Opinion ID: 1936097
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 22

Heading: whether the trial court erred in permitting the district attorney to cross-examine a witness outside the scope of permissible sentencing phase testimony

Text: On cross-examination, the prosecution briefly examined Jackson's mother, Martha Jackson, regarding the amount and ownership of the money in the safe. Despite the defense's vigorous objections, Mrs. Jackson reluctantly stated that Curtis had borrowed $300.00 from her but had not paid it back, that she knew that her son, Eddie Self, had been convicted for selling cocaine and that she had put the $16,000.00 certificate of deposit in the safe. Jackson contends that in so questioning his mother, the prosecutor, by alleging that the money in the family safe was obtained through the sale of illegal drugs, went beyond the scope of proper questioning and attacked the credibility of family members who testified on Jackson's behalf. During the sentencing phase of a death penalty case, the state is limited to offering evidence that is relevant to one of the aggravating circumstances included in § 99-19-101. Stringer v. State, 500 So.2d 928, 941 (Miss. 1986); Coleman v. State, 378 So.2d 640, 648 (Miss. 1979). The aggravating circumstances are limited to those enumerated in Miss. Code Ann. § 91-19-101 (rev. 1994). Balfour v. State, 598 So.2d 731, 748 (Miss. 1992). One of the aggravating circumstances put forward by the State was that the capital offense was committed for pecuniary gain pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101(5)(f). During the guilt phase of the trial, the jury had been made aware of Eddie Self's conviction for cocaine and its connection with the money in the safe. The prosecution's line of questioning during the sentencing phase was not relevant to development of the enumerated aggravated circumstances. However, since the origins of the safe contents were brought out during the guilt phase, any error in admitting Mrs. Jackson's testimony was, at best, harmless.