Opinion ID: 1771774
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 52

Heading: whether the trial court erroneously instructed the jury as to penalties?

Text: ś 127. The court instructed the jury that it must decide whether the defendant will be sentenced to death or life imprisonment without parole. Puckett argues that life with the possibility of parole should have been included as a sentencing option. Puckett further submits that the court wrongfully injected questions regarding parole into the statutory sentencing alternatives. In response to Puckett's objection at trial, the trial judge ruled that by virtue of §§ 47-5-139(1)(a) and 47-7-3(1)(e)-(f) the Legislature had effectively eliminated the possibility of parole from someone convicted of capital murder, regardless of what the jury verdict said about parole. ś 128. The following statutes are relevant to determination of this issue. Upon conviction or adjudication of guilt a defendant of capital murder or other capital offense, the court shall conduct a separate sentencing proceeding to determine whether the defendant should be sentenced to death, life imprisonment without eligibility of parole, or life imprisonment.... Miss.Code Ann. § 99-19-101(1) (1994). If the jury cannot, within a reasonable time, agree as to punishment, the judge shall dismiss the jury and impose a sentence of imprisonment for life. Miss.Code Ann. § 99-19-103 (1994). (e) No person shall be eligible for parole who, on or after July 1, 1994, is charged, tried, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without eligibility for parole under the provisions of Section 99-19-101; (f) No person shall be eligible for parole who is charged, tried, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment under the provisions of Section 99-19-101; ... Miss.Code Ann. § 47-7-3(1)(e)-(f) (amended 1994). (1) An inmate shall not be eligible for the earned time allowance if: (a) The inmate was sentenced to life imprisonment; but an inmate, except an inmate sentenced to life imprisonment for capital murder, who has reached the age of sixty-five (65) or older and who has served at least fifteen (15) years may petition the sentencing court for conditional release; ... Miss.Code Ann. § 47-5-139(1)(a) (amended 1994 & 1995). ś 129. While it is true that the statute does provide for three (3) alternatives, it is also true that the earned time allowance and parole statutes effectively eliminate the possibility of parole for someone convicted of capital murder. This is an inconsistency in statutes that needs to be dealt with by the legislature. However, the question now becomes whether this inconsistency caused harmful error in the case at bar. This Court should be of the opinion that where the jury imposes the death penalty, the fact that the jury was not given the option of life with parole does not constitute harmful error. It is not logical to think that had the jury been given the option of life with parole, they might have selected that option over the death penalty. The true harmful error would arise in those cases where the trial court strictly follows the language of § 99-19-101 in capital murder cases, submits all three options to the jury, and the jury selects the option of life imprisonment. In this instance, the defense could argue that the jury was misled in that they selected the life imprisonment sentence with the assumption that the defendant may be eligible for parole, when in reality the defendant would not be eligible for parole by virtue of the parole and earned time statutes. However, since this instance is not at issue in the case at bar, we will not address this argument. ś 130. Additionally, Puckett's argument that the court wrongfully injected questions regarding parole into the statutory sentencing alternatives is without merit since that is exactly what Puckett is arguing should be done.