Eric Darrell Lott v. State of Mississippi

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2017-KA-00055-COA
ERIC DARRELL LOTT A/K/A HUB CAP A/K/A APPELLANT
ERIC LOTT
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI APPELLEE
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 09/23/2016
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. CLAIBORNE MCDONALD
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: JEFFERSON DAVIS COUNTY CIRCUIT
COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: TAMEKIA ROCHELLE GOLIDAY
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY: KAYLYN HAVRILLA MCCLINTON
DISTRICT ATTORNEY: HALDON J. KITTRELL
NATURE OF THE CASE: CRIMINAL - FELONY
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 07/24/2018
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
BEFORE LEE, C.J., CARLTON AND WESTBROOKS, JJ.
LEE, C.J., FOR THE COURT:
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
¶1. Eric Lott was indicted for the murder of Adrian Eley.1 A jury in the Jefferson Davis
County Circuit Court convicted Lott of manslaughter. Lott was sentenced to serve twenty
years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The trial judge denied
Lott’s posttrial motions. Lott now appeals, asserting the following issues: (1) his trial
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Lott was also indicted for aggravated assault upon a bystander who was injured
during the shooting. The jury returned a not guilty verdict on this count.
counsel provided ineffective assistance; (2) one of the State’s witnesses was not qualified to
testify under Mississippi Rule of Evidence 702; and (3) the trial judge failed to be impartial
by improperly assisting the State during the trial. Finding no error, we affirm.
FACTS
¶2. Just after midnight on June 9, 2015, Lott admittedly shot Eley while the two were
arguing in the parking lot of the Palmetto Apartments in Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi.
Eley was transported to a local hospital but died from multiple gunshot wounds. According
to Lott, Eley had been threatening him for several weeks, accusing Lott of having an affair
with Eley’s longterm girlfriend, Konswaylo Durr.
¶3. Durr testified that she and Eley had been fighting in the days leading up to his death.
A few nights prior to June 9, Durr and Lott had been at a local gas station when Eley arrived.
According to Durr, Eley accused the two of having an affair. Durr said Lott asked Eley to
go outside and discuss the situation. The situation deteriorated such that Durr retrieved
Lott’s gun from his car and shot Eley’s car. Durr testified that she did so to scare Eley and
to retaliate for him stealing her belongings. Eley left the area, and Durr went home.
¶4. The night before Eley’s death, Durr testified that she became angry with Eley and
asked him to leave their house. Durr had learned that Eley was going to have a child with
another woman. At one point Eley tried to sneak back in the house by removing a bedroom
air-conditioner unit, but Durr stabbed his hand to prevent his entrance. Durr gave Eley a
towel and water for his injured hand, then she left their house. Ultimately, Eley followed
Durr to the Palmetto Apartments, where Durr happened to see Lott. She pulled her car
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beside Lott’s car, and the two began talking. According to Durr, Eley walked toward them
and began yelling at Durr and Lott, accusing them of having an affair. Eley also grabbed
Lott’s cell phone. At some point, Eley and Lott were standing on the sidewalk outside the
apartment complex talking to Durr, who was still in her car. Durr testified that both she and
Lott were explaining to Eley that they were only friends. Durr stated, “[Lott] was mad and
slammed in front of my car, saying, ‘Man, keep my name out of your mouth. I told you I’m
not f---ing your b----.’” Durr said Eley replied, “Well, man, I’m just asking.” Durr testified
Lott walked toward his car and then walked back with his arm behind his back. Durr stated
Eley started running, then Lott began firing at Eley. Durr said Eley was unarmed. Durr
further testified that she never heard Eley threaten Lott. Durr was unaware that Eley had
previously confronted Lott about their relationship.
¶5. Lott remembered the events leading up to Eley’s death differently. He testified that
Eley had been harassing him for several weeks about his relationship with Durr. Lott stated
he told Investigator Charles Johnson with the Jefferson Davis County Sheriff’s Department
that Eley was threatening him. Investigator Johnson testified that Lott told him someone was
threatening him, but Lott did not give him a specific name, and without a specific name, he
could not help Lott. Lott testified that the day before Eley’s death, Eley came to Lott’s
parent’s house looking for him. According to Lott, Eley thought Durr was with him. Lott
stated that he wanted to resolve the situation. When Eley arrived, Lott testified that they did
discuss the situation, with Lott reiterating that he and Durr were just friends. Lott said he felt
frustrated and cut the conversation short. Both men left the house, and Lott drove to the
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apartment complex. Lott stated that he then received a text from Durr, indicating that Eley
said Lott was afraid to come over.
¶6. When he saw Eley at the apartment complex on the night of June 9, Lott said Eley did
grab his phone but also hit him in the chest. Lott stated that he was concerned for his safety
since Eley weighed about fifty pounds more than he did and was known for his aggressive
behavior. Lott further testified that Eley kept shoving him and yelling at him. Lott attempted
to get in his car and leave, but Eley followed him. Lott grabbed his gun, which had been
laying on the driver’s seat, then shot Eley at least six or seven times. He fled the scene,
claiming that he did not know if he had shot Eley.
¶7. Lott later turned himself in to the Jefferson Davis County Sheriff’s Department, where
he was read his Miranda2 rights. He was then interviewed by Investigator Jeff Toler,
Investigator Johnson, and Master Sergeant Leo Clemons of the Mississippi Bureau of
Investigations.
¶8. Investigator Toler testified that Lott admitted to shooting Eley, but that he did so in
self-defense. Master Sergeant Clemons testified that Lott admitted to shooting Eley. Master
Sergeant Clemons stated Lott told him that Eley was not armed at the time of the shooting.
Master Sergeant Clemons further stated Lott did not mention that Eley had previously
threatened him with bodily harm, only that Eley had accused him of having an affair with
Durr. Lott told the police that he believed Eley and Durr had concocted a plot against him.
¶9. During questioning, Lott stated that Eley was standing close to him and yelling at his
2
Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).
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face. Lott said he panicked and tried to walk away, but Eley followed. Master Sergeant
Clemons then asked Lott what happened while Lott was reaching for his gun. Lott replied,
“When [Eley] seen me reach for my [gun], you know what I’m saying, it was too late. . . . I’m
threatened now. I’m scared.”
¶10. Dr. John Davis, deputy chief medical examiner for the State of Mississippi, performed
the autopsy on Eley. Dr. Davis stated that Eley received four gunshot wounds. One gunshot
wound was in Eley’s upper chest. Dr. Davis noted the bullet entered Eley’s back, but he
could not locate the exit wound on Eley’s chest, most likely due to surgical intervention prior
to Eley’s death. Eley had two gunshot wounds to his left leg. One entered his left buttock
and exited through the outside of Eley’s left thigh. The other bullet entered the inside of
Eley’s left thigh and exited on the back of his left thigh. Another bullet entered Eley’s left
upper arm from the back, but Dr. Davis was unable to locate the exit wound. Dr. Davis also
testified that he could not determine the sequence of the gunshot wounds.
¶11. Dr. William Bolls, a general surgeon, also testified. Dr. Bolls operated on Eley when
he was brought to the emergency room. Dr. Bolls testified to the location of Eley’s gunshot
wounds based upon his personal knowledge. One gunshot wound entered Eley’s upper back
and exited near his right nipple. Eley had an entrance wound to his left buttocks with a
corresponding exit wound on his inner left thigh, and an entrance wound to his left upper
thigh. Eley also had an entrance wound to the back of his left upper arm and an exit wound
near the elbow.
DISCUSSION
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I. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
¶12. In his first issue on appeal, Lott argues that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing
to request a particular self-defense jury instruction. Lott relies upon Manuel v. State, 667 So.
2d 590 (Miss. 1995), to support his claim that his trial counsel erred by failing to request a
self-defense instruction indicating that he was afraid of being seriously injured by a larger,
though unarmed, victim. Lott contends the failure to do so left him with no jury instruction
on his theory of defense.
¶13. We first note “that, generally, ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims are more
appropriately brought during post-conviction proceedings.” Dartez v. State, 177 So. 3d 420,
422-23 (¶18) (Miss. 2015) (citing Archer v. State, 986 So. 2d 951, 955 (¶15) (Miss. 2008)).
The supreme court has explained that
[a]n appellate court is limited to the trial-court record in its review of the
claim(s), and there may be instances in which insufficient evidence and/or
information exists within the record to address the claim adequately. In such
a case, the appropriate procedure is to deny relief, preserving the defendant’s
right to argue the issue through a petition for post-conviction relief (PCR).
Id. at 423 (¶18) (citation omitted). However, an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim can
be addressed on direct appeal when “(1) the record affirmatively shows ineffectiveness of
constitutional dimensions, or (2) the parties stipulate that the record is adequate to allow the
appellate court to make the finding without consideration of the findings of fact of the trial
judge.” Johnson v. State, 196 So. 3d 973, 975 (¶7) (Miss. Ct. App. 2015). In the case before
us, both parties did not stipulate that the record is adequate for this Court to make a finding
on direct appeal. Thus, the proper inquiry is whether the record affirmatively shows that Lott
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was denied effective assistance of counsel of constitutional dimensions. See M.R.A.P. 22(b).
¶14. To prove ineffective assistance of counsel, Lott must show that: (1) his counsel’s
performance was deficient, and (2) this deficiency prejudiced his defense. Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). There is a strong presumption that a trial counsel’s
performance falls within the range of reasonable professional assistance. Id. at 689. To
overcome this presumption, “[t]he defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability
that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been
different.” Id. at 694. We look “at the totality of circumstances to determine whether
counsel’s efforts were both deficient and prejudicial.” Howell v. State, 163 So. 3d 240, 259
(¶49) (Miss. 2014).
¶15. In Manuel, the defendant, Nancy Manuel, stabbed and killed her live-in boyfriend,
Wendell Norris. Manuel, 667 So. 2d at 590. During trial, her counsel requested the
following instruction be given to the jury:
The Court instructs the jury that if the deceased, Wendell Norris, was a much
larger and stronger man than the defendant, Nancy Manuel, so much so that
the Defendant was wholly and absolutely incapable of coping with him in a
physical combat, and was liable to receive serious and great bodily injuries at
the hands of the deceased in the event that they became engaged in combat,
then the Defendant was justified in using a deadly weapon to protect [herself]
from an unjustifiable and deadly attack of the deceased even though the
deceased was wholly unarmed, and the Defendant was in no danger from the
deceased except such as might be inflicted by the deceased with his hands or
feet.
Id. at 591.
¶16. The trial judge found that the instruction was generally correct, but refused to give the
instruction because it was peremptory in nature. Id. at 593. The supreme court agreed with
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the trial judge, but reversed because the trial judge had a duty to cure the defective instruction
since Manuel had not offered any other instruction presenting her theory of self-defense. Id.
The court stated, “Where the instructions are in improper form and are the only ones
embodying a legally correct theory of the defendant’s defense, it is the duty of the trial court
to see that the instructions are placed in proper form for submission to the jury.” Id. The
supreme court further stated that while a defendant “is entitled to have an instruction on the
theory of her defense, that instruction should not single out certain parts of the evidence to
the point that it amounts to a comment on the weight of the evidence.” Id. at 592.
¶17. The record does not contain a transcript of the jury instruction conference between the
trial judge and trial counsel. But the record indicates that Lott’s trial counsel requested and
was granted two instructions regarding self-defense: jury instructions D-12 and D-14. Jury
instruction D-12 (Instruction 10) stated:
The Court instructs the jury that in order to justify the plea of self-
defense in this case, there must be something shown in the conduct of Adrian
Eley, the victim, at or about the time of his killing, indicating a present
intention to kill Eric Lott or to do him some great personal injury, and
imminent danger of such intention being accomplished.
Mere fears or beliefs of Eric Lott are insufficient. The danger to Eric
Lott from Adrian Eley must have been such as to lead a reasonable person
under similar circumstances to reasonably believe that some infliction of
serious bodily harm was necessary to prevent Adrian Eley from then and there
killing Eric Lott or doing him some great bodily harm.
Jury instruction D-14 (Instruction 11) stated:
The Court instructs the jury that to make an assault justifiable on the
grounds of self-defense, the danger to the defendant must be either actual,
present and urgent, or the defendant must have reasonable grounds to
apprehend a design on the part of the victim to kill him or to do him some
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great bodily harm, and in addition to this he must have reasonable grounds to
apprehend that there is imminent danger of such design being accomplished.
It is for the jury to determine the reasonableness of the ground upon which the
defendant acts.
¶18. Lott has failed to show any prejudice by his counsel’s decision not to request an
instruction similar to the one in Manuel. Lott’s theory of self-defense was presented to the
jury; thus, Lott cannot show that he was denied effective assistance of counsel of
constitutional dimensions. This issue is without merit.
II. Testimony of Dr. Bolls
¶19. In his next issue on appeal, Lott argues that the trial judge erred in allowing Dr. Bolls,
who was not tendered as an expert, to testify as an expert in pathology without satisfying the
requirements of Rule 702.3 However, Lott failed to object to Dr. Bolls’s testimony pursuant
to Rule 702. Rather, when the State asked Dr. Bolls if he had reviewed the autopsy report,
Lott objected that Dr. Bolls “did not perform the autopsy report. This would be secondhand
or hearsay information that he received from some other report that he read and did not
prepare.”
¶20. “A trial judge cannot be put in error on a matter which was not presented to him for
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Pursuant to Rule 702, an expert may provide testimony if “qualified . . . by
knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education . . . .” M.R.E. 702. Once qualified, the
expert may provide testimony if
(a) the expert’s scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will help
the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue;
(b) the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data;
(c) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods; and
(d) the expert has reliably applied the principles and methods to the facts of
the case.
Id.
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decision.” Holmes v. State, 798 So. 2d 533, 537 (¶16) (Miss. 2001). Therefore, Lott waived
the right to appeal this issue. Haddox v. State, 636 So. 2d 1229, 1240 (Miss. 1994). Lott
instead urges us to review this issue for plain error. We only employ the plain error doctrine
in situations when “a defendant’s substantive or fundamental rights are affected.” Flora v.
State, 925 So. 2d 797, 811 (¶42) (Miss. 2006). “Plain-error review is properly utilized for
‘correcting obvious instances of injustice or misapplied law.’” Smith v. State, 986 So. 2d
290, 294 (¶10) (Miss. 2008) (emphasis added). The Mississippi Supreme Court has
explained that, in order to “determine if plain error has occurred, we must determine ‘if the
trial court has deviated from a legal rule, whether that error is plain, clear[,] or obvious, and
whether the error has prejudiced the outcome of the trial.’” Neal v. State, 15 So. 3d 388, 403
(¶32) (Miss. 2009) (quoting McGee v. State, 953 So. 2d 211, 215 (¶8) (Miss. 2007)).
¶21. Dr. Bolls first testified regarding his personal knowledge of Eley’s wounds by
describing each gunshot wound. Lott did not object to this particular testimony. Later, the
State asked Dr. Bolls if he had reviewed Eley’s autopsy report. Lott’s trial counsel objected
as noted above. The trial judge asked Dr. Bolls whether he “saw and examined the entry and
exit wounds on Mr. Eley.” Dr. Bolls replied affirmatively. The trial judge then asked him,
“You later looked at the autopsy report?” Dr. Bolls replied affirmatively. The trial judge
asked, “Did that report indicate the same wounds that you noted when you were treating
[Eley]?” Dr. Bolls replied that it did. The trial judge then allowed Dr. Bolls to answer the
State’s questions.
¶22. Dr. Bolls generally agreed with the autopsy’s findings, except for the gunshot wound
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to Eley’s left thigh. On cross examination, Lott asked Dr. Bolls about this particular wound.
The autopsy report had indicated that the wound to Eley’s inner left thigh was an entrance
wound and the bullet traveled from front to back and downward, exiting his outer left thigh.
Dr. Bolls disagreed, stating, “It’s not what I observed.” Rather, Dr. Bolls testified that the
wound to Eley’s inner left thigh was an exit wound and the entrance wound was at the left
buttocks. He later stated that the wound to Eley’s outer left thigh was an entrance wound
with no corresponding exit wound.
¶23. We cannot find plain error in this instance. The trial judge did not deviate from a
known legal rule. Dr. Bolls’s testimony was an explanation of his own observations from
treating Eley. Dr. Bolls simply disagreed with one of the findings of the autopsy report based
upon his treatment of Eley. Lott further argues that he was prejudiced by Dr. Bolls’s
testimony because the implication is that Lott shot Eley in the back while Eley was fleeing.
However, Dr. Bolls never testified that Eley was fleeing when he was shot—and neither did
Dr. Davis. This issue is without merit.
III. Partiality of Trial Judge
¶24. In his final issue on appeal, Lott argues that the trial judge showed partiality to the
State by “aggressively assisting” it during trial. However, Lott failed to make timely
objections to the trial judge’s instances of purported partiality. In order for this Court to
review the purported partiality, Lott “had an obligation to make a contemporaneous objection
to [the] inappropriate behavior and lodge a proper objection at the time.” Golden v. State,
860 So. 2d 820, 822 (¶4) (Miss. Ct. App. 2003) (citing Powell v. Ayars, 792 So. 2d 240, 248
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(¶29) (Miss. 2001)). Mississippi Rule of Evidence 614(c) specifies that objections to the trial
judge’s comments should be made either when the disputed comments are made or at the
next available opportunity outside the jury’s presence. Lott’s “failure to raise a timely
objection not only denied the opportunity for corrective measures during trial, it also
precludes [him] from pursuing the claim on appeal.” Id.
¶25. Lott urges us to review this issue under plain error because “the conduct of the trial
judge, on the entire record, was so reprehensible and prejudicial as to deny a fair trial or due
process of law.” Jackson Yellow Cab Co. v. Alexander, 246 Miss. 268, 277, 148 So. 2d 674,
678 (1963). According to Lott, these instances of partiality by the trial court included
coaching the State on how to present Dr. Bolls’s testimony; advising the State on deficiencies
in its presentation of evidence, including how to cure the deficiencies; and helping the State
qualify Dr. Davis.
A. Dr. Bolls’s Testimony
¶26. During Dr. Bolls’s testimony, the trial judge stated that he was confused as to the
location of the gunshot wounds and asked one of the attorneys to act as a mannequin in order
for Dr. Bolls to explain where he saw the gunshot wounds on Eley. One of the prosecutors
for the State volunteered. Lott contends that this action by the trial judge placed more
credibility on Dr. Bolls’s testimony rather than Dr. Davis’s testimony, who was called to
testify several witnesses later. We fail to see how this conduct by the trial judge was
prejudicial to Lott.
B. Advice on Presentation of Evidence
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¶27. During the direct examination of Investigator Toler, the State asked him questions
about a warrant he had obtained to search Lott’s car. The trial judge paused the proceedings
and asked the State via bench conference if it was going to mark the search warrant and the
accompanying affidavit for identification. After some discussion, the items were admitted
for identification. We fail to see any error here.
C. Expert Qualification
¶28. Lott argues that the trial judge improperly assisted the State in qualifying Dr. Davis
as an expert witness. After the State tendered Dr. Davis as an expert in forensic pathology,
the trial judge asked him several questions, such as the status of his license in Mississippi,
how many times he had testified as an expert witness, and his board certifications. However,
since the decision of whether an expert is qualified is left to the trial judge’s discretion, we
can find no error. See Burnham v. Stevens, 734 So. 2d 256, 268 (¶47) (Miss. Ct. App. 1999).
¶29. Lott has failed to show that the conduct of the trial judge was so reprehensible and
prejudicial as to deny a him a fair trial. This issue is without merit.
¶30. AFFIRMED.
IRVING AND GRIFFIS, P.JJ., BARNES, CARLTON, FAIR, WILSON,
GREENLEE, WESTBROOKS AND TINDELL, JJ., CONCUR.
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