Opinion ID: 1088560
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: the imposition of the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment per se.

Text: The argument was not made in the trial court and it is argued here for the first time that execution by lethal gas is cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the eighth amendment to the United States Constitution. Ordinarily this argument would be procedurally barred, but as it is raised under our theory of heightened review we will discuss it. Execution by lethal gas has been held not cruel and unusual both by this Court and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. In Coleman v. State, 378 So.2d 640 (Miss. 1979), we stated that, The constitutionality of the death penalty as imposed under Section 99-19-101 et seq. has been firmly established. Proffit v. Florida, 428 U.S. 242, 96 S.Ct. 2960, 49 L.Ed.2d 913 (1976); Washington v. State, 361 So.2d 61 (Miss. 1978). Id. at 647. In Edwards v. State, 441 So.2d 84 (Miss. 1983), we again stated: The appellant's third contention is that the death penalty constitutes a per se constitutional violation under any circumstances. This contention is obviously without merit, and needs no further comment. Roberts v. Louisiana, 428 U.S. 325, 96 S.Ct. 3001, 49 L.Ed.2d 974 (1976); Jurek v. Texas, 428 U.S. 262, 96 S.Ct. 2950, 49 L.Ed.2d 929 (1976); Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U.S. 153, 96 S.Ct. 2909, 49 L.Ed.2d 859 (1976). 441 So.2d at 90. And finally, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals addressed the constitutionality of Mississippi's method of execution in Gray v. Lucas, 710 F.2d 1048 (5th Cir.1983). There the Fifth Circuit upheld as constitutional Mississippi's method of execution by lethal gas. The assignment is without merit.