Opinion ID: 1778765
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The robbery aggravating circumstance as to both counts.

Text: ś 189. Manning next contends that evidence was insufficient to show that a robbery was committed to support the aggravating circumstance that the murder was committed during the commission of a robbery. He argues that the robbery was an afterthought to the murder and therefore cannot support a capital murder charge. ś 190. It is of no consequence when the robbery occurred. There was sufficient evidence of a robbery to sustain a conviction of capital murder so it follows that there was sufficient evidence to support the aggravating circumstance. Miss.Code Ann. § 99-19-101(5)(d)(1994) provides in pertinent part: The capital offense was committed while the defendant was engaged, or was an accomplice, in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit, any robbery ... ś 191. At trial, there was plenty of evidence that these murders were committed while Manning was in the commission of a robbery. When the victims were found, Jon was missing his class ring and his watch. Tiffany had been robbed of her watch, a ring, a necklace, and her car. ś 192. Manning also argues that the robbery aggravating circumstance was invalid in this case because it does not sufficiently narrow the class of defendants that are eligible for the death penalty as it is an element of the offense. He cites no authority for this proposition and makes no real argument. This claim is barred from review. Roberson v. State, 595 So.2d 1310, 1318 (Miss.1992)(citing Kelly v. State, 553 So.2d 517, 521 (Miss. 1989)). Further, his contention is meritless as this Court has held many times that there is no error when the underlying felony and the aggravating circumstance are the same. See Holly v. State, 671 So.2d 32, 39-40 (Miss. 1996).