Opinion ID: 1142502
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Instruction C-1-S-A

Text: Billy Jenkins asserts on appeal that Instruction C-1-S-A was erroneously given because it improperly instructed the jury to consider aggravating circumstances outside of the scope of Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101 (Supp. 1990). Without addressing the merits of appellant's claim, we simply note that Instruction C-1-S-A, as given by the lower court, was erroneous. Instruction C-1-S-A was a comprehensive instruction given to guide the jury in their decision at the penalty phase. The final pages of C-1-S-A contained the options available to the jury regarding the form of their verdict. Page three contained the first option, the form of the verdict for the death penalty, and concluded with a line designated for the foreman's signature. Page four contained Option Two, the form of the verdict for life imprisonment, and Three, the verdict if a unanimous decision could not be reached, but provided no spaces for the foreman's signature. We are concerned that the instruction as written and printed could cause the jury to neglect Options Two and Three. Upon retrial, we suggest that the trial court revise this instruction to more clearly instruct the jury.