Frederick Bell v. State of Mississippi

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 1999-DR-01287-SCT
FREDERICK BELL
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 01/27/1993
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. JAMES C. SUMNER
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: GRENADA COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: OFFICE OF CAPITAL POST-CONVICTION
COUNSEL
BY: ROBERT M. RYAN
TERRI L. MARROQUIN
DAVID VOISIN
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY:
MARVIN L. WHITE, JR.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY DOUG EVANS
NATURE OF THE CASE: CIVIL - DEATH PENALTY - POST
CONVICTION
DISPOSITION: APPLICATION FOR LEAVE TO FILE PETITION
FOR POST-CONVICTION RELIEF DENIED -
05/20/2004
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
EN BANC.
CARLSON, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
¶1. Frederick Bell (“Bell”) was convicted in the Circuit Court of Grenada County of capital murder
and sentenced to death. On direct appeal, this Court affirmed the conviction and sentence. Bell v. State,
725 So. 2d 836 (Miss. 1998), cert. denied, 526 U.S. 1122, 119 S. Ct. 1777, 143 L. Ed. 2d 805,
rehearing denied, 527 U.S. 1054, 120 S. Ct. 16, 144 L. Ed. 2d 820 (1999). On December 20, 2001,
Bell filed a petition requesting leave to seek post-conviction relief in the trial court. Citing cumulative error,
Bell claims that he received ineffective assistance from counsel, which rendered both the guilt and
sentencing phases of the trial unconstitutional. The court denies Bell’s petition for post-conviction relief.
FACTS
¶2. On May 6, 1991, Robert C. “Bert” Bell was working as the store clerk at Sparks Stop-and-Go
in Grenada County. That day Frederick Bell accompanied by Anthony Joe Doss, Robert Kennedy James,
and Frank Coffey purchased beer and potato chips from Bert. The two Bells are not related. The four
exited the store, sat at a nearby picnic table and talked. Planning to go to Memphis, Bell said that he
needed money. Bell announced that he was going to rob the store and showed the group a .22 caliber
pistol. Doss also had in his possession a gun, which turned out to be inoperable. Refusing to take part,
James and Coffey departed the premises as the other two went back into the store. Minutes later, James
and Coffey heard hollering accompanied by gunshots. When Bell and Doss caught up with the other two,
they showed them items they had taken from the store, including a money bag, .38 caliber pistol and a box
of bullets. Because he did not want any witnesses, Bell then threatened to kill James. Coffey and Doss
stepped in to prevent this. Both James and Coffey testified that Bell said he shot Bert. Later that day,
Bernard Gladney drove Bell, Doss, and Coffey to Memphis. On the way, Bell again stated that he wanted
to kill James to prevent him from telling anyone about the murder.
¶3. Eventually, Bell was arrested in Memphis on another crime. Two guns were found in the house
where he was arrested, a third was found in Gladney’s vehicle. Leland H. Jones, III, represented Bell
during both the trial and the direct appeal. During the trial, there was no direct testimony regarding what
actually occurred inside the store. Bell maintained that he was in Memphis the day of the murder.
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However, there were no witnesses to corroborate his alibi. Both James’s sister and Coffey’s girlfriend
testified that they saw Bell with Coffey, Doss and James the day of the murder.
¶4. The store owner, James Shelby Sparks, testified that a .38 caliber pistol (which was later
recovered during Bell’s arrest), a box of shells, and a money bag were taken from the store during the
robbery. An autopsy revealed that Bert was shot several times. Ballistics tests showed that Bert was shot
with the .38 and a smaller caliber gun, likely a .22 caliber.
¶5. Following the trial, on January 26, 1993, the jury found Bell guilty of capital murder and sentenced
him to death. Bell, 725 So. 2d at 841. This Court affirmed both the conviction and sentence. Bell, 725
So. 2d 836. Bell now seeks relief under the Mississippi Uniform Post-Conviction Collateral Relief Act,
Miss. Code Ann. §§ 99-39-1 to -29 (Rev. 2000 & Supp. 2003).
DISCUSSION
¶6. Provided there is no procedural bar, when determining whether to grant leave to seek relief under
the Act, the Court reviews application and determines if there is substantial showing of a denial of a state
or federal right. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-31-27(5) (Rev. 2000). See also Moore v. Ruth, 556 So. 2d
1059, 1061 (Miss. 1990).
I. TIMELINESS
¶7. The State initially argues that Bell’s petition is time barred according § 99-39-5(2), which requires
that all petitions for post conviction relief “be made” within three-years after the Court’s decision. Miss.
Code Ann. § 99-39-5(2) (2000). Following direct appeal, the Court denied Bell’s motion for rehearing
on December 17, 1998. Relying on this, the State claims that the instant petition, filed on December 20,
2001, is time barred. Generally, the three-year deadline is measured from the date the mandate was issued,
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which in this case was December 28, 1998. See Puckett v. State, 834 So. 2d 676, 677 ¶ 6 (Miss.
2002). Thus, the instant petition was filed several days before the deadline.
II. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL AT CULPABILITY
PHASE
¶8. To establish a claim for ineffective assistance of counsel the petitioner must prove that under the
totality of circumstances (1) the counsel’s performance was deficient and (2) the deficient performance
deprived the defendant of a fair trial. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687, 104 S. Ct. 2052,
2064, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984); Benson v. State, 821 So. 2d 823, 825 ¶ 5 (Miss. 2002); Burns v.
State, 813 So. 2d 668, 673 ¶ 14 (Miss. 2001). “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.” Burns v. State, 813 So. 2d
at 673 ¶14 (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 686, 104 S.Ct. at 2063).
¶9. With regard to the showing of deficient performance, the inquiry focuses on whether counsel's
performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362,
391, 120 S. Ct. 1495, 1511, 146 L. Ed. 2d 389 (2000); Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688, 104 S.Ct. at 2064.
That is, consider whether the assistance was reasonable under all the circumstances seen from counsel's
perspective at the time, and the prevailing professional norms for attorneys. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688,
104 S.Ct. at 2065; Burns, 813 So. 2d at 673 ¶ 14; Neal v. State, 525 So. 2d 1279, 1281 (Miss.
1988). Defense counsel is presumed competent, and because of the distorting effects of hindsight, there
is a strong presumption that counsel's conduct is within the wide range of reasonable professional
assistance. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S.Ct. at 2065; Burns, 813 So. 2d at 673 ¶ 14.
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¶10. Regarding the deprivation of a fair trial, the petitioner must show how counsel's errors prejudiced
the defense. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 693, 104 S.Ct. at 2067; Burns, 813 So. 2d at 673-74 ¶ 14. The
petitioner must show "a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the
proceedings would have been different." Strickland , 466 U.S. at 691-94, 104 S. Ct. at 2066-68;
Burns, 813 So. 2d at 673-74. "A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine
confidence in the outcome." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.Ct. at 2068.
¶11. If the petitioner is challenging the conviction, the question is whether there is a reasonable
probability that, absent the errors, the fact finder would have had a reasonable doubt respecting guilt. Id.
If the petitioner is challenging the sentence, the question 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 aggravating and mitigating circumstances did not
warrant death. Id.
¶12. In the instant case, we must consider whether the petition, affidavits, and trial record render it
sufficiently likely that Bell received ineffective assistance of counsel so that an evidentiary hearing should
be held. Neal, 525 So. 2d at 1281. The application must pass both prongs. Id. Bell was represented
by attorney Leland H. Jones, III, at the trial and on direct appeal. The trial court acknowledged that Jones
is “one of the better attorneys, and one who is well known for his common sense understanding and
application of the law. . .” Jones has represented numerous persons charged with criminal offenses at both
the trial and appellate court levels, including several capital offense cases.
A. CUMULATIVE ERROR.
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¶13. Bell contends that counsel's cumulative ineffectiveness rendered the guilt phase of the trial
unconstitutional. We will address this as a separate issue after reviewing each of the following claims.
B. COUNSEL’S QUALIFICATIONS.
¶14. Bell alleges that trial counsel was too inexperienced to try a capital case. Bell contends counsel’s
failure to satisfy the qualifications provide by M.R.A.P 22(d) creates a presumption of prejudice.1
1
M.R.A.P. 22 states in part:
(d) Standards and Qualifications for Attorneys Appointed or Retained to Represent
Those Under Sentence of Death in Post-conviction Proceedings.
Counsel representing those under a sentence of death seeking post-conviction relief shall,
(1) Be admitted to practice law in Mississippi, being a member in good standing of the
Bar for at least five years immediately preceding the appointment, or admitted pro
hac vice pursuant to order entered under M.R.A.P. 46 and being a member in good
standing of that attorney's home jurisdiction for a like period immediately preceding
the appointment,
(2) Be admitted to practice in the federal courts of Mississippi and before the Fifth
Circuit, or, in the case of attorneys appearing pro hac vice, admitted to the federal
district courts and the circuit court of appeals having jurisdiction in their home areas,
(3) Have practiced in the area of state criminal appeals or post-conviction proceedings
for three years immediately preceding appointment,
(4) Have not previously represented the capital petitioner in the case either in the trial
court or in the direct appeal, unless the petitioner and counsel expressly request
continued representation and waive all potential issues that are foreclosed by
continued representation, and
(5) Have within five years immediately preceding the appointment been counsel in an
appeal or post-conviction proceeding in a case in which a death sentence was
imposed, and have prior experience as counsel in the appeal of at least three felony
convictions and at least one post-conviction proceeding; or, in the alternative, have
within such period been counsel in the appeal of at least six felony convictions, at
least two of which were appeals from murder
convictions and counsel in at least two post-conviction proceedings.
Provided, however, under exceptional circumstances, and with the consent of the Supreme
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¶15. M.R.A.P. 22(d) sets forth the qualifications for attorneys representing petitioners in post-
conviction matters and was adopted well after Bell’s trial and direct appeal. See In Re: Mississippi
Rules of Appellate Procedure-Rule 22, 735 So. 2d XXIII (Miss. 1999). Bell asks the Court to
impose this heightened standard to trial counsel. This standard has never been imposed outside of its
intended setting. This argument is without support and contradicts the presumption under Sixth Amendment
jurisprudence.
¶16. Inexperience does not as a matter of law make counsel ineffective. Wiley v. State, 517 So. 2d
1373, 1382 (Miss. 1987); see also United States v. Lewis, 786 F.2d 1278, 1281 (5th Cir. 1986).
The Court disagrees that trial counsel, Leland H. Jones, III, was too inexperienced and notes that prior to
Bell’s direct appeal, trial counsel had appeared before the Court several times, including two appeals
involving murder convictions. See Holly v. State, 671 So. 2d 32 (Miss. 1996); Taylor v. State, 597
So. 2d 192 (Miss. 1992).
¶17. Bell emphasizes that trial counsel was working three death penalty cases simultaneously and claims
that even the most experienced death penalty counsel would have been unable to properly defend him. See
Smith v. State, 724 So. 2d 280 (Miss. 1998); Holly, 671 So. 2d 32. Bell cites as proof trial counsel’s
request for continuance and an affidavit provided by post-conviction counsel Thomas C. Levidiotis, who
Court, an attorney may be appointed who does not meet the stated qualifications upon a
showing that the attorney's experience, stature and record enable the Court to conclude that
the attorney's ability significantly exceeds the standards set forth in the rule.
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attests that counsel could not simultaneously maintain such a workload and provide effective assistance.
¶18. The petition fails to show specific instances where counsel’s performance suffered as a result of
his workload. Absent specific instances of error, defendant's allegations that trial counsel was
inexperienced, carried unduly heavy caseload and had severely limited resources, are insufficient to support
a claim for ineffective assistance of counsel. Cabello v. State, 524 So. 2d 313, 316 (Miss. 1988). This
issue is without merit.
C. SECURE ADEQUATE FUNDS FOR INVESTIGATION
¶19. On November 30, 1992, trial counsel joined co-defendant Anthony Doss’s request for the
appointment of additional counsel or in the alternative for an investigator. The request for an investigator
was granted. Though Bell alleges that counsel failed to secure adequate funds, his claim, more precisely,
is that counsel failed to timely request funds and that this delay led to a highly ineffective and disjointed
defense. Because such funds were provided, the Court finds that this issue is without merit.
¶20. Additionally, Bell contends that the State should have provided funds for an independent
investigation.2 However, he does not discuss specifically how counsel’s delay hindered the defense or how
an earlier request for assistance would have helped. The claim that an earlier request would have allowed
a stronger defense is highly speculative and without support.
D. SECURE FUNDS FOR EXPERTS NEEDED.
2
There are instances, when in fairness, the State should provide funds for non-legal personnel needed
by the defense. Hansen v. State, 592 So. 2d 114, 125 (Miss. 1991) (citations omitted). To receive assistance,
defendants must show a substantial need for requiring such assistance. Id. (citing Caldwell v. Mississippi,
470 U.S. 320, 105 S. Ct. 2633, 86 L. Ed. 2d 231 (1985)).
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¶21. Bell submits trial counsel failed to request the appointment of a ballistics expert. He maintains that
evidence as to who fired which weapon would have been relevant mitigating evidence. He claims that the
fatal wounds came from the .38 and, because Doss’s fingerprints were found behind the counter, Doss had
access to the victim’s gun and thus fired the fatal shot. He contends this would have proved that Doss was
the principal and that he was merely an accomplice.
¶22. At trial, the evidence presented showed that the victim was shot by .38 and .22 caliber guns. The
State’s position was that the .22 caliber wounds were inflicted by Bell. Because wounds from either
weapon could have been fatal, the actual fatal wound was not established. Therefore, this argument is
without merit. Ballistics is relevant in determining whether a particular gun fired a given bullet, not for
determining which bullet proved fatal. Such a determination would require a pathologist. Likewise,
because identity of the weapon was never an issue, it is likely such a request would have been denied. A
ballistics expert would not aid in the determination of which bullet proved fatal or who served as the
principal in the crime.
E. INVESTIGATE CRITICAL ASPECTS OF DEFENSE.
¶23. Bell claims that counsel failed to investigate the possibility that someone else committed the crime,
prove his available alibi, and/or to find witnesses who could have provided important evidence on behalf
of the defense. Under Mississippi law, counsel has the duty to interview potential witnesses and to make
independent investigation of facts and circumstances. Payton v. State, 708 So. 2d 559, 561 ¶ 8 (Miss.
1998) (citing Ferguson v. State, 507 So. 2d 94, 96 (Miss. 1987) (quoting Nealy v. Cabana, 764 F.2d
1173, 1177 (5th Cir. 1985))). In addition, counsel must make reasonable investigations or make a
reasonable decision that makes particular investigations unnecessary. Wiley, 517 So. 2d at 1379.
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¶24. Bell argues a reasonable investigation would have led counsel to call Bud McMillian as a witness.
He claims that McMillian would have testified that he had seen someone resembling Doss running from the
store, and that such testimony would have supported his alibi. Bell’s argument is nonsensical. On one
hand, Bell faults counsel for not calling McMillian to support his alibi. On the other, Bell claims, that by
testifying that he saw someone resembling Doss, McMillian would have supported the theory that Bell was
merely present during the commission of the crime. Bell cannot argue that the testimony supported either
his alibi or his claim that he served only as an accomplice.
¶25. Without a supporting affidavit from McMillian, Bell asks the Court to speculate as to McMillian’s
testimony and its effect on the trial. Counsel's choice of whether to call witnesses and ask certain questions
falls within the ambit of trial strategy and cannot give rise to an ineffective assistance of counsel claim.
Jackson v. State, 815 So. 2d 1196, 1200 ¶ 8 (Miss. 2002) (citing Cole v. State, 666 So. 2d 767, 777
(Miss. 1995)).
¶26. Next, Bell claims that trial counsel failed to investigate his alibi and that had counsel done so, he
would have discovered Bernard Gladney as a potential, corroborating witness. Bell contends that Gladney
would have testified that Bell was in Memphis at 7:30 p.m. the day of the murder. Because Gladney is
serving time in the Tennessee Department of Corrections for Second Degree Murder, the decision not to
call Gladney could be deemed as sound trial strategy.
¶27. While together in Memphis, Bell and Gladney were involved in a separate murder. It was the crime
for which Bell was initially arrested. Gladney subsequently pled guilty and was sentenced to life in the
Tennessee Department of Corrections. As a convicted murderer, Gladney had little credibility, and any
testimony provided by him likely would have harmed the defense. Therefore, this claim is without merit.
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F. JURY QUESTIONNAIRES.
¶28. Bell claims that counsel failed to request questionnaires to accompany the jury summons. By
providing more information, he argues that such questionnaires would have allowed for a more effective
voir dire. No support is provided that such a failure renders counsel ineffective. Failure to cite relevant
authority obviates the appellate court's obligation to review such issues. Simmons v. State, 805 So. 2d
452, 487 ¶ 90 (Miss. 2002); Williams v. State, 708 So. 2d 1358, 1362-63 (Miss. 1998). Additionally,
extensive latitude was permitted during the course of voir dire. Therefore, this issue is without merit.
G. DISCRIMINATION IN JURY POOL.
¶29. Bell claims that counsel failed to raise Batson challenges to the prosecution’s exercise of
peremptorychallenges. See Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S. Ct. 1712, 90 L. Ed. 2d 69 (1986).
Under Batson, if a party believes that the other used peremptory challenges to racially discriminate against
potential jurors: (1) the party objecting to a peremptory challenge must make prima facie showing that race
was the criteria for the exercise of the challenge; (2) if this initial showing is successful, the party desiring
to exercise the challenge must offer a race-neutral explanation for striking the potential juror; and (3) trial
court must then determine whether the objecting party has met their burden to prove there has been
purposeful discrimination in exercise of peremptory challenges. Caston v. State, 823 So. 2d 473, 498
¶ 88 (Miss. 2002) (quoting Stewart v. State, 662 So. 2d 552, 557-58 (Miss. 1995)).
¶30. In Connor v. State, 684 So. 2d 608, 612 (Miss. 1996), this Court stated that "for counsel's
performance to be deemed ineffective, [the defendant] must demonstrate that his case was prejudiced by
the failure to raise any challenges pursuant to Batson." Generally, the Fifth Circuit considers an “attorney's
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actions during voir dire to be a matter of trial strategy, which ‘cannot be the basis for a claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel unless counsel's tactics are shown to be so ill chosen that it permeates the entire trial
with obvious unfairness.’” Burns, 813 So. 2d at 675-76 (citing Teague v. Scott, 60 F.3d 1167, 1172
(5th Cir. 1995)).
¶31. Trial counsel went on the record to indicate that the failure to raise a Batson issue was a tactical
decision based upon his understanding of the, at the time, recently decided case of Griffin v. State, 610
So. 2d 354, 356 (Miss. 1992), and upon instructions from his client. There was a discussion, both on and
off the record, related to this Court’s ruling in Griffin. In Griffin, the defendant argued that the State
could not make Batson challenges to defensive peremptory strikes. However, we ruled that the State
could challenge the defense’s strikes, stating:
The United States Supreme Court recently held in Georgia v. McCollum, 505 U.S. 42,
112 S. Ct. 2348, 120 L. Ed. 2d 33 (1992), that Batson applies to both prosecutors and
defendants. The Court stated:
Regardless of who invokes the discriminatory challenge, there can be no
doubt that the harm is the same--in all cases, the juror is subjected to open
and public racial discrimination.... We therefore reaffirm today that the
exercise of a peremptory challenge must not be based on either the race
of the juror or the racial stereotypes held by the party.
McCollum takes the wind out of Griffin's sails, essentially holding that what's sauce for
the goose is sauce for the gander. The assignment of error is wholly without merit.
Griffin v. State, 610 So. 2d at 356. Bell's counsel indicated this meant that the State could only
challenge Bell’s strikes if he first challenged the State’s strikes. When questioned by the trial court, Bell
concurred that he did not wish to have his selection of the jury challenged. Even though trial counsel, and
12
perhaps the trial court, misunderstood Griffin, this argument is without merit. The case sub judice is
practically identical to the situation presented to us in Watts v. State, 733 So. 2d 214 (Miss. 1999).
¶32. In Watts, as in this case, “[i]t is clear from the record, however, that it was the defense's idea to
‘waive Batson’ to avoid having to come up with gender- or race-neutral reasons for peremptory
challenges.” Id., 733 So.2d at 230 ¶ 47. A new trial was not warranted on the basis of the Batson issue
since the defendant waived the issue. In so holding, we looked to Mata v. Johnson, 99 F.3d 1261 (5th
Cir. 1996), vacated in part on other grounds, 105 F.3d 209 (5th Cir. 1997). In Mata, the Fifth
Circuit refused to grant a new trial to a Hispanic defendant who expressly agreed with the prosecution to
exclude all eight black members of the venire panel. Both cases turned on the defendants’ willingness to
participate in the constitutional violation and, thus, denied new trials. The same reasoning is applied here.
¶33. The failure to raise a Batson challenge was based upon a tactical decision and was not ineffective
assistance of counsel. Even if the failure to raise a Batson challenge were in error, a defendant is entitled
to competent counsel, not errorless counsel. Woodward v. State, 843 So. 2d 1, 7 ¶ 14 (Miss. 2003).
¶34. Furthermore, Bell has failed to show “a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional
errors, the result of the proceedings would have been different.” See Burns v. State, 813 So. 2d at 673-
74 (citing Mohr v. State, 584 So. 2d 426, 430 (Miss. 1991)). See also Strickland v. Washington,
466 U.S. at 691-94. For these reasons, this issue is without merit.
H. Voir Dire
¶35. An attorney's actions during voir dire are considered to be a matter of trial strategy and as such,
cannot be the basis for a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel unless counsel's tactics are shown to be
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"so ill chosen that it permeates the entire trial with obvious unfairness”. Burns, 813 So. 2d at 675-76 ¶
22 (citing Teague, 60 F.3d at 1172). See also Garland v. Maggio, 717 F.2d 199, 206 (5th Cir.
1983). Under this claim, Bell asserts five sub-issues:
1. Individual, Sequestered Voir Dire
¶36. Prior to voir dire, trial counsel requested an individual, sequestered voir dire of the panel. Bell,
726 So. 2d at 845. However, counsel failed to present an argument supporting this motion, which was then
denied. Id. Bell contends that had counsel provided a supporting argument, the request would have been
granted and that this failure prevented the defense from uncovering juror biases. The State counters that
no authority supports Bell’s position. Though the motion stood a better chance of being granted if
supported, we cannot be certain as to why the request was denied.
¶37. Under Uniform Circuit and County Court Rule 3.05 it is within the discretion of the circuit court
to allow individually sequestered voir dire. Stevens v. State, 806 So. 2d 1031, 1054-55 ¶ 109 (Miss.
2001); see also Jones v. State, 461 So. 2d 686, 692 (Miss. 1984). Considering a similar issue in
Gilliard v. State, 462 So. 2d 710, 714 (Miss. 1985), the Court ruled that the defendant was not denied
effective assistance of counsel and held that counsel’s failure to request individual sequestered voir dire did
not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel absent proof that something would have been discovered
resulting in a different jury panel.
¶38. In the instant case, although counsel requested individual voir dire and thus is distinguishable from
Gilliard, Bell is unable to prove but for counsel’s failure to argue, the request would have been granted
or that a different jury panel would have resulted.
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2. Court’s Examination.
¶39. This Court has already addressed on Bell’s direct appeal his contention that “the voir dire of the
jury at his trial was so flawed as to be meaningless and that as a result the jury was excessively weighed
in favor of the prosecution” and that the flaws were due to “leading questions suggesting to the jurors the
proper answers, his failure to conduct meaningful individual examination of the panel members, and his
reliance upon the members’ self-assessment of their ability to give Bell a fair trial.” Bell, 725 So. 2d at 844
¶ 9. Although no objections were made at the time or in post-trial motions, we examined the issue and
held:
We have also examined the record of the voir dire by the trial court as to any possible plain
error, and although we cannot say that the manner of examining the jury was desirable, its
defects do not rise to the level of fundamental constitutional error.
Id. at 844 ¶ 11.
¶40. Because this issue was already addressed on direct appeal, an evidentiary hearing is unnecessary
on this issue. Further, this issue is without merit. Not only has Bell failed to show that the performance of
trial counsel was deficient, there has been no showing that the jury empaneled was not fair and impartial.
3. Information Sufficient to Exercise Meaningful Challenges.
¶41. Bell cites several questions that counsel failed to ask the prospective juror and claims that such
questions were necessary to cure trial court’s defective voir dire. Examples of necessary questions include:
1) whether they would automatically impose the death penalty or would they fairly consider mitigating
evidence; 2) do they have racial biases; 3) whether they were exposed to pre-trial publicity; 4) whether
they or their family members worked in a convenience store; 5) whether they or a family member had ever
15
been a victim of a crime; 6) whether they had a friend or relative who had a drug or alcohol problem; and
7) whether they had religious beliefs concerning alcohol.
¶42. Bell cites no authority that the failure to ask such questions supports the claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel. In Connor v. State, 684 So. 2d at 613, the Court found that counsel was not
ineffective for failing to conduct a more extensive voir dire, especially where any questions would have been
redundant and the accused failed to indicate how the defense was prejudiced by counsel’s failure. See
also Baldwin v. Johnson, 152 F.3d 1304, 1316 (11th Cir. 1998) (Defense counsel's failure to conduct
more extensive questioning of potential jurors regarding their racial attitudes and their views of death penalty
on voir dire represented reasonable, strategic decision and, thus, did not constitute ineffective assistance
of counsel); Price v. State, 749 So. 2d 1188, 1199 ¶ 42 (Miss. Ct. App. 1999) ("Deciding what
questions to ask during voir dire is left largely up to the attorney" and is a matter of trial strategy.).
¶43. We examined the record of the voir dire in the direct appeal and found that, although the trial court
may not have conducted the best voir dire, “any flaws in the judge’s examination of the panel are mitigated
by the leeway allowed defense counsel in his phase of voir dire.” Bell, 725 So. 2d at 844 ¶ 10. By raising
this issue now, Bell is attempting a second bite at the apple. As stated above, not only has Bell failed to
show that the performance of trial counsel was deficient, there has been no showing that the jury impaneled
was not fair and impartial.
4. Rehabilitation of potential jurors.
¶44. Bell claims that counsel failed to rehabilitate jurors Glenda Gale Boozer Steed, Charles Lott,
Stephen Bernard Chism, Ella Mae Russell, Kennedy Willis, and John William Parker, who, for religious
16
reasons, could not impose the death penalty. He argues that counsel should always attempt to rehabilitate
jurors. The State claims that Bell misleads the Court in that counsel did attempt to rehabilitate. We find
that this issue is without merit.
¶45. Bell cites several cases, including: Phenizee v. State, 180 Miss. 746, 178 So. 579 (1938) and
Burns v. Estelle, 592 F.2d 1297 (5th Cir. 1979), aff’d en banc, 626 F.2d 396 (5th Cir. 1980), neither
of which support his position. First in Phenizee, this Court held that counsel is entitled to further question
the jury after the trial court is satisfied that the panel is competent. Phinezee, 178 So. at 582. Because
the right to question venire men is not at issue, the Court finds that the holding from Phenizee has no
impact on the instant matter.
¶46. Bell incorrectly claims that in Burns, the Fifth Circuit vacated a death sentence because the
defense was not allowed to voir dire a potential juror who expressed doubts about the death penalty.
Instead the Fifth Circuit held that the death sentence could not be carried out because a venire member,
who did not irrevocably commit to vote against the penalty of death regardless of the facts and
circumstances that might emerge in the course of the proceedings, was prematurely dismissed. Burns v.
Estelle, 626 F.2d at 398. Bell fails to cite any case holding that counsel was held to be ineffective
because he or she failed to rehabilitate a venire member.
¶47. Unless there is proof that rehabilitation was possible, a defendant is not prejudiced by counsel's
failure to rehabilitate venire member who were excused because of their views contrary to death penalty.
Sawyer v. Butler, 848 F.2d 582, 589 (5th Cir. 1988). See also Williams v. Collins, 16 F.3d 626,
633 (5th Cir. 1994) (defense counsel was not ineffective in failing to object when venire members were
17
excused for cause based on their inability impose death penalty under any circumstances; any objections
and attempts to rehabilitate venire members would have been futile).
¶48. In the instant case, all the jurors in question expressed that they were unwilling to impose the death
penalty, regardless of the circumstances. It was apparent that they were unable perform their duties in
accordance with their instructions and oath. See generally Williams, 16 F.3d at 633. Bell has made
no showing that rehabilitation was possible. Therefore, this issue is without merit.
5. Removal for Cause
¶49. Bell argues that his trial counsel failed to object to the impanelment or have removed eight of the
twelve jurors because each had ties to law enforcement or the victim’s family. He claims that counsel failed
to protect his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury as provided under U.S. Constitution, amend. VI, and
Article 3, Section 26 of the Mississippi Constitution. See generally Mhoon v. State, 464 So. 2d 77,
79 (Miss. 1985). On direct appeal, we affirmed the trial court where it denied Bell’s challenge for cause
as to other jurors who had relationships with the victim or his family or the law enforcement community.
Bell, 725 So. 2d at 845-46. We held that “mere acquaintance or even family relationships with parties or
those related to parties is not sufficient to require that a juror be excused for cause.” Id. at 846 ¶ 16.
With respect to the overall performance of the attorney, "counsel's choice of whether or
not to file certain motions, call witnesses, ask certain questions, or make certain objections
fall within the ambit of trial strategy" and cannot give rise to an ineffective assistance of
counsel claim.
Jackson v. State, 815 So. 2d 1196, 1200 ¶ 8 (Miss. 2002) (citing Cole v. State, 666 So. 2d 767, 777
(Miss. 1995)).
¶50. As this Court has pointed out:
18
This Court has discussed the wide latitude allowed attorneys regarding their trial strategy:
This Court gives much deference to an attorney's trial tactics. As this
Court has stated: 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 too easy for
a court, examining counsel's defense after it has proved unsuccessful, to
conclude that a particular act or omission of counsel was unreasonable.
Cf. Engle v. Isaac, 456 U.S. 107, 133-134 [102 S. Ct. 1558,
1574-75, 71 L. Ed. 2d 783] (1982). 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. Lambert v. State, 462 So. 2d 308, 316 (Miss.
1984), citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S.Ct. at 2065, 80
L. Ed. 2d at 694. The right to effective counsel does not entitle the
defendant to have an attorney who makes no mistakes at trial. The
defendant just has a right to have competent counsel.
Smiley v. State, 815 So. 2d 1140, 1148 ¶ 32 (Miss. 2002) (citing Mohr v. State, 584 So. 2d 426, 430
(Miss. 1991)).
¶51. Moreover, the perceived relationships between the jurors and the victim or the law enforcement
community are tenuous at best. The case was tried in a rural Mississippi county with a limited jury pool.
The decision not to seek removal of these named jurors may arguably be part of trial strategy. Because
we cannot use hindsight to analyze trial counsel’s unsuccessful strategy, this issue is without merit.
6. Additional Peremptory Challenges
¶52. Bell claims that counsel’s failure to request additional peremptory challenges rendered counsel’s
assistance ineffective. The Court finds that this issue is without merit. Also, through this claim, Bell attempts
to emphasize how the trial court erred in denying his challenges for cause, an issue considered in the direct
appeal and as such, is barred under Miss. Code. Ann. § 99-39-21(3).
19
I. Meaningful and Consistent Theme of Defense.
¶53. Bell argues that the trial counsel presented conflicting defenses. Trial counsel argued that Bell was
in Memphis and not in the store at the time of the murder. Bell maintains that counsel failed to have a
consistent notion of what the defense theory should be, and that this failure supports the cumulative error.
Specifically, he cites defense’s closing argument. The Court finds this claim without merit.
¶54. Bell cites the following cases: McFadden v. United States, 614 A.2d 11 (D.C. 1992) (court
failed to conduct a pretrial inquiry regarding counsel’s effectiveness, after counsel admitted his lack of
preparation); People v. Hattery, 488 N.E.2d 513 (Ill. 1985) (by conceding defendant’s guilt, counsel
failed to subject prosecution’s case to meaningful adversarial testing). We find that counsel’s conduct in
the instant case does not rise to level of the failures discussed in the cases cited.
¶55. Any alleged conflicting defenses resulted from the substantial evidence of Bell’s guilt. As for the
closing argument, trial counsel emphasized the burden of proof, attempted to raise reasonable doubt and
attacked the credibility of witnesses. Accordingly, the closing argument was both consistent and effective.
See Yarborough v. Gentry, 540 U.S. , 124 S. Ct. 1, 157 L. Ed. 2d 1 (2003).
J. Impeachment of Witness
¶56. Bell claims counsel failed to impeach Robert McKinney James who, because he was in the store
just prior to the murder, had a motive to lie. James received no consideration in return for his testimony.
Instead of discussing how this failure prejudiced the defense, Bell presents an unsupported motive for James
to lie. Of course, a realistic motive might be based on Bell’s immediate threat to kill James. Bell, 725
20
So. 2d at 841. However, wisely Bell chose not to cite this as a motive. The Court finds this issue without
merit.
K. Stipulation of State’s Expert Evidence
¶57. Bell claims that counsel should have challenged the reliability and completeness of the findings by
the State’s expert, Stephen Timothy Hayne, M.D. Dr. Hayne’s testimony was based on autopsy dated
April 6, 1991. Because the murder occurred on May 6, 1991, Bell argues that such an autopsy was
physically impossible. Further, he alleges that had counsel objected Dr. Hayne’s testimony would have
been suppressed, resulting in a directed verdict in favor of the defense. In this instance, the error is
superficial and is without merit.
L. Objection to Evidence
¶58. Trial counsel stipulated to the introduction of three weapons: a .22 caliber pistol, a .38 caliber
pistol, and a .25 caliber pistol. Because no witness testified regarding the .25 caliber weapon, Bell alleges
that .25 was irrelevant and ultimately prejudiced him. Bell fails both to discuss how he was prejudiced or
to cite any case law in support of his position. Not only is this issue without merit, but also counsel’s choice
whether to make certain objections fall within the ambit of trial strategy and cannot give rise to an ineffective
assistance of counsel claim. Jackson, 815 So. 2d at 1200 ¶ 8.
M. Attendance of witnesses
¶59. Bell claims that counsel was ineffective because he failed to secure the attendance of witnesses to
corroborate his alibi. Save Bernard Gladney, Bell fails to name the witness counsel failed to call. In a
motion under Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-9, Bell is required to: “name the state of Mississippi as respondent
21
and shall contain...affidavits of the witnesses who will testify and copies of documents or records that will
be offered shall be attached to the motion.” See also Lewis v. State, 776 So. 2d 679, 682 ¶ 16 (Miss.
2000) (the statute requires affidavits of those witnesses that will testify). This issue is without merit.
N. Jury Instructions
¶60. Bell claims that trial counsel failed to object to jury instructions that incorrectly stated the law. On
direct appeal, the Court held that “[a]n aiding and abetting instruction, in the form complained of here, was
most recently approved in Carr v. State, 655 So. 2d 824, 833 (Miss. 1995), cert. denied, 516 U.S.
1076, 116 S. Ct. 782, 133 L. Ed. 2d 733 (1996).” Bell, 725 So. 2d at 847-48. Because this argument is
an attempt to relitigate an issue previously decided to be without merit on direct appeal, this issue is
procedurally barred in accordance to Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(2) & (3) (2000).
III. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL DURING THE
PENALTY PHASE
¶61. The role of an attorney at a capital sentencing proceeding resembles his role at trial.
A capital sentencing proceeding "is sufficiently like a trial in its adversarial format and in the
existence of standards for decision" that counsel's role in the two proceedings is
comparable--it is "to ensure that the adversarial testing process works to produce a just
result under the standards governing decision."
Burger v. Kemp, 483 U.S. 776, 788-89, 107 S. Ct. 3114, 3123, 97 L. Ed. 2d 638 (1987) (citing
Strickland, 466 U.S., at 686, 687, 104 S. Ct., at 2064).
¶62. At the outset, the Court notes that on direct appeal we stated that “[w]hen given the opportunity,
Bell offered no real mitigating circumstances, he simply continued to deny being present or committing the
22
act.” Bell, 725 So. 2d at 867. With this in mind, the Court reviews counsel's performance during the
sentencing phase.
A. Additional Time Between Culpability and Sentencing Phases.
¶63. Bell claims that a limited continuance was necessary between the guilt and sentencing phases of the
trial, and that without such, counsel was unable to present an effective case during sentencing. Because
the two phases are inherently different, Bell reasons that a continuance was necessary. Bell does not
discuss how the lack of a continuance affected the defense. He emphasizes that in the decision from the
direct appeal, the Court noted that the defense presented no real mitigating circumstances.Bell, 725 So. 2d
at 867. Countering, the State argues that this was not a complex case and therefore no continuance was
needed.
¶64. Bell cites Robin E. Abram’s article: A Capital Defendant’s Right to a Continuance
Between the Two Phases of a Death Penalty Trial, 64 N.Y.U. L. Rev. 579 (1989), cited in
Pruett v. State, 574 So. 2d 1342, 1348 (Miss. 1990) (Anderson, J., dissenting). The article contends
that the complexity of the legal rules governing both the guilt and penalty phases of capital trials complicates
counsel’s preparation and intensifies the need for time. See Adams supra, at 581-82. Likewise, a
continuance is necessary because the defendant, the jury, and defense counsel need time to recover
emotionally from the capital conviction and to focus on the issue of sentencing. Id. Bell relies on precedent
from other jurisdictions, such as South Carolina and Maryland, in which continuances are legislatively
provided or available upon the request. See Md. Ann. Code Art. 27 § 413(a) (Supp. 1988); S.C. Code
§ 16-3-20(B) (2002).
23
¶65. The guilty verdict was delivered at 3:30 p.m., then, following a brief recess, the sentencing phase
begun and was completed by 7:30 p.m. Theoretically, counsel could have requested a continuance until
the following morning. However, our Legislature has determined that:
Upon conviction or adjudication of guilt of a defendant of capital murder or other capital
offense, the court shall conduct a separate sentencing proceeding to determine whether the
defendant should be sentenced to death, life imprisonment without eligibility for parole, or
life imprisonment. The proceeding shall be conducted by the trial judge before the trial jury
as soon as practicable.
Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101. Furthermore, we have held:
[I]t should be noted that this Court has repeatedly and consistently held that
post-conviction relief in Mississippi is not granted upon facts and issues which could or
should have been litigated at trial and on appeal.
Smith v. State, 434 So. 2d 212, 215 (Miss. 1983) (citing Callahan v. State, 426 So. 2d 801 (Miss.
1983); Bell v. Watkins, 381 So. 2d 118 (Miss. 1980); Auman v. State, 285 So. 2d 146 (Miss. 1973);
Irving v. State, 194 So. 2d 239 (Miss. 1967); Gordon v. State, 160 So. 2d 73 (Miss. 1964);Kennard
v. State, 246 Miss. 209, 148 So. 2d 660 (1963); Rogers v. State, 240 Miss. 610, 128 So. 2d 547
(1961); Goldsby v. State, 226 Miss. 1, 78 So. 2d 762 (1955); Wetzel v. State, 225 Miss. 450, 76
So. 2d 188 (1955)) (footnote omitted). This issue is without merit.
B. Opening Statement.
¶66. Neither the defense nor the prosecution presented an opening statement during the penalty phase.
Citing Louisiana precedent, Bell claims that this failure supports his claim of ineffective assistance of
counsel. See State v. Sanders, 648 So. 2d 1272, 1293 (La. 1994) (The court “has come close to stating
that an attorney’s failure to make an opening statement constitutes ineffectiveness per se.”). The giving of
24
an opening statement in the penalty phase is not required in Mississippi and the failure to do so may be
deemed trial strategy, particularly where the prosecution did not make an opening statement.Cabello, 524
So. 2d at 318. See also Gilliard v. Scroggy, 847 F.2d 1141, 1147 (5th Cir. 1988). Cf. Manning
v. State, 735 So. 2d 323, 347 ¶ 56 (Miss. 1999). Therefore, this issue is without merit.
C. Jurors’ Speculation of Potential Release
¶67. Bell claims that counsel failed to eliminate any jury misperceptions that he would be eligible for
parole. For this point, Bell cites Williams v. State for the policy that“[r]eference to the possibility of
parole should the defendant not be sentenced to die [sic] are wholly out of place at the sentencing phase
of a capital murder trial...” Williams v. State, 445 So. 2d 798, 813 (Miss. 1984). In Williams, the
Court ordered that the defendant be resentenced based on improper comments by the prosecutor which
denied the defendant a fair sentencing hearing. Id. at 814.
¶68. In the instant case, there is no evidence of jury misperceptions. Bell fails to cite, and there is nothing
from the record to suggest, that the prosecutor made any improper comments analogous to Williams.
This claim is without merit.
D. Aggravating Circumstances.
¶69. Bell claims that counsel failed to the object to the inclusion of the aggravating factor “that the
murder was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing a lawful arrest.” See also Miss. Code
Ann. § 99-19-101(5) (2000).3 On direct appeal, the Court considered the appropriateness of this factor
and held that “Bell’s own statements and actions are sufficient to warrant an inference by the jury that Bert
3
Section 99-19-101 provides the aggravating and mitigating circumstances for a jury to consider during
sentencing proceedings related to a capital crime.
25
was shot because he wanted to leave no witnesses.” Bell, 725 So. 2d at 858. The Court noted that an
instruction incorporating this factor is warranted if “there is evidence from which it may be reasonably
inferred that a substantial reason for the killing was to conceal the identity of the killer...” Id. (citations
omitted).
¶70. Furthermore, Robert Kennedy James testified that, wanting to eliminate all witnesses, Bell had
threatened to kill him, too. Based on such, this claim is without merit.
E. Investigation.
¶71. Bell claims that counsel failed to adequately investigate possible mitigating evidence. He contends
that counsel’s investigation was deficient for several reasons, such as: 1) that only eight people were
interviewed; 2) except for a brief meeting with trial counsel’s investigator, Bell’s mother and sister had no
contact with counsel until the sentencing phase; and 3) his mother and sister were never subpoenaed.
¶72. There is a difference between when counsel fails to investigate and when counsel fails to
adequately investigate. Discussing this, the Fifth Circuit stated:
"[C]ounsel has a duty to make reasonable investigations or to make a reasonable decision
that makes particular investigations unnecessary. In any ineffectiveness case, a particular
decision not to investigate must be directly assessed for reasonableness in all the
circumstances, applying a heavy measure of deference to counsel's judgments."
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 691, 104 S. Ct. 2052. Furthermore, this court has stated that we
"must be particularly wary of 'arguments that essentially come down to a matter of degrees.
Did counsel investigate enough? Did counsel present enough mitigating evidence? Those
questions are even less susceptible to judicial second-guessing.' " Dowthitt v. Johnson,
230 F.3d 733, 743 (5th Cir.2000), cert. denied, 532 U.S. 915, 121 S. Ct. 1250, 149
L. Ed. 2d 156 (2001) (quoting Kitchens v. Johnson, 190 F.3d 698, 703 (5th Cir.1999)).
Smith v. Cockrell, 311 F.3d 661, 669 (5th Cir. 2002).
26
¶73. The record reveals that counsel interviewed Bell’s mother, grandmother, brother, girlfriend, three
elementary school teachers, and the wife of a local attorney. Bell takes issue with the degree of
investigation. Affidavits citing counsel’s failures are provided by both his mother and sister. However, the
affidavits do not provide any additional information that could have or should have been provided at trial
or other persons who could have provided additional information. Bell’s mother did testify on behalf of Bell
at the sentencing phase. Therefore, this issue is without merit.
F. Mitigating Evidence.
¶74. Bell claims that counsel failed to present mitigating evidence regarding his age, mental retardation,
emotional disturbances and mental illness, disadvantaged and abusive childhood, adaption to prison
conditions, and cultural impacts on his life. These issues are without merit.
¶75. This Court has dealt with the issues of adequate investigation and presentation of evidence in the
context of ineffective assistance of counsel in death penalty cases. See Holly v. State, 716 So. 2d 979,
990 (Miss. 1998); Foster v. State, 687 So. 2d 1124 (Miss. 1996); Conner v. State, 684 So. 2d 608
(Miss. 1996); Woodward v. State, 635 So. 2d 805 (Miss. 1993); State v. Tokman, 564 So. 2d 1339
(Miss. 1990).
¶76. In Holly, the Court held that counsel’s presentation of mitigation evidence through only one
witness, the defendant’s mother, was deficient considering that there was evidence that the defendant had
mental health problems and, thus, violated Strickland’s first prong Id. at 990. However, finding that
Holly failed to show that but for counsel’s performance the sentence would have been different, the Court
denied the application to seek post-conviction relief. Id. at 991.
27
¶77. In the instant case, three witnesses testified for the defense: Myra Bell (mother), Tammy Teresa
Armstrong (Bell’s girlfriend and the mother of his child), and Bell himself. Myra’s testimony focused on
the violent and abusive family life which the family endured at the hands of her former husband. Ms.
Armstrong testified regarding Bell’s disposition and his loving relationship with their young son and her
daughter. Following the testimony and arguments, the jury was instructed to consider the following
mitigating factors: 1) that Bell was 19 years-old at the time of the crime; 2) his lack of education; 3) raised
in poverty; 4) his violent family life; 5) his abusive father; 6) he was the father of and provider for a 3 year-
old child; and 7) he could have been merely an accomplice. Because the jury was instructed during
sentencing to consider his age, the Court finds that trial counsel presented sufficient evidence regarding
Bell’s age at the time of the crime.
¶78. Attached to the application is an assessment by the State Department of Education from 1987,
which indicated that Bell “functioned in the low average range of intelligence” and had an I.Q. of 81. Aside
fromthe affidavits provided by his mother and sister, Bell’s application provides no evidence that he suffers
from either emotional or mental problems. The testimony of Myra Bell primarily focused on the
disadvantaged and abusive childhood that Bell suffered. She discussed how they lived off of minimum wage
and in a one-room apartment with a violent husband. She recalled the problems she had with her husband
after the divorce, how on one occasion he “shot-up” the house, and that he had been in and out of jail.
Based on her testimony during the penalty phase, evidence was presented regarding Bell’s difficult
childhood.
¶79. Finally, Bell claims that counsel should have presented evidence of his good behavior while
incarcerated. Bell fails to cite what additional evidence should have been presented and how it would have
28
affected the outcome. Unlike defense counsel in Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510, 123 S. Ct. 2527, 156
L. Ed. 2d 471 (2003), who failed to discover and present powerful mitigating evidence, Bell's counsel
discovered and presented significant mitigating evidence. Therefore, this claim is without merit.
G. State’s closing argument
¶80. Bell claims that counsel failed to object to improper statements made by the prosecution, which
provided in part the prosecutor’s personal opinions and Bell’s apparent lack of remorse.4 Responding, the
State maintains that on direct appeal this Court approved the language used in closing argument; therefore,
counsel cannot be ineffective for failing to object. See Bell, 725 So. 2d at 861-63. In the direct appeal,
because counsel failed to object, the Court reviewed the prosecutor’s comments under the plain error
standard. Id. at 861. The Court ruled that assignment of error based on the prosecutor’s comments were
“both procedurally barred and without merit.” Id. at 862. The Court found that such comments were
permissible deductions and “simply fair commentary on behavior and testimony by Bell which was in
evidence.” Id. at 862, citing Chase v. State, 645 So. 2d 829, 855 (Miss. 1994); Davis v. State, 660
So. 2d 1228, 1250 (Miss. 1995).
H. Jury Instructions.
4
Alleged illicit comments made by the prosecutor during his closing argument include: (1) “I don’t see
any [good in Frederick Bell]; (2) “That same day he murdered Bert Bell here in Grenada. That shows you
how much remorse he had for the crime he committed down here. It shows you how upset it made him for
the taking of a life, the life of Bert Bell. He had no feelings for human life at all, and he has none now.”; (3)
“He was proud of that [killing Bert Bell]. Just as proud as he was of the person he killed in Memphis. This
shows you again what type of person you’re dealing with. It shows you how much feeling he has for human
life.”; (4) “His mother asked the question up here, ‘what would stop it.’ There’s only one thing that can stop
it, and I think ya’ll know what that [sic] it; that’s coming back with the death penalty.”
29
¶81. Bell claims that counsel failed to have the jury instructed regarding the effect of the Tennessee
sentence and failed to object to the trial court’s “anti-sympathy” instruction and instruction S-1, which he
alleges allowed the jury to consider “non-statutory aggravators.” This argument is very similar to those
which were considered and rejected in the direct appeal.
¶82. As to the claim regarding instruction S-1 and “non-statutory aggravators,” the Court finds that it
is without merit. In the direct appeal, the Court affirmed these instructions and held that they did not
interject unwarranted aggravating factors or allow the jury to “venture out on a hunt for other justifications
for ordering Bell’s death.” Bell, 725 So. 2d at 865. As to the other two arguments, the Court fully
reviewed them and ruled that they were procedurally barred based on Bell’s failure to object to them at
trial. Id. at 865 & 867. Relying on Willie v. State, 585 So. 2d 660 (Miss. 1991) and California v.
Brown, 479 U.S. 538, 107 S. Ct. 837, 93 L. Ed. 2d 934 (1987), the Court stated that issue of anti-
sympathy instruction was “unmeritorious in light of the holdings of the United States Supreme Court
supporting the use of the anti-sympathy language.” Bell, 725 So. 2d at 865. See also Woodward v.
State, 843 So. 2d 1. Therefore, based on Willie and Brown trial counsel’s failure to object to such
instructions does not support Bell’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.
¶83. Finally, Bell claims that counsel failed to present instruction to the trial court regarding the effect his
Tennessee sentence would have if he was sentenced to life in this matter. Because Bell fails to cite any case
where such failure supports a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, this issue is without merit. Instead,
Bell relies on the Simmons v. South Carolina, 512 U.S. 154, 114 S. Ct. 2187, 129 L. Ed. 2d 133
(1994), which was decided after his trial. In Simmons, the Supreme Court held that in a case in which
30
propensity for future dangerous conduct is argued as a factor, and a sentence to life imprisonment without
the possibility of parole is an option, the defendant is entitled to have the jury instructed that a life sentence
will in fact preclude the possibility of parole. Id. at 169.
¶84. Considering this issue in the direct appeal, the Court found that the State argued the violent nature
of the crime, as opposed to Bell’s propensity for future crime, as an additional aggravating circumstance.
Bell at 725 So. 2d at 865. Holding that Bell’s claim was substantively without merit, the Court stated:
Because Bell sought no such instruction, and the State did not attempt to argue on the
point, we are left to wonder what Bell's argument would have been if in fact the jury had
been instructed that in deciding between life and death it was to consider the length of not
only a Mississippi life sentence but also the length of the Tennessee sentence and the time
that Bell would actually serve under each, and if the State had then argued the effect of the
possibility of parole.
Bell, 725 So. 2d at 865.
¶85. Because Simmons was not decided until after the direct appeal and because the Court held that
Bell’s propensity for future dangerous was not argued as an additional aggravating factor, the Court finds
that counsel’s failure to request such instruction was not outside the prevailing professional norms.
IV. Cumulative Error.
¶86. We note in today’s case that each of the foregoing assignments of error have been found to be
without merit, and we thus find that there was no cumulative error. Byrom v. State, 863 So. 2d 836, 847
(Miss. 2003); McFee v. State, 511 So. 2d 130, 136 (Miss. 1987).
CONCLUSION
¶87. For the reasons herein stated, the Court denies leave to seek post-conviction relief on all issues
raised in Bell’s petition for post-conviction relief.
31
¶88. APPLICATION FOR LEAVE TO FILE PETITION FOR POST- CONVICTION
COLLATERAL RELIEF, DENIED. PRO SE PETITION FOR POST-CONVICTION
RELIEF, DENIED.
SMITH, C.J., WALLER AND COBB, P.JJ., EASLEY, GRAVES AND DICKINSON,
JJ., CONCUR. DIAZ AND RANDOLPH, JJ., NOT PARTICIPATING.
32