Opinion ID: 1585003
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Whether the Cumulative Effect of Errors or Near-Errors Constituted a Violation of Nixon's Right to a Fair Trial?

Text: This Court is now asked to determine whether the cumulative effect of any discovered errors or near-errors constituted a violation of Nixon's right to a fair trial. See, e.g., Stringer v. State, 500 So.2d 928, 946 (Miss. 1986) (death sentence vacated in view of numerous near-errors which violated defendant's right to a fair trial). Nixon raised this issue on direct appeal. Nixon v. State, 533 So.2d 1078, 1102 (Miss. 1987), cert. den. 490 U.S. 1102, 109 S.Ct. 2458, 104 L.Ed.2d 1012 (1989). This Court has again examined the record and determined that Nixon received a fair trial  albeit not a perfect one. See Sand v. State, 467 So.2d 907, 911 (Miss. 1985) (Although this defendant did not receive a perfect trial, it was a fair trial.); see also Stringer, 500 So.2d at 947 (There has never been a perfect trial. (R.N. Lee, P.J., dissenting)). In sum, this Court holds that the contention presented through this issue is devoid of merit.