Opinion ID: 1613455
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether robert was denied a fair trial because witness sanders ruffin was allegedly improperly impeached

Text: ¶ 17. The State called Sanders Ruffin as a witness. Before Ruffin was sworn in, he invoked his right to remain silent pursuant to the Fifth Amendment. Once on the stand, Ruffin stated his name and answered in the affirmative that he was incarcerated at the time, serving two 15-year sentences consecutively. When asked what he knew about the events that transpired the night Cross was killed, Ruffin again pled the Fifth Amendment. The judge then honored Ruffin's constitutional rights and asked defense counsel if he wanted to cross-examine Ruffin. Defense counsel declined to cross-examine him. ¶ 18. Robert argues that the District Attorney improperly impeached Ruffin by prior conviction because of the reference to the length of the sentences and that the district attorney violated the rule that a witness that has invoked the Fifth Amendment cannot be impeached. Further, Robert argues that the District Attorney prejudiced him by further impeaching Ruffin with the specific questions asked. Robert claims that Ruffin's response that he did not want to testify raised the inference to the jury that Ruffin did not want to testify against Robert. He also argues that since Ruffin did not want to testify bolstered the testimony of witnesses who testified against Robert. This assignment is without merit, but more importantly, it is procedurally barred. [A] trial court is not put in error unless it had an opportunity to pass on the question. Oates v. State, 421 So.2d 1025, 1030 (Miss.1982) (citations omitted).