Opinion ID: 1946348
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: failure to define elements of kidnapping

Text: The state did not offer nor did Gray request an instruction defining the elements of the underlying felony which elevates this murder to capital murder. See Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-19(2)(e) (Supp. 1984). During the course of his testimony, Gray admitted to the forcible seizure and concealment of Sowash and Wojcik against their will. Cf. Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-53 (Supp. 1984) (kidnapping). Gray argues that the trial court's failure to instruct the jury regarding the elements of kidnapping denied him due process of law in that the jury could not determine his guilt or innocence of the crime charged unless given some legal guidance as to what are the elements of the crime of kidnapping. The absence of legal guidance, according to Gray, makes the jury's finding of guilt unreliable, contrary to the high level of reliability required in capital cases. Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U.S. 153, 96 S.Ct. 2909, 49 L.Ed.2d 859 (1976). There is no merit to this assignment of error because Gray makes no objection to the instructions offered by the state and, more importantly, failed to submit an instruction to the trial judge on the elements of kidnapping. The combined failure to object or to request an appropriate instruction operates to waive any objection on this issue. Billiot v. State, 454 So.2d 445, 462 (Miss. 1984); Gilliard v. State, 428 So.2d 576, 583 (Miss. 1983). This assignment of error is without merit.