Opinion ID: 1654600
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: whether the death sentence violates the mississippi constitution.

Text: ¶ 27. McGilberry argues that his death sentence violates the Mississippi Constitution's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment because he was only sixteen years old at the time of the offense. McGilberry also argues that the death sentence as applied to him is disproportionate pursuant to Miss.Code Ann. § 99-19-105. This issue was considered and rejected on direct appeal. McGilberry, 741 So.2d at 924-25. The matter is therefore procedurally barred from consideration of collateral review under the doctrine of res judicata. Miss.Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3). Without waiving the procedural bar, we have previously recognized that imposition of the death penalty on a sixteen or seventeen year old presents no per se case of cruel and unusual punishment, and that age is only a factor to be considered in mitigation. Foster v. State, 639 So.2d 1263, 1296 (Miss.1994). This issue is without merit.