Opinion ID: 1680540
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Failure to Submit Felony-Manslaughter Instruction.

Text: ¶ 31. Defense counsel submitted heat of passion manslaughter instructions to the circuit court (Instruction D-4). That instruction was denied by the circuit court and on appeal, this Court affirmed the denial of that instruction. Underwood, 708 So.2d at 36. Underwood now claims defense counsel should have also submitted an instruction on the felony-manslaughter statute that was then in effect. Miss.Code Ann. § 97-3-27. [1] He claims the failure to offer this instruction was ineffective assistance of trial counsel, as was the failure to raise the issue on appeal. He argues if the jury believed the entirety of his alleged statement, it would have concluded the killing occurred as the result of a request for assisted suicide. ¶ 32. The State asserts that Underwood's theory of the case is an unbelievable scenario and that it is unlikely the jury's outcome would have changed. The State accurately notes that this Court has already held on direct appeal that taking Underwood's confession as true would support a conviction of murder. A lesser-included offense instruction is appropriate only in those cases where a jury could find the defendant not guilty of the principal charge but guilty of a lesser offense. Brown, 749 So.2d at 89 (citing Evans v. State, 725 So.2d 613, 664 (Miss. 1997); Davis v. State, 684 So.2d 643, 656-57 (Miss.1996)). ¶ 33. This claim lacks merit.