Jamarcus D. Shumpert v. State of Mississippi ( 2004 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2004-KA-02533-SCT
JAMARCUS D. SHUMPERT
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 12/3/2004
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. SHARION R. AYCOCK
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: LEE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: JOHN CARL HELMERT, JR.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY: JOSE BENJAMIN SIMO
DISTRICT ATTORNEY: JOHN R. YOUNG
NATURE OF THE CASE: CRIMINAL - FELONY
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 06/29/2006
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
BEFORE COBB, P.J., DICKINSON AND RANDOLPH, JJ.
COBB, PRESIDING JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
¶1. Jamarcus D. Shumpert, Conigan Judon, and Quatero Middlebrooks were indicted for
the depraved heart murder of Jimmy Collier. Judon and Middlebrooks pleaded guilty to a
reduced charge, and a jury found Shumpert guilty of manslaughter by culpable negligence.
Aggrieved by the outcome of the trial, Shumpert appeals to this Court. We affirm the trial
court.
FACTS
¶2. On the evening of September 26, 2003, Shumpert, Judon and Alex Dean were sitting on
Lisa Southward’s porch in Tupelo, Mississippi. Collier arrived in front of the house, in a car
driven by Stephen Tucker, then walked up to the porch and asked to purchase cocaine.
Shumpert said there were too many police officers around and asked Collier to leave.
¶3. As Collier was leaving, a vehicle driven by Southward approached with Middlebrooks
in the passenger seat. Collier approached the driver’s side door of the vehicle to speak to
Southward, and Shumpert shouted from the porch to Middlebrooks, telling him to hit Collier.
Middlebrooks stepped out of the vehicle and struck the side of Collier’s head or his neck.
¶4. At this point, the witnesses’ testimony begins to diverge. Shumpert and Tucker said
they saw Collier reach for something in his pants, and Shumpert said he hit Collier because he
perceived this movement as threatening to Middlebrooks’ safety. However, according to Dr.
Stephen Hayne, a physician practicing in the fields of forensic and anatomic pathology, no
weapon was found on Collier’s person during examination. Tommy Morris, another witness,
testified that Middlebrooks drove away after hitting Collier. Middlebrooks and Southward said
Middlebrooks got back into the car after hitting Collier. Middlebrooks said he was not
threatened by Collier.
¶5. After Shumpert struck Collier, causing him to fall to the pavement, there was testimony
that Judon stomped or kicked the victim in the head, although Judon himself testified that he
merely placed his foot on Collier’s face. Morris testified that Shumpert participated in kicking
Collier in the head, but no other witnesses saw this happen, and Judon testified that Shumpert
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said nothing that motivated him to attack Collier. After the attack, Shumpert and Judon then
turned and ran because, according to Shumpert, they thought Collier had some sort of weapon.
Shumpert testified later that Collier never did anything to threaten, insult, or attack him.
Shumpert was seen running across some railroad tracks with Judon after this incident, but he
later returned to the porch and was told to leave. The next day Collier died from trauma to the
head.
¶6. Judon and Middlebrook pleaded guilty to reduced charges. A jury found Shumpert
guilty of manslaughter by culpable negligence, and he was sentenced to 20 years in the custody
of the Mississippi Department of Corrections with five years suspended. The trial court
subsequently rejected Shumpert’s motion for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict or for a
new trial. He now appeals to this Court, raising numerous issues which we have consolidated
into the following categories: (1) sufficiency of the evidence; (2) errors pertaining to the jury
instructions; (3) exclusion of “theft” evidence; (4) prosecutorial misconduct; and (5)
cumulative error.
ANALYSIS
I. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE
¶7. Shumpert argues the evidence is insufficient because he committed an intentional act,
which cannot form the basis for a conviction of manslaughter by culpable negligence. In other
words, if the jury was going to convict him of anything, it should have been depraved heart
murder; therefore, the jury verdict was irrational. Hence, Shumpert argues the trial court erred
when it refused to grant his motion for a directed verdict, a peremptory instruction, or a
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judgment notwithstanding the verdict. On the issue of jury irrationality, the United States
Supreme Court has said:
inconsistent verdicts . . . should not necessarily be interpreted as a windfall to
the Government at the defendant's expense. It is equally possible that the jury,
convinced of guilt, properly reached its conclusion on the compound offense,
and then through mistake, compromise, or lenity, arrived at an inconsistent
conclusion on the lesser offense. But in such situations the Government has no
recourse if it wishes to correct the jury's error; the Government is precluded
from appealing or otherwise upsetting such an acquittal by the Constitution's
Double Jeopardy Clause.
Inconsistent verdicts therefore present a situation where “error,” in the sense
that the jury has not followed the court's instructions, most certainly has
occurred, but it is unclear whose ox has been gored. Given this uncertainty, and
the fact that the Government is precluded from challenging the acquittal, it is
hardly satisfactory to allow the defendant to receive a new trial on the
conviction as a matter of course.
. . . there is no reason to vacate respondent's conviction merely because the
verdicts cannot rationally be reconciled. Respondent is given the benefit of her
acquittal on the counts on which she was acquitted, and it is neither irrational nor
illogical to require her to accept the burden of conviction on the counts on
which the jury convicted.
United States v. Powell, 469 U.S. 57, 65, 69, 105 S. Ct. 471, 83 L.Ed.2d 461 (1984) (citations
omitted).
¶8. This Court has adopted the rule that review of the sufficiency of the evidence is
adequate protection from jury irrationality. Holloman v. State, 656 So. 2d 1134, 1141 (Miss.
1995). Further, a motion for J. N. O. V., peremptory instruction, and directed verdict all
challenge the legal sufficiency of the evidence. Hawthorne v. State, 835 So. 2d 14, 21 (Miss.
2003). When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court must ask whether, after
viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact
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could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Bush v.
State, 895 So. 2d 836, 843 (Miss. 2005). The proper remedy for a verdict based on
insufficient evidence is for this Court to reverse and render. Id.
¶9. In support of his argument Shumpert first cites Hurns v. State, 616 So. 2d 313, 315
(Miss. 1993), in which the defendant was convicted for beating a fellow inmate to death in jail.
The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be massive trauma to the brain as a
result of multiple blows to the head with a blunt object in a short period of time, and Hurns was
found guilty of murder after the trial court denied his request that the jury be given an
instruction for manslaughter by culpable negligence. Id. at 320. This Court rejected his
argument on appeal, holding that the murder instruction was proper because his acts were
intentional, not reflecting culpable negligence, defined as a flagrant and reckless disregard for
the safety of others, or willful indifference to the injury liable to follow. Id.
¶10. Shumpert also cites Goff v. State, 778 So. 2d 779 (Miss. Ct. App. 2000). The defendant
in that case was convicted for hitting a bar patron and kicking him twice. Id. at 781. The jury
was instructed on both murder and manslaughter, and the defendant requested an instruction
on manslaughter by culpable negligence. Id. at 782. The court held he was not entitled to a
culpable negligence instruction because his acts were intentional, rather than evidencing
culpable negligence. Id.
¶11. The third case cited by Shumpert is Sanders v. State, 781 So. 2d 114 (Miss. 2001).
This case concerned a defendant found guilty of deliberate design murder. Id. at 116. He
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argued that the trial court erred by not instructing the jury on manslaughter by culpable
negligence. Id. at 119. This Court rejected that argument, pointing out that all the testimony
revealed that the defendant intentionally hit the victim with a hammer, making an instruction
on manslaughter by culpable negligence inappropriate. Id.
¶12. Shumpert argues that these cases require this Court to reverse and render. He claims
that the State failed to prove a prima facie case for depraved heart murder, and should not have
been allowed to fall back on manslaughter by culpable negligence when that instruction does
not fit the facts of this case. The State made a general argument that the evidence was
sufficient to sustain the verdict.
¶13. All three cases cited by Shumpert are distinguishable. In each, the defendant requested
the instruction of manslaughter by culpable negligence, but that instruction was not given to
the jury. In the current case, the jury was instructed on both depraved heart murder and
culpable negligence manslaughter, and decided that manslaughter was more appropriate. In
addition, there was conflicting evidence at trial, which makes it implausible on appeal to
ascertain what version of the story the jury believed. Shumpert is asking this Court to make
the broad declaration that intentional acts cannot form the basis for culpable negligence.
However, “[c]ulpable negligence must be ascertained from the facts of each case, and no
ironclad statement can be set forth as applicable to all classes of cases.” Sims v. State, 149
Miss. 171, 115 So. 217, 219 (1928).
¶14. Shumpert also seeks to make a distinction between an intentional act leading to death
and a negligent, or accidental act leading to death, arguing that because he intended to deliver
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the blow to Collier, he cannot be guilty of manslaughter by culpable negligence. This
attempted distinction is flawed because manslaughter by culpable negligence is “such gross
negligence . . . as to evince a wanton or reckless disregard for the safety of human life, or such
an indifference to the consequences of an act under the surrounding circumstances as to render
such conduct tantamount to willfulness.” Evans v. State, 562 So. 2d 91, 95 (Miss. 1990)
(citations omitted). The only requirement is recklessness or a willful disregard for an
unreasonable risk. Campbell v. State, 285 So. 2d 891, 893 (Miss. 1973). Furthermore, a
recognized distinction between manslaughter by culpable negligence and depraved heart murder
concerns the degree of mental culpability. Windham v. State, 602 So. 2d 798, 801 (Miss.
1992). The determination of a defendant’s mental culpability is an issue properly resolved by
the jury. Morris v. State, 748 So. 2d 143, 148 (Miss. 1999).
¶15. Shumpert admitted hitting Collier even though Collier never threatened, insulted, or
attacked him. Shumpert said he did this because he thought Collier had some kind of weapon,
and was going to hurt Middlebrooks. The jury could have determined this series of events
constituted criminal negligence because Shumpert stated he did not intend to kill Collier, but
nevertheless hit him and left him lying on the street without medical attention after the attacks.
Morris testified that Shumpert, along with Judon, repeatedly kicked Collier while he was on
the ground. The jury could have decided Shumpert was criminally negligent because he acted
in concert with or instigated Judon and Middlebrooks in bringing about harm, and later death,
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to Collier. Pursuant to the evidence presented, a rational juror could have determined that
Shumpert was guilty of manslaughter by culpable negligence.
¶16. Manslaughter is a lesser-included offense of murder. State v. Shaw, 880 So. 2d 296,
304-05 (Miss. 2004); Fairley v. State, 871 So. 2d 1282, 1284-85 (Miss. 2003) (this Court
held that an instruction which stated that culpable negligence manslaughter is a lesser- included
offense of murder was properly submitted to the jury). Mississippi law requires trial courts
to instruct juries on lesser-included offenses unless the lesser-included offense has no basis
in evidence. Clark v. State, 693 So. 2d 927, 932 (Miss. 1997). There is a basis in evidence
for the culpable negligence manslaughter charge because a blow delivered by one individual
to another can be intentionally delivered, and at the same time negligently delivered with
excessive force. See Campbell, 285 So. 2d at 893. Therefore, the trial court was required to
give the instruction.
¶17. We see no reason for this Court to reverse Shumpert’s conviction and render a contrary
decision simply because he engaged in an action or some actions that may have been
intentional. The jury was properly charged with determining which crime encompassed
Shumpert’s mental state, and the evidence in the record is sufficient to support this decision.
Shumpert’s argument is without merit.
II. JURY INSTRUCTIONS
¶18. Jury instructions are to be read together and taken as a whole with no one instruction
taken out of context. Rushing v. State, 911 So. 2d 526, 537 (Miss. 2005). Shumpert is
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entitled to have jury instructions given which represent his theory of the case; however, this
entitlement is limited in that the court may refuse an instruction which incorrectly states the
law, is covered fairly elsewhere in the instructions, or is without foundation in the evidence.
Byrom v. State, 863 So. 2d 836, 874 (Miss. 2003). Jury instructions are within the sound
discretion of the trial court. Goodin v. State, 787 So. 2d 639, 657 (Miss. 2001).
A) The failure to instruct the jury on simple assault
¶19. The proposed instruction on simple assault stated that: “[t]he Court instructs the jury
that if Jamarcus Shumpert knowingly, recklessly or purposefully caused bodily harm to the
decedent, then Jamarcus Shumpert is guilty of a simple assault.” The trial judge refused to
allow the jury instruction on simple assault, saying:
I think we are faced with a unique set of facts in this case because this defendant
admitted from the stand that he threw the punch or threw a punch. But to give
this instruction, I’ve got to believe that simple assault is a lesser crime of
manslaughter and that simple assault is a lesser crime or of murder, and in this
instance, there is a death. And I’m going to deny the instruction.
¶20. Shumpert gives three reasons why this instruction should have been given. He argues
that simple assault is a lesser-included offense of murder, and therefore the jury should have
been instructed on its elements. He cites Clark, 693 So. 2d at 932, for the rule that a lesser-
included offense instruction is required unless, considering the evidence in the light most
favorable to the accused, no rational jury could have found the defendant guilty of the lesser-
included offense, or not guilty of the greater offense. While Shumpert correctly cites the
Clark rule, he makes an incorrect assumption that assault is a lesser-included offense of
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murder. In Wolfe v. State, 743 So. 2d 380, 387 (Miss. 1999), this Court reiterated the
longstanding rule in Mississippi that assault is not a lesser-included offense of murder.
Further, the jury was instructed on manslaughter, which is a lesser-included offense of murder.
See Shaw, 880 So. 2d at 304-05. Therefore, this argument is without merit.
¶21. Second, Shumpert argues that a defendant is entitled to an instruction embodying his
theory of the case if that instruction is supported by the evidence and is a correct statement of
law, citing Montana v. State, 822 So. 2d 954, 962 (Miss. 2002). He claims there is sufficient
evidence in the record to support a jury instruction on simple assault. From the record, it
appears that Shumpert’s theory of the case was that although he assaulted Collier, Judon
actually caused Collier’s death by kicking or stomping him when he was on the ground. In his
opening statement, Shumpert’s attorney laid out this theory:
You will hear the evidence of how [Shumpert] hit a man once. Somebody else
came along and kicked him. And I’ll ask you not to find him responsible,
Jamarcus here, I’ll ask you not to find Jamarcus responsible for the actions of
some other individual, and I’ll ask you to find him not guilty.
Shumpert testified at trial that he hit Collier once, and denied kicking Collier along with Judon.
Morris testified he saw Shumpert take part in stomping on Collier’s head. The trial judge
heard all the evidence and made the determination that the record did not justify an instruction
on simple assault.
¶22. Assuming arguendo that Shumpert did not stomp or kick Collier along with Judon, there
is still credible evidence that he aided and abetted in bringing about the death of Collier,
making him guilty for Collier’s death. See Doss v. State, 882 So. 2d 176, 196 (Miss. 2004)
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(The law is well settled in this State that any person who is present, aiding and abetting another
in the commission of a crime, is equally guilty with the principal offender).
¶23. Shumpert admitted to hitting Collier in the face, and there is evidence this blow
knocked Collier to the ground, where he was left without medical attention. The evidence
shows that Shumpert did shout at Middlebrooks to hit Collier, and Middlebrooks subsequently
exerted a blow to Collier’s head or neck. There is testimony that Shumpert and Judon kicked
Collier in the head. Shumpert was later seen running with Judon after the beating, and when
asked why they ran, Judon said he and Shumpert “knew we done did something bad.”
¶24. Lesser offense instructions should not be granted indiscriminately, and only where
there is an evidentiary basis in the record. Gangl v. State, 539 So. 2d 132, 136 (Miss. 1989).
Further, “[u]nwarranted submission of a lesser offense [instruction] is an invitation to the jury
to disregard the law.” Stewart v. State, 909 So. 2d 52, 55 (Miss. 2005). We do not find the
trial judge abused her discretion by refusing to instruct the jury on simple assault because the
record does not support a charge of simple assault.
B) The flight instruction
¶25. Pertaining to the flight instruction, the trial judge stated:
[Shumpert] did flee in this case, and this instruction when read carefully states
this: That he did flee from the scene. That’s true. Then the flight of Shumpert
is to be considered in connection with all other evidence in the case. You will
determine from all the facts whether the flight was from a conscious sense of
guilt or whether it was caused by other things, which is testimony that’s in the
record. The other things might very well be that he thought that Mr. Collier had
something in his pockets. I’m going to allow P-7.
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¶26. Shumpert cites the rule in Mississippi that flight instructions are only allowed when the
flight is unexplained and considerably probative of guilt. Liggins v. State, 726 So. 2d 180, 182
(Miss. 1996). He also cites Tran v. State, 681 So. 2d 514, 519 (Miss. 1996), which says that
flight instructions are particularly inappropriate when self-defense is claimed, because often
the flight is to avoid retribution. Shumpert says he fled to avoid being hurt by Collier. He
claims this is a valid reason to explain the flight, making the flight instruction inappropriate.
¶27. The State makes the counter- argument that the flight was evidence of consciousness of
guilt, based on Judon’s testimony that he and Shumpert ran because they “knew we done did
something bad”. The State also points out that Shumpert did not just flee from the vicinity of
Collier, who by Shumpert’s own admission had done nothing to threaten or menace him, but
went by the laundromat in an effort to escape possibly being injured. The State asserts that the
issue of self-defense was for the jury to decide, and the instruction on flight was proper for
the jury to be fully informed of the pertinent law.
¶28. The only explanation Shumpert offers for the flight is that he was running to avoid being
hurt by Collier. However, as the State correctly points out, Shumpert also said that Collier did
nothing to threaten or harm him. In addition, Middlebrooks (the man that Shumpert claimed
to be protecting when he hit Collier) said he was not threatened by Collier either. Further, the
medical examiner never found a weapon of any kind on Collier, and Shumpert fled much further
away than the parameter within which Collier, who was lying on the ground after being attacked,
could have inflicted harm on him. All of this evidence supports the contention that the flight
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was not explained by any reason other than consciousness of guilt. The trial court agreed and
granted the flight instruction, and it did not err in doing so.
C) The aiding and abetting instruction
¶29. With regard to the aiding and abetting instruction, the trial judge stated:
The Court is going to allow P-6. There has been much discussion about this
instruction in chambers, and I am -- have referred to the Milano decision. I
think the instruction does properly instruct the jury that before they can find the
defendant to be criminally responsible for acts of others it’s necessary that he
deliberately associate himself in some way with the crime, in other words, that
he is a participant and not a mere spectator. And I think the proof is sufficient
in this case to show that he was a participator, not a mere spectator.
¶30. Shumpert disagrees with the trial judge and argues that the instruction was not founded
in evidence. Shumpert says he did nothing to incite, encourage, or approve of the crime that
Middlebrooks or Judon committed. More specifically, he avers that there is no proof that
Middlebrooks heard Shumpert tell him to hit Collier. Shumpert also argues that there was no
common purpose behind the attacks on Collier. Because of this, he asserts the instruction on
aiding and abetting was inappropriate.
¶31. The State counters by pointing out that Shumpert provided assistance by striking
Collier, causing him to fall to the ground. In addition, the State correctly states that aiding and
abetting does not require a common plan or scheme, unlike conspiracy, with which no one in
this case has been charged.
¶32. That Shumpert aided and abetted in bringing about the death of Collier is supported by
the evidence set forth supra. There is clearly enough evidence of aiding and abetting in the
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record to preclude finding error from the instruction. The trial court did not err in giving the
aiding and abetting instruction.
D) The failure to instruct the jury on causation
¶33. Shumpert’s final argument with regard to jury instructions concerns the trial court’s
failure to explicitly instruct the jury on causation. Shumpert also argues the instructions given
should have been more precise in order to make it clear to the jury that if he did not aid and
abet, then his blow(s) must have been the cause of death for him to be guilty. He cites
Thompson v. State, 220 Miss. 200, 205, 70 So. 2d 341, 342 (1954), for the rule that a person
cannot be criminally responsible for the death of a person wounded if the death resulted from
an independent cause.
¶34. The trial court did not err. Both the manslaughter and murder instruction contained
language of causation. Further, the aiding and abetting instruction adequately incorporated
causation language necessary to inform the jury of the difference between being held liable as
a principal versus being held liable as someone who aided and abetted. The jury instructions,
when read as a whole, adequately stated the law and informed the jury of its proper role in the
case.
III. THE “THEFT” EVIDENCE
¶35. A trial judge enjoys a great deal of discretion as to the relevancy and admissibility of
evidence. Unless the trial judge abuses this discretion so as to prejudice the accused, the
Court will not reverse the ruling. Walker v. State, 878 So. 2d 913, 915 (Miss. 2004) (quoting
Jefferson v. State, 818 So. 2d 1099, 1104 (Miss. 2002)).
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¶36. Shumpert sought to introduce evidence to impeach Tommy Morris, a witness for the
State, contending Morris reached into the pocket of Collier and stole some money. Shumpert
argues this evidence is critical because Morris, who the State portrayed as a model citizen, was
the only person who testified that Shumpert repeatedly kicked Collier. Shumpert concedes
that the evidence can be used only for evaluation of Morris’s perception of the events under
Mississippi Rules of Evidence 608, which bars its use to attack his character. Shumpert claims
the evidence is admissible to show that Morris was too consumed by his thoughts about taking
the money from the pockets of a dying man to think clearly enough to correctly evaluate what
transpired. In its motion to suppress, the State argued that Shumpert was attempting to use this
evidence to inflame the jury, rather than for impeachment purposes. The State contends that
the trial court’s ruling not to admit the evidence was not an abuse of discretion and no
substantial right of Shumpert’s was violated.
¶37. The trial judge ruled that under M.R.E. 608 Morris could be questioned about this
alleged theft, but his answer could not be attacked with extrinsic evidence. The trial judge
properly read M.R.E. 608 to allow for impeachment by specific acts, other than criminal
convictions, when the character trait of truthfulness of the witness is under attack. See M.R.E.
608(b). The trial judge correctly held that this can only be done by questioning the witness,
excluding the use of extrinsic evidence. See M.R.E. 608(b). Morris was questioned on cross-
examination about stealing money, and he denied it. The rules of evidence do not allow further
questioning. Shumpert’s argument that he sought to introduce this evidence to show that
Morris was too concerned with stealing to accurately perceive what happened is not persuasive.
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This evidence goes directly to the credibility of Morris’s testimony. The trial court did not
err in its ruling.
IV. PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT
¶38. Attorneys are allowed wide latitude in arguing their cases to the jury, but they are not
allowed to employ tactics which are inflammatory, highly prejudicial, or reasonably calculated
to unduly influence the jury. Sheppard v. State, 777 So. 2d 659, 661 (Miss. 2000). If this
Court determines the prosecutor did engage in misconduct during closing argument, the inquiry
is “whether the natural and probable effect of the improper argument is to create unjust
prejudice against the accused so as to result in a decision influenced by the prejudice so
created.” Id., citing Ormond v. State, 599 So. 2d 951, 961 (Miss. 1992).
¶39. Shumpert objected to, and now assigns error to, the following statement made by the
prosecution during closing argument: “Self-defense? I do not know why Dee Dee and Cornell
jumped on Jimmy. Dee Dee and Jimmy have been jumping on a lot of people lately.”
Shumpert says this statement constituted misconduct because it referred to prior bad acts in
violation of M.R.E. 404(b). This rule prohibits prior bad acts as character evidence to show
that the defendant acted in conformity with those acts on the present occasion. The State
argues this one statement was not enough to command reversal.
¶40. The prosecutor’s statement was not improper. He was referring to a statement from
Middlebrooks that was admitted into evidence as exhibit 3 over a general objection. The
prosecutor may comment on any facts introduced into evidence and may draw whatever
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deductions and inferences that seem proper to him from the facts. Flowers v. State, 842 So.
2d 531, 554 (Miss. 2003).
¶41. However, even if this Court found the statement to be improper, there was no resultant
prejudice. The statement constituted one sentence and did not refer to any specific incident,
and it was already admitted into evidence in exhibit 3 over a general objection. Thus, we find
this assignment of error is without merit.
V. CUMULATIVE ERROR
¶42. In Byrom, 863 So. 2d at 847, this Court said:
. . . upon appellate review of cases in which we find harmless error or any error
which is not specifically found to be reversible in and of itself, we still have the
discretion to determine, on a case by case basis, as to whether such error or
errors, although not reversible when standing alone, may when considered
cumulatively require reversal because of the resulting cumulative effect.
¶43. A criminal defendant is not entitled to a perfect trial, only a fair one. Sand v. State, 467
So. 2d 907, 911 (Miss. 1985). In this case, we have not found harmless error or any error.
This argument without merit.
CONCLUSION
¶44. We affirm the trial court on all issues. The evidence was sufficient to sustain the
conviction for manslaughter by culpable negligence; the trial court did not err with respect to
the jury instructions; the “theft” evidence was properly excluded; and the prosecutor’s
statement in closing argument did not constitute misconduct. Further, because there were no
errors committed by the trial court, there is no cumulative error. Therefore, we affirm the trial
court’s judgment.
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¶45. CONVICTION OF MANSLAUGHTER BY CULPABLE NEGLIGENCE AND
SENTENCE OF TWENTY (20) YEARS WITH FIVE (5) YEARS SUSPENDED, WITH
CONDITIONS, FIVE (5) YEARS ON POST-RELEASE SUPERVISION, IN THE
CUSTODY OF MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND PAYMENT OF
A FINE OF $2500.00 AND COURT COSTS, AFFIRMED.
SMITH, C.J., WALLER, P.J., DIAZ, EASLEY, DICKINSON AND RANDOLPH ,
JJ., CONCUR. GRAVES, J.,CONCURS IN RESULT ONLY. CARLSON J., SPECIALLY
CONCURS WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION JOINED BY WALLER, P.J., DIAZ,
EASLEY AND DICKINSON, JJ.; GRAVES JOINS IN PART.
CARLSON, JUSTICE, SPECIALLY CONCURRING:
¶46. While I unhesitatingly join my colleagues in the majority in an excellently written
opinion affirming Jamarcus Shumpert’s conviction and sentence for culpable negligence
manslaughter, I write separately to once again emphasize my dislike of the so-called flight
instruction. As correctly concluded in the majority opinion, the learned trial judge, in quite
appropriately analyzing the evidence before the court at the time of the jury instruction
conference, acted consistent with our case law in granting the State’s proposed flight
instruction. However, in my opinion the State is rolling the dice, as far as potential reversible
error, each time it submits a proposed flight instruction to the trial judge for consideration.
¶47. In Randolph v. State, 852 So.2d 547, 567-68 (Miss. 2002) (Carlson, J., specially
concurring), I stated:
While I agree with the majority that the giving of the “flight instruction” was
proper, based on the facts and circumstances of this particular case, and the
applicable case law, the use of the flight instruction in this state can be
described in one word-“dangerous.” In my years of experience as a trial judge,
the flight instruction was very seldom requested by the prosecution and almost
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never given. It simply is not needed. While evidence of flight might be relevant,
no legitimate purpose is served by the jury receiving an instruction from the trial
court (which heightens the importance of the evidence in the eyes of the jury)
highlighting for the jury the fact that the jury can consider evidence of flight as
“a circumstance of guilt or guilty knowledge” when “that flight is unexplained
and somehow probative of guilt or guilty knowledge.” See Reynolds v. State,
658 So.2d 852, 856 (Miss. 1995); Fuselier v. State, 468 So.2d 45, 57 (Miss.
1985). The term “unexplained flight” is somewhat nebulous, anyway, and a trial
court, by giving a flight instruction, simply puts itself in a position of possibly
placing reversible error in an otherwise clean record. If a trial court persists in
giving a flight instruction, I suggest that it do so with great caution.
Id. at 567-68.
¶48. This Court recently stated:
However, a flight instruction is appropriate only where the flight is unexplained
and somehow probative of guilt or guilty knowledge. Id. Therefore, evidence of
flight is inadmissible where there is an independent reason for the flight. Id.
Also, it is well settled that evidence of flight or escape is admissible as an
exception to M.R.E. 404(b) in order to show guilty knowledge. Davis v. State,
722 So.2d 143, 145 (Miss. 1998); Mariche v. State, 495 So.2d 507, 508 (Miss.
1986) (citing Lee v. State, 457 So.2d 920, 923 (Miss. 1984)); Hill v. State, 432
So.2d 427 (Miss. 1983). While evidence of flight is admissible under Rule
404(b), it must be filtered through M.R.E. 403. See Ford v. State, 555 So.2d
691 (Miss.1989). Rule 403 provides:
Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value
is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice,
confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by
considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless
presentation of cumulative evidence.
M.R.E. 403. In determining whether to admit evidence of flight under Rule 403,
the trial court is afforded great discretion. Foster v. State, 508 So.2d 1111,
1118 (Miss.1987).
Shaw v. State, 915 So.2d 442, 447 (Miss. 2005). In Shaw, we went on to state:
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Generally, we have upheld evidence of flight as well as flight instructions only
where there was no independent reason or basis for flight. See Jimpson v. State,
532 So.2d 985 (Miss. 1988); Mariche v. State, 495 So.2d 507 (Miss. 1986).
Because Shaw possessed a sufficient, independent basis for his flight, we hold
that the trial court erred in allowing testimony of his escape to be presented to
the jury in order to infer guilt or guilty knowledge to the charge of capital
murder.
While acknowledging that it was error to allow the flight testimony, we
conclude that such error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. A thorough
review of the record reveals that Shaw's two companions, Joseph and Reginald,
testified that Shaw murdered Duffie. Shaw was placed at the scene of the murder
by other corroborating evidence. The bullet extracted from Joseph's knee was
fired from the same weapon used to kill Duffie. In sum, the evidence of Shaw's
flight pales in comparison to more direct evidence of his guilt. Under the facts
before us, we hold that admission of Shaw's escape was harmless error.
Id. at 448. However, in Walker v. State, 913 So.2d 198, 234 (Miss. 2005), we stated that
“[t]his Court is not prepared to condemn flight instructions. We caution trial courts to only
allow such instructions in the rarest of cases.”
¶49. Finally, in reversing an aggravated assault/armed robbery conviction, based, in part, on
the erroneous giving of a flight instruction, this Court stated:
At trial, Liggins's counsel specifically objected to the deliverance of the flight
instruction by pointing out that more than one incident could have been reason
for the flight. This Court has established that flight generally is admissible as
evidence of consciousness of guilt. Fuselier v. State, 702 So.2d 388, 390
(Miss. 1997) [hereinafter Fuselier III ]; see also Williams v. State, 667 So.2d
15, 23 (Miss. 1996). Yet, pursuant to such an objection, this Court reasons that
“an instruction that flight may be considered as a circumstance of guilt or guilty
knowledge is appropriate only where that flight is unexplained and somehow
probative of guilt or guilty knowledge.” Fuselier v. State, 468 So.2d 45, 56-57
(Miss. 1985) [hereinafter Fuselier I ], see also Reynolds v. State, 658 So.2d
852, 856 (Miss. 1995). When determining whether a flight instruction is
appropriate, we further have explained that two considerations are paramount:
(1) only unexplained flight merits a flight instruction; and (2) flight instructions
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are to be given only in cases where that circumstance has considerable probative
value. Banks v. State, 631 So.2d 748, 751 (Miss. 1994); Pannell v. State, 455
So.2d 785, 788 (Miss. 1984); Tran v. State, 681 So.2d 514, 519 (Miss. 1996);
see also Mack v. State, 650 So.2d 1289, 1308 (Miss. 1994); and see Brown
v. State, 690 So.2d 276, 294 (Miss. 1996). A flight instruction is appropriate
where flight is “highly probative” to the facts of the particular case. Fuselier III,
702 So.2d at 390. Evidence of flight is inadmissible where, as in this case, there
is an independent reason for flight known by the court which cannot be explained
to the jury because of its prejudicial effect upon the defendant. Id. Indeed, in
Fuselier I, we stated the turning principle in this case:
Fuselier was obviously put in a no-win situation by either being
required to explain his flight and the fact that he was a prison
escapee or not explaining the flight and subjecting himself to a
flight instruction. Here, because the court was aware of an
explanation for Fuselier's flight, which was at that time
inadmissible, we are of the opinion that the flight instruction
should not have been granted.
Fuselier I, 468 So.2d at 57.
Plenty of evidence exists that Liggins may not have known from what he was
fleeing. The record reflects Liggins's concern about carrying a weapon,
gambling, drinking, and involvement with drugs, not to mention the counts on
which this case is based. The record further reflects that Liggins was “under
indictment in Cause Number 11,960-V from October 1994 for sale of cocaine
as an offense that happened on August the 12th, 1994.” Given such prejudicial
information, Liggins's September 23 flight may have been from guilt of selling
cocaine, rather than the counts at issue in this case.
¶50. This case is best summed by our own words:
··· To paraphrase previous considerations by this Court, no person
accused, however angry the people, however evil the crime,
regardless of how strong the appearance of guilt, can be denied
the full protection of the law and a fair and orderly trial.
Fuselier III, 702 So.2d at 394.
Liggins v. State, 726 So.2d 180, 183-84 (Miss. 1998).
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¶51. In sum, I can only imagine how many (or how few) criminal cases have been tried in this
state, where the jury, in privately deliberating in the jury room, came to the conclusion, that
“well, this might be a close case of the defendant’s guilt, but because of this flight instruction
that the judge gave us, let’s find the defendant guilty.” Stated differently, if the State of
Mississippi, represented by the elected District Attorney in any one of our twenty-two circuit
court districts, is concerned about whether sufficient evidence has been presented in a
particular case to convince the jury of the defendant’s guilt, to the extent that the State is
willing to run the serious risk of placing the trial court in error by submitting a flight
instruction, then, in my opinion, the State must have a weak case which is otherwise
undeserving of a conviction.
¶52. With this having been said, I concur in the majority opinion which affirms Jamarcus
Shumpert’s conviction and sentence for the crime of manslaughter by culpable negligence.
WALLER, P.J., DIAZ, EASLEY AND DICKINSON, JJ., JOIN THIS OPINION.
GRAVES, J., JOINS THIS OPINION IN PART.
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