Opinion ID: 1629938
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether the trial court erred in allowing the pathologist to testify.

Text: ¶ 16. The pathologist testified that this was a slam type of injury and the cause of death was due to blunt injuries to the head and neck. While Seeling objected to the slam injury language, there was no objection to the blunt injuries cause of death answer by the pathologist. ¶ 17. Seeling objected based on lack of foundation, rather than the appropriate discovery violation objection. Counsel must make specific objections in order to preserve a question for appellate review. This Court has said many times that general objections will not suffice. Objections to the admissibility of evidence must specifically state the grounds; otherwise, the objection is waived. E.g., Parker v. State, 367 So.2d 456, 457 (Miss.1979); Lay v. State, 310 So.2d 908, 912 (Miss. 1975); Norman v. State, 302 So.2d 254, 259 (Miss.1974); Stringer v. State, 279 So.2d 156, 159 (Miss.1973). ¶ 18. As considered in Oates v. State, 421 So.2d 1025, 1030 (Miss.1982), there are three basic considerations which underlie the rule requiring specific objections. It avoids costly new trials. Boring v. State, 253 So.2d 251, 253 (Miss.1971). It allows the offering party an opportunity to obviate the objection. Heard v. State, 59 Miss. 545 (1882). Lastly, a trial court is not put in error unless it had an opportunity to pass on the question. Boutwell v. State, 165 Miss. 16, 143 So. 479, 482 (1932). These rules apply with equal force in the instant case; accordingly, Seeling did not properly preserve the question for appellate review. ¶ 19. However, [f]undamental rights in serious criminal cases rise above mere rules of procedure. Brooks v. State, 209 Miss. 150, 155, 46 So.2d 94, 97 (1950), quoted in House v. State, 445 So.2d 815, 820 (Miss.1984). Seeling must rely on plain error to raise this argument on appeal if his objection was not made properly. Watts v. State, 733 So.2d 214, 233 (Miss. 1999). While this exact language of slamming is not found in the pathologist's written report, he was qualified to testify through questioning in front of the jury. He not only mentioned slamming but also blunt injuries. Any error was harmless. The jury could determine the credibility of this witness. This issue is without merit.