Opinion ID: 1781968
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: the jury's sentencing determination was improperly predicated on the personal characteristics of the victim in violation of the eighth and fourteenth amendments and article three, section 28 of the mississippi constitution.

Text: Foster contends the jury's sentence was based on vengeance and sympathy as a result of the jury's having heard evidence outside the scope of that permitted under Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101(5). He cites Willie v. State, 585 So.2d 660 (Miss. 1991) in support. In particular, Foster complains that in the State's closing argument the prosecution noted that Foster's parents were not the only ones who had suffered and grieved, and that the Fosters' tears might be outweighed by the fact of the victim's murder. Willie is no support for Foster's argument. In that case, this Court noted it would be improper for the State to effectively encourage the jury to weigh the value of the life of the accused against the value of the life of the victim. Id. at 679. In the case at bar, Foster's parents as part of the evidence in mitigation took the stand and tearfully begged the jury not to sentence their son to death. On rebuttal, State's counsel reminded the jury that the victim's parents had also suffered a loss and that in weighing the circumstances, the jury must not forget the cold calculated killing of George Shelton. The comments were not improper. The record indicates Foster failed to offer any objection to the State's closing argument at the sentencing phase. Without a contemporaneous objection, the claim is procedurally barred. Turner v. State, 573 So.2d 657 (Miss. 1990); Willie v. State, 585 So.2d 660 (Miss. 1991). This assignment is procedurally barred and without merit.