Opinion ID: 1723757
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: trial counsel was ineffective in failing to object to the elicitation of evidence concerning religion by the prosecution.

Text: ¶ 54. During the sentencing hearing Ricky Chase called Jackie Alton. Ms. Alton testified that she went to church with Ricky Chase, that he attended regularly `till he go [sic] on up in age, that [a]s far as I know he's a nice young man, and that he grew up in the teachings of the church. On cross-examination, the prosecution showed Ms. Alton a photograph of Elmer Hart's body, and Alton agreed that the person responsible was an evil person under the teachings of her church and if Chase had done it, then she might not have known him as well as she had thought. ¶ 55. Chase now argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failure to object to the cross-examination. Chase cites numerous cases from other jurisdictions involving prosecutors making religion-based arguments. He makes the argument that [c]rossexamination on religious issues is improper unless an issue exists where the defendant has sought to use religion to bolster his position and the purpose of the cross-examination is to impeach the credibility of the witness. We find that this is exactly the situation presented here, except that Chase's credibility was impeached through that of his witness. Chase attempted to use religion to help his case and cannot complain when it was in turn used against him. Under this Court's ruling in Turner v. State, 573 So.2d 657, 671 (Miss. 1990)(Christian burial reference in cross-examination and closing argument not error where defense also employed religion), counsel was not ineffective here for failure to object to the cross-examination at issue.