Opinion ID: 1626797
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Trial Counsel's Failure to Object to Certain Testimony

Text: ¶ 32. State's witness Beverly Smith testified that she and the defendant and other individuals had consumed a lot of alcohol and some marijuana during the early afternoon of the day before the murder. (The murder occurred after midnight). Defense counsel did not object. On cross-examination, counsel for the defense questioned Smith as to how much liquor and marijuana was purchased and consumed. Davis argued that this evidence was highly prejudicial and that defense counsel should have objected, citing Eubanks v.. State, 419 So.2d 1330 (Miss. 1982) (proof of a crime distinct from that alleged in the indictment should not be admitted into evidence against the accused). The State responded by pointing out that Davis's theory of the case was that he did not have the requisite intent to commit the crime because he had been under the influence of drugs. ¶ 33. The record revealed that Davis admitted this statement not as hearsay, but to show the effect that it had on this 17-18-year-old kid who was obviously intoxicated and possibly high on some sort of controlled substance, and that's the reason that we offer this particular piece of evidence. It cannot be shown that counsel for the defense was in error by allowing the testimony of Smith to be admitted. The record revealed the trial strategy of Davis. The testimony supported this theory. Counsel's performance was not deficient such that he was not performing as counsel guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment. Thus, we need not address the second prong of Strickland. This issue is without merit.