Gus Moss v. State of Mississippi
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS 04/23/96
OF THE
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 95-KA-00046 COA
GUS MOSS
APPELLANT
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
APPELLEE
THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION AND
MAY NOT BE CITED, PURSUANT TO M.R.A.P. 35-B
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. HENRY T. ROSS
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: GRENADA COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:
GAIL P. THOMPSON
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY: W. GLENN WATTS
DISTRICT ATTORNEY: DOUG EVANS
NATURE OF THE CASE: CRIMINAL: AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
TRIAL COURT DISPOSITION: GUILTY ON TWO COUNTS. SENTENCED TO SERVE 20
YEARS IN MDOC ON EACH COUNT. SENTENCES TO RUN CONSECUTIVELY.
BEFORE THOMAS, P.J., DIAZ, AND KING, JJ.
DIAZ, J., FOR THE COURT:
Gus Moss (Moss) was convicted in the Grenada County Circuit Court on two counts of aggravated
assault. He was sentenced to serve two twenty (20) year sentences in the Mississippi Department of
Corrections. The sentences were to run consecutively. Aggrieved from this judgment, Moss appeals
to this Court asserting the following issues: (1) that the trial court erred when it excluded all the
testimony of a defense witness when the witness invoked his Fifth Amendment rights; (2) that the
trial court erred when the two victims were allowed to testify after having been in the courtroom
during the testimony of another witness after the rule had been invoked; (3) that the trial court erred
in denying defense instruction D-10; (4) that the trial court erred in not granting a new trial; (5) that
the verdict was contrary to the weight of the evidence; and (6) that the cumulative effect of the errors
deprived Moss of a fair trial. Finding no merit to these claims, we affirm the judgment of the lower
court.
FACTS
On the night of May 21, 1994, Robert Salley and his cousin Linda Salley were each shot in the leg
outside of the Knoxville Country Club, a local dance club. Witnesses testified that an altercation
between two patrons initially began on the dance floor. Apparently, one of the girls that was involved
in the fight was Felicia Moss, Gus Moss’ sister. The girls were pulled apart, but eventually the fight
erupted again outside of the club. Patrick Hubbard, who was working at the club that night tried to
stop the fight when a series of gunshots were fired. Witnesses stated that there was more than one
gun that was fired. Robert Salley and Linda Salley were both shot in the leg. The crowd scattered,
and Moss drove off with his sister and a few of his friends.
Both Robert Salley and Linda Salley testified that Moss was the one who shot them. Witnesses for
the defense testified that Moss did not have a gun at the time the shots went off. Defense witnesses
uniformly testified that Moss was trying to help Felicia get into the car because she was having an
asthma attack; however, it was later revealed that Felicia does not suffer from asthma, but was
hyperventilating. Moss was later arrested along with Cyphus Mohead. A gun was found in Mohead’s
pants when police searched him.
DISCUSSION
I. CYPHUS MOHEAD’S TESTIMONY
Moss claims that the trial court erred in excluding the entire testimony of Cyphus Mohead (Mohead)
after he invoked his Fifth Amendment privilege of self-incrimination. The defense called Mohead as a
witness. Mohead fled the scene with Moss after the incident. They were both arrested, and a handgun
was found in Mohead’s pants when he was searched. Mohead was charged as a habitual offender
with a felony possession of a firearm. His attorney advised him that if he was charged and convicted
based on the testimony he intended to give, he could face a sentence of twenty years for each count
of aggravated assault without the possibility of parole. Based on the facts of this case, he was warned
that he may face fifteen to twenty counts of aggravated assault for firing into the crowd that night.
Despite warnings and an advisement of his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination from
both the court and his court-appointed attorney, Mohead insisted on testifying. On direct
examination, Mohead testified that he was shooting into the crowd that night in front of the Knoxville
Country Club. He stated that he was aiming at Robert Salley and Patrick Hubbard because they were
holding down Felicia Moss. He further stated that he was testifying because he did not want, "no man
going down for something he didn’t do." Later, on cross-examination, the State asked Mohead where
he had obtained the gun that was found on him. At that point, Mohead chose to invoke his Fifth
Amendment right against self-incrimination. The court excused him from the stand and upon motion
from the State, instructed the jury to disregard Mohead’s entire testimony.
In Fountain v. United States, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals stated that if a witness testifies on
direct examination to incriminating matters, he is considered to have waived the privilege as to those
matters and may not, on cross, decline to answer questions as to details of the matters already
revealed. Fountain v. United States, 384 F.2d 624, 627 (5th Cir.). "However, if the testimony sought
to be elicited on cross is not merely a more detailed inquiry into matters as to which the witness
already has waived his right, the witness may invoke the privilege." Fountain, 384 F.2d at 628.
"Where the privilege is legitimately invoked by a witness during cross-examination, all or part of that
witness’s direct testimony may be subject to a motion to strike." Id. In the Fountain case, the inquiry
focused on the rights of the defendant when a State’s witness invoked the privilege. The court stated
that the ultimate inquiry was whether the defendant has been substantially prejudiced by depriving
him of his right to test the truth of the direct testimony. Id.
In the present case, Mohead, a witness for the defense, asserted his privilege when the State asked
him about the gun he used. The direct examination of Mohead only covered the actual shooting and
subsequent arrest. The only mention of the gun on direct was when Mohead stated that the police
found the gun in his pants subsequent to his arrest. There were no questions asked about how or
from where Mohead got the gun. Since this topic was not covered on direct examination, there was
no waiver of the privilege, therefore it was properly invoked. The question asked on crossexamination was probing into the issue of from whom Mohead obtained the gun. Mohead had not
waived his rights on that issue. Even if we were to hold that the topic was covered on direct, and thus
subject to cross-examination, we must still focus on the inquiry of whether or not Moss was
substantially prejudiced by the court depriving him of his right to test the truth of the direct
testimony.
Although the case at bar is different from the Fountain case because it is the defendant’s witness that
is invoking the privilege on cross-examination, we do not think that Moss was substantially
prejudiced because Mohead’s entire testimony was struck. The defense was still able to introduce
into evidence the testimony of several other witnesses who stated that they saw Mohead with the
gun, and not Moss. Hence, we hold that Mohead properly invoked his privilege against selfincrimination; it was not reversible error to strike his entire testimony.
II. ROBERT AND LINDA SALLEY’S TESTIMONY
AFTER THE RULE WAS INVOKED
Moss’ second contention of error is that the trial court should not have allowed either Robert Salley
or Linda Salley to testify because they were in the courtroom for a portion of the previous witness’
testimony. Moss contends that since Rule 615 of the Mississippi Rules of Evidence was invoked, it
was reversible error for the trial court to allow Robert and Linda Salley to proceed with their
testimony.
Rule 615 of the Mississippi Rules of Evidence states in pertinent part:
At the request of the party the court shall order witnesses excluded so that they cannot
hear the testimony of other witnesses, and that it may make the order of its own motion.
M.R.E. 615. This rule serves to discourage a witness from tailoring her testimony to what she has
heard from the stand. Baine v. State, 606 So. 2d 1076, 1083 (Miss. 1992). As indicated by the
mandatory language, the trial court must apply it when a party invokes it. Baine, 606 So. 2d at 1083.
Once the rule has been violated, the remedy lies within the court’s discretion. Id. However, the
failure of the lower court judge to order a mistrial due to a violation of the witness sequestration rule
will not justify a reversal on appeal absent a showing of prejudice sufficient to constitute an abuse of
discretion. Powell v. State, 662 So. 2d 1095, 1098 (Miss. 1995) (citations omitted).
Upon reviewing the record, we see that the trial court overruled the defense’s motion to exclude
Robert and Linda Salley from testifying. In his ruling, the judge stated, "The motion is overruled. The
witnesses were not in the courtroom more than ten seconds, and heard perhaps two questions asked
of the witness, Deputy Williams, regarding his employment. The Court finds these questions have no
bearing on the actual facts in this case, and the objection is overruled." The record does not reflect
that any prejudice resulted.
Robert Salley testified in great detail of the events leading up to the shooting, and immediately after
the shooting. His testimony was basically corroborated by Linda Salley’s testimony. Deputy
Williams’ testimony simply began with his employment history, and then recounted his actions once
he got to the scene of the incident after the shootings. It simply does not appear from the testimony
that either Robert Salley or Linda Salley could have tailored their testimony from what, if anything,
they heard of Deputy Williams’ testimony. There is no reversible error here.
III. DEFENSE INSTRUCTION D-10
Moss asks this Court to reverse and remand this case because the trial court erred in refusing defense
instruction D-10. Moss argues that this instruction should have been given because it instructs the
jury on the standard of proof the State is required to carry before Moss can be found guilty. We find
that the standard of proof was sufficiently covered in the instructions given; accordingly, we find no
merit to this argument.
We first address the fact that no objection was made by Moss when the instruction was initially
refused by the court. This issue is procedurally barred. This Court has repeatedly held that the error,
if any, is waived if no contemporaneous objection is made. Foster v. State, 639 So. 2d 1263, 1270
(Miss. 1994). Moss’ failure to object precludes us from addressing this issue on appeal. Nevertheless,
despite the procedural bar, the substantive merits of this issue do not warrant us to reverse this case.
"This Court does not review jury instructions in isolation." Eakes v. State, 665 So. 2d 852, 871
(Miss. 1995). "All instructions are to be read together and if the jury is fully and fairly charged by
other instructions, the refusal of any similar instruction does not constitute reversible error." Eakes,
665 So. 2d at 871. "Refusal of a repetitive instruction is proper." Id.
After reviewing all of the jury instructions, we are satisfied that the jury was fully and fairly charged.
We think that jury instructions D-8 and S-1 sufficiently addressed the standard of proof the State was
required to prove. Giving instruction D-10 would have been merely repetitive, and the trial court was
correct in excluding it.
IV. NEW TRIAL/ WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE
Moss asserts that he should have been granted a new trial because of the errors he asserted above,
and that the verdict was against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. We have often stated that
issues regarding the weight and credibility of evidence lie with the jury. Eakes, 665 So. 2d at 872. We
will reverse only where the evidence, as to at least one of the elements of the crime charged, is such
that a reasonable and fair minded juror could not find the accused guilty. Id. Furthermore, this Court
will order a new trial only when it is convinced that the verdict is so contrary to the overwhelming
weight of the evidence that to allow it would sanction an unconscionable injustice. Id. (citations
omitted). In determining whether a jury verdict is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence,
this Court accepts as true all evidence which supports the verdict and will reverse only when
convinced that the trial court has abused its discretion in failing to grant a new trial. Id.
Robert Salley testified that he saw Moss fire the shots that hit him in the leg. Linda Salley’s testimony
reflects that she saw Moss run up to the crowd outside shooting. She testified that she was standing a
few feet away from Moss when he shot her in the left leg. Accepting this evidence as true as we are
required to do, we do not think that the verdict was against the overwhelming weight of the
evidence, nor do we think the trial court abused its discretion in failing to grant a new trial.
V. CUMULATIVE ERRORS
Moss suggests that even if we do not find reversible error in each individual error asserted, the
cumulative effect of the errors deprived him of a fundamentally fair trial, and therefore, we should
reverse this case.
After a thorough review of the record and each assignment of error, we have found no error
warranting reversal. The cumulative effect of any errors in this case was harmless beyond a
reasonable doubt. See Carr v. State, 655 So. 2d 824, 858 (Miss. 1995). We find no merit to this
assignment of error.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, we find that Mohead appropriately invoked his Fifth Amendment privilege against selfincrimination, and because Moss was not substantially prejudiced, it was not reversible error for the
trial court to strike Mohead’s entire testimony. Furthermore, under the circumstances as observed by
the trial court, it was not an abuse of discretion for the trial judge to allow Robert and Linda Salley to
testify even though the rule had been invoked. Upon reviewing the record, and the evidence
presented, we hold that the jury was fully and fairly charged with the instructions that were given;
moreover, the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. It is for these
reasons that we affirm the judgment below.
THE JUDGMENT OF THE GRENADA COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT OF CONVICTION
OF TWO COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND SENTENCE OF TWENTY (20)
YEARS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
FOR EACH COUNT WITH THE SENTENCE ON COUNT II TO RUN CONSECUTIVELY
WITH THE SENTENCE ON COUNT I AND ANY OTHER SENTENCE PREVIOUSLY
IMPOSED IS AFFIRMED. ALL COSTS OF THIS APPEAL ARE TAXED TO GRENADA
COUNTY.
FRAISER, C.J., BRIDGES AND THOMAS, P.JJ., BARBER, COLEMAN, KING,
McMILLIN, PAYNE, AND SOUTHWICK, JJ., CONCUR.
APPENDIX
Instruction D-10
The Court instructs the [j]ury that if you have a reasonable doubt as to who fired the shots
that struck Linda Salley, then you must find the Defendant, Gus Moss, "Not Guilty" as to
the charge of aggravated assault on Linda Salley.
The Court further instructs the [j]ury that is you have a reasonable doubt as to who fired
the shots that struck Robert Salley, then you must find the Defendant, Gus Moss, "Not
Guilty" as the charge of aggravated assault on Robert Salley.
Instruction D-8
The Court instructs the jury that a reasonable doubt may arise from the whole of the
evidence, the conflict of the evidence, the lack of evidence, or the insufficiency of the
evidence; but however it arises, if it arises, it is your sworn duty to find the defendant
"Not Guilty".
Instruction S-1
The defendant, Guss [sic] Moss, has been charged in a multi-count indictment with two
(2) counts of Aggravated Assault.
As to Count I, if you believe from all the evidence in this case beyond a reasonable doubt
that:
1. the defendant, on or about the 21st day of May, 1994, did unlawfully,
feloniously, purposely, knowingly or recklessly under circumstances
manifesting extreme indifference for the value of human life cause bodily injury
to another, namely; Linda Salley, and
2. such injury was done with a deadly weapon, to-wit: a gun, and
3. the defendant was not acting in necessary self-defense,
then you shall find the defendant guilty as charged in Count I.
If the State has failed to prove any one of the above elements as to Count I beyond a
reasonable doubt, then you shall find the defendant not guilty of Count I.
As to Count II, if you believe from all the evidence in this case beyond a reasonable doubt
that:
1. the defendant, on or about the 21st day of May, 1994, did unlawfully,
feloniously, purposely, knowingly, or recklessly under the circumstances
manifesting extreme indifference for the value of human life cause bodily injury
to another, namely; Robert Salley, and
2. such injury was done with a deadly weapon, to wit: a gun, and
3. the defendant was not acting in necessary self-defense,
then you shall find the defendant guilty as charged as to Count II.
If the State has failed to prove any one of the above elements in Count II beyond a
reasonable doubt, then you shall find the defendant not guilty as to Count II.
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