Court Opinion

ID: 2653327
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-02-14 01:02:56.090231+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:56:17.463336
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI

                                 NO. 2013-KA-00586-SCT

ZACHARY STRINGER a/k/a ZAC STRINGER

v.

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

DATE OF JUDGMENT:                           02/26/2013
TRIAL JUDGE:                                HON. PRENTISS GREENE HARRELL
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:                  MARION COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT:                    OFFICE OF STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER
                                            BY: W. DANIEL HINCHCLIFF
                                                 GEORGE T. HOLMES
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:                      OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
                                            BY: BILLY L. GORE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY:                          HALDON J. KITTRELL
NATURE OF THE CASE:                         CRIMINAL - FELONY
DISPOSITION:                                AFFIRMED - 02/13/2014
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:

       BEFORE RANDOLPH, P.J., PIERCE AND KING, JJ.

       KING, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:

¶1.    Zachary Stringer (Zachary), a minor, was charged with the murder of his younger

brother, Justin Stringer (Justin). The jury found Zachary guilty of the lesser-included offense

of manslaughter. The trial court sentenced Zachary to twenty years, with ten years to serve

and ten years of post-release supervision, with five years reporting. Zachary is to serve his

sentence in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) in the
Youthful Offender Unit of the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility.

¶2.    Zachary appeals his conviction and sentence, raising two issues: (1) whether the trial

court erred by allowing multiple gruesome photographs of the victim and the crime scene

into evidence; and (2) whether the trial court erred in denying Zachary’s motion for judgment

notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV).       Finding no error, this Court affirms Zachary’s

conviction and sentence.

                       FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶3.    Roger Dale Stringer (Roger), Zachary and Justin’s father, testified that his sons were

hunters, and that they were familiar with guns and gun safety. Both boys had gun racks in

their rooms, and each had two guns and ammunition. Roger personally taught the boys

everything he knew about gun safety, and Zachary had taken a firearm-safety course.

According to Roger, Zachary was one of the safest people he had ever seen with a firearm.

¶4.    On June 11, 2011, Roger had spent quality time with his sons throughout the day and

had returned the boys to their mother’s home at approximately 8:15 p.m. According to

Roger, a television show was airing at 8:30 p.m. which Zachary wanted to watch. Kim

Stringer (Kim), the boys’ mother, was attending a party, so the boys were home alone.

¶5.    Justin called Kim on her cell phone at approximately 8:21 p.m. He asked Kim where

she was and if she could come get him. Kim agreed and told Justin she would pick him up

after she was done eating. According to Kim, nothing was unusual about Justin’s call; he did

not seem upset, and he just “liked to go places.” At 8:42 p.m., Kim received a phone call

from the home phone. Because the party was loud, Kim declined the call and walked away

to a more quiet area. A few moments later, Kim received another call from the home phone;

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this time, it was Zachary. She answered and Zachary told her that Justin had been shot.

¶6.    Frantic, Kim called Roger and informed him that something was wrong with Justin.

Roger immediately drove back to Kim’s house, which was approximately three miles away.

While in route, Roger received a phone call from Zachary. Zachary said, “I love you, daddy

. . . you know that, don’t you?” Roger responded in the affirmative. Then, Zachary told

Roger that Justin was dead, and that he had been shot with the .25-06 rifle.1 Roger called 911

immediately, and the sheriff’s office was dispatched to the scene.

¶7.    Roger arrived at Kim’s house first. Zachary attempted to stop his father from entering

the home, but Roger pushed past Zachary. As Roger entered, he saw blood splattered on the

wall. Justin’s body was sitting in a chair, and the top of his head was missing. According

to Roger, the only thing there was the roof of Justin’s mouth. Roger also noticed Justin’s

twenty-gauge shotgun lying between his legs. Blood was on the end of the barrel. Roger

stated that the scene did not look right and did not add up. Kim arrived at the house a short

while later, but Zachary and Roger did not allow her to enter the home.

¶8.    Next, police and medical responders arrived at the home. Zachary told Cole Robbins,

a medical responder, there was “no use” in entering the home. Despite this warning, Robbins

entered and found Justin in a chair with a traumatic gunshot wound to the head. Justin was

still breathing but he had no pulse. Zachary told Robbins that he was in his bedroom when

he heard the gunshot. Because Zachary’s clothes were bloody, the clothing was collected as

evidence. Robbins was allowed to retrieve clean clothes from Zachary’s closet. While in

Zachary’s room, Robbins noticed a bloody fingerprint on the closet shelf. He immediately

       1
           The .25-06 rifle was Zachary’s personal gun .

                                               3
notified Investigator Jamie Singley of this discovery. Investigator Singley entered Zachary’s

room and noticed more evidence: a spent .25-06 rifle cartridge casing on the closet floor,

bloody footprints on the carpet, and a .25-06 rifle with blood on it. All items were tested, and

it was confirmed the blood belonged to Justin. According to Investigator Singley, these

findings negated the report of a self-inflicted wound.

¶9.    Zachary gave three statements to police. On June 13, 2011, Zachary, along with his

parents, voluntarily gave the sheriff’s office a handwritten statement in which he claimed

Justin had shot himself. In pertinent part, Zachary stated that Justin had shot the family dog

with a dart gun, 2 and the dog had run into Zachary’s room. Zachary removed the dart from

the dog, went into the living room, and returned the dart to Justin. As Zachary left to return

to his room, Justin said, “I love you Zac,” and Zachary responded, “I love you too man.”

Zachary returned to his room, put his rifle away, and continued to watch a movie. Seconds

later, Zachary heard a shot. He ran into the living room, and blood hit him in the face

instantly. Zachary ran to Justin, apologized for “all the crap” he had put him through, told

Justin he loved him, and gave him a hug. Next, Zachary called his parents and told them

Justin had been shot. Following this statement, Investigator Lee Cotton obtained a warrant

for Zachary’s arrest, which was served on June 17, 2011.

¶10.   Zachary gave a second statement to Investigator Singley and Investigator Cotton on

August 5, 2011. This time, Zachary’s attorney was present. The statement was written and

recorded. Zachary’s second statement began like the first: Justin shot the dog with the dart

gun. This time, however, Zachary said that he took the dog to Justin. Zachary stated that he

       2
           Justin had just received a blow-dart gun as a present.

                                                4
turned to go back to his room when Justin asked if they could talk. Zachary replied, “Hang

on man. Let me get us a conversation piece.” Zachary retrieved his .25-06 rifle from his

room and returned to the living room. Zachary sat on the couch, and he and Justin talked for

about ten minutes. In the recorded statement, Zachary said they talked about hunting.

Zachary stated that he got up from the couch, heard a click, the gun went off, and the recoil

caused the gun to fly out of his hand. Zachary said that he “did not check the action.”

According to Zachary, he went over to Justin, gave him a hug, told him he loved him, and

said that he would miss him. Zachary admitted that he put his rifle in the closet, placing it

on the top shelf. He had retrieved Justin’s twenty-gauge shotgun, fired a round into the

woods, and placed the shotgun between Justin’s legs. Zachary admitted that he “was trying

to make it look like an accident.” Zachary realized “it would raise questions” if his rifle was

found in the closet, so he placed it on the gun rack.

¶11.   The third statement was an oral statement given to Ricky Dean, a Mississippi

Highway Patrol investigator, on August 12, 2011. According to Dean, Zachary said that

Justin had been pestering him with the dart gun, pretending to shoot at him. Zachary told

Justin, “if you shoot me with that, I’ll shoot you with this,” referring to his .25-06 rifle.

According to Dean’s testimony, Zachary said he had dropped a magazine and loaded a round

into the chamber. When Zachary got up, the rifle went off, shooting Justin. Zachary

maintained that he did not shoot Justin intentionally.

¶12.   At trial, experts testified regarding Justin’s manner of death and tests performed on

the .25-06 rifle. Dr. Erin Barnhart, deputy chief medical examiner, testified that Justin’s

manner of death (accidental shooting or homicide) could not be determined. Neither Dr.

                                              5
Barnhart nor the previous medical examiner was able to determine the angle of trajectory or

path of the projectile. According to Dr. Barnhart, this could have been done if she had the

complete skull; however, the skull had shattered into many pieces. Regardless, Dr. Barnhart

opined that she still could not have determined whether the death was a homicide or an

accident even if she had the benefit of the entire skull.

¶13.   Lori Beall, a forensic scientist at the Mississippi Crime Laboratory, tested the firearm

and the projectiles recovered from the scene. Some of the projectiles were mutilated and

were of no comparison value. Beall was able, however, to test a projectile recovered from

Justin’s chair and determined that the projectile was consistent with the type of projectile

used in a .25-06 rifle, like Zachary’s. Beall also conducted several functional-reliability tests

on Zachary’s rifle to determine if the rifle could or would discharge accidentally. The tests

did not produce any accidental discharge, and thus confirmed that the rifle was in good

working order. Beall also tested the trigger. Roger testified that Zachary’s rifle had a “hard

trigger,” which took considerable force to fire. Beall testified that Zachary’s rifle had an

adjustable trigger. According to Beall, Zachary’s trigger had never been adjusted, and it took

more than five pounds to release the trigger.

¶14.   Several of Zachary’s family members testified regarding his behavior leading up to

and during Justin’s funeral. Debbie Peavy, Zachary’s great aunt, stated that Zachary did not

seem upset, and that he had made several strange comments. Peavy said that Zachary, while

preparing for Justin’s funeral, modeled his new suit and said, “I look pretty good now[;]

maybe I can get all the girls.” Zachary also had expressed that he would get all the Christmas

presents now. Peavy testified that Zachary, while watching a video tribute for Justin,

                                                6
laughed and said, “Look at Justin’s teeth . . . people won’t be laughing at his teeth anymore.

At the wake, Zachary had noticed one of Justin’s female friends and had asked Peavy about

her. Peavy informed Zachary that Justin had been talking to and texting the girl. In response,

Zachary stated, “Well she’s pretty. I can see why Justin liked her, maybe I’ll try to talk to

her now.”

¶15.   April Markins, Zachary’s aunt, testified regarding a comment Zachary made to her

while he was greeting visitors in the receiving line. Markins told Zachary she was sorry

about what had happened to Justin, and Zachary replied, “Look at momma and daddy[;]

they’re making idiots of themselves.” Ryan Stringer (Ryan), Zachary’s uncle, testified

regarding how Zachary was boastful about his new suit. Ryan also overheard Zachary say

that he wished Justin could shoot him with the blowgun one more time, and he had overheard

Zachary say that Justin had shot him in the foot with the blowgun. Roger testified that, while

watching the funeral procession, Zachary commented, “I wonder if that many people would

show up at my funeral.”

¶16.   After both sides had rested, the trial court went over jury instructions. In addition to

a murder instruction, the State requested a jury instruction for the lesser-included offense of

manslaughter.     Defense counsel objected.        The trial court, however, allowed the

manslaughter instruction. The jury found Zachary guilty of manslaughter. The trial court

sentenced Zachary to serve twenty years in the custody of MDOC, with ten years to serve,

ten years of post-release supervision, and five years reporting; he also was ordered to pay a

$10,000 fine. The trial court denied Zachary’s post-trial motions. Aggrieved, Zachary

timely filed his notice of appeal.

                                              7
                                       ANALYSIS

¶17.   Zachary raises two issues on appeal: (1) whether the trial court erred by allowing

gruesome photographs, depicting the crime scene and autopsy, into evidence, and (2) whether

the trial court erred by denying Zachary’s motion for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict

(JNOV).

       I. Photographs

¶18.   This Court reviews the trial court’s admission or exclusion of evidence for an abuse

of discretion. Davis v. State, 849 So. 2d 1252, 1255 (Miss. 2003). “Photographs of a victim

have evidentiary value where they ‘1) aid in describing the circumstances of the killing and

the corpus delicti; 2) where they describe the location of the body and cause of death; and

3) where they supplement or clarify witness testimony.’” Id. (citing Westbrook v. State, 658

So. 2d 847, 849 (Miss.1995)). “Photographs of the victim[, however,] should not ordinarily

be admitted into evidence where the killing is not contradicted or denied and the corpus

delicti and the identity of the deceased have been established.” Conners v. State, 92 So. 3d

676, 687 (Miss. 2012) (quoting Jordan v. State, 995 So. 2d 94, 110 (Miss. 2008)). Reversal

based on the admission of cumulative and/or gruesome photographs is rare. Id. (citing

Barfield v. State, 22 So. 3d 1175, 1181 (Miss. 2009)).

¶19.   The trial court admitted thirty-three photographs into evidence, depicting the crime

scene, Justin’s body, evidence collected by police, and an autopsy photograph. Zachary

takes issue with all thirty-three photographs, specifically those photographs of the crime

scene, Justin’s body, and the autopsy photograph. Photographs of the crime scene depict

blood splattered on the wall and brain matter and skull pieces scattered on the floor.

                                             8
Photographs of Justin’s body were taken from various angles and depict Justin’s body in a

chair with a twenty-gauge shotgun between his legs. The investigators also took closeup

photographs of Justin’s injuries. The top of Justin’s head – from his nose upward – was

completely gone.

¶20.   Zachary argues that the photographs admitted into evidence were gruesome,

redundant, and more prejudicial than probative. To support his argument, Zachary notes that

the trial-court judge stated that the photos were “extraordinarily graphic” and “very

difficult,” and yet still allowed the photographs into evidence. Zachary also argues that the

trial court failed to limit the number of photographs necessary for any evidentiary point and

failed to examine the photographs separately to assess their probative value. According to

Zachary, the thirty-three photographs served no evidentiary purpose or probative value, and

the photographs were used simply to inflame and arouse the emotions of the jury.

¶21.   The State concedes that the photographs are gruesome; however, the State claims that

the photographs have probative value. According to the State, the photographs provide

evidence regarding the circumstances of the shooting, the location of Justin’s body, and the

cause of death. The State also argues that the photographs help clarify witness testimony.

The State notes that the jury’s guilty verdict as to manslaughter, instead of murder, proves

that the jury was not inflamed or aroused by the photographs. Also, the State claims that

defense counsel used the photographs in his closing statement to demonstrate that the

shooting could not have been intentional.

¶22.   Undoubtedly, the photographs of Justin’s head injury are difficult to view. However,

they have probative value. The trial court reviewed the photographs and, under Mississippi

                                             9
Rule of Evidence 403, properly weighed the probative value against the danger of unfair

prejudice. The trial court found that, although difficult to view, the photographs aided in

describing the location of the body and cause of death and clarified witness testimony.

¶23.   Zachary maintains that the photographs were neither necessary for identification

purposes nor to identify the cause of death.3 In addition, Zachary claims that the proof

against him showed only that the shooting was an accident and, thus, the photographs were

not needed to explain the circumstances surrounding Justin’s death or to clarify any witness

testimony. While who killed Justin was not contradicted, the State counters that the manner

of death – homicide or accident – was disputed, and that the photographs were relevant to

that point.

¶24.   In Davis v. State, a fifteen-year-old defendant admitted shooting into a camp cabin.

Davis v. State, 849 So. 2d 1252, 1253 (Miss. 2003). The victim was shot in the face, which

produced severe injuries and killed him instantly. Id. On appeal, Davis, in pertinent part,

argued that the trial court erred by admitting into evidence gruesome photographs of the

crime scene and the victim’s autopsy:

       Four of the disputed photographs depicted the interior of the camp cabin and
       the location and relation of Arnold’s body to the interior and blood splatters
       on the wall and floor. Two other photographs were taken during the autopsy
       each of which depict the injuries to each side of Arnold’s face and head.

Id. at 1254. In a unanimous decision, the Court found that the photographs “served the

       3
        Zachary states that Dr. Barnhart could not use the autopsy photograph to identify
Justin because she did not conduct the autopsy. He also states that Investigator Singley,
through his testimony, established the nature of the wound. Thus, the photographs were
unnecessary and used only to inflame the passions of the jury.

                                            10
legitimate evidentiary purpose of depicting the angles and trajectories of the gunshots about

which . . . the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy, testified, and they did not to

[sic] inflame the jury.” Id. at 1255. Accordingly, the Court ruled that the probative value

of the photographs did outweigh the danger of unfair prejudice; thus, the trial court did not

err by admitting the photographs. Id.

¶25.   In Baldwin v. State, the State sought to introduce 100 photos of the victim’s body.

Baldwin v. State, 784 So. 2d 148, 158 (Miss. 2001).          The trial court noted that the

photographs were gruesome, but found that the photos depicted the extent of the victim’s

injuries and, thus, possessed evidentiary value. Id. at 157-58. The trial court, however,

allowed only five to eight of the 100 photos into evidence.4 Id. at 157. On appeal, Baldwin

challenged the admission of the photographs. The Court found that the photographs “[did]

not rise to the level of inflammatory gruesomeness,” showed the location of the body and

extent of the victim’s injuries, and clarified the forensic scientist’s testimony. Id. at 158.

Accordingly, the Court approved the trial court’s exercise of discretion. Id.

¶26.   In one case, the Court reversed a murder conviction based on gruesome photographs

of the victim’s body, which was nude, partially decomposed, and surrounded by maggots.

McNeal v. State, 551 So. 2d 151, 159 (Miss. 1989). The Court held that alternative

photographs could have been used to show the fatal wound. Id. Accordingly, the Court

found that the photographs’ probative value was outweighed by the danger of unfair

prejudice. Id.

       4
        In Baldwin, the opinion states that five photographs were admitted and later states
that eight photographs were admitted. See Baldwin, 784 So. 2d at 157-58.

                                             11
¶27.   Of the thirty-three admitted photographs in this case, five photographs showed

Justin’s body from a distance,5 three photographs showed his injuries close up, one

photograph depicted his autopsy, and three photographs depicted brain matter and skull,

which had landed on the floor. The remaining photographs depicted blood splatters and the

evidence collected. Thus, given the variety of different subjects depicted by the photographs,

the sheer number of photographs is not alarming.

¶28.   While photographs of Justin’s body are difficult to view, the photographs did not rise

to the level of inflammatory gruesomeness exhibited in McNeal and have evidentiary value.

Justin’s manner of death was disputed. Zachary proclaimed it was an accident, and the State

proclaimed it was a homicide.           The photographs aided the jury in determining the

circumstances of the killing.

¶29.   The photographs also were useful to clarify witness testimony. For instance, both

Roger and Investigator Singley testified that Justin’s shotgun was sitting between his legs,

indicating that the injury may have been self inflicted. Both also testified that, based on the

nature of the wound and other evidence, it could not have been a self-inflicted wound.

Furthermore, defense counsel harped on the State’s failure to determine the trajectory of the

shot. As explained by Investigator Singley and Dr. Barnhart, and clarified and confirmed by

photographs, Justin’s skull was in numerous pieces, which made it difficult to reconstruct the

skull and determine the path of the bullet.

¶30.   Additionally, the photographs helped clarify the three statements Zachary made to

       5
           In the distant photographs, Justin’s injuries are barely visible.

                                                 12
investigators. In his second statement, Zachary claimed that his rifle accidentally discharged

when he stood up from the sofa. In his third statement, Zachary told Investigator Dean that

he had threatened to shoot Justin if Justin continued to pester him, and he had loaded a round

into the chamber. Although Zachary claims the shooting was accidental, the photographs

provided evidence – such as the location of the body and the distance of the sofa from

Justin’s chair – for the jury to determine the validity of that claim.

¶31.   Based on the foregoing, the photographs provided evidentiary value and were more

probative than prejudicial. Further, no evidence exists that the photographs were used to

inflame the jury. Accordingly, this Court finds that the trial court did not abuse its discretion

in allowing the photographs into evidence.

       II. JNOV

¶32.   A motion for JNOV challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence. Knight v. State,

72 So. 3d 1056, 1063 (Miss. 2011). When ruling on a motion for a JNOV, the trial court

must view all credible evidence consistent with the defendant’s guilt in the light most

favorable to the State. Id. This Court will not disturb the trial court’s ruling if “the evidence

shows ‘beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused committed the act charged, and that he

did so under such circumstances that every element of the offense existed[.]” Id. (quoting

Bush v. State, 895 So. 2d 836, 843 (Miss. 2005)). But “where the evidence fails to meet this

test it is insufficient to support a conviction” and reversal is required. Id.

¶33.   Zachary was convicted of manslaughter as a lesser-included offense of murder.

Zachary argues that the evidence was insufficient to prove culpable-negligence manslaughter.

According to Zachary, the evidence showed only that Justin’s killing was an accident, and

                                               13
Zachary committed no affirmative act of culpable negligence. He also claims that the State

failed to prove the angle of trajectory, leaving the jury to infer an intentional killing based

on Zachary’s demeanor and inappropriate comments.

¶34.   The State argues that it presented sufficient evidence to justify a murder conviction

and, indeed, a conviction for manslaughter. The State contends that “[w]here there is

evidence to justify a murder conviction, the appellant cannot complain of a manslaughter

conviction.” Hubbard v. State, 437 So. 2d 430, 438 (Miss. 1983). According to the State,

a reasonable jury could have concluded Zachary was guilty based on the physical evidence,

the conflicting statements Zachary had given to investigators, and Zachary’s demeanor

following Justin’s death.

¶35.   Manslaughter is “[e]very other killing of a human being, by the act, procurement, or

culpable negligence of another, and without authority of law . . . .” Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-

47 (Rev. 2006). Zachary claims that the State presented no evidence of culpable negligence.

However, a reasonable jury could have found that the State met every element of

manslaughter based on the physical evidence and Zachary’s statements to investigators.

¶36.   Although Zachary later admitted fault in Justin’s killing, he initially claimed that

Justin had shot himself. In his second statement, Zachary stated that he had gotten a

“conversation piece” – his rifle – to have a talk with Justin, and the rifle had discharged

accidentally. He admitted staging the scene and putting his rifle away to make Justin’s death

look like an accident. In his third statement, Zachary said that he had threatened to shoot

Justin if Justin continued to pester him. He also admitted loading the rifle. Zachary still

claimed that the rifle discharged accidentally. Evidence also was presented that Zachary’s

                                              14
rifle had a “hard” trigger, and, when tested by the Mississippi Crime Laboratory, the rifle did

not discharge accidentally or appear to be faulty.

¶37.   Zachary argues that he did not know the rifle was loaded, and he did not deliberately

point the rifle at Justin. The evidence, however, tells a different story. In at least one

statement, Zachary admits that he loaded the rifle and threatened to shoot Justin. Also, the

physical evidence – Justin’s gunshot wound – suggests that the rifle could have been pointed

directly at Justin’s head.6 Zachary complains that the State failed to prove the bullet’s angle

of trajectory and, thus, failed to disprove Zachary’s theory that the shooting was an accident.

While evidence of the bullet’s angle of trajectory would have supplemented the State’s

evidence, Zachary’s provides no caselaw which mandates that such evidence is necessary for

a conviction. See Simmons v. State, 805 So. 2d 452, 487 (Miss. 2001) (stating that “[f]ailure

to cite relevant authority obviates the appellate court’s obligation to review such issues.”)

¶38.   The jury considers the weight and credibility of the evidence. Butler v. State, 102 So.

3d 260, 270 (Miss. 2012). From the verdict, the jury believed neither Zachary’s claim that

the shooting was an accident nor the State’s claim that the shooting was intentional. The

jury, instead, convicted Zachary of manslaughter, finding that Justin’s killing was a result of

Zachary’s culpable negligence. Viewing all credible evidence consistent with Zachary’s

       6
        “Even where a defendant claims the firing of a gun is accidental, pointing a loaded
gun at an individual supports a conviction of manslaughter because the defendant’s actions
‘show a conscious, wanton and reckless disregard of the likely fatal consequences of his
willful act which created an unreasonable risk.’” Tait v. State, 669 So. 2d 85, 89 (Miss.
1996) (quoting Jernigan v. State, 305 So. 2d 353, 354 (Miss.1974)).

                                              15
guilt in the light most favorable to the State, ample evidence of culpable negligence existed,

and the evidence was legally sufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Zachary

committed the elements of the offense of manslaughter.

                                      CONCLUSION

¶39.   The trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the photographs into evidence.

And, the evidence was legally sufficient to support the jury’s verdict. Thus, this Court

affirms Zachary’s conviction and sentence for manslaughter.

¶40. CONVICTION OF MANSLAUGHTER AND SENTENCE OF TWENTY (20)
YEARS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS WITH TEN (10) YEARS TO SERVE AND THE REMAINING TEN
(10) YEARS TO BE SERVED UNDER POST-RELEASE PROVISIONS WITH A
FIVE (5) YEAR SUPERVISION PERIOD, WITH CONDITIONS, AFFIRMED.

    WALLER, C.J., DICKINSON AND RANDOLPH, P.JJ., LAMAR, KITCHENS,
CHANDLER, PIERCE AND COLEMAN, JJ., CONCUR.

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