Opinion ID: 1133683
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: Whether Instruction 5 constructively amended the indictment.

Text: ś 168. Rubenstein argues Instruction 5 constructively amended the indictment by allowing the jury to convict him for murder for hire pursuant to Miss.Code Ann. Section 97-3-19(2)(d). The grand jury indicted Rubenstein for capital murder while engaged in the commission of felonious child abuse in violation of Miss.Code Ann. Section 97-3-19(2)(f). ś 169. As explained in Issue XIV, the record reveals that Rubenstein never objected to Instruction 5 on the basis of it being a murder for hire instruction. Likewise, he never objected to the instruction as constructively amending the indictment. Moawad, 531 So.2d at 634 (failure to object waives error). Thus, the issue is procedurally barred. ś 170. Additionally, Rubenstein's argument is wholly without substantive merit. As previously addressed in Issue XIV, the language of Section 97-3-19(2)(d) concerning murder for hire is not contained in any of the jury instructions. Accordingly, we find the issue is procedurally barred and also without substantive merit.