Opinion ID: 1707183
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 31

Heading: whether the trial court erred in allowing the prosecution to introduce evidence on counts ii and iii at the sentencing phase.

Text: ś 395. Evans' next assignment of error challenges the admission by the trial court of all evidence presented at the guilt-innocence phase, including evidence relevant only to the sexual battery counts. ś 396. Evans' first challenge is to the reintroduction of all evidence presented at the guilt phase. In Davis v. State, 660 So.2d 1228, 1253 (Miss.1995), cert. denied, 517 U.S. 1192, 116 S.Ct. 1684, 134 L.Ed.2d 785 (1996), reh'g denied, 518 U.S. 1039, 117 S.Ct. 7, 135 L.Ed.2d 1102 (1996), this Court held that the trial court did not commit reversible error by allowing the prosecution to introduce all of the testimony from the guilt phase. This holding is consistent with Jackson v. State, 337 So.2d 1242, 1256 (Miss. 1976), wherein this Court held: At the sentencing hearing, the question to be decided by the jury is whether the defendant shall be sentenced to death or to life imprisonment. At this hearing, the State may elect to stand on the case made at the first hearing, if before the same jury, or may reintroduce any part of the evidence adduced at the first hearing which it considers to be relevant to the particular question of whether the defendant shall suffer death or be sentenced to life imprisonment. ś 397. Evans also contends that evidence regarding the sexual battery of Beatrice was irrelevant to any of the eight statutory aggravating circumstances. Miss.Code Ann. § 99-19-101 clearly provides that [i]n the proceeding, evidence may be presented as to any matter that the court deems relevant to sentence, and shall include matters relating to any of the aggravating or mitigating circumstances.  (emphasis added). Evidence of sexual battery was admitted to prove that the capital offense was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel. During the sentencing phase, the State recalled Dr. McGarry to testify as to his findings regarding the sexual battery charges. Dr. McGarry's testimony regarding the pain and suffering endured by Beatrice during the sexual assault was highly relevant and probative to the especially, heinous, atrocious, and cruel aggravating factor. This issue is without merit.