IRVING, J., for the Court.
¶ 1. Harvey Williams Jr. was convicted of murder by a Hinds County jury and sentenced to life in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Aggrieved, he appeals and asserts (1) that the trial court erred in refusing to allow testimony because of a discovery violation, (2) that the State committed prosecutorial misconduct, (3) that the trial court erred in refusing to grant the defense's motion for a continuance, (4) that he received ineffective assistance of counsel, (5) that the trial court erred in holding that the State would be permitted to impeach a witness he sought to call, (6) that the trial court erred in refusing to allow the defense to cross-examine a witness for the State regarding a prior inconsistent statement, (7) that the court erred in granting a flight instruction, and (8) that the cumulative effect of the errors committed at trial warrants a new trial.
¶ 2. Finding no reversible error, we affirm.
¶ 3. Williams shot and killed Calvin Younger outside of Jay's Lounge in Jackson, Mississippi, during the early morning hours of June 22, 2003. Donte Hill, a passenger in Williams's car, was later apprehended by the police. After being taken in for questioning, Hill provided an audiotaped statement wherein he implicated Williams in Younger's murder. Thereafter, on December 9, 2003, Williams was indicted and charged with Younger's murder. He went to trial on April 3-6, 2007. His defense was that he shot Younger in self-defense. Numerous witnesses testified; however, since Williams does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence against him, we dispense with a recitation of all of the facts surrounding the crime, but we will relate additional facts, as appropriate, during our analysis and discussion of the issues.
¶ 4. Williams contends that the trial court erred in limiting the testimony of Anthony Herrington, a security guard who was working at Jay's Lounge on the morning that Younger was killed. According to Williams, the excluded portion of Herrington's testimony would have shown that Williams acted in self-defense. The record reflects that when the defense announced Herrington as its first witness, the State objected on the basis that the defense had not previously disclosed this witness to the State. The defense responded that Herrington was, in fact, listed as a witness in Williams's supplemental discovery given to
¶ 5. In Morris v. State, 927 So.2d 744 (Miss.2006), the Mississippi Supreme Court reinstated the judgment of the circuit court and reversed this Court's decision, which had reversed Christopher Morris's conviction and sentence and remanded the case for a new trial, because the trial judge prohibited the testimony of critical defense witnesses. Morris was charged with simple assault on a law enforcement officer. Id. at 745-46(¶ 2). On the day that his trial was set to begin, his attorney presented the State with a list of witnesses for the first time. Id. at (¶ 3). The State made an ore tenus motion to exclude the previously undisclosed defense witnesses. Id. The State argued that it was prejudiced by the defense's
¶ 6. Although the supreme court reversed this Court, it agreed with this Court's finding that the issue presented was one which implicated the Compulsory Process Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as the "[t]he Compulsory Process Clause bestows upon a criminal defendant `the right to compel the presence and present the testimony of witnesses.'" Id. at 747(¶ 7) n. 1 (citing Taylor v. Illinois, 484 U.S. 400, 409, 108 S.Ct. 646, 98 L.Ed.2d 798 (1988)). The Morris court stated that:
Id. at (¶¶ 8-9) (emphasis added).
¶ 7. It is noteworthy that the trial judge in Morris did not give a reason as to why
¶ 8. While our facts differ from those in Morris, we believe that Morris is helpful. As in Morris, the trial judge gave no specific reason for his ruling. Perhaps more importantly, the trial judge here did not find that Williams's failure to include in his disclosure to the State all of what Herrington purportedly would testify to at trial was willful and motivated by a desire to obtain a tactical advantage. Yet, the trial judge limited Herrington's testimony to essentially what had been disclosed to the State. Williams sought to have Herrington testify that Herrington had turned Younger away from the club after seeing Younger with a gun. This information was not contained in the summary of Herrington's testimony that was provided to the State in the supplemental discovery.
¶ 9. Herrington testified to the following on cross-examination:
¶ 10. As reflected in the exchange, Herrington did not put a gun in Younger's hand immediately before the shooting. If the trial judge erred in limiting Herrington's testimony, and we are not finding that he did, it is harmless error, at best, because of all of the other evidence of Williams's guilt that was presented to the jury.
¶ 12. Pugh corroborated Watts's testimony that they were not denied entry to Jay's Lounge on the morning of the shooting. Pugh stated that while they were standing outside of the club, they saw a vehicle that they recognized as Williams's and that Younger said to him "there goes [Smokie]." He testified that the car passed them and then turned around. He stated that Williams then exited the vehicle and shot Younger with a pistol. Pugh denied removing a weapon from Younger's body.
¶ 13. Further, Dr. Steven Hayne performed the autopsy and testified that Younger suffered a total of five gunshot wounds, two of which were lethal. Dr. Hayne described the lethal wounds as follows:
Dr. Hayne gave a brief overview of all of the gunshot wounds that Younger suffered:
¶ 14. Dr. Hayne answered affirmatively when asked by the State whether Younger's wounds were consistent with having been shot from behind or at an angle from the side. Then, the State posed this question to Dr. Hayne: "Okay. Any wounds that you noticed that would have been consistent with individuals directly in front of each other confronting each other?" Dr. Hayne responded, "I could not exclude the gunshot wound to the right chest wall, but again, that would be a difficult wound and it would favor a person having to use their off hand if they're right[-]handed and use their left hand."
¶ 15. Williams testified in his own defense. He stated that when he attempted to enter the parking lot to Jay's Lounge during the early morning hours of June 22, 2003, he was unable to do so because the
¶ 16. In an effort to bolster his theory of the case, Williams offered Trinell Van Horn who was employed by the Hinds County Sheriff's Department. Van Horn testified that Younger threatened to harm Williams while Younger was incarcerated in 2003. Specifically, Van Horn testified that Younger said that "he was going to do something to [Williams]." Van Horn also stated that Younger told him that "[Younger] was going to end up catching a case."
¶ 17. Williams also called Detective James Cornelius with the Jackson Police Department as a witness. Detective Cornelius testified that Williams had filed armed robbery charges against Younger in May 2003. Detective Cornelius stated that he investigated the matter and that Younger was subsequently arrested. Detective Cornelius also stated that Williams provided a statement wherein he accused Younger of threatening to kill him. However, Detective Cornelius testified that the report was generated on May 3, 2003, and that Younger was not arrested until May 27, 2003. Detective Cornelius noted that there is no record of Younger attempting to harm Williams during that time.
¶ 18. We find that Williams was able to put before the jury his theory of the case, that is, that he acted in self-defense, even though Herrington was not allowed to testify concerning Herrington's alleged encounter with Younger involving Younger's attempt to take a gun into Jay's Lounge shortly before Williams's encounter with Younger. The jury heard Williams testify
¶ 19. We find that the trial judge's exclusion of the additional testimony by Herrington was at best harmless error because, based on the totality of evidence adduced, inclusion of the additional testimony by Herrington, would not have altered the jury's verdict. This contention of error lacks merit.
¶ 20. The dissent vehemently argues that Williams was denied a fair trial because he was not allowed to have Herrington testify about the alleged incident at Jay's Lounge during which he allegedly observed Younger with a gun. As stated, after interviewing Herrington, the prosecutors advised the court that Herrington had told them that he had kicked Younger off the premises of Jay's Lounge earlier that day after Younger attempted to enter Jay's Lounge with a gun. As noted, the exact time of day of the encounter was not specified. On the other hand, according to the defense, Herrington had told them that he turned Younger and his accomplices away from Jay's Lounge and that Younger and his group went next door to Charlie's Club, where they remained until Williams drove up.
¶ 21. The record reflects that Williams's attorneys called Herrington to the stand and made a proffer regarding an incident that is not the subject of this appeal. However, for some unexplained reason, the attorneys did not question Herrington about the encounter at Jay's Lounge. Given the fact that the prosecutors and the defense attorneys had different versions about what Herrington had said to them about the encounter at Jay's Lounge, it would seem that this would have been a perfect time to clear up the matter at its source. Williams's attorneys failed to do so. After Herrington had concluded his proffer regarding the other matter and had left the witness stand, Williams's attorneys stated again to the court what they believed Herrington's testimony would have been regarding the Jay's Lounge encounter. On these facts, the conclusion is inescapable that Williams's attorneys apparently were not certain that Herrington would verify their earlier representation to the court regarding what occurred at Jay's Lounge. In any event, had Herrington been allowed to testify about the Jay's Lounge incident, the most that can be said about what his testimony would have been is that no one knows what it would have been. Since Williams is the proponent of the banned testimony, it is incumbent upon him to show that the banned testimony would have made a difference in the outcome of the case. He has failed to make such showing, as he has not even shown that Herrington would have testified that the incident with Younger and the gun at Jay's Lounge occurred just before the shooting incident.
¶ 22. The State filed several motions in limine prior to trial seeking to
¶ 23. It has long been established that "[e]vidence of a person's character or a trait of his character is not admissible for the purpose of proving that he acted in conformity therewith on a particular occasion." M.R.E. 404(a). However, Rule 404(a)(2) of the Mississippi Rules of Evidence provides an exception when:
¶ 24. During her cross-examination of a witness for the State, Williams's attorney sought a ruling from the trial court regarding how she should proceed when seeking to show Younger's propensity for violence. The trial judge outlined the procedure in Heidel v. State, 587 So.2d 835 (Miss.1991) as follows:
¶ 25. In Heidel, our supreme court held that it is within the discretion of the trial court to admit evidence of a victim's propensity for violence, subject to the defense attorney supplying the necessary predicate
¶ 26. The State also filed a motion in limine to exclude the testimony of Freda Luckett regarding a conversation that she had had with Younger on the morning of the shooting. According to Luckett, Younger made threats against Williams during that conversation. The State argued that Luckett's testimony would be hearsay that did not fall within any exception and that there was no evidence in the record that indicated that the threats were communicated to Williams. Specifically, the State provided in its motion that it sought to prohibit the defense from introducing any statements that Luckett made regarding any conversations that she had had with Younger. According to the discovery provided by Williams to the State, Williams expected that Luckett would testify that "she witnessed [sic] the decedent stating that he was going to kill, or cause substantial bodily injury to, Harvey Williams, Jr. upon seeing him."
¶ 27. We note at the outset that even though the State contended that it sought to prohibit the introduction of the statement that Luckett had made, our review of the transcript of the motion hearing reveals that it sought to exclude Luckett's testimony in this regard. After arguments of counsel, the trial court did not exclude Luckett's testimony but stated that it was "going to sustain the objection at this time." Apparently, the trial judge considered the State's request premature.
¶ 28. In Gates v. State, 484 So.2d 1002, 1008 (Miss.1986) (citing Washington v. State, 307 So.2d 430 (Miss.1975)), our supreme court held that "[u]ncommunicated threats made by the victim may be admissible, if otherwise competent, in murder cases where the defense is self-defense and there is an issue as to who was the aggressor, since the threats are relevant to the victim's state of mind." The Gates court also held that:
Id. (emphasis added) (quoting Brown v. State, 88 Miss. 166, 171, 40 So. 737, 737 (1906)). As previously stated, no evidence
¶ 29. Williams asserts that the State improperly argued that Williams was the only witness who saw Younger with a gun shortly before the shooting. Specifically, Williams contends that the following statement, among others, made by the State during its closing argument was improper: "The only person that supposedly saw Calvin Younger with a gun was, guess who, a convicted liar." Then, a short while later, the State said to the jury: "Out of the 200 or so people out there, you don't think there's not one person other than Mr. Williams. He's the only one that's come [sic] to testify that Calvin Younger had a gun. He's it. Out of 200 people, he's it." Williams argues that "[a]lthough Anthony Herrington was not allowed to testify that he saw [Younger] with a gun just prior to [Younger] being shot, [the prosecutor] knew that Herrington could testify thusly." Williams also contends that the State told the court that during his interview with the State, Herrington had told the court that Younger was kicked off the club's premises for carrying a gun.
¶ 30. In Foley v. State, 914 So.2d 677, 687-88(¶ 18) (Miss.2005) (quoting Burr v. Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, 909 So.2d 721, 724-25(¶ 7) (Miss.2005)), the Mississippi Supreme Court held that:
We note that Williams misrepresents what the State relayed to the trial court regarding Herrington's statements made during the interview with the State's attorneys. As previously stated, Herrington told the prosecutors that Younger "had a gun earlier that day" and that he had kicked Younger off of the premises. We find no merit to Williams's contention that the State's closing argument—that no one but the defendant saw Younger with a gun-was improper, as the State simply argued the facts that were in evidence. Herrington did not testify that he saw a gun in Younger's hand immediately prior to the shooting. Further, even in the portion of Herrington's pretrial statement that the trial court did not allow in, Herrington did not state that he saw a gun in Younger's hands or pocket immediately prior to the shooting. It is error for the State to argue facts in closing argument that were not presented to the jury. See Tubb v. State, 217 Miss. 741, 743-44, 64 So.2d 911, 912 (1953).
¶ 31. Williams also argues that the prosecutor committed error during closing argument when he made the following statement:
The defense objected at this point, and the trial court sustained the objection. Thus, any error was cured at this point. "When a trial court sustains an objection, it cures any error." Holland v. State, 705 So.2d 307, 335(¶ 91) (Miss.1997). This contention of error lacks merit.
¶ 32. Williams contends that he was denied due process and the right to a fair trial because the State made improper statements and irrelevant inquiries during the course of his trial, including: (1) referring to Jay's Lounge as "Killer Jay's," (2) asking Williams if he had ever abused Cassandra, (3) asking Williams how many children he had fathered and by how many different women, (4) asking Williams whether he liked to "show off" and whether he had attended a "Pimp and Ho Ball," (5) asking Pugh if he knew where Cassandra was when the State knew that Cassandra was incarcerated for murder, (6) asking Pugh whether Younger was preparing to "get himself killed" on the night of the murder, and (7) asking Herrington how many murders had occurred at Jay's Lounge between 1999 and 2003. Williams contends that the State only had one reason for making these inquiries and that was to prejudice him in the eyes of the jury.
¶ 33. We agree that one of the prosecutors was overzealous in her representation of the State, and we do not condone the State's behavior. However, we find any error in this regard to be harmless. Williams admitted shooting Younger. The only issue before the jury was whether the shooting occurred in self-defense. On this point, the evidence is conflicting, but the record contains a plethora of evidence indicating that the shooting was not in self-defense. The State's witnesses testified that Williams shot Younger almost immediately after getting out of his car and that the shooting was unprovoked. There is no merit to this contention of error.
¶ 34. Williams asserts that the State mischaracterized Dr. Hayne's testimony as it relates to where the bullets entered Younger's body. As noted, Dr. Hayne concluded that all of the bullets entered from either the back or the side. Thus, Williams contends that the State improperly asserted that Younger was shot four times in the back. The record reflects the following exchange between Dr. Hayne and one of the prosecutors on redirect examination:
(Emphasis added). We find no merit to this contention of error, as the record clearly reflects that the State did not mischaracterize Dr. Hayne's testimony.
¶ 35. "The decision to grant or deny a motion for a continuance is within the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be reversed unless the decision results in manifest injustice." Ruffin v. State, 992 So.2d 1165, 1175(¶ 29) (Miss.
¶ 36. Williams also contends that a continuance was appropriate because the State was still producing discovery until a week before trial and even after the trial had begun. For example, Williams points out that the State did not produce the audiotape or transcript of Luckett's statement until the first day of trial. Williams further contends that the ballistics report which established that Younger was shot with a .9 millimeter handgun was not tendered until immediately before trial. Because this conflicts with Dr. Hayne's opinion in his autopsy report that three .357 projectiles were recovered from Younger's body, Williams argues that time was wasted trying to establish that the autopsy report was incorrect. Williams fails to show how he was prejudiced by these late disclosures. First, the State did not call Luckett as a witness. Second, Williams testified that he shot Younger with a .9 millimeter handgun, and there was no evidence of anyone else shooting. Therefore, Williams could not have been blindsided by the late disclosure of the ballistics report that confirmed what Williams already knew. This issue lacks merit.
¶ 37. Williams contends that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to comply with discovery rules and that her failure to do so resulted in the exclusion of evidence that would have supported his theory of the case. Williams does not identify any witnesses whose testimonies were excluded, and we have found none in the record, except Herrington, who was not excluded from testifying, although his testimony was limited. We have already discussed the circumstances regarding Herrington, and there is no need to repeat that discussion here. Since Williams has not directed us to any other witnesses whose testimonies were excluded because of a discovery violation, we have nothing to review.
¶ 38. Williams argues that the trial court erred in holding that Cassandra could be impeached with a video that depicts her and Williams involved in roleplaying. Specifically, the record reflects that the State acquired a videotape of Cassandra and Williams wherein Williams asserts that Cassandra will do whatever he tells her to do. This videotape was allegedly made at or for a "Pimp and Ho" ball. When the defense indicated that it anticipated calling Cassandra to testify about the threats that Younger had allegedly communicated to her regarding Williams, the State sought a ruling that it would be allowed to impeach Cassandra with the videotape, especially with the portion where Williams bragged that she would do whatever he told her to. The trial judge ruled that if Cassandra chose to testify, that portion of the video would be played for the jury. The State was not attempting
¶ 39. Williams argues that the trial court erred in refusing to allow him to cross-examine Hill regarding a prior statement that he had given to his attorney, an attorney who also had previously represented Williams. As previously stated, Hill provided an audiotaped statement to police shortly after the shooting. The statement was later transcribed. Hill subsequently gave a tape-recorded statement to the attorney who had previously represented Williams. The statement was not given to the State. Thereafter, the State filed a motion in limine seeking to prohibit the defense from introducing any statements made to the attorney. The trial court sustained the motion. The defense contends that Hill would have testified that the statement that he gave to the police was mischaracterized by the police. Williams argues that the trial judge erred in refusing to allow the statement. We find that the statement was clearly hearsay that does not fall within any exception. Therefore, it was properly excluded.
¶ 40. Williams also contends that the trial court erred in allowing the State to use Hill's audiotaped statement as substantive evidence by telling the jury in its closing argument that Williams's warning to Hill to "hold your head down" constituted malice aforethought. Hill testified at trial that he could not remember whether Williams said anything to him before Williams exited the vehicle. Then, the State showed Hill the statement that he had provided shortly after the incident wherein he stated that Williams told him "if something goes on just hold your head down." Hill testified that he heard gunshots shortly thereafter. Hill acknowledged that although he was afraid when he provided the statement to the police, the statement was a truthful account of what had transpired. Hill further stated that Williams instructed him to put his head between his legs immediately before Williams exited the vehicle. Thereafter, Hill answered questions regarding what Williams had told him as Williams exited the vehicle by saying: "That's what I said in the statement, yes, sir" and "I said that in the statement." After reviewing the transcript of the statement that he had given to police, Hill testified as follows:
Because Hill continued to testify that the officers misinterpreted what he said when he gave his audiotaped statement, the State asked the trial court for permission to play the tape of Hill's statement to the jury. The trial court granted its request. The defense objected, and the trial court overruled the objection and allowed the tape to be played to the jury.
¶ 41. We find that even though Hill's testimony was not consistent as to what Williams said when he exited the vehicle, Hill testified that Williams told him to hold
¶ 42. Williams contends that the trial court erred in giving the jury a flight instruction. The record reflects that Williams left the club immediately after the shooting and went to his grandmother's former residence. He testified that he did so because he was afraid that some of Younger's friends would retaliate against him if he remained in the area. However, Deputy Cornelius stated that he was in an unmarked car speaking to another officer when he received a BOLO (be on the look out). He stated that he spotted a vehicle fitting that description shortly thereafter and began to follow it. Deputy Cornelius testified that he turned on his "blue headlight" and attempted to pull the vehicle over. However, he stated that the vehicle did not stop. Deputy Cornelius recalled that the driver turned his headlights off, causing Deputy Cornelius to lose sight of the vehicle. Then, according to Deputy Cornelius, he spotted the vehicle again and observed two individuals run from the vehicle.
¶ 43. In Tran v. State, 681 So.2d 514, 519 (Miss.1996), the Mississippi Supreme Court held that:
We find that, despite Williams's testimony that he fled the scene out of fear, his subsequent actions render his testimony unreasonable. If Williams were genuinely afraid that someone might harm him for killing Younger, he no longer had reason to be afraid when the police began following him, as it is reasonable to conclude that the police would have protected him had anyone attempted to retaliate. Therefore, we find that it was proper for the jury to be given the flight instruction. This issue lacks merit.
¶ 44. Finally, Williams asserts that the cumulative effect of the alleged errors requires reversal. There is no merit to this issue, as we have found that the trial judge committed no error.
¶ 45.
KING, C.J., LEE AND MYERS, P.JJ., GRIFFIS, ISHEE, ROBERTS AND MAXWELL, JJ., CONCUR. CARLTON,
CARLTON, J., dissenting.
¶ 46. I respectfully dissent. I find the trial judge erred in excluding the testimony of Anthony Herrington, and I would therefore reverse and remand this case for a new trial. Exclusion of evidence constitutes an extreme remedy under the Uniform Rule of Circuit and County Court 9.04(I)(3). I will address the exclusion of Herrington's testimony. The defense gave the State advance notice that Herrington would testify regarding what he saw at the time of the shooting.
¶ 47. After arguments in the trial court, the trial judge ruled that the defense timely disclosed Herrington as a witness to the prosecution in the defense's supplemental discovery. However, the defense sought to offer additional testimony by Herrington which was not previously disclosed in the aforementioned supplemental defense discovery. The defense claimed that Herrington provided the additional information on the day of trial. The trial judge allowed Herrington to testify in accordance with the previously disclosed supplemental defense discovery, but he precluded Herrington from testifying regarding the additional matters that he revealed on the day of trial. The excluded testimony significantly supports Williams's self-defense theory and prevents the jury from obtaining a full understanding of the facts underlying Williams's defense showing Calvin Younger to be the initial aggressor.
¶ 48. Williams contends that Herrington's excluded testimony would have revealed that Herrington was acting as a bouncer at Jay's Lounge on June 22, 2003. Herrington claimed Younger and his friends attempted to enter Jay's Lounge on June 22. However, Herrington refused to allow the men to enter the club and ordered them to leave the premises. Herrington would have explained that he prohibited Younger's entry into Jay's Lounge because Younger possessed a gun that day. Herrington would have been able to explain that Jay's Lounge prohibited its patrons from carrying firearms on the premises. Further, Herrington explained that Younger then went to Charlie's Club, which was nearby.
¶ 49. Admittedly, Herrington's testimony failed to show that he saw a gun in Younger's hand at the time that the actual shooting occurred outside the club. However, the excluded testimony provided critical facts supporting Williams's theory of self-defense by showing that Younger possessed a gun the day of the shooting in the exact area of the shooting. The altercation and shooting occurred outside of Jay's Lounge as Younger approached from the direction of the nearby club, Charlie's. Further, Herrington's testimony would have shown that Younger, while armed with a gun, actually tried to enter Jay's Lounge on the same day the shooting occurred. Williams was known to be a frequent patron of Jay's Lounge. From that excluded testimony, the jury might have inferred that Younger, who approached Williams from the nearby club, still possessed the gun when Williams shot him.
¶ 51. Younger pointed at Williams as he walked toward him through the parking lot and asked him: "What's up now, Mother ******, What's up now?" Herrington testified that Younger then reached behind himself, but he did not see whether Younger had a gun in his hand. Williams testified that he saw Younger brandish his gun. Williams then pulled his own gun out of its holster and immediately began shooting at Younger. Afraid that Younger planned to kill him (Williams) in retaliation for previously filing armed robbery charges against Younger, Williams shot first. Other excluded testimony reveals that Younger had indeed made prior threats to kill Williams.
¶ 52. Exclusion of evidence is an extreme remedy. The Mississippi Supreme Court has held that a criminal defendant's evidence should be presented in court, despite a discovery violation, in all but extreme circumstances. The supreme court stated:
Skaggs v. State, 676 So.2d 897, 903 (Miss. 1996) (citations omitted).
¶ 53. In Houston v. State, 531 So.2d 598, 612 (Miss.1988), the supreme court cautioned that exclusion of a defendant's evidence at trial "ought [to] be reserved for cases in which the defendant participates significantly in some deliberate, cynical scheme to gain a substantial tactical advantage." The majority finds that the trial judge must have believed the defense's delay in revealing the substance of Herrington's testimony was part of a calculated scheme to gain an advantage over the State, because the trial judge did not state in the record that the defense's delay was not part of a scheme to achieve a tactical advantage. I find the majority's argument incorrect.
¶ 54. In this case, the State received notice of the witness, albeit through supplemental discovery; therefore, other less severe remedies should have been pursued.
BARNES, J., JOINS THIS OPINION.