Opinion ID: 1938175
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Trial Counsel Failed to Object and Preserve for Appeal Improper Comments Made by the Prosecutor during the Closing Argument.

Text: ¶ 37. During closing argument at the guilt phase of the trial, the assistant district attorney stated: [A]nd as Mr. Ralph Dance testified, Mr. Gillis is in jail awaiting trial. That was his testimony. Defense counsel did not object. This issue was raised on direct appeal. This Court found the matter was procedurally barred because of the lack of objection. Notwithstanding the procedural bar, we still discussed the merits of the issue and stated: There was ample evidence presented at trial regarding Gillis's involvement in this crime, including Byrom's and Junior's statements, and the disputed comment by the prosecutor was nothing more than a comment on that evidence, which had been received without any objection from Byrom. Finally, Byrom has failed to assert, or even demonstrate, that she suffered any prejudice as a result of these comments. Byrom, 863 So.2d at 873. ¶ 38. Notwithstanding the procedural bar, for the reasons stated, we find Byrom's argument that her defense counsel rendered ineffective assistance due to their failure to object to the prosecutor's comments during the State's closing argument of the guilt phase of the trial is without merit. ¶ 39. In sum, Byrom claims her trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by (1) failing to actively pursue a change of venue; (2) failing to generally conduct an investigation of her case; (3) failing to conduct an adequate investigation in preparation for the guilt-innocence phase and the sentencing phase of her trial; and, (4) failing to object and preserve for appeal purposes the prosecutor's improper comments during the guilt phase of the trial. We have determined each of these arguments is without merit because, in her efforts to meet the Strickland criteria, Byrom has failed to demonstrate that her trial counsel's actions were deficient and that the deficiency prejudiced the defense of her case. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052. Unless a defendant makes both showings, it cannot be said that the conviction or death sentence resulted from a breakdown in the adversary process that renders the result unreliable. Stringer v. State, 454 So.2d 468, 477 (Miss. 1984) (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052). We thus find Byrom's argument that she was denied her Sixth Amendment right to the effective assistance of counsel at her trial is without merit.