Opinion ID: 1881936
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether the court erred in refusing sentencing instruction d-10a

Text: ¶ 59. At sentencing Goodin proposed the following jury instruction: The Court instructs the jury that you need not find any mitigating circumstances in order to return a sentence of life imprisonment without eligibility for parole. A life sentence without eligibility for parole may be returned regardless of the evidence. Goodin contends that the denial of this instruction was error. He argues that the denial of this instruction had the effect of a mandatory death sentence upon the jury's finding that no mitigating factors were proven in violation of his Eighth Amendment rights. The State contends that this instruction is a mercy instruction and was therefore properly denied. ¶ 60. In the sentencing phase, counsel should be allowed to argue for or against the death penalty. Such arguments necessarily include deterrence by the prosecution and mercy by the defendant. However, such arguments need not be accompanied by jury instructions. As we have long held, jury instructions are within the sound discretion of the trial court. ¶ 61. This Court has repeatedly held that capital defendants are not entitled to a mercy instruction. Jordan v. State, 728 So.2d 1088, 1099 (Miss.1998) (citing Underwood v. State, 708 So.2d 18, 37 (Miss.1998); Hansen v. State, 592 So.2d 114, 150 (Miss.1991); Williams v. State, 544 So.2d 782, 788 (Miss.1987); Lester v. State, 692 So.2d 755, 798 (Miss.1997); Jackson v. State, 684 So.2d 1213, 1239 (Miss.1996); Carr v. State, 655 So.2d 824, 850 (Miss.1995); Foster v. State, 639 So.2d 1263, 1299-1301 (Miss.1994); Jenkins v. State, 607 So.2d 1171, 1181 (Miss.1992); Nixon v. State, 533 So.2d 1078, 1100 (Miss. 1987)). The United States Supreme Court has held that giving a jury instruction allowing consideration of sympathy or mercy could induce a jury to base its sentencing decision upon emotion, whim, and caprice instead of upon the evidence presented at trial. Id. (citing Saffle v. Parks, 494 U.S. 484, 492-95, 110 S.Ct. 1257, 1262-64, 108 L.Ed.2d 415 (1990)). However, arguments to the jury are not the same as jury instructions. Miss.Code Ann § 99-19-101(1) states in pertinent part: The state and the defendant and/or his counsel shall be permitted to present arguments for or against the sentence of death. Thus, it is appropriate for the defense to ask for mercy or sympathy in the sentencing phase. It is likewise appropriate for the State to argue to send a message in the sentencing phase. Again, neither side is entitled to a jury instruction regarding mercy or deterrence. In light of the foregoing authority, we find the trial court's refusal to grant the mercy instruction was within his discretion and does not amount to reversible error.