Opinion ID: 1128377
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: sentencing instruction 2-a impermissibly shifted the burden of proof from the prosecution to the defendant.

Text: ¶ 77. Crawford argues that Instruction 2-A, informing the jury that the defendant had the burden of proving that the mitigating circumstances outweighed the aggravating circumstances, impermissibly shifts the burden of proof from the prosecution to the defendant. This claim is meritless. Instruction 2-A correctly stated the law, as it is clearly pronounced in Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101 (1994), that the mitigating circumstances must outweigh the aggravating circumstances: (2) After hearing all the evidence, the jury shall deliberate on the following matters: (a) Whether sufficient factors exist as enumerated in subsection (7) of this section; (b) Whether sufficient aggravating circumstances exist as enumerated in subsection (5) of this section; (c) Whether sufficient mitigating circumstances exist as enumerated in subsection (6) of this section, which outweigh the aggravating circumstances found to exist; and (d) Based on these considerations, whether the defendant should be sentenced to life imprisonment, life imprisonment without eligibility for parole, or death. (3) For the jury to impose a sentence of death, it must unanimously find in writing the following: (a) That sufficient factors exist as enumerated in subsection (7) of this section; (b) That sufficient aggravating circumstances exist as enumerated in subsection (5) of this section; and (c) That there are insufficient mitigating circumstances, as enumerated in subsection (6), to outweigh the aggravating circumstances. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101(2) & (3) (1994)(emphasis added). This Court has stated, Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101(2)(c) clearly requires that the jury find that the mitigating circumstances outweigh the aggravating circumstances. Foster, 639 So.2d at 1301. This Court has previously rejected the argument that the burden of proof is shifted by requiring that the mitigating circumstances outweigh the aggravating circumstances. Lester, 692 So.2d at 769. Crawford's argument is meritless.