Opinion ID: 1589788
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Counsel erred in requesting sentencing instruction 5, D-1A.

Text: ¶ 136. Goff charges that counsel failed to provide competent representation when he requested sentencing instruction D-1A, which provided: You are advised that just because these instructions have listed certain aggravating circumstances you are allowed to consider, does not mean that those or any other aggravating circumstances exist. It is for only you the jury to determine, beyond a reasonable doubt, which aggravating circumstances exist and the weight, if any, to give to any particular aggravating circumstance. ¶ 137. According to Goff, this instruction advised jurors that the listed aggravating circumstances were not the only aggravating circumstances they could consider. ¶ 138. We see no error, prejudicial or otherwise, in this instruction. Further, as the State points out, jury instructions are to be read together and taken as a whole, with no one instruction taken out of context. Byrom v. State, 863 So.2d 836, 874 (Miss.2003). The State adds that another jury instruction, sentencing instruction 1, correctly ordered the jurors to consider only the following elements of aggravation, as set forth in Mississippi Code Annotated Section 99-19-101 (Rev. 2007), in determining whether the death penalty should be imposed: 1. Whether the defendant was previously convicted of a felony involving the use or threat of violence to the person; 2. Whether the defendant knowingly created a great risk of death to many persons; 3. Whether the capital offense was committed while the defendant was engaged in the commission of robbery; 4. Whether the capital offense was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing a lawful arrest; 5. Whether the capital offense was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel. You must unanimously find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that one or more of the preceding aggravating circumstances exists in this case to return the death penalty. If none of these aggravating circumstances are found to exist, the death penalty may not be imposed.... (Emphasis added.) ¶ 139. The jury's verdict for the death penalty enumerated only those aggravators listed by statute. See Miss.Code Ann. § 99-19-101 (Rev.2007). This claim is without merit.