Opinion ID: 1735108
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Failure to object to the testimony of Roosevelt Owens

Text: ¶ 56. Defense counsel on appeal argues that the trial counsel should have objected to Officer Roosevelt Owens, Natchez Police Department, testifying as to the statement made by Alvin Reynolds to him. [2] Officer Owens briefly testified at trial. Officer Owens testified that he was assigned to assist Investigator Nations, however, he played only a limited role in working this murder case. Officer Owens testified that he reduced his conversation with Alvin to writing. ¶ 57. During Officer Owens's investigation, he spoke to Alvin, Reynolds's brother. At that time, Reynolds was staying with Alvin. After the shooting took place, Reynolds came over to use the telephone and call her mother. It was somewhere around 2:40 or 2:45 a.m. The following exchange occurred: Q: Did you next ask, What happened, sir? What did you hear? A: Yes, sir, I did. Q: And what did he [Alvin] tell you? A: The same thing she always tells us just about everyday. She [sic] tired of Larry messing with her and following her around and stuff. The defense did not object. The defense did not cross-examine Officer Owens. After Officer Owens testified, the trial court recessed until the next morning. The State rested its case when the court reconvened. ¶ 58. Reynolds argues: The testimony may have been admissible to impeach the testimony of Alvin Reynolds. If the objection had been made the court may have allowed the testimony as impeachment testimony only. The defense may have been entitled to an instruction informing the jury that said testimony was not evidence of the truth of the matter assert [sic] but for impeachment purposes only. ¶ 59. Again, Reynolds does not establish that this amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel. The defense does not show that trial counsel attempted to obtain an impeachment instruction from the trial court. Officer Owens's testimony was not the only evidence presented to the jury on which Reynolds could have been convicted. Reynolds's statement placed her at the scene when Holliday was shot 3 times. She stated that she saw no one else there when Holliday was shot. The gunshot residue test kit taken from Reynolds was positive on the right and left palms. The fatal gunshot wound was shot from close, contact range. Reynolds had a scratch on her face that she stated could have been from Holliday. She left the scene and called her mother before calling the police. ¶ 60. Most importantly, before Officer Owens was called to testify, the State called Alvin to testify. Alvin was declared an adverse witness. Alvin testified confirming that he had told Officer Owens, Well I heard the same thing she [Reynolds] always tells us just about everyday. She was tired of Larry messing with her and following her around and stuff. That was it. Officer Owens's testimony was not different than Alvin's testimony. There was no basis to impeach Alvin's testimony. We find this assignment of error to be without merit.