Opinion ID: 1782493
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: did the trial judge err in refusing to grant jury instruction d 11?

Text: ¶ 22. Swann's proposed jury instruction D-11 provided the following: You have heard evidence that Holly Joe [sic] Poe made statements prior to trial that may be inconsistent with her testimony at trial. If you believe that inconsistent statements were made, you may consider the inconsistencies in evaluating the believability of her testimony. The State objected to this instruction, and the circuit judge refused the instruction without an explanation. This Court has held that it is not an improper comment on the testimony of a witness to instruct the jury regarding the proper effect to give to prior inconsistent statements by witnesses testifying at trial. Ferrill v. State, 643 So.2d 501, 505 (Miss.1994); McGee v. State, 608 So.2d 1129, 1135 (Miss.1992). ¶ 23. The refusal of proposed Instruction D-11 would be error if no other instructions regarding the believability of Poe's testimony were provided to the jury. However, the jury did hear other instructions regarding the credibility of the witnesses and the consideration of conflicts in their testimony. A [trial] court must view jury instructions as a whole, and not individually, in order to decide whether the jury was adequately instructed. Chatman v. State, 761 So.2d 851, 855 (Miss.2000); Bell v. State, 725 So.2d 836, 848-49 (Miss.1998). Furthermore, a trial judge is not under an obligation to grant redundant instructions. Davis v. State, 568 So.2d 277, 280-81 (Miss.1990). Instruction 13(D-4) provided the following: As the sole and exclusive judges of the facts, it is for you, and you alone, to determine the credibility or believability of the evidence. It is for you to determine what witness or witnesses, or other forms of evidence, you will believe, either in whole or in part. If upon a consideration of the evidence in this case, you find that there is a conflict in the testimony of the witnesses, it is your duty to settle this conflict. In doing so, you should consider all the factors relevant to determining credibility. In passing upon credibility, you may consider all the facts and circumstances of the case, the witness' manner of testifying and demeanor on the stand, their intelligence, their interest or lack of interest, their means and opportunity for knowing the facts to which they testify, the nature of the facts to which they testify and the probability or improbability of their testimony. You may also consider their personal credibility in so far as it may legitimately appear from the trial of this case. In addition, Instruction C-1 provided that the jury should consider ... the testimony and statements of the witnesses and the exhibits offered and received. ¶ 24. Furthermore, as the State points out, Swann had the opportunity to cross-examine Poe regarding her prior inconsistent statements and, as evidenced by the record, Swann's attorney did so. Swann also argued in closing that Poe was untrustworthy, had previous forgery convictions, and had given several inconsistent statements. Given the jury instructions, the cross-examination of Poe, and Swann's closing argument, it is reasonable to believe that the jury did take Poe's prior inconsistent statements into account. Therefore, this Court finds that the circuit judge committed no error in refusing proposed Instruction D-11.