Opinion ID: 1702189
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Obtain a Change of Venue for the Trial

Text: ¶ 10. Emphasizing the fact that a change of venue was granted for resentencing after Berry II, Berry claims that counsel should have secured a change of venue before the first trial in 1988. He also points to the fact that counsel presented only three witnesses at the hearing and argues that, since the State presented eleven witnesses, the defense's three witnesses were woefully inadequate. ¶ 11. Under Mississippi law, once a motion for change of venue which is supported by three affidavits is filed, a presumption arises that the defendant has been prejudiced by pre-trial publicity. If a defendant presents fifteen witnesses, an irrebuttable presumption of prejudice arises. See Fisher v. State, 481 So.2d 203 (Miss.1985); Johnson v. State, 476 So.2d 1195, 1213 (Miss.1985). Assuming, arguendo, that the failure to secure an irrebuttable presumption satisfied the first prong (deficiency) under Strickland, we find that Berry fails to show how such a failure deprived him of a fair trial. Accordingly, leave to seek post-conviction relief of this issue is denied.