Opinion ID: 1041512
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Failure to Prevent Evidence Envelopes

Text: From Being Published With Word “Murder” Displayed Morgan contends that counsel was ineffective in failing to file a motion in limine or to object at trial to prevent the evidence envelopes for certain exhibits from being published to the jury with the word “murder” printed on them. Morgan contends that “[i]t amounted to [a] repetitive drum beat by the police of ‘Murder,’ ‘Murder,’ ‘Murder.’ Twenty nine times.”21 Again, Morgan cannot demonstrate a reasonable probability that the result of the proceeding would have been different if counsel had filed a motion in limine or objected. The evidence envelopes were marked with a description of the contents, location where the evidence was found, the investigator or investigators who recovered the evidence, Morgan’s name, Marquez’ name, and the word “murder.” Law enforcement officers used “murder” in a general sense to refer to an unlawful killing that they were investigating rather than in a technical or legal sense. And the jury was instructed in part: “The fact that the state has brought these charges is not evidence of anything. The charges are simply an accusation, nothing more.” Further, the jury was instructed that it could return one of four verdicts: guilty of first degree murder, guilty of second degree murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. Again, we presume that the jury followed the instructions given by the court.22 Like the charges brought by the State, law enforcement’s placement of the word “murder” on its evidence envelopes during its investigation is 20 State v. Sandoval, 280 Neb. 309, 788 N.W.2d 172 (2010). 21 Brief for appellant at 27. 22 See State v. Sandoval, supra note 20. Nebraska Advance Sheets STATE v. MUHANNAD 567 Cite as 286 Neb. 567 not evidence of anything. We conclude that Morgan has not established prejudice by counsel’s failure to object or to otherwise keep the evidence envelopes from being published to the jury with the word “murder” on them.