Alan Dale Walker v. State of Mississippi
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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 97-DR-00376-SCT
ALAN DALE WALKER
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
DATE OF JUDGMENT:
TRIAL JUDGE:
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT:
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
NATURE OF THE CASE:
DISPOSITION:
8/12/1991
HON. JERRY O. TERRY, SR.
HARRISON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ROBERT M. RYAN
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY: MARVIN L. WHITE, JR.
CIVIL - DEATH PENALTY - POST
CONVICTION
APPLICATIONS FOR LEAVE TO SEEK POSTCONVICTION RELIEF DENIED - 10/16/2003
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
EN BANC.
SMITH, PRESIDING JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
¶1.
Alan Dale Walker was indicted in March of 1991 in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District
of Harrison County for the crimes of capital murder of Konya Rebecca Edwards during the commission
of a sexual battery, rape and kidnaping. The trial took place in Warren County after a change of venue.
A jury was empaneled on August 6, 1991, and Walker was tried found and guilty on all three counts on
August 10, 1991. After the jury found Walker guilty, a sentencing hearing was held on the capital murder
conviction where the jury heard evidence in aggravation and mitigation of sentence. The jury retired to
consider whether Walker would be sentenced to death or life imprisonment. After due consideration, on
August 12, 1991, the jury returned a sentence of death. The trial court set an execution date for September
15, 1991. Walker received additional consecutive sentences of thirty-five years for the rape conviction
and thirty years for the kidnaping charge.
¶2.
Walker then pursued his automatic appeal to this Court raising twenty-two claims of error.
Walker v. State, 671 So. 2d 581 (Miss. 1995). On October 12, 1995, this Court affirmed the
conviction of capital murder and sentence of death. The convictions for rape and kidnaping were also
affirmed. A petition for rehearing was filed on later denied on April 18, 1996. Id.
¶3.
Walker next filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court. Walker’s
execution date was stayed pending resolution of the petition for writ of certiorari. On December 12, 1996,
the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari in this case, Walker v. Mississippi, 519 U.S. 1011,
117 S.Ct. 518, 136 L.Ed.2d 406 (1996). No petition for rehearing was filed.
¶4.
The State moved this Court to set a new execution date for Walker. On January 9, 1997, this
Court set January 29, 1997, as the date for the execution of the death sentence. On January 14, 1997,
Walker filed a pro se motion for appointment of counsel and stay of execution under the precedent of
McFarland v. Scott, 512 U.S. 849, 114 S.Ct. 2568, 129 L.Ed.2d 666 (1994), with the United States
District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. The State opposed this motion. On January 24,
1997, the district court entered an order appointing George T. Holmes and James W. Craig to act as
Walker’s counsel to pursue a federal writ of habeas corpus. On February 11, 1997, Judge Tom S. Lee
reassigned the case to Judge Charles W. Pickering, Sr.
¶5.
On February 5, 1997, Walker’s counsel, Robin Midcalf and Carmen Castilla, moved this Court
to allow them to withdraw. On February 20, 1997, this Court denied the motion to withdraw based on
the failure to comply with M.R.A.P. 46(c).
2
¶6.
On March 19, 1997, Holmes and Craig filed a motion in the United States District Court to hold
the action in federal court in abeyance until the disposition of the state post conviction petition. The State
opposed this motion. The district court, on March 27, 1997, entered an order holding the action in
abeyance until ten (10) days after the disposition of the state court petition.
¶7.
Walker filed a Petition for Post Conviction Collateral Relief in this Court on March 17, 1997. The
original “pro se” petition was obviously prepared by an attorney, but unsigned by an attorney. The State
responded to that application on July 18, 1997. On August 6, 1998, the law firm, Jenner and Block, filed
a motion for appointment of counsel and another “pro se” application for post conviction relief. On March
11, 1999, this Court granted the motion for appointment of counsel and remanded the case to the Circuit
Court of Harrison County for that purpose. Walker v. State, 733 So. 2d 836 (Miss. 1999). On
November 15, 2000, the Court assigned the case to the Mississippi Office of Capital Post Conviction
Counsel (MOCPCC)). Finally, after delay by the MOCPCC, the present supplement to the application
was filed on March 24, 2003. Within the March 24, 2003 application, the MOCPCC requested additional
time to supplement the application. The State filed a response to the March 24, 2003, supplement to the
March 14, 1997 application.
¶8.
Walker’s petition raises the following issues:
I.
WALKER WAS DENIED HIS SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHT TO
THE EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL AT THE GUILT
AND SENTENCING PHASES OF THE TRIAL WITHIN THE
MEANING OF STRICKLAND V. WASHINGTON, AND,
CORRESPONDING PORTIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI
CONSTITUTION.
A.
MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE
B.
COUNSEL’S FAILURE TO OFFER LESSER-INCLUDED
OFFENSE INSTRUCTIONS
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C.
ADMISSION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE VICTIM
TAKEN PRIOR TO HER DEATH
D.
FAILURE TO OBJECT TO
McGARRY’S TESTIMONY
E.
COUNSEL’S FAILURE TO OBJECT TO THE GRANTING
OF INSTRUCTION S-9 ON AIDING AND ABETTING
F.
SUBMISSION OF AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT CAPITAL OFFENSE WAS COMMITTED IN THE
COMMISSION OF THE CRIME OF SEXUAL BATTERY.
G.
PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT
PORTIONS
OF
DR.
(1)
COMMENT ON WALKER’S FAILURE TO TESTIFY
(2)
IMPROPER VOUCHING OF WITNESS AND
PERSONAL OPINIONS
(3)
MISSTATEMENTS OF FACT
(4)
COMMENTS ON APPELLATE REVIEW
(5)
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF INSTANCES OF
PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT
H.
OUTBURSTS FROM STATE WITNESSES AND VICTIM’S
FAMILY MEMBERS
I.
FAILURE TO ARGUE THE IMPOSITION OF A
DISPROPORTIONATE SENTENCE
II.
DID THE TRIAL COURT ERR IN CHARGING THE TRIAL JURY
WITH STATE REQUESTED INSTRUCTION S-9 AS THE SAME IS
AN INCORRECT STATEMENT OF THE LAW OF THE STATE
AND AS A RESULT WALKER WAS UNFAIRLY PREJUDICED
AND DENIED A FUNDAMENTAL FAIR TRIAL.
III.
DID THE FAILURE OF THE TRIAL COURT TO GRANT THE
CONTINUANCE VIOLATE WALKER’S DUE PROCESS RIGHTS
AND THE PRINCIPLES OF FUNDAMENTAL FAIRNESS AS
4
GUARANTEED BY THE UNITED STATES AND MISSISSIPPI
CONSTITUTIONS.
IV.
WERE WALKER’S EIGHTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS VIOLATED
BY THE IMPOSITION OF A SENTENCE OF DEATH BASED ON
JURY INSTRUCTIONS WHICH WERE CONSTITUTIONALLY
DEFECTIVE IN LIGHT OF TISON V. ARIZONA.
V.
DID THE TRIAL COURT ERR IN DENYING WALKER’S JURY
CHALLENGES FOR CAUSE AND AS A RESULT DENY A
FUNDAMENTALLY FAIR TRIAL UNDER THE UNITED STATES
AND MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTIONS.
VI.
WERE WALKER’S RIGHTS UNDER THE EIGHTH AND
FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES
CONSTITUTION AND CORRESPONDING RIGHTS UNDER THE
MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION BY THE PROSECUTION’S
RACIALLY BIASED USE OF PEREMPTORY JUROR
CHALLENGES.
VII.
DID THE TRIAL COURT ERR IN STRIKING JUROR MELINDA
ZAPPIE FOR CAUSE IN VIOLATION OF WALKER’S SIXTH AND
FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS UNDER THE UNITED
STATES CONSTITUTION AND THE CORRESPONDING
GUARANTEES UNDER THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION.
VIII. WAS WALKER DENIED EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
BY HIS TRIAL COUNSEL’S FAILURE TO CONDUCT A
CONSTITUTIONALLY ADEQUATE VOIR DIRE EXAMINATION
OF THE JURY VENIRE WITHIN THE MEANING OF
STRICKLAND V. WASHINGTON AND IN VIOLATION OF HIS
SIXTH AND EIGHTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS AS GUARANTEED
UNDER THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND THE
RELEVANT PORTIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION.
IX.
WAS THE SENTENCE RENDERED AGAINST WALKER
DISPROPORTIONATE TO THAT OF HIS CO DEFENDANT,
JASON RISER, IN VIOLATION OF THE EIGHTH AND
FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE UNITED STATES AND THE CORRESPONDING PORTIONS
OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION.
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X.
WAS WALKER DENIED HIS RIGHTS GUARANTEED BY THE
FIFTH, SIXTH, EIGHTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO
THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION AND MISSISSIPPI LAW DUE TO
THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF THE ERRORS AT HIS CAPITAL
TRIAL.
FACTS
¶9.
On the night of September 8, 1990, Konya Edwards was given a ride home from the Fiesta Club
in Biloxi by Alan Dale Walker, Walker’s girlfriend Trina Perry, and Jason Risers. Edwards apparently did
not know any of the other three before that night. Perry drove with Walker in her vehicle, followed by
Riser and Edwards in Riser’s truck. Eventually, the two vehicles stopped, with Walker leaving Perry after
arranging to meet her later and getting in the truck with Riser and Edwards. Walker, Riser and Edwards
then drove to Crystal Lake. Walker and Riser then sexually assaulted Edwards, and Walker eventually
strangled her and drowned her. Walker and Riser then obtained gasoline and burned Edwards’s body.
¶10.
Walker was tried for capital murder, kidnaping and rape and was convicted on all counts. He
received a death sentence for the capital murder conviction. He received a sentence of thirty-years on the
kidnaping and thirty five years on the rape charge, to run consecutively. Riser, originally charged with the
same counts as Walker, pled guilty to murder, received a life sentence and provided the primary testimony
against Walker. This Court affirmed Walker’s convictions and sentences.
¶11.
Walker applies for leave to seek post-conviction relief from errors he alleges occurred before and
during his trial wherein the sentence of death was imposed on him. Walker asserts his claims pursuant to
the Mississippi Uniform Post-Conviction Collateral Relief Act, Miss. Code Ann. §§ 99-31-1 to -29
(Rev. 2000 & Supp. 2003). This Act, by its express terms, was created to:
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revise, streamline, and clarify the rules and statutes pertaining to post conviction collateral
relief law and procedures, to resolve any conflicts therein and to provide the courts of this
state with an exclusive and uniform procedure for the collateral review of convictions and
sentences.
Id. § 99-39-3(1).
¶12.
The exclusivity intended by the Legislature was furthered by the inclusion of language abolishing
former modes of post conviction remedy, including error coram nobis, statutory habeas corpus, post
conviction habeas corpus , statutory error coram nobis, and all other former types of common law writs.
¶13.
Miss. Code Ann. § § 99-39-9 requires fact pleading in order to bring claims before the Court in
a post-conviction review application. Notice pleading has no place in Mississippi’s post-conviction
collateral review scheme which states in part:
(1) a motion under this article shall name the state of Mississippi as respondent and shall
contain all of the following:
(a) The identity of the proceedings in which the prisoner was convicted
(b) The date of the entry of the judgment of conviction and sentence of which complaint
is made.
(c) A concise statement of the claims or grounds upon which the motion is based.
(d) A separate statement of the specific facts which are within the personal knowledge of
the prisoner and which shall be sworn to by the prisoner.
(e) A specific statement of the facts which are not within the prisoner’s personal
knowledge. The motion shall state how or by whom said facts will be proven. Affidavits
of the witnesses who will testify and copies of documents or records that will be offered
shall be attached to the motion. The affidavits of other persons and the copies of
documents and records may be excused upon a showing, which shall specifically detailed
in the motion, of good cause why they cannot be obtained. This showing shall state what
the prisoner had done to attempt to obtain the affidavits, records, and documents, the
production of which he requests the court to excuse.
(f) The identity of any previous proceedings in federal or state courts that the prisoner may
have taken to secure relief from his conviction and sentence.
Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21 adds in part:
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(1) Failure by a prisoner to raise objections, defenses, claims, questions, issues or errors
either in fact or law which were capable of determination at trial and/or on direct appeal,
regardless of whether such are based on the laws and the Constitution of the state of
Mississippi or of the United States, shall constitute a waiver thereof and shall be
procedurally barred, but the court may upon a showing of cause and actual prejudice grant
relief from the waiver.
(2) The litigation of a factual issue at trial and on direct appeal of a specific state or federal
legal theory or theories shall constitute a waiver of all other state or federal legal theories
which could have neem raised under said factual issue; and any relief sought under this
article upon said facts but upon different state or federal legal theories shall be procedurally
barred absent a showing of cause or actual prejudice.
(3) the doctrine of res judicata shall apply to all issues, both factual and legal, decided at
trial and on direct appeal.
¶14.
This Court’s decisions in Woodward v. State, 843 So.2d 1 (Miss. 2003); McGilberry v.
State, 843 So.2d 21 (Miss. 2003); and Brown v. State, 798 So.2d 481 (Miss. 2002), reiterate that the
Act applies with full force and effect to this post-conviction application. Walker contends that the
procedural bars do not apply to him; this Court holds otherwise. I.
¶15.
WHETHER WALKER’S
TRIAL COUNSEL WAS
INEFFECTIVE IN
VIOLATION OF THE
S I X T H
A N D
F O U R T E E N T H
AMENDMENTS TO THE
U.S. CONSTITUTION,
AND ART. 3 § 26 OF THE
M I S S I S S I P P I
CONSTITUTION.
Any and all claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are to be decided under Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984), adopted by this Court in
Stringer v. State, 454 So. 2d 468 (Miss. 1984) and followed in Foster v. State, 687 So.2d 1124
(Miss. 1996). See Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. ___, 123 S. Ct. 2527, 2535, 156 L.Ed 2d 471, 484
(2003); Bell v. Cone, 535 U.S. 685, 122 S.Ct. 1843, 152 L.Ed.2d 914 (2002); Williams v. Taylor,
529 U.S. 362, 120 S.Ct. 1495, 146 L.Ed.2d 389 (2000). The Strickland standard provides a two-part
8
test that must be met to justify the reversal of a conviction or death sentence: first, the defendant must show
that counsel’s performance was deficient, and second, the defendant must show that the deficient
performance prejudiced the defense. 466 U.S. at 687. Explanatory excerpts from Stringer, upon which
this Court has previously relied, follow:
This requires showing that counsel’s error were so serious as to deprive the defendant of
a fair trial, a trial whose result is reliable. Unless a defendant makes both showings, it
cannot be said that the conviction or death sentence resulted from a breakdown in the
adversary process that renders the result unreliable.
....
Judicial scrutiny of counsel’s performance must be highly deferential. It is all too tempting
for a defendant to second guess counsel’s assistance after conviction or adverse sentence,
and it is all to easy for a court, examining counsel’s defense after it had proved
unsuccessful, to conclude that a particular act or omission of counsel unreasonable. A fair
assessment of attorney performance requires that every effort be made to eliminate the
distorting effect of hindsight, to reconstruct the circumstances of counsel’s challenged
conduct, and to evaluate the conduct from counsel’s perspective at the time. Because of
the difficulties inherent in making the evaluation, a court must indulge a strong presumption
that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance;
that is, the defendant must overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances, the
challenged action “might be considered sound trial strategy.” There are countless ways to
provide effective assistance in any given case. Even the best criminal defense attorneys
would not defend a particular client in the same way.
454 So. 2d at 477. In Mohr v. State, 584 So. 2d 426, 430 (Miss. 1991), this Court required the
defendant to show the existence of a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors,
the outcome would have been different, where “a reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to
undermine confidence n the outcome.”
¶16.
Walker raises several claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. On direct appeal, we addressed
the merits of these claims underlying these ineffectiveness claims. Because we have held that the underlying
claims are without merit, Walker cannot show the requisite deficient performance and resulting prejudice
necessary to establish the various claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. Additional substantive claims
9
raised in this application have all been held to be procedurally barred and/or addressed on the merits on
direct appeal. Since the claims have been addressed on the merits on direct appeal, Walker cannot
relitigate those claims on post-conviction review. See Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3).
A.
¶17.
Failure to Raise the Denial of His Motion for Continuance
in the Motion for a New Trial.
Walker contends his trial counsel’s failure to raise the denial of his motion for continuance in the
motion for new trial and to show this Court how the denial resulted in “irreparable injury to the petitioners’s
defense” constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. The claim relating to the denial of the continuance
was presented this court on direct appeal.
¶18.
This Court imposed a procedural bar to the consideration of this claim. Walker, 671 So. 2d at
591. However, this Court also alternatively addressed the merits of the claim. Clearly, this Court is
allowed to impose a procedural bar and alternatively address the merits without waiving the application of
the bar. See Harris v. Reed, 489 U.S. 255, 260-63, 109 S.Ct. 1038, 1042-43, 103 L.Ed.2d 308
(1989).
¶19.
Walker has recast this argument in the terms of a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. We
look to the alternative discussion of the merits of the claim. In discussing the merits of the claim this Court
concluded the discussion with the following finding:
Under the facts presented: where no discovery violation occurred; where the defense was
afforded two days to review the fifty five minute videotape and accompanying typed
transcript of Riser’s statement (provided two months before trial); where extensive cross
examination was conduced, and where there is no indication the case would have been
handled differently had more time been allowed, the denial of a continuance was not in
error. This assignment of error is procedurally barred and alternatively without merit.
Walker, 671 So. 2d at 593.
10
¶20.
“The benchmark for judging any claim of ineffectiveness [of counsel] must be whether counsel’s
conduct so undermined the proper functioning of the adversarial process that the trial cannot be relied on
as having produced a just result.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 686, 104 S.Ct. at 2064. The test is two
pronged: The defendant must demonstrate that his counsel’s performance was deficient, and that the
deficiency prejudiced the defense of the case. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. at 2064;
Washington v. State, 620 So.2d 966, 972 (Miss. 1993). “This requires a showing that counsel’s errors
were so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a trial whose result is reliable. Unless a defendant
makes both showings, it cannot be said that the conviction or death sentence resulted from a breakdown
in the adversary process that renders the result unreliable.” Stringer v. State, 454 So. 2d at 477 (citing
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. at 2064). “In any case presenting an ineffectiveness claim, the
performance inquiry must be whether counsel’s assistance was reasonable considering all the
circumstances.” Stringer, 454 So. 2d at 477 (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688, 104 S.Ct. at 2065;
State v. Tokman, 564 So. 2d 1339, 1343 (Miss. 1990)).
¶21.
Judicial scrutiny of counsel’s performance must be highly deferential. A fair assessment of attorney
performance requires that every effort be made to eliminate the distorting effects of hindsight, to reconstruct
the circumstances of counsel’s challenged conduct, and to evaluate the conduct from counsel’s perspective
at the time. Because of the difficulties inherent in making the evaluation, a court must indulge a strong
presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within a large range of reasonable professional assistance; that is,
the defendant must overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances, the challenged action “might
be considered sound trial strategy.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S.Ct. at 2065; Stringer, 454
11
So. 2d at 477. In short, defense counsel is presumed competent. Bell v. Cone, 535 U.S. at 702;
Johnson v. State, 476 So. 2d 1195, 1204 (Miss. 1985).
¶22.
Then to determine the second prong of prejudice to the defense, the standard is “a reasonable
probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been
different.” Mohr v. State, at 430. This means a “probability sufficient to undermine the confidence in the
outcome.” Id. The question here is whether there is a reasonable probability that, absent the errors, the
sentencer—including an appellate court, to the extent it independently reweighs the evidence–would have
concluded that the balance of the aggravating and mitigating circumstances did not warrant death.
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 695, 104 S.Ct. at 2068.
¶23.
There is no constitutional right then to errorless counsel. Mohr v. State, 584 So.2d at 430;
Cabello v. State, 524 So. 2d 313, 315 (Miss. 1988) (right to effective counsel does not entitle defendant
to have an attorney who makes no mistakes at trial; defendant just had right to have competent counsel).
If the post-conviction application fails on either of the Strickland prongs, the proceedings end. Neal v.
State, 525 So. 2d 1279, 1281 (Miss. 1987); Mohr, 584 So. 2d at 430.
¶24.
In order to prove a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel a petitioner must show that counsel’s
performance was deficient and second, show that the deficient performance prejudiced the defendant.
Both showings must be made.
¶25.
Walker cannot demonstrate that there exists a reasonable probability that, even assuming deficient
performance, that the results of the proceeding would have been different. Walker cannot show prejudice
resulting from his trial counsel’s actions. Additionally, because this Court found no merit in Walker’s claim
12
of error regarding the denial of the continuance, Walker cannot demonstrate prejudice and cannot establish
a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.
B.
¶26.
Counsel’s failure to offer lesser-included offense
instructions.
Walker’s next contention is that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to offer additional lesser-
included offense instructions for consideration by the trial court. The jury was instructed on the offenses
of murder and manslaughter in this case. However, Walker contends that he should have been granted a
culpable negligence manslaughter instruction. ¶27.
This Court imposed a procedural bar to this claim
on direct appeal for failure of counsel to object, but this Court alternatively addressed the merits of this
claim and held the claim to be without merit. See Walker, 671 So. 2d at 596-98. Since we held the
claim to be without merit on direct appeal, Walker cannot demonstrate the required prejudice to sustain
a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel under Strickland.
¶28.
Walker is not entitled to seek relief on this claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.
C.
¶29.
Admission of the Photograph of the Victim Taken Prior to
Her Death.
Walker's next claim is that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to object to the admission of a
photograph of Konya Edwards taken prior to her death. Appellate counsel did raise this claim on direct
appeal and initially the Court held the claim to be barred for the failure to object. However, the Court then
alternatively addressed the merits of the claim and held it to be without merit. See Walker, 671 So.2d at
600-01. Since the claim was alternatively held to be without merit on direct appeal, Walker cannot
demonstrate the requisite prejudice to demonstrate a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Walker has
not shown that a reasonable probability exists that the results of his trial would have been different absent
13
counsel's failure to object to the photograph which had been used to identify the victim. Further, he has not
shown that the trial court would have excluded the photograph over the objection of trial counsel.
¶30.
Having failed to show both deficient performance and actual prejudice, Walker has failed to
demonstrate that he received ineffective assistance of counsel by the failure to object to the introduction
of the photograph of Konya Edwards prior to her death. This claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is
totally without merit. Walker is not entitled to seek relief on this claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.
D.
¶31.
Failure to Object to Portions of Dr. McGarry's Testimony.
Walker next contends that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to object to testimony by the
pathologist, Dr. Paul McGarry, regarding the condition of Konya Edwards's body at the time he performed
the autopsy. Walker contends that the testimony went into “nauseating detail” and had no probative value.
This claim was raised on direct appeal and addressed on the merits. See Walker, 671 So.2d at 603.
However, Walker now states he “disagrees” with the Court’s analysis of the issue and attempts to build
a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel on his disagreement. Walker does not comprehend the law in
this regard. The fact that he has a disagreement with the prior findings of this Court is not relevant to the
outcome of this claim. Since this Court decided the underlying substantive claim on the merits and held
the claim to be without merit, Walker cannot demonstrate the requisite deficient performance and prejudice
required by Strickland.
¶32.
Walker has failed to demonstrate that the failure to object to Dr. McGarry's testimony was
ineffective assistance of counsel. Walker is not entitled to seek relief on this claim of ineffectiveness.
E.
Counsel's Failure to Object to the Granting of
Instruction S-9 on Aiding and Abetting.
14
¶33.
Walker's next claim regarding ineffective assistance of counsel is rather confusing in that he has
evidently combined the argument regarding two instructions into one claim. First, he contends that trial
counsel was ineffective in failing to object to Instruction S-9 which was an aiding and abetting instruction.
However, Walker then switches gears and begins discussing the claim raised on direct appeal relating to
Instruction S-2, which is an acquit first instruction. Walker then switches back to the discussion of
Instruction S-9 for the remainder of the argument on this claim. Since there is some confusion over just
what claim Walker is presenting to the Court , we will address both out of caution.
Instruction S-9
¶34.
Walker raised this claim on direct appeal. The Court held the claim to be procedurally barred as
the objection interposed at trial was different than that raised on appeal. See Waker, 671 So.2d at 60506. The Court did not alternatively address the merits of this claim. Therefore, in looking to the merits of
this claim, the instruction was a proper statement of the law in 1991at the time of trial. The instruction given
was approved as a correct statement of the law by this Court in Fleming v. State, 604 So.2d 280, 287
(Miss. 1992), and Davis v. State, 586 So.2d 817, 821 (Miss. 1991). The instruction was upheld against
the same argument made here in Simmons v. State, 568 So.2d 1192, 1203-04 (Miss. 1990). Simmons
challenged the instruction stating that it misled the jury because it implies that conviction was proper where
only one element of the crime is proven. The Court held that this instruction was proper when read with
the other instructions requiring the State to prove every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
See Kelly v. State, 493 So.2d 356, 359 (Miss. 1986); White v. State, 330 So.2d 877, 879 (Miss.
1976).
15
¶35.
Under the teachings of Malone v. State, 486 So.2d 360 (Miss. 1986), Instruction S-9, when
read in conjunction with Instruction S-1 and Instruction S-2, clearly required the jury to find all the elements
of the crime for which Walker was charged. In Malone this Court stated:
As all surely know by now, we do not review jury instructions in isolation. Rather, we read
all instructions as a whole to determine whether the jury has been correctly instructed. Not
every point involved in a case must be included in every instruction given. Clayton v.
Thompson, 475 So.3d 439,445 (Miss. 1985). Assuming arguendo that Instruction
C.OO is less than perfect, we find that the instructions given the jury as a whole fairly and
adequately state the law and that reversal would be inappropriate. [Internal quotes
omitted.] More specifically, a combined reading of Instruction Nos. C.OO, S-1 and D-7
fairly present all issues warranted by the evidence and inherent in the charge of accessory
before the fact of armed robbery. Miss. Code Ann. §§97-3-79 and 97-1-3 (1972).
486 So.2d at 365.
¶36.
Instructions S-1, S-2 and S-9, read together, require the jury to find that Konya Edwards was
killed and correctly set forth the other elements and issues the jury must find before Walker could be
convicted. See Bell v. State, 725 So.2d 836, 847-48 (Miss. 1998); Carr v. State, 655 So.2d 824,
832-33 (Miss. 1995); Bullock v. State, 391 So.2d 601, 609 (Miss. 1980). The instruction was a correct
statement of the law in 1991 and could have been properly given even if it had been objected to by counsel
on the grounds now asserted.
¶37.
A similar instruction was first questioned in Hornburger v. State, 650 So.2d 510, 514-15 (Miss.
1995). There the Court held the instruction to be improper, but harmless when the jury was fully instructed
that it must find all of the elements of the offense in other instructions. The instruction continued to be
challenged over the next several years. In Milano v. State, 790 So.2d 179 (Miss. 2001), this instruction
was once again given. The Court held the instruction to be improper, but once again, the Court found any
error to be harmless because when the instructions were read as a whole, the jury was properly instructed
on its duty. Further, the Court held:
16
The same problematic jury instruction used in Hornburger, Berry, and Lester is once
again before this Court. To avoid any further confusion, today, we prospectively adopt
the Fifth Circuit's Pattern Jury Instruction on Aiding and Abetting due to continuing
litigation and confusion over this issue. The use of this instruction should cure future
problems regarding this issue.
790 So.2d at l85. The Court was clear that the Fifth Circuit Pattern Jury Instruction on Aiding and Abetting
was to be given prospective application only. Although Walker asks the Court to adopt the Fifth Circuit
instruction in his application, clearly Walker fails to comprehend the decision in Milano. Therefore,
Walker cannot avail himself of the decision in Milano.
¶38.
Looking to the instructions given in this case in addition to S-9 we find the jury was fully instructed
on its duties. Instruction C.I stated in part: “You are not to single out one instruction alone as stating the law
but you must consider these instructions as a whole.” In Instruction C.I3 we find the following language:
“This presumption places upon the State of Mississippi the burden of proving the Defendant guilty of every
material element of the crime with which he is charged. Before you can return a verdict of guilty, the State
of must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the Defendant is guilty.” In Instruction C-20 we find the
following language: “If you find that the State has failed to prove any one of the essential elements of the
crime of CAPITAL MURDER, you must find the defendant not guilty of said crime.” Instruction S-l states:
The Defendant, ALAN DALE WALKER, has been charged in the indictment with he
crime of Capital Murder for having killed Konya Rebecca Edwards during the commission
of Sexual Battery of Konya Rebecca Edwards.
If you find from the evidence in this case beyond a reasonable doubt:
1. The incident in this case occurred on or about September 9, 1990, in
the First Judicial District of Harrison County, Mississippi;
2. Konya Rebecca Edwards was a living human being;
3. The Defendant, alone or in conjunction with another, did wilfully,
unlawfully and feloniously kill and murder Konya Rebecca Edwards by
asphyxiation, said asphyxiation resulted in the death of Konya Rebecca
Edwards; and
4. That the killing of Konya Rebecca Edwards occurred while the
Defendant, alone or in conjunction with another, was in the process of
17
committing the crime and felony of Sexual Battery of Konya Rebecca
Edwards, against her will, then you shall find the Defendant, ALAN
DALE WALKER, Guilty of Capital Murder.
If the State has failed to prove any one or more of the above elements beyond a
reasonable doubt, then you shall find the Defendant Not Guilty of Capital Murder.
Reading the above instructions, including Instruction S-9, as a whole, the jury was fully informed that every
element of the capital murder had to be proved by the State. See Milano, 790 So. 2d at 185; Carr, 655
So. 2d at 832-33.
¶39.
At the time of trial Instruction S-9 was considered a proper statement of the law. Trial counsel is
not required to be prescient, but only to know the law as it exists at the time of trial. A claim of
ineffectiveness cannot be based on trial counsel's failure to anticipate a future change in the law. See
Chase v. State, 699 So.2d 521, 542-43 (Miss. 1997). Therefore, Walker cannot demonstrate deficient
performance in trial counsel's failure to object. Further, since the granting of Instruction S-9 is at most
harmless error, Walker cannot demonstrate actual prejudice. Both findings are required by Strickland.
¶40.
Walker is not entitled to seek relief on the ground of ineffectiveness as it relates to the failure to
object to Instruction S-9 on the grounds presented here.
Acquit First Instruction
¶41.
As stated above, Walker’s argument under this number briefly addresses another claim. From
reading the brief reference and looking to the opinion of this Court on direct appeal, we surmise that this
relates to the claim raised on direct appeal concerning the acquit first instruction. The Court considered this
claim, held it to be procedurally barred from consideration, and then alternatively addressed the merits. The
Court held the claim to be without merit. See Walker, 671 So.2d at 606-08.
¶42.
Because this Court held the substantive merits of this claim to be without merit, Walker cannot
sustain the required showing of prejudice to establish a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.
18
Apparently, Walker is actually raising this claim as an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, thus he is
entitled to no relief.
F.
¶43.
Submission of Aggravating Circumstance that Capital Offense was
Committed in the Commission of the Crime of Sexual Battery.
Walker next contends that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to object to the submission of the
aggravating circumstance that the crime was committed while he was engaged in the commission of a sexual
battery. The basis of his contention is two fold, first, that there was insufficient evidence to prove sexual
battery and second, that the underlying felony of sexual battery could not be used again as an aggravating
circumstance.
¶44.
First, the claim that trial counsel did not object to the sentencing instruction on the basis of the
sufficiency of the evidence to prove sexual battery is specious. To the contrary, the record in this case
indicates otherwise. Looking to the record, we find the following objection raised during the consideration
of the sentencing instructions:
STEGALL: So far as B is concerned, judge, we don't feel again that either B-l or B-2 that is, as to the offense was committed during the course of- commission of the crime of
sexual battery or that it was committed to avoid lawful arrest or detection; we don't feel
that either of those are supported by the proof and would object to the granting of those
instructions - those aggravating instructions.
Thus, counsel did specifically object on this ground at trial.
¶45.
Further, on August 21, 1991, trial counsel filed a document entitled “Objections to the State's
Sentencing Instructions.” In this document trial counsel specifically objected to the sexual battery
aggravator on the basis of the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain that underlying felony.
¶46.
Additionally, at the close of the guilt phase, counsel made a lengthy argument and moved to dismiss
the charge of capital murder based on the insufficiency of the evidence to prove sexual battery. The trial
19
court overruled this motion. Even in the face of his objection being overruled, trial counsel continued to
argue that sexual battery had not been proved by the evidence.
¶47.
Regardless, a claim regarding the sufficiency of the evidence to prove sexual battery was raised
on direct appeal and addressed on the merits by this Court. See Walker, 671 So.2d at 593-96. While
this proposition discussed the claim in light of the guilt phase, the same evidence was considered during the
sentencing phase after the jury had already found, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the murder had been
committed during a sexual battery. Since trial counsel did object and this Court has already decided the
substantive merits of the sufficiency claim as it related to the guilt phase, Walker cannot be heard to
complain that counsel was ineffective. Walker has not demonstrated deficient performance and actual
prejudice because an objection was made to the inclusion of this aggravating factor. This part of this claim
is spurious.
¶48.
Further, trial counsel objected to Instruction S-14, which he argued relieved the State of having
to prove intent to commit the underlying felony of sexual battery before Konya Edwards’s death. This
Court addressed this claim on the merits on direct appeal and held it to be without merit. See Walker,
671 So.2d at 596. This is further proof that trial counsel did object to the sufficiency of the evidence to
support the underlying crime of sexual battery. Since this Court held the underlying claim to be without
merit, there can be no showing of deficient performance and actual prejudice. Without a showing of both,
Walker cannot sustain a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Walker is not entitled to seek relief on
this claim.
¶49.
Second, Walker contends in the face of this Court's decision on direct appeal and overwhelming
authority to the contrary that counsel was ineffective in failing to object to the use of the sexual battery
aggravator during the sentencing phase as it was error to used the sexual battery as the underlying crime
20
and as an aggravator. This Court held the claim to be procedurally barred for the lack of an objection and
then alternatively addressed the underlying substantive claim on direct appeal and found it to be without
merit. See Walker, 671 So.2d at 612. Since the underlying substantive claim was held to be without
merit, Walker cannot show the requisite deficient performance and actual prejudice required to sustain a
claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Both findings are required to prove a claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel and Walker has failed to show either.
¶50.
In its decision on direct appeal this Court properly relied on the precedent of the United States
Supreme Court in Lowenfield v. Phelps, 484 U.S. 231, 108 S.Ct. 546, 98 L.Ed.2d 568 (1988).
However, the United States Supreme Court has spoken to this exact question in later cases. In Tuilaepa
v. California, 512 U.S. 967, 972, 114 S.Ct. 2630, 2634-35, 129 L.Ed.2d 750 (1994), the Supreme
Court held: "The aggravating circumstance may be contained in the definition of the crime or in a separate
sentencing factor (or in both)." [Parenthetical the Court's.] See United States v. Flores, 63 F.3d 1342,
1370-72 (5th Cir. 1995); Perry v. Lockhart, 871 F.2d 1384 (8th Cir. 1989). Thus, Walker's claim that
the use of the sexual battery in both phases is unconstitutional is totally without merit. Further, specifically
addressing a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel for failing to object to this exact claim in Lockhart
v. Fretwell, 506 U.S. 364, 113 S.Ct. 838, 122 L.Ed.2d 180 (1993), the Supreme Court held that
counsel is not ineffective in failing to object to an aggravating circumstance that duplicates the underlying
felony.
¶51.
This Court's numerous decisions on this subject are in line with those of the United States Supreme
Court as it has long approved the use of the underlying felony which raises the crime to capital murder as
an aggravating factor in the sentencing phase of the trial. See Goodin v. State, 787 So.2d 639, 654-55,
21
647-49 (Miss. 2001); Manning v. State, 735 So.2d 323, 350-51, 367 (Miss. 1999); Smith v. State,
729 So.2d 1191, 1223, 1256-57 (Miss. 1998); Manning v. State, 726 So.2d 1152, 1196, 1192 (Miss.
1998); Bell v. State, 725 So.2d 836, 858-59, 874-77 (Miss. 1998); Crawford v. State, 716 So.2d
1028, 1049-50, 1078-80 (Miss. 1998);Berry v. State, 703 So.2d 269, 284-86 (Miss. 1997);Wilcher
v. State, 697 So.2d 1123, 1138 (Miss. 1997); Brown v. State, 690 So.2d 276, 295-96 (Miss. 1996);
Brown v. State, 682 So.2d 340, 353-55 (Miss. 1996); Davis v. State, 684 So.2d 643, 663-64 (Miss.
1996); Doss v. State, 709 So.2d 369, 391-92, 392-95 (Miss. 1996); Blue v. State, 674 So.2d 1184,
1215-18 (Miss. l996); Holly v. State, 671 So.2d 32, 39-40 (Miss. 1996); Walker v. State, 671 So.2d
581, 612 (Miss. 1995); Ballenger v. State, 667 So.2d 1242, 1260 (Miss. 1995); Ladner v. State,
584 So.2d 743,762-63 (Miss. 1991); Minnick v. State, 551 So.2d 77, 96-97 (Miss. 1989); Pinkney
v. State, 538 So.2d 329, 358-59 (Miss. 1988); Cole v. State, 525 So.2d 365, 374 (Miss. 1987);
Lockett v. State, 517 So.2d 1346, 1353 (Miss. 1987); Faraga v. State, 514 So.2d 295, 309 (Miss.
1987); Jordan v. State, 464 So.2d 475, 479 (Miss. 1985); Wilcher v. State, 448 So.2d 927, 937-38
(Miss. 1984); Billiot v. State, 454 So.2d 445, 465 (Miss. 1984); Tokman v. State, 435 So.2d 664,
668-69 (Miss. 1983); Leatherwood v. State, 435 So.2d 645, 650 (Miss. 1983); Coleman v. State,
378 So.2d 640, 646-47 (Miss. 1979).
¶52.
Since the jury had already found that the murder was committed during the commission of a sexual
battery, any objection to the granting of an instruction that sexual battery could be considered as an
aggravating circumstance during the sentencing phase of the trial would have been futile. Counsel is not
charged with making futile objections. See Chase v. State, 699 So.2d at 537; Edwards v. State, 615
So.2d 590, 599 (Miss. 1993). Walker has failed to demonstrate the proof required to sustain a claim of
22
ineffective assistance of counsel for the failure to object to the granting of an instruction that sexual battery
could be considered as an aggravating factor during the sentencing phase of his trial. Walker is entitled to
no relief on this claim.
G.
¶53.
Prosecutorial Misconduct.
Walker makes several claims that counsel was ineffective in failing to object to instances of what
he claims were prosecutorial misconduct. We have held all of these following claims to be procedurally
barred from consideration, but more importantly also alternatively addressed the merits of each of the
claims. We will address these claims using the numbering Walker employs.
(1) Comment on Walker's Failure to Testify.
¶54.
The heading to Walker's first claim under the prosecutorial misconduct section is somewhat
misleading. The heading states the claim regards a comment on the failure to testify. However, he never
mentions a comment on the failure to testify in the argument under this subsection. Instead, Walker
discussed the prosecutor's comments regarding his unsworn statements of remorse at the conclusion of the
sentencing phase of the trial. In any event, the underlying substance of this claim was fully explored by the
Court on direct appeal and found to be without merit. See Walker, 671 So.2d at 614-16. Since the
underlying issue is without merit, there is no support for a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel as
Walker cannot show any prejudice. Walker must show both deficient performance and actual prejudice
in order to sustain a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.
¶55.
It has long been the precedent of this Court to allow a defendant to make an unsworn statement
at the conclusion of the sentence phase of a capital sentencing trial. However, making such a statement is
not without peril to the defendant. If the defendant did not testify at the guilt phase or sentence phase and
chooses to make unsworn statements or arguments that go outside the evidence presented, he makes a
23
partial waiver of the constitutional privilege against self-incrimination and the prohibition against a
prosecutor from commenting on his failure to take the stand. See Duplantis v. State, 644 So.2d 1235,
1251 (Miss. 1994); Bevill v. State, 556 So.2d 699, 710-11 (Miss. 1990); Pinkney v. State, 538
So.2d 329, 358 (Miss. 1988); Jones v. State, 381 So.2d 983, 993-94 (Miss. 1980). Thus, as the Court
found, after making his statements regarding remorse, Walker cannot be heard to complain that the State
made an argument in rebuttal of his assertions of remorse.
¶56.
Walker is entitled to no relief on this claim of ineffective assistance of counsel as he has failed to
demonstrate both deficient performance and prejudice. He has not shown that there is a reasonable
probability the result would have been different absent the failure of counsel to object to the prosecutor's
comments. Walker has failed to sustain this claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.
(2)
¶57.
Improper Vouching of Witness and Personal Opinions.
Next Walker contends that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to comments of the
prosecutor which he contends vouched for the reliability of Jason Riser's testimony and offered personal
opinions regarding the same. This claim was raised on direct appeal, and the Court held the underlying
substantive merits of the claim to be procedurally barred. See Walker, 671 So.2d at 616. The Court did
not alternatively address the merits of this claim under this heading in its opinion on direct appeal. Instead,
in the conclusion to the discussion of prosecutorial misconduct section of the opinion, the Court held:
Considering all of the alleged impermissible comments of the prosecutor, only one appears
close, the vouching for Riser. As noted, other comments are barred and alternatively,
meritless. In Minnick, the Court stated:
Taken as a whole, all of these statements fall into the permissible latitude
afforded attorneys in closing argument. As this Court stated in Johnson
v. State, 416 So.2d 383, 391 (Miss.1982), quoting Nelms and Blum
Company v. Fink, 159 Miss. 372, 382, 131 So. 817, 820 (1930):
24
Counsel was not required to be logical in argument; he is
not required to draw sound conclusions, or to have a
perfect argument measured by logical and rhetorical rules;
his function is to draw conclusions and inferences from
evidence on behalf of his client in whatever he deems
proper, so long as he does not become abusive and go
outside the confines of the record.
Minnick, 551 So.2d at 93.
Walker argues that the “cumulative effect of the improper comments and other misconduct
of the prosecution” deprived him of a fair trial. Walker is correct in citing Stringer v.
State, 500 So.2d 928 (Miss. 1986), which notes that death penalty cases demand
“heightened review” and thus “require that the cumulative impact of all the factors outlined
above be reviewed. . . .” However, careful consideration of Walker's claims reveals no
prosecutorial misconduct supporting reversal. There is no merit to Walker's assertion that
he has been denied a fair trial.
671 So.2d at 619. The Court did address the question on its merits and found that the comment was not
reversible error. Since the underlying substantive merits have been held to be without merit, Walker cannot
show the prejudice which is necessary to sustain a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Walker has
failed to demonstrate prejudice in the failure to object. He is entitled to no relief on this claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel.
(3)
¶58.
Misstatements of Law.
Walker's next contention is that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel in failing to
object to certain misstatements of the law by the prosecutor. This claim was raised on direct appeal and
was held to be procedurally barred for the lack of an objection at trial. However, the Court alternatively
addressed the merits of the claim and held it to be without merit. See Walker, 671 So.2d at 617-18.
Since the underlying substantive merits of the claim were held to be without merit, Walker cannot
demonstrate the required deficient performance and prejudice. Since Walker cannot show either of the
required foundations for the claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, he is entitled to no relief on this claim
25
of ineffective assistance of counsel. Walker has failed to sustain this claim of ineffective assistance of
counsel.
(4)
¶59.
Comments on Appellate Review.
Next Walker makes the claim that counsel was ineffective in failing to object to statements he
contends were comments on appellate review. This claim was raised on direct appeal and held to be
procedurally barred by the Court. Alternatively, the Court addressed the substantive merits of the claim,
finding that there was no comment on appellate review made by the prosecutor. See Walker, 671 So.2d
at 618-19. Since, the underlying substantive claim was held to be without merit, and Walker cannot
demonstrate deficient performance or prejudice. Without a showing of both of these factors, he cannot
establish a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel based on this claim. Walker is entitled to no relief on
this claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.
(5)
¶60.
Cumulative Effect of Instances of Prosecutorial Misconduct.
Walker next contends that the cumulative effect of the above errors demonstrates ineffective
assistance of counsel. Walker contended on direct appeal that the cumulative effect of the several claims
of prosecutorial misconduct warranted reversal. However, the Court addressed the merits of this underlying
substantive claim on direct appeal and held that Walker had not been denied a fundamentally fair trial by
the claimed instances of prosecutorial misconduct. See Walker, 671 So.2d at 619. Therefore, the
substantive claim underlying this claim of ineffective assistance of counsel has held to be without merit. Since
the claim was held to be without merit, Walker cannot establish the prejudice necessary to sustain a claim
of ineffective assistance of counsel. This claim is without merit.
¶61.
Walker also makes an incorrect statement of the law in this application. He contends that
Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. at 387-88, requires that a reviewing court consider the cumulative effect
26
of counsel's deficient performance. The Supreme Court made no such holding. The Supreme Court was
considering a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel based on the failure of counsel to introduce
significant mitigating evidence. In discussing this claim the Supreme Court held:
Second, the State Supreme Court's prejudice determination was unreasonable insofar as
it failed to evaluate the totality of the available mitigation evidence - both that adduced at
trial, and the evidence adduced in the habeas proceeding in reweighing it against the
evidence in aggravation. See Clemons v. Mississippi, 494 U.S. 738, 751-752, 110
S.Ct. 1441, 108 L.Ed.2d 725 (1990).
Williams, 529 U.S. at 397-98.
¶62.
Clearly, this Court made such an analysis of the merits of this claim on direct appeal in the final
paragraph of the section dealing with cumulative prosecutorial error. See Walker, 671 So.2d at 619.
Looking again to Williams, we find the only mention of cumulative error in the whole opinion of the
Supreme Court to be in the next to the last paragraph of the opinion. The Court stated:
In our judgment, the state trial judge was correct both in his recognition of the established
legal standard for determining counsel's effectiveness, and in his conclusion that the entire
post-conviction record, viewed as a whole and cumulative of mitigation evidence presented
originally, raised “a reasonable probability that the result of the sentencing proceeding
would have been different” if competent counsel had presented and explained the
significance of all the available evidence. It follows that the Virginia Supreme Court
rendered a ‘decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of,
clearly established Federal law.’ Williams’ constitutional right to the effective assistance of
counsel as defined in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80
L.Ed.2d 674 (1984), was violated.
Williams, 529 U.S. at 398-99. Clearly, the Court was not speaking of cumulating the various errors of
counsel, but rather was referring to the omitted mitigating evidence. Walker also argues that the United
States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held in Moore v. Johnson, 194 F.3d 586 (5th Cir. 1999),
that there must be a cumulative error review of ineffective assistance claims. Walker is incorrect in his
analysis of Moore. There the Fifth Circuit found no less than four instances of ineffective assistance of
27
counsel, each independently requiring vacation of the death sentence. In the concluding sentence of the
paragraph outlining these deficiencies and after finding that each resulted in Strickland prejudice, the
court concluded:
We therefore conclude that trial counsel's cumulative errors rendered the result of Moore's
punishment phase unreliable and affirm the district court's grant of relief as to punishment
only.
Moore, 194 F.3d at 622. The Fifth Circuit did not state that the cumulative effect of the errors was the
basis of its finding of ineffective assistance. Instead, the Fifth Circuit stated the cumulative, meaning four,
errors were the basis of ineffective assistance of counsel.
¶63.
Walker also relies on Henry v. Scully, 78 F.3d 51 (2d Cir. 1996) and Harris ex rel.
Ramseyer v. Wood, 64 F.3d 1432 (9th Cir. 1995). Both of these cases stand for the proposition that
once several instances of deficient performance have been found to exist that the prejudice inquiry can take
the cumulative effect of the deficient performance into account. In fact, the Ninth Circuit decision clearly
states that it had only done this type analysis once before in the post-Strickland era. 64 F.3d at 1438.
In the case at bar, the claims raised have all been held to be without merit so no prejudice can be shown
individually or cumulatively. In Russell v. State, 849 So.2d 95, 122 (Miss. 2003), this Court refused to
adopt the defendant’s argument that this Court “must review the totality of the circumstances and the
cumulative effect of counsel’s lapses.” Instead, this Court reiterated the proper standard for determining
whether counsel was constitutionally ineffective:
This Court looks at the totality of circumstances to determine whether counsel's efforts
were both deficient and prejudicial. “Judicial scrutiny of counsel's performance [is] highly
deferential.” There is a strong but rebuttable presumption that counsel's conduct falls within
the wide range of reasonable professional assistance. Only where it is reasonably probable
that but for the attorney's errors, the outcome of the trial would have been different, will
we find that counsel's performance was deficient.
28
Russell, 849 So. 2d at 122 (quoting Holly v. State, 716 So.2d 979, 989 (Miss.1998)). In Holly, this
Court further explained,
The record shows that Jones did not raise any objections during the argument, although
there were several points at which an objection might have been appropriate. However,
we do not find that counsel's failure to object shakes our confidence in the reliability of the
outcome.
716 So.2d at 989 (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052). In order for there to be a
cumulative effect of errors, there must first be errors. In Walker, this Court has ruled that “[t]here is no
reversible error in either phase of the trial, thus there is no cumulative error. 671 So. 2d at 629 (citing
Foster, 639 So. 2d at 1303).
¶64.
Finally, Walker cites Kyles v. Whitley, 514 U.S. 419, 115 S. Ct. 1555, 131 L. Ed. 2d 490
(1995). We note that Kyles has nothing to do with ineffective assistance of counsel, and we are at a loss
as to why counsel has cited this case as authority for an ineffective assistance of counsel claim.
¶65.
On direct appeal this Court stated it was considering the cumulative effect of the claimed errors in
holding the claims of prosecutorial misconduct to be without merit. Therefore, even if Williams could be
read as requiring a cumulative effect analysis, which it cannot, this Court considered the cumulative effect
of the claims of prosecutorial misconduct and held that Walker had not been denied a fair trial. That said,
Walker still has not shown the requisite prejudice to demonstrate ineffective assistance of counsel. He is
entitled to no relief on this claim of ineffectiveness of counsel.
H.
¶66.
Outburst from State Witnesses and Victim's Family Members.
Walker places this next claim under the heading of prosecutorial misconduct. Such claim has
nothing to do with prosecutorial misconduct. However, we will address this claim as he has numbered it.
29
¶67.
This next claim of ineffective assistance counsel is based on the failure of Walker's trial counsel to
interpose an objection to the emotional outbursts during the trial proceedings. This claim was raised on
direct appeal by Walker. The Court noted that all but one of the instances raised were not accompanied
by a contemporaneous objection at trial. Therefore, the Court held the claims to be procedurally barred
from consideration. However, the Court addressed the underlying substantive claim alternatively. The
Court concluded that Walker was not denied a fair trial by any of the outbursts. See Walker, 671 So.2d
at 621-22. This claim, like the others addressed above, presents this Court with a claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel based on underlying substantive claims which this Court has already addressed and
held to be without merit. Since the underlying substantive issues of the ineffectiveness claim have been held
to be without merit, Walker cannot establish the deficient performance and prejudice required by
Strickland. Walker is not entitled to seek relief on this claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.
I.
¶68.
Failure to Argue the Imposition of a Disproportionate Sentence.
Again, this claim has nothing to do with prosecutorial misconduct. However, Walker contends that
trial counsel was ineffective in failing to request the trial court to impose upon him the same sentence
received by Riser. The basis of his contention is that the failure to raise the proportionality of the sentence
at trial is ineffective assistance of counsel. No such claim was raised on direct appeal. However, this Court
did address the proportionality of the sentence on direct appeal. The Court concluded that the sentence
was not disproportionate to the crime. See Walker, 671 So.2d at 630-31. Since we considered the
merits of this claim the underlying substantive merits of the claim have been decided against Walker. This
Court’s holding that the sentence was not disproportionate demonstrates that Walker suffered no prejudice.
Therefore, Walker cannot demonstrate the requisite deficient performance and prejudice required by
Strickland.
30
¶69.
Walker also contends that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to request the trial court to impose
upon him a sentence that was proportionate to that received by Jason Riser. If his contention is that counsel
should have requested the trial court to conduct a proportionality review and sentence him to life it is totally
without merit. Under the Mississippi capital sentencing scheme the trial court is not empowered to conduct
a proportionality review. That mandatory function is reserved to this Court by Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19105(3)(c). Thus, even if trial counsel had asked the trial court to perform such a review, it would not have
had the authority to conduct a proportionality review in this case. Further, there is no federal constitutional
requirement that a proportionality review be conducted before a death penalty can be imposed, this is only
a state statutory requirement. See Pulley v. Harris, 465 U.S. 37, 104 S.Ct. 871,79 L.Ed.2d 29 (1984)
(No Eighth Amendment right to proportionality review of sentence).
¶70.
However, it may appear to be that Walker's claim is that trial counsel did not request the trial court
to impose the same life imprisonment sentence that Riser obtained in his plea bargain agreement with the
State. If this is in fact Walker’s argument, the record does not support such an assertion. Considering
the written objections to the instructions trial counsel filed, we find the following request:
(5) Because none of these aggravating circumstances has been proved beyond a
reasonable doubt, this Court must instruct the jury to return a sentence of life imprisonment.
MCA 99-19-101 (2)(5).
Thus, counsel did request that the court sentence Walker to life imprisonment, the same sentence Riser
received. Walker cannot sustain a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel on this point.
¶71.
In conclusion, considering all of the claims, even if done in a cumulative manner, Walker has failed
to demonstrate deficient performance and resulting prejudice, both of which are required to support a claim
of ineffective assistance of counsel. Walker is entitled to no relief on his claims of ineffective assistance of
counsel.
31
II.
¶72.
THE CLAIM REGARDING INSTRUCTION S-9 IS BARRED BY
THE DOCTRINE OF RES JUDICATA.
Walker next moves to substantive claims of error in his application. The first of these is a claim that
the trial court erred in granting Instruction S-9 for the jury's consideration during the guilt phase of the trial.
This claim was raised on direct appeal and held to be procedurally barred on direct appeal for the failure
to object at trial. Since the Court has already considered this claim on direct appeal and imposed a bar to
this claim, it is now res judicata under Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21 (1) & (3). This claim cannot be
revisited. To the extent that Walker attempts to raise claims regarding this instruction for the first time in
this post-conviction application, they are also barred. See Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21 (2) (arguing
different theories on post-conviction review barred absent a showing of cause and actual prejudice).
Walker is now barred from raising this claim again.
III.
¶73.
THE CLAIM REGARDING THE REFUSAL TO GRANT A
CONTINUANCE BY THE TRIAL COURT IS BARRED BY THE
DOCTRINE OF RES JUDICATA.
Walker next reasserts the claim made on direct appeal regarding the failure of the trial court to grant
a continuance based on Jason Riser's guilty plea. This claim was addressed on the merits on direct appeal
and decided against Walker. Walker cannot raise this claim again on post-conviction review. See Miss.
Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3); Wiley v. State, 750 So.2d 1193, 1200 (Miss. 1999); Foster v. State, 687
So.2d 1124, 1129, 1138, 1140 (Miss. 1996); Wiley v. State, 517 So.2d 1373, 1377 (Miss. 1987).
IV.
¶74.
THE CLAIM BASED ON TISON v. ARIZONA IS PROCEDURALLY
BARRED FROM CONSIDERATION FOR THE FIRST TIME ON
POST-CONVICTION REVIEW.
Walker next raises for the first time a claim that the sentencing instruction given in this case violates
the teachings of Tison v. Arizona, 481 U.S. 137,107 S.Ct. 1676, 95L.Ed.2d 127 (1987), in that it only
32
required the jury to find that he “contemplated that lethal force would be used.” First, no such claim was
raised at trial or on direct appeal in this case; and therefore, the claim is barred for failure raise the claim
at the proper time or in the proper manner. See Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(1); Brown v. State, 798
So.2d 481, 491 (Miss. 2001); Wiley, 750 So.2d at 1208; Foster, 687 So.2d at 1138. Walker is
barred from raising this claim for the first time in this post-conviction application unless he can demonstrate
cause and actual prejudice.
¶75.
Walker cannot demonstrate the requisite cause and actual prejudice to overcome the procedural
bar in this case. Looking to the record in this case, we find that the entire premise underpinning this claim
is without merit. The jury was properly instructed that it could consider all of the intent factors contained
in Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101(7). This Court has held the jury can be instructed on all of these factors
at the conclusion of the sentencing phase. The jury may properly find one or all as the evidence dictates.
Jordan v. State, 786 So.2d 987, 1026, 1052-53 (Miss. 2001); Watts v. State, 733 So.2d 214, 242,
283-85 (Miss. 1999); Carr v. State, 655 So.2d 824, 838-39 (Miss. 1995); Conner v. State, 632
So.2d 1239, 1273 (Miss. 1993); Lanier v. State, 533 So.2d 473, 491-92 (Miss. 1988); Lockett v.
State, 517 So.2d 1317, 1338 (Miss. 1987); Jones v. State, 517 So.2d 1295, 1302 (Miss. 1987). In
order to return a death sentence, the jury must find, beyond a reasonable doubt, at least one of these
factors. See White v. State, 532 So.2d 1207, 1219-22 (Miss. 1988); Pinkton v. State, 481 So.2d
306, 308-10 (Miss. 1985). Of course, there must be sufficient evidence to support the factor or factors
found by the jury. Carr v. State, 655 So.2d 824, 838-39 (Miss. 1995); Abram v. State, 606 So.2d
1015, 1042 (Miss. 1992); White v. State, 532 So.2d 1207, 1219-22 (Miss. 1988).
33
¶76.
In the case at bar the jury made a finding of two of these factors beyond a reasonable doubt. The
sentencing verdict contains the following factors:
1.
That the Defendant intended that the killing of Konya Rebecca Edwards take
place, and
2.
That the Defendant contemplated that lethal force would be employed.
Walker's argument here completely overlooks the first finding of the jury and concentrates solely on the
second finding. NeitherTison, nor its predecessor, Enmund v. Florida, 458 U.S. 782,102 S.Ct. 3368,
73 L.Ed.2d 1140 (1982), require more than one of these findings. Thus, assuming arguendo, that Walker's
argument regarding the contemplated use of lethal force finding has any merit, his claim still fails. The jury
clearly found that Walker intended that Konya Edwards be killed. That is sufficient under both Enmund
and Tison. Because the underlying claim is totally without merit, Walker cannot show the requisite cause
and actual prejudice to overcome the procedural bar for failing to raise this claim at the proper time and
in the proper manner. This claim is barred from consideration for the first time in this post-conviction
proceeding. Walker is entitled to no relief on this claim.
¶77.
Walker further argues that the Mississippi death penalty statutes are unconstitutional in that they
are applied to felony murders and “ignore the mental state and relative culpability of the defendant.” Again,
this claim was not raised at trial or on direct appeal and is procedurally barred from consideration for the
first time in this post-conviction petition. See Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(1); Brown v. State, 798
So.2d at 491; Wiley, 750 So.2d at 1208; Foster, 687 So.2d at 1138. Therefore, absent a showing of
cause and actual prejudice to overcome the procedural bar, this claim cannot be considered.
¶78.
Walker cannot show cause or actual prejudice as this claim has been ruled upon on numerous
occasions. The Court has held that the fact Mississippi's capital murder scheme makes the death penalty
a possible punishment for felony murder where there is no requirement to prove an intent to kill, and not
34
premeditated murder, does not make the Mississippi capital murder statute unconstitutional. See Grayson
v. State, 806 So.2d 241, 252 (Miss. 2001); Simmons v. State, 805 So.2d 452, 507 (Miss. 2001);
Edwards v. State, 737 So.2d 275, 307 (Miss. 1999); Berry v. State, 703 So.2d 269, 286 (Miss.
1997); Evans v. State, 725 So.2d 613, 683-84 (Miss. 1997); West v. State, 725 So.2d 872, 894-95
(Miss. 199S); Holland v. State, 705 So.2d 307, 319-20 (Miss. 1997); Gray v. State, 351 So.2d
1342, 1344 (Miss. 1977); Bell v. Watkins, So.2d 118,124 (Miss. 1980); See also Gray v. Lucas,
671 2d 1086,1104 (5th Cir.), reh’g denied, 685 F.2d 139 (5th Cir. 1982). This same argument has
been rejected as it relates to depraved heart murder. See Grayson v. State, 806 So.2d at 252.
¶79.
In addition, the factors contained in Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101(7), require that the jury find
the requisite intent set forth in Enmund and Tison before a death penalty verdict can be returned. The
jury was properly instructed pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101(7) and found two of those factors.
That is all that is required by the decisions of the United States Supreme Court and the federal constitution.
Walker has failed to show the necessary cause and actual prejudice to overcome the procedural bar to
consideration of this claim. The claim is procedurally barred from consideration for the first time in this postconviction application. Walker is entitled to no relief on this claim.
V.
¶80.
THE CLAIM RELATING TO THE DENIAL OF WALKER’S
CHALLENGES FOR CAUSE IS PROCEDURALLY BARRED BY
THE DOCTRINE OF RES JUDICATA.
Walker next contends, again, that certain jurors should have been removed from the jury for cause
because of their views on the death penalty. As he did on direct appeal, he relies on Morgan v. Illinois,
504 U.S. 719,112 S.Ct. 2222, 119 L.Ed.2d 492 (1992). However, this claim was raised on direct appeal
and decided contrary to Walker's position then. Walker, 611 So.2d at 624-26. This claim is nothing more
35
than an attempt to relitigate a claim that has already been fully discussed and decided against Walker. The
attempt to relitigate this claim is barred from consideration on post-conviction review. See Miss. Code
Ann. § 99-39-21(3); Wiley, 750 So.2d at 1200; Foster, 687 So.2d at 1129, 1138, 1140; Wiley, 517
So.2d at 1377. Unlike the bars of waiver and other theories, the res judicata bar is not subject to the cause
and actual prejudice test. See Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3); Foster v. State, 687 So.2d at 1137;
Gilliard v. State, 614 So.2d 370, 375 (Miss. 1992).
¶81.
Walker cannot relitigate this claim in this post-conviction review. Walker is not entitled to seek
relief on this claim.
VI.
¶82.
THE CLAIM RELATING TO THE PROSECUTION'S RACIALLY
BIASED USE OF PEREMPTORY JUROR CHALLENGES IS
BARRED BY THE DOCTRINE OF RES JUDICATA.
Walker attempts to relitigate another claim relating to jury selection in his capital trial. He contends
that the State used its peremptory challenges in a racially discriminatory manner. This claim was litigated
at trial and on direct appeal. This Court held that the claim was without merit on direct appeal. 671 So.2d
at 627-29. Therefore the claim is res judicata. See Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3); Wiley, 750 So.2d
at 1200; Foster, 687 So.2d at 1129, 1138, 1140; Wiley, 517 So.2d at 1377. Walker cannot relitigate
claims raised and decided against him on direct appeal in a post-conviction application. This claim is barred
from relitigation. Walker is entitled to no relief on this claim.
VII.
¶83.
THE CLAIM RELATING TO MELINDA ZAPPIE BEING STRUCK
FOR CAUSE IS RES JUDICATA.
Once again Walker attempts to relitigate a claim decided on direct appeal. This issue relates to the
removal, for cause, of prospective juror Melinda Zappie. This claim was raised on direct appeal and
decided against Walker. 671 So.2d at 629. Because this claim has already been litigated and decided on
36
direct appeal, it cannot be relitigated on post-conviction review. See Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3);
Wiley, 750 So.2d at 1200; Foster, 687 So.2d at 1129, 1138, 1140; Wiley, 517 So.2d at 1377.
Walker is not entitled to any relief on this claim.
VII.
¶84.
WALKER WAS NOT DENIED EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF
COUNSEL IN THE CONDUCT OF VOIR DIRE.
Walker now returns to the ineffective assistance of counsel theme and contends that trial counsel
was ineffective in failing to conduct an adequate voir dire examination. First, he contends that trial counsel
was ineffective in attempting to rehabilitate prospective juror Melinda Zappie regarding her views toward
the death penalty. Second, he argues that trial counsel failed to make a record of the racial composition of
the jury. He contends that the second claim is per se ineffective assistance of counsel. However, Walker's
claims of ineffective assistance of counsel must fail because the Court addressed the merits of all of the
claims relating to jury selection in its opinion on direct appeal. In the response to the previous ground for
relief we discussed the fact that the claim was barred because the merits of the issue had been addressed
on direct appeal. The ineffective assistance of counsel claim must fail because Walker cannot demonstrate
the requisite deficient performance and resulting prejudice. This Court found that Zappie was properly
excused for cause based on her views toward the death penalty. See Walker, 671 So.2d at 629. While
Walker contends that trial counsel should have done a better job in attempting to rehabilitate Zappie, he
fails to identify a single unasked question that he contends counsel should have asked of Zappie to
rehabilitate her. Thus, Walker has not even attempted to show deficient performance, much less prejudice.
Since the underlying substantive merits of the claim have been held to be without merit, Walker cannot
demonstrate the requisite deficient performance and actual prejudice to establish a claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel. Walker is entitled to no relief on this portion of his claim.
37
¶85.
Second, as to the claim that counsel was per se ineffective in failing to indicate the racial
composition of the jury, there is no such requirement in the law. Walker cites to this Court's statement in
its direct appeal opinion in which we noted:
The defense fails to adequately address the composition of the seated jury, as does the
State. Court papers within the record reviewed by this Court lend no support.
Walker, 671 So.2d at 627. Such information would be necessary in making a determination of whether
a prima facie case had been made in order to require a party to state reasons for the exercise of its
peremptory challenges. However, the question of whether Walker made out a prima facie case is moot
because the State was ordered to give reasons for its strikes without such a finding. It has long been the
law that when the prosecution states its reasons for exercising its peremptory strikes either when ordered
to do so without a finding of a prima facie case or voluntarily, the reasons can be reviewed on appeal. See
Hernandez v. New York, 500 U.S. 352, 352-54, 111 S.Ct. 1859, 1862-63, 114 L.Ed.2d 395, 396
(1991); Hughes v. State, 735 So.2d 238, 250 (Miss. 1999); Manning v. State, 726 So.2d 1152,
1183-83 (Miss. 1998); Davis v. State, 660 So.2d 1228, 1240 (Miss. 1995); Mack v. State, 650
So.2d 1289, 1298 (Miss. 1994); Foster v. State, 639 So.2d at 1279-80. In accord with this precedent,
this Court reviewed, on the merits, the reasons put forward by the prosecution for the exercise of its strikes
in this case. The Court found these reasons to be sufficient and denied Walker's claim under Batson v.
Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986). Walker, 671 So.2d at 627-29. Since
the underlying substantive merits of this claim have been held to be without merit, any claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel based on the same must fail. Walker has failed to show both deficient performance
and prejudice. He has not demonstrated that there is a reasonable probability that the results of his trial
38
would have been different. Having failed to establish ineffective assistance of counsel regarding this claim,
Walker’s request to seek post-conviction relief must be denied.
IX.
¶86.
THE CLAIM RELATING TO THE PROPORTIONALITY OF
WALKER'S SENTENCE IS BARRED BY THE DOCTRINE OF RES
JUDICATA.
Walker claims once again that his sentence is disproportionate to that received by his co-defendant
and thereby violates the Eighth Amendment. First, in deciding the direct appeal in this case, this Court
conducted the proportionality review required by Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-105(3)(c).See Walker, 671
So.2d at 630-31. Thus, the merits of this claim have been decided against Walker. They cannot be
relitigated on post-conviction review. See Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3); Wiley, 750 So.2d at 1200;
Foster, 687 So.2d at 1129,1138,1140; Wiley, 517 So.2d at 1377.
¶87.
Without waiving the bar in any manner, the federal constitutional portion of the claim Walker makes
is specious because there is no Eighth Amendment right to have a state court conduct any proportionality
review at all. In Pulley v. Harris, the United States Supreme Court held:
There is thus no basis in our cases for holding that comparative proportionality review by
an appellate court is required in every case in which the death penalty is imposed and the
defendant requests it. Indeed, to so hold would effectively overrule Jurek and would
substantially depart from the sense of Gregg and Proffitt. We are not persuaded that the
Eighth Amendment requires us to take that course.
465 U.S. at 50-51.
¶88.
Later in McCleskey v. Kemp, 481 U.S. 279, 107 S.Ct. 1756, 95 L.Ed.2d 262 (1987), the
Supreme Court held:
In light of our precedents under the Eighth Amendment, McCleskey cannot argue
successfully that his sentence is "disproportionate to the crime in the traditional sense." See
Pulley v. Harris, 465 U.S. 37,43,104 S.Ct. 871, 876, 79 L.Ed.2d 29 (1984). He does
not deny that he committed a murder in the course of a planned robbery, a crime for which
this Court has determined that the death penalty constitutionally may be imposed. Gregg
39
v. Georgia, 428 U.S., at 187,96 S.Ct, at 2931. His disproportionality claim "is of a
different sort." Pulley v. Harris, supra, 465 U.S., at 43, 104~S.Ct, at 876. McCleskey
argues that the sentence in his case is disproportionate to the sentences in other murder
cases.
On the one hand, he cannot base a constitutional claim on an argument that his case differs
from other cases in which defendants did receive the death penalty. On automatic appeal.
The Georgia Supreme Court found that McCleskey's death sentence was not
disproportionate to other death sentences imposed in the State. McCleskey v. State,
245 Ga. 108,263 S.E.2d 146 (1980). The court supported this conclusion with an
appendix containing citations to 13 cases involving generally similar murders. See Ga.
Code Ann. § 17-10-35(e) (1982). Moreover, where the statutory procedures adequately
channel the sentencer's discretion, such proportionality review is not constitutionally
required. Harris, supra, 465 U.S., at 50-51, 104 S.Ct. at 879.
On the other hand, absent a showing that the Georgia capital punishment system operates
in an arbitrary and capricious manner, McCleskey cannot prove a constitutional violation
by demonstrating that other defendants who may be similarly situated did not receive the
death penalty. In Gregg, the Court confronted the argument that "the opportunities for
discretionary action that are inherent in the processing of any murder case under Georgia
law," 428 U.S., at 199, 96 S.Ct, at 2937, specifically the opportunities for discretionary
leniency, rendered the capital sentences imposed arbitrary and capricious. We rejected this
contention.
"The existence of these discretionary stages is not determinative of the issues before us. At
each of these stages an actor in the criminal justice system makes a decision which may
remove a defendant from consideration as a candidate for the death penalty. Furman, in
contrast, dealt with the decision to impose the death sentence on a specific individual who
had been convicted of a capital offense. Nothing in any of our cases suggests that the
decision to afford an individual defendant mercy violates the Constitution. Furman held
only that, in order to minimize the risk that the death penalty would be imposed on a
capriciously selected group of offenders the decision to impose it had to be guided by
standards so that the sentencing authority would focus on the particularized circumstances
of the crime and the defendant." Ibid.
Because McCleskey's sentence was imposed under Georgia sentencing procedures that
focus discretion "on the particularized nature of the crime and the particularized
characteristics of the individual defendant,” Id. at 206, 96 S.Ct., at 2940, we lawfully may
presume that McCleskey's death sentence was not “wantonly and freakishly” imposed, Id.
at 207,96 S.Ct.. at 2941, and thus that the sentence is not disproportionate within any
recognized meaning under
the Eighth Amendment.
40
481 U.S. at 306-07 (footnote omitted). See Walton v. Arizona, 497 U.S. 639, 655-56, 110 S.Ct.
3047, 3058, 111 L.Ed.2d 511 (1990); Murray v. Giarratano, 492 U.S. 1, 9, 109 S.Ct. 2765, 2770,
106 L.Ed.2d 1 (1989). Since there is no federal constitutional requirement for this Court to compare
Walker's sentence with Riser's or any other, there can be no Eighth Amendment violation.
¶89.
This Court decided that Walker's sentence is not disproportionate considering the crime and his
individual character. This claim is now res judicata under § 99-39-21(3) and cannot be relitigated on postconviction review. See Wiley, 750 So.2d at 1200;Foster, 687 So.2d at 1129, 1138, 1140; Wiley, 517
So.2d at 1377. Walker is not entitled to seek relief on this claim.
X.
¶90.
THE CUMULATIVE ERROR CLAIM IS BARRED AND ALSO
WITHOUT MERIT.
Finally, Walker contends that the cumulative effect of all the errors requires that his conviction and
death sentence be set aside by the granting of this post-conviction application. On direct appeal this Court
addressed the claim that the cumulative error in this case required reversal. The Court held:
Finding no errors of a magnitude requiring reversal, this Court finds both the conviction of
Walker of capital murder during the commission of sexual battery and the sentence of
death are upheld.
There is no reversible error in either phase of the trial, thus there is no cumulative error.
Foster v. State, 639 So.2d at 1303.
There never has been a perfect trial. As long as humans conduct and participate in trial of
lawsuits, there will not be such a trial. This Court has said many times that a defendant is
not entitled to a perfect trial, only a fair trial. Sand v. State, 467 So.2d 907 (Miss. 1985);
Bell v. State, 443 So.2d 16 (Miss.1983); Palmer v. State, 427 So.2d 111 (Miss.
1983); Shaw v. State, 378 So.2d 631 (Miss. 1979); Stringer v. State, 500 So.2d
928 (Miss. 1986).Walker received a fundamentally fair trial. We affirm both Walker's
conviction and sentence of death.
671 So. 2d at 629-30.
¶91.
Therefore, any claim that the substantive claims raised in the post-conviction application represent
cumulative error is a question that has been decided against Walker; the claim is res judicata. See Miss.
41
Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3); Wiley, 750 So.2d at 1195; Foster, 687 So.2d at 1129,1138,1140; Wiley,
517 So.2d at 1377. Walker's assertion that the cumulative effect of counsel's deficient performance
requires reversal of his conviction and sentence is likewise unpersuasive. As pointed out, this Court has
addressed almost every claim on the merits. While a procedural bar was imposed as to many claims the
Court addressed the merits in an alternative. Thus, the merits have been addressed, and no merit was found
to exist on any of the substantive claims. Walker has failed to demonstrate the requisite deficient
performance and resulting prejudice to establish a single claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. There
is no deficient performance to cumulate. Based on the prior decision of this Court and the prior discussion
herein, there are no errors to cumulate; and therefore; there is no cumulative error in this case. Walker was
not denied a fundamentally fair trial in this case and has demonstrated no reason, singly or cumulatively,
which would cause this Court to vacate his conviction of capital murder and sentence of death for the
murder and sexual battery of Konya Rebecca Edwards. Walker is entitled to no relief on this claim.
CONCLUSION
¶92.
For these reasons, this Court denies Walker’s applications for leave to seek post-conviction relief
challenging his capital murder conviction and sentence of death.
¶93.
APPLICATIONS FOR LEAVE TO SEEK POST-CONVICTION RELIEF DENIED.
PITTMAN, C.J., WALLER, COBB, EASLEY, CARLSON AND GRAVES, JJ.,
CONCUR. McRAE, P.J., CONCURS IN RESULT ONLY. DIAZ, J., NOT
PARTICIPATING.
42
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