Opinion ID: 2497005
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether the defendant's trial counsel provided effective assistance.

Text: ¶ 10. Anderson claims that his trial counsel was ineffective for two reasons: (1) for failing to request a psychological examination to determine whether he was legally insane or incompetent to stand trial; and (2) for waiving his right to be present at pretrial hearings, his right to an in-court identification by the victim, and his right to testify. ¶ 11. Generally, ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims are more appropriate for post-conviction proceedings rather than direct appeal. Archer v. State, 986 So.2d 951, 955 (Miss.2008). This is because during direct appeals the Court is limited to the trial court record in its review of the claim. ... Id. (citing Wilcher v. State, 863 So.2d 776, 825 (Miss. 2003)). When the record lacks sufficient evidence adequately to address the claim, this Court should deny relief and preserve the defendant's right to argue the issue through a post-conviction-relief petition. Id. (citing Wilcher, 863 So.2d at 825; Read v. State, 430 So.2d 832, 837 (Miss.1983)). ¶ 12. We find that, in today's case, the record does not contain sufficient evidence for this Court adequately to address Anderson's claims. Thus, this issue is more appropriate for post-conviction-relief proceedings. See Havard v. State, 928 So.2d 771, 795-96 (Miss.2006).