Opinion ID: 1855634
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Whether the trial court's striking all references to mercy and sympathy from the jury instructions was unconstitutional?

Text: ¶ 61. In addition, Wiley argues that the trial judge erred by striking from the jury instructions all references to mercy and sympathy. He contends that, in effect, the trial judge instructed the jury not to consider sympathy and mercy. The issue of whether the instructions granted or rejected were error by the trial judge should have been raised on the direct appeal. Procedural bars of waiver, different theories, and res judicata and exception thereto as defined in post-conviction relief statute are applicable in death penalty postconviction relief application. Lockett v. State, 614 So.2d 888 (Miss.1992), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 1040, 114 S.Ct. 681, 126 L.Ed.2d 649 (1994). Postconviction relief is not granted upon facts and issues which could or should have been litigated at trial and on appeal. The doctrine of res judicata shall apply to all issues, both factual and legal, decided at trial and on direct appeal. Miss.Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3) (Supp.1994). Thus, this Court will not engage in a full blown argument about whether the instructions were erroneously excluded or whether those admitted were sufficient, as those issues are res judicata. Foster v. State, 687 So.2d 1124, 1138 (Miss. 1996). ¶ 62. Even if Wiley's argument were not procedurally barred, it would fail. As stated earlier, a capital murder defendant is not entitled to a sympathy instruction or a mercy instruction, although the trial judge has discretion to grant such an instruction. See Jenkins, 607 So.2d at 1181. The jury cannot be instructed to disregard sympathy altogether. See Evans, 725 So.2d at 691. However, they may be cautioned against being swayed by such considerations. See id. ¶ 63. Wiley argues that, by refusing to grant mercy instructions, the trial judge, in effect, instructed the jury not to consider mercy. This is not true. The trial judge was within his discretion in refusing the mercy instructionsand, in fact, could have gone further, and instructed the jury not to be swayed by such considerations. The record reflects that the jury was not instructed to disregard mercy altogether. Wiley's argument to the contrary is a misstatement of the facts and the law.