Opinion ID: 1589788
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Killing committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing arrest

Text: ¶ 192. This Court has stated the standard for reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support an avoiding-lawful-arrest instruction: [I]f there is evidence from which it may be reasonably inferred that a substantial reason for the killing was to conceal the identity of the killer or killings to cover their tracks so as to avoid apprehension and eventual arrest by authorities, then it is proper for the court to allow the jury to consider this aggravating circumstance. Under this construction the Court properly submits this aggravator to the jury if evidence existed from which the jury could reasonably infer that concealing the killer's identity, or covering the killer's tracks to avoid apprehension and arrest, was a substantial reason for the killing. Mitchell, 792 So.2d at 219 (quoting Manning v. State, 735 So.2d 323, 350 (Miss. 1999)). ¶ 193. We find that it was proper for the trial court to allow the jury to consider this aggravating factor. Goff, by his own admission, removed all items from the motel room which be believed might contain his fingerprints and which might tie him to the crime. Goff also admitted that he set fire to the motel room to avoid detection of this crime. Goff's contention as to Meeks was discussed in Section B., supra. ¶ 194. Therefore, this issue is without merit.