pretrial publicity may demonstrate the inability to obtain a fair jury in that venue. Johnson v. State, 476 So.2d 1195, 1211 (Miss. 1985). Continuing evidence of prejudicial feelings could lead to a requirement for change of venue, even with substantial length between crime and trial. Coleman v. Kemp, 778 F.2d 1487, 1541 (11th Cir.1985), cert. denied, Kemp v. Coleman, 476 U.S. 1164, 106 S.Ct. 2289, 90 L.Ed.2d 730 (1986), reh'g denied, 478 U.S. 1014, 106 S.Ct. 3321, 92 L.Ed.2d 728 (1986). ¶ 97. However, the State can rebut this showing by proving from voir dire that the trial court impaneled an impartial jury. Harris v. State, 537 So.2d 1325, 1329 (Miss. 1989). If the State demonstrates such, this Court will not overturn the trial court's finding that an impartial jury could be found, despite adverse publicity. Harris, 537 So.2d at 1329. This Court reviews the trial court's finding under an abuse of discretion standard. Id. In any case, this Court will treat with deference a venire person's assertions of impartiality. Scott v. Ball, 595 So.2d 848, 850 (Miss. 1992). ¶ 98. Two factors are evaluated. First is the level of adverse publicity, both in extent of coverage and its inflammatory nature. Second is the extent of the effect the publicity had upon the venire persons in the case. ¶ 99. Comparing the case at bar with Harris v. State is proper here. Harris involved a brutal rape covered at least twice by television. Harris, 537 So.2d at 1327. A radio station manager affirmed that the station had aired five press reports before trial. Id. ¶ 100. Here, the local television station prepared at least thirteen clips containing news from the original trial in 1987 and 1988, but none for resentencing. ¶ 101. As for newspaper coverage, Harris featured nineteen newspaper articles discussing the proceedings before and during Harris' only trial. Id. All presumably named Harris in its coverage, since police had arrested him the day of the crime. Id. One of these publications criticized the release of Harris on parole prior to this incident. Id. at 1328. Here, there were twenty-nine newspaper clippings concerning this case between September 1986 and May 1988, including several discussing a successful escape Holland made from the local jail. ¶ 102. However, only one clipping discussed this Court reversing Holland's sentence, in September 1991. There has been no television coverage on this since 1987. Holland's re-sentencing commenced on March 29, 1993, and ended on April 1, 1993. Although the level of publicity appears to be at least as great as that in Harris, the lapse of time between the trial and resentencing, in which no coverage of Holland apparently occurred, effectively lessens the effect of this publicity. The fact that no more news stories were reported between 1991 and 1993 distinguishes this case from the ongoing publicity asserted as a reason for granting resentencing venue in Coleman, 778 F.2d at 1541. ¶ 103. The second factor involves the effect of this coverage on the jury pool. In Harris, fifty-two of eighty-two venire persons had some knowledge of the case. Here, only six venirepersons raised their hands expressing knowledge of this case. As stated above, several of those venire persons stated their knowledge would affect their verdict, and they were removed. Of the two sitting jurors with knowledge of the case, both stated their knowledge would not bar them from serving impartially on the jury. Of these, one juror, Joan Scarbrough, was accepted by Holland, who had two challenges left at the time. ¶ 104. Harris featured more immediate and inflammatory coverage by the media. Nevertheless, the trial court judge in Harris found that the defendant could have a fair trial and denied a venue change. Harris, 537 So.2d at 1329. This Court held the trial court did not abuse its discretion in its decision. Here, given the lesser coverage and effect here, this Court affirms the ruling of the trial court.