Opinion ID: 1812932
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying Ruffin's motion for a change of venue.

Text: ¶ 26. This Court reviews a trial court's decision to grant or deny a change of venue for abuse of discretion. King v. State, 960 So.2d 413, 429 (Miss. 2007) (citing Howell v. State, 860 So.2d 704, 718 (Miss.2003)). ¶ 27. A change of venue may be granted only if the defendant makes a satisfactory showing that he cannot receive a fair and impartial trial where the offense is charged. King, 960 So.2d at 429 (citing Byrom v. State, 927 So.2d 709, 715 (Miss. 2006)). `[U]pon proper application, there arises a presumption that [an impartial trial cannot be had]; and, the State then bears the burden of rebutting that presumption.' White v. State, 495 So.2d 1346, 1348 (Miss.1986) (quoting Johnson v. State, 476 So.2d 1195 (Miss.1985)). Proper application is met by complying with the change-of-venue statute found at Section 99-15-35 of the Mississippi Code Annotated (Rev.2007). White, 495 So.2d at 1348-49. Under Section 99-15-35, a change of venue must be requested in writing, sworn to by the prisoner, made to the court, ... supported by the affidavits of two or more credible persons, that, by reason of prejudgment of the case, or grudge or ill will to the defendant in the public mind, he cannot have a fair and impartial trial in the county where the offense is charged.... Miss.Code Ann. § 99-15-35 (Rev.2007). An application for change of venue must strictly comply with this statute. Baldwin v. State, 732 So.2d 236, 241 (Miss.1999) (citing Purvis v. State, 71 Miss. 706, 14 So. 268 (1894)) (statutory deficiency where motion included two affidavits, but was not sworn to by the petitioner). ¶ 28. Ruffin failed to comply with the statutory requirements set forth in Section 99-15-35. Notwithstanding this failure, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Ruffin's motion for a change of venue. Ruffin argues that seventy-three jurors is too few potential jurors considering the higher standard of review for a capital murder trial, and the fact that one-third of these were disqualified for various reasons is proof that he could not get a fair trial. [8] Ruffin cites no authority to support his argument that too few jurors were summoned, and we find no such authority ourselves. Cf. Lutes v. State, 517 So.2d 541, 546 (Miss.1987) (capital-murder case in which there were seventy-nine persons in the venire). Furthermore, the fact that twelve jurors had heard something about the case and that fourteen knew the victim's family is insufficient to warrant a change of venue. See Shook v. State, 552 So.2d 841, 849 (Miss.1989) (fifty-four out of the one-hundred-six persons in the venire had either discussed the case, read about it in the newspaper or had other knowledge concerning the case); Lutes v. State, 517 So.2d 541, 545-47 (Miss.1987) (right to a fair trial not compromised where seventy-one of seventy-nine veniremen had heard about the case).