Opinion ID: 1690710
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the trial court erred in submitting to the jury in the sentencing phase of the trial the form of the verdict as contained in sentencing instruction c-1.

Text: ś 120. Doss complains that the trial court erred by submitting sentencing instruction C-1 and denying instruction D-S-3 [39] because of this Court's language from Jenkins v. State, 607 So.2d 1171, 1180 (Miss. 1992). The Jenkins court reversed that case on other grounds, but noted that instruction C-1-S-A in that case should have been revised to more clearly instruct the jury. Id. The problem with the sentencing phase instruction was that it had the different verdict options on different pages which did not all contain a space for the jury foreman's signature. Id. Such is not the case here. ś 121. In this case, instruction C-1 is made up of six pages. The sentencing form is two pages. Instruction C-1 has all three sentencing options on one page. The jury appears to have been clearly instructed and understanding of their instructions as page one of the sentencing form is filled out perfectly as instructed by C-1. Page two reflects that the jury circled the plural option regarding the balancing of mitigating and aggravating circumstances to reflect that the aggravators outweighed the mitigators. Therefore, the jury correctly, and without any apparent confusion, completed the form used in this case. ś 122. The State asserts that Doss is once again procedurally barred, which is supported by the record. Additionally, the State asserts that Jenkins is inapplicable and that the jury was adequately and clearly informed. Jenkins is inapplicable under this Court's understanding as well. Accordingly, this issue is without merit and procedurally barred.