Opinion ID: 1832097
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 19

Heading: whether the trial court committed reversible error in denying defendant's motion for separate trials.

Text: ¶ 63. Vance argues the trial court erred in not granting her motion to sever defendants and allowing for separate trials because the jury could not consider Vance's defense separate from Stubbs's defense. Vance contends the State used the evidence from one defendant against the other in order to obtain convictions against both defendants. Vance also contends she was irretrievably linked to Stubbs by the State's treatment of both defendants as a single defendant or lesbian couple. ¶ 64. The State argues the record does not show Vance ever objected to any testimony about evidence of a lesbian relationship between Vance and Stubbs. The State also argues that although a severance of defendants was mentioned in the motion for a new trial by Stubbs, there was nothing mentioned concerning Vance or any of the issues she raises in this appeal. The State also claims Vance's appeal is lacking in merit. Vance's defense was not an attempt to exculpate herself while implicating Stubbs. The State argues sufficient evidence supported the trial court's denial of the motion for a severance. ¶ 65. The trial judge has the discretion to grant a severance of defendants if it is necessary to promote a fair determination of the defendant's guilt or innocence. Stevens v. State, 717 So.2d 311, 312 (Miss.1998). In Duckworth v. State, 477 So.2d 935, 937 (Miss.1985), this Court stated that there are a number of criteria to be used to determine if the denial of a motion for severance is proper. These criteria are whether or not the testimony of one co-defendant tends to exculpate that defendant at the expense of the other defendant and whether the balance of the evidence introduced at trial tends to go more to the guilt of one defendant rather than the other. Absent a showing of prejudice, there are no grounds to hold that the trial court abused its discretion. Id. at 937. Hawkins v. State, 538 So.2d 1204, 1207 (Miss.1989); See Gossett v. State, 660 So.2d 1285, 1289 (Miss.1995); Tillman v. State, 606 So.2d 1103, 1106 (Miss.1992) (the trial court has the discretion to grant a severance if it is necessary to promote a fair determination of the defendant's guilt or innocence); Johnson v. State, 512 So.2d 1246, 1254 (Miss.1987); Price v. State, 336 So.2d 1311, 1312 (Miss.1976); URCCC 9.03; Miss.Code Ann. § 99-15-47 (Supp.1994). Id. at 312-13. URCCC 9.03 also provides: The granting or refusing of severance of defendants in cases not involving the death penalty shall be in the discretion of the trial judge. The court may, on motion of the state or defendant, grant a severance of offenses whenever: 1. If before trial, it is deemed appropriate to promote a fair determination of the defendant's guilt or innocence of each offense; or 2. If during trial, upon the consent of the defendant, it is deemed necessary to achieve a fair determination of the defendant's guilt or innocence of each offence. ¶ 66. In Carter v. State, 799 So.2d 40 (Miss.2001), both Carter and his co-defendant Pierce maintained throughout the trial that neither person had anything to do with the robbery or murder of Williams. Each defendant testified in his own behalf claiming an alibi defense, and neither defendant accused the other of being the guilty party. Id. at 45. This Court found the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying a severance because the evidence introduced at trial went to the guilt of both defendants and neither defendant attempted to exculpate himself at the expense of the other. Id. ¶ 67. In Caston v. State, 823 So.2d 473 (Miss.2002), three brothers, James Doc Caston (Doc), Charles Ernie Caston (Charles) and Hal Spivey Crimm (Crimm) were convicted of manslaughter. All three brothers' motions for severance were denied by the trial court. Id. at 485. At trial, Doc was the only defendant to testify. His testimony did not exculpate himself at the expense of either of his brothers. Id. at 488. This Court held because there was no evidence the brothers were prejudiced by the denial of the severance, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion for severance. Id. ¶ 68. Neither Vance nor Stubbs testified at trial; however, their previous voluntary statements were admitted into evidence. There is no indication in the record that Vance or Stubbs ever tried to exculpate themselves at the expense of the other defendant. The evidence presented at trial went to the guilt of both Vance and Stubbs. Although evidence was introduced to indicate Stubbs most likely caused the bite mark on Williams's hip, other evidence presented did not exclude Vance from causing any of Williams's other injuries. ¶ 69. As noted earlier, although there is no record of Vance filing a separate motion for JNOV or, in the alternative, a new trial which raises this issue of severance, we will address this issue because the State responded to a motion and the trial court specifically denied the motion in his order. For whatever reasons, this motion is not in the court record. However, we safely conclude such a motion exists; therefore, we have jurisdiction to address the issue. However, considering this issue on its merits, Vance's issue lacks merit. See Foster v. State, 639 So.2d 1263, 1271 (Miss.1994)(Although this Court need not look further after finding a procedural bar, this Court also, alternatively, may review the merits of the underlying claim knowing that any subsequent review will stand on the bar alone.). Because there is no evidence either Vance or Stubbs was prejudiced by the denial of the severance, this Court finds the trial court did not abuse his discretion in denying the motion for severance.