Opinion ID: 1849099
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 18

Heading: the jury verdict of capital murder is totally without basis in law and fact and the result of bias and passion on the part of the jury in this case.

Text: ś 90. Conley asserts that the evidence of his guilt is abstract and highly circumstantial and does not rise to the level of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. He contends that the State presented irrelevant and highly prejudicial evidence and that his trial was fundamentally unfair. The State argues that the absence of bias and passion of the jury is evidenced by the fact that Conley is not sitting on death row. ś 91. Conley complains that, though not charged with pecuniary gain, he faced this presumption throughout the trial. Conley cites as further examples of prejudicial evidence Teronda's testimony regarding Conley's drinking beer and inviting his cousin Lewis to join the party the day of the drowning and the State's entering its choice of life jackets. The State rebuts that the alleged motive, financial gain, is relevant in a murder case. Further the State asserts that testimony from those present at the scene is relevant. ś 92. This Court has stated: It is error in the course of a trial where one is charged with a criminal offense for the State to inject extraneous and prejudicial matters and lay them before the jury. A combination of such instances may become fatal error and ground for reversal even though the court sustains objections to such questions.... One of the ingredients of a fair and impartial trial is that an accused person should be tried upon the merits of the case. McDonald v. State, 285 So.2d 177, 180 (Miss.1973). We find that the evidence cited by Conley does not rise to the type of error contemplated by this Court in McDonald. Therefore, we find this assignment of error to be without merit.