Opinion ID: 1831577
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Argue the Imposition of a Disproportionate Sentence.

Text: ¶ 68. Again, this claim has nothing to do with prosecutorial misconduct. However, Walker contends that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to request the trial court to impose upon him the same sentence received by Riser. The basis of his contention is that the failure to raise the proportionality of the sentence at trial is ineffective assistance of counsel. No such claim was raised on direct appeal. However, this Court did address the proportionality of the sentence on direct appeal. The Court concluded that the sentence was not disproportionate to the crime. See Walker, 671 So.2d at 630-31. Since we considered the merits of this claim the underlying substantive merits of the claim have been decided against Walker. This Court's holding that the sentence was not disproportionate demonstrates that Walker suffered no prejudice. Therefore, Walker cannot demonstrate the requisite deficient performance and prejudice required by Strickland. ¶ 69. Walker also contends that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to request the trial court to impose upon him a sentence that was proportionate to that received by Jason Riser. If his contention is that counsel should have requested the trial court to conduct a proportionality review and sentence him to life it is totally without merit. Under the Mississippi capital sentencing scheme the trial court is not empowered to conduct a proportionality review. That mandatory function is reserved to this Court by Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-105(3)(c). Thus, even if trial counsel had asked the trial court to perform such a review, it would not have had the authority to conduct a proportionality review in this case. Further, there is no federal constitutional requirement that a proportionality review be conducted before a death penalty can be imposed, this is only a state statutory requirement. See Pulley v. Harris, 465 U.S. 37, 104 S.Ct. 871,79 L.Ed.2d 29 (1984) (No Eighth Amendment right to proportionality review of sentence). ¶ 70. However, it may appear to be that Walker's claim is that trial counsel did not request the trial court to impose the same life imprisonment sentence that Riser obtained in his plea bargain agreement with the State. If this is in fact Walker's argument, the record does not support such an assertion. Considering the written objections to the instructions trial counsel filed, we find the following request: (5) Because none of these aggravating circumstances has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, this Court must instruct the jury to return a sentence of life imprisonment. MCA 99-19-101(2)(5). Thus, counsel did request that the court sentence Walker to life imprisonment, the same sentence Riser received. Walker cannot sustain a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel on this point. ¶ 71. In conclusion, considering all of the claims, even if done in a cumulative manner, Walker has failed to demonstrate deficient performance and resulting prejudice, both of which are required to support a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Walker is entitled to no relief on his claims of ineffective assistance of counsel.