IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2002-DR-00912-SCT
STEVE KNOX a/k/a STEVE MICHAEL KNOX
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 09/29/1999
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. FORREST A. JOHNSON, JR.
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: AMITE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: OFFICE OF CAPITAL POST-CONVICTION
COUNSEL
BY: ROBERT M. RYAN
LOUWLYNN VANZETTA WILLIAMS
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY:
MARVIN L. WHITE, JR.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY: RONNIE HARPER
NATURE OF THE CASE: CIVIL - DEATH PENALTY - POST
CONVICTION RELIEF
DISPOSITION: LEAVE TO SEEK POST-CONVICTION RELIEF
DENIED - 03/24/2005
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED: 04/21/2005; DENIED AND OPINION
CLARIFIED AT ¶¶ 50, 51 & 59 - 06/02/2005
MANDATE ISSUED:
EN BANC.
SMITH, CHIEF JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
¶1. Steve Knox was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death for the murder of
Ella Mae Spears. On direct appeal this Court considered three issues, found those issues to
be without merit and affirmed Knox's conviction and death sentence. See Knox v. State, 805
So.2d 527 (Miss. 2002), cert. denied, 536 U.S. 965, 122 S.Ct. 2677, 153 L.Ed.2d 842 (2002).
¶2. Knox subsequently filed his Petition for Post-Conviction Relief and
Supplement/Amendment to Petition for Post-Conviction Relief with this Court. The State has
filed its Response, and Knox has filed his Rebuttal. Knox raises the following contentions in
his Petition for Post-Conviction Relief:
I. THE TRIAL COURT’S LIMITING INSTRUCTIONS ON THE
STATUTORY AGGRAVATOR ESPECIALLY HEINOUS,
ATROCIOUS AND CRUEL WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE
EVIDENCE ADDUCED AT TRIAL AND FURTHER, THE
INSTRUCTION WAS CONSTITUTIONALLY INFIRM IN THAT IT
WAS VAGUE AND OVERBROAD.
II. PETITIONER WAS DENIED HIS SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHT TO
THE EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL WITHIN THE
MEANING OF STRICKLAND v. WASHINGTON.
III. THE TRIAL COURT SHOULD HAVE DIRECTED A VERDICT IN
FAVOR OF KNOX ON THE CHARGE OF CAPITAL MURDER AT
THE CLOSE OF THE STATE’S CASE-IN-CHIEF AND AFTER THE
STATE FINALLY RESTED IN THE GUILT-INNOCENCE PHASE
OF THE TRIAL AS THE EVIDENCE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO
SUSTAIN A VERDICT OF GUILTY TO THE UNDERLYING
FELONY OF ROBBERY.
IV. MISSISSIPPI’S DEATH PENALTY STATUTES ARE
UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS APPLIED TO THE PETITIONER AND
AS A RESULT, HIS EIGHTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS UNDER THE
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND THE CORRESPONDING
PORTIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION WERE
VIOLATED.
V. THE SENTENCE RENDERED AGAINST PETITIONER STEVE
KNOX IS DISPROPORTIONATE IN VIOLATION OF THE
EIGHTH AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED
STATES CONSTITUTION AND THE CORRESPONDING
PORTIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION.
VI.
PETITIONER WAS DENIED HIS RIGHTS GUARANTEED BY THE
FF H I T ,EG T A DF U T E T A E D E T T T EF D R LC NTT TO A DMSISPIL WD E
IT ,SX H I H H N O R E N H M N M N S O H E E A O S I U I N N ISSIP A U
TO THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF THE ERRORS AT HIS CAPITAL TRIAL.
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¶3. Knox also raises the following contentions in his Supplement/Amendment:
VII. THE PETITIONER WAS DENIED HIS SIXTH AMENDMENT
RIGHT TO THE EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL AT THE
GUILT AND SENTENCING PHASES OF THE TRIAL WITHIN
THE MEANING OF STRICKLAND v. WASHINGTON, AND
CORRESPONDING PORTIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI
CONSTITUTION.
VIII. THE AGGRAVATING FACTORS ELEVATING THE CHARGE TO
A CAPITAL OFFENSE WERE NOT INCLUDED IN KNOX’S
INDICTMENT AND THEREFORE HIS DEATH PENALTY MUST
BE VACATED.
IX. PETITIONER’S DEATH SENTENCE VIOLATES THE SIXTH AND
EIGHTH AMENDMENTS AS THE JURY FOUND THE
AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE DISJUNCTIVE.
X. THE SENTENCING JURY WAS IMPROPERLY INSTRUCTED.
XI. ADMISSION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DECEASED
TAKEN PRIOR TO HER DEATH WAS ERROR.
XII. PETITIONER ASSERTS THAT HIS DEATH SENTENCE WAS
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPOSED.
FACTS
¶4. On October 22, 1998, Ella Mae Spears was scheduled to travel from Liberty to Fayette,
Mississippi, to babysit the children of her niece, Guy Alice Spears Green. When she failed to
arrive as scheduled, her family contacted the Sheriff’s Office. The authorities went to her
house, where they found her body locked in the trunk of her car. Autopsy results indicated that
her death was consistent with manual strangulation. Later that day Steve Knox was apprehended
in the area of Ella Mae Spears’s house with her missing house and car keys in his back pocket.
A search of Knox’s parents’ home yielded a shirt and jogging pants which were stained with
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wet, reddish brown spots. Knox could not remember how he came to be wearing bloody
clothing and how the keys came to be in his back pocket. He stated that he woke up on the
morning of October 22, went outside to a field, and then woke up in the field some time later
with blood on his clothes and no memory of what had happened.
DISCUSSION
I. INSTRUCTIONS 2 AND 12.
¶5. Knox first argues that portions of Sentencing Instructions 2 and 12 were vague and
overbroad. The State answers that this issue was considered and found to be without merit on
direct appeal. See Knox, 805 So.2d at 533-35. A review of this Court’s opinion shows that
only Instruction 12 was considered by this Court during Knox’s direct appeal. Most of the
argument based on Instruction 2 is not barred by res judicata, but Knox is procedurally barred
from raising here any objections to Instruction 2 at this time under Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-
21(1). This Court has stated that
[p]rocedural bars of waiver, different theories, and res judicata and exception
thereto as defined in the post-conviction relief statute are applicable in death
penalty post conviction relief applications. Cole v. State, 666 So.2d 767, 773
(Miss. 1995). Also, although this Court need not look further after finding
procedural bar, it may review the merits of the underlying claim knowing that
any subsequent review will stand on the bar alone. Blue v. State, 674 So.2d
1184, 1191-92 (Miss. 1996).
Brewer v. State, 819 So.2d 1165, 1167-68 (Miss. 2000).
¶6. Knox complains about his portion of Instruction 2:
Whether the capital offense was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel in that
the defendant inflicted physical or mental pain before death, that there was
mental torture and aggravation before death, or that a lingering or torturous
death was suffered by the victim, in that Steve Knox bludgeoned and choked
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Miss Spears and stuffed her into the trunk of her car while she may have still
been alive.
¶7. Knox argues first that Instruction 2 was the “functional equivalent of a directed verdict”
on the heinous, atrocious or cruel issue. We disagree. Instruction 2 asks the jury to find
whether the offense was heinous, atrocious or cruel in the context of acts it had already found
that Knox had committed.
¶8. Knox next argues that his death sentence was based on speculation because the jury was
instructed that Knox may have committed certain acts “while she may have still been alive.”
Though not in relation to this instruction, this Court, in discussing the circumstances of Ella
Mae Spears’s death on direct appeal, found that “the jury was not required to so speculate” as
to whether her death was especially heinous. Knox, 805 So.2d at 534.
¶9. Last, Knox cites an Alabama case, Barksdale v. State, 788 So.2d 898 (Ala. Crim. App.
2000). Knox argues that Barksdale sets a higher standard for the heinous, atrocious and cruel
aggravator. Whether it does or not is irrelevant, as Barksdale has not been adopted by this
Court. This issue is without merit.
II. and VII. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.
¶10. Knox argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial. He raises this
claim under Issue II, in his Petition for Post-Conviction Relief, and under Issue VII, in the
Supplement/Amendment to Petition.
¶11. This Court described review of a claim of on ineffective assistance of counsel and the
standard provided in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674
(1984):
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"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." Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 686, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80
L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). A defendant must demonstrate that his counsel's
performance was deficient and that the deficiency prejudiced the defense of the
case. Id. at 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052. "Unless a defendant makes both showings, it
cannot be said that the conviction or death sentence resulted from a breakdown
in the adversary process that renders the result unreliable." Stringer v. State,
454 So.2d 468, 477 (Miss.1984) (citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.
at 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052). The focus of the inquiry must be whether counsel's
assistance was reasonable considering all the circumstances. Id.
Judicial scrutiny of counsel's performance must be highly
deferential. (citation omitted) ... 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. Because of the difficulties
inherent in making the evaluation, a court must indulge a strong
presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of
reasonable professional assistance; that is, the defendant must
overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances, the
challenged action 'might be considered sound trial strategy.'
Stringer, 454 So.2d at 477 (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S.Ct.
2052). Defense counsel is presumed competent. Id.
Then, to determine the second prong of prejudice to the defense,
the standard is "a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's
unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have
been different." Mohr v. State, 584 So.2d 426, 430 (Miss.1991).
This means a "probability sufficient to undermine the confidence
in the outcome." Id. The question here 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 the aggravating and mitigating
circumstances did not warrant death. Strickland,
466 U.S. at 695, 104 S.Ct. at 2068.
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There is no constitutional right then to errorless counsel. Cabello
v. State, 524 So.2d 313, 315 (Miss.1988); Mohr v. State, 584
So.2d 426, 430 (Miss.1991) (right to effective counsel does not
entitle defendant to have an attorney who makes no mistakes at
trial; defendant just has right to have competent counsel). If the
post-conviction application fails on either of the Strickland
prongs, the proceedings end. Neal v. State, 525 So.2d 1279,
1281 (Miss.1987); Mohr v. State, 584 So.2d 426 (Miss.1991).
Davis v. State, 743 So.2d 326, 334 (Miss.1999) (citing Foster v. State, 687
So.2d 1124, 1130 (Miss.1996)).
Brown v. State, 798 So.2d 481, 493-94 (Miss. 2001).
A. Batson v. Kentucky
¶12. Knox’s jury was comprised of three African-Americans and nine Caucasians. The State
used eleven peremptory challenges in all, eight against African-Americans on the venire.
Knox’s trial counsel objected based on Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90
L.Ed.2d 69 (1986). The circuit court required the State to provide race-neutral reasons for the
peremptory strikes. The race-neutral reasons may be summarized as follows: (1) Schneider
showed a drastic reaction when the death penalty status of case was announced, rolled her eyes,
became pained in her appearance, and did not raise her hand on any question pertaining to the
death penalty; (2) Higgonbottham also reacted to the death penalty status announcement and
was related to a woman who recently had been charged with aggravated assault but the grand
jury refused to indict; (3) Jenkins was related to an unpopular constable who had problems with
law enforcement during his term in office; (4) Williams had strong feelings against imposition
of the death penalty; (5) McCoy or someone in his family had been charged with a crime; (6)
Richardson attempted to have herself excused because of previous jury service; (7) Jones was
non-responsive and wore a ponytail; (8) Williams was young and non-responsive and appeared
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to be nodding off at times. Defense counsel responded: “I cannot dispute any of the things that
Ronnie [the District Attorney] has set forth. He was pretty weak on identifying with the
defendant. Other than that, how the hair fixed up, a whole lot to do with anything.” The circuit
court found that some of the State’s reasons were a close call but accepted them and allowed
the challenges to stand.
¶13. Knox argues that “the trial court clearly indicated that trial counsel could have
challenged some of the prosecution’s race-neutral reasons in light of Batson.” We disagree
that the circuit court’s comments amounted to such an indication. Knox does not cite any of
this Court’s decisions construing Batson.
¶14. The State cites Brown v. State, 749 So.2d 82 (Miss. 1999), where Brown alleged that
his trial counsel had been ineffective for failure to offer rebuttal argument to the State’s
allegedly race-neutral reasons for peremptory strikes. Brown did not say what information his
trial counsel should have offered in rebuttal. Brown also argued that allegations against the
jurors supplied by police was hearsay. This Court found that the State gave legitimate race-
neutral reasons for the peremptory strikes and absent some showing of a different outcome
had the Batson objections been sustained, trial counsel was not ineffective on this issue. Knox
has failed to make a showing of ineffective assistance on this issue.
B. Failure to present any defense
¶15. Knox next argues that his trial counsel “failed to present an adequate and sufficient
defense” and “failed to provide any meaningful adversarial testing of the prosecution’s case.”
Knox argues that “the non-existence defense resulted in deficient performance.” Knox cites
United States v. Cronic, 466 U.S. 648, 104 S.Ct. 2039, 80 L.Ed.2d 657 (1984), as authority.
8
Knox points out that trial counsel failed to call any witnesses during the guilt phase of the trial,
and presumably this sub-issue is confined only to counsel’s performance in the guilt phase of
the trial.
¶16. Knox told Deputy Sheriff Donald Butler that he woke up on the morning of the murder
of Ella Mae Spears, went outside to a field, and the next thing he remembered was waking up
in the field several hours later with blood on his clothes and no memory of how the blood got
on his clothes. Knox now does not say how his trial counsel were supposed to fashion a
defense out of this version of events.
¶17. The State cites Branch v. State, 882 So.2d 36 (Miss. 2004), where this Court discussed
the difference between an ineffective assistance of counsel claim under Strickland v.
Washington and a claim under Cronic:
The Supreme Court has recognized a limited exception to the
prejudice requirement when (1) assistance of counsel has been
denied completely, (2) "counsel entirely fails to subject the
prosecution's case to meaningful adversarial testing," or (3)
counsel is denied during a critical stage of the proceedings.
Cronic, 466 U.S. at 658-59, 104 S.Ct. 2039; see Mickens
v.Taylor, 535 U.S. 162, 122 S.Ct. 1237, 1240-41, 152 L.Ed.2d
291 (2002).
Freeman v. Graves, 317 F.3d at 900. In this case, because the errors were
committed by his own counsel, Branch argues that there was no meaningful
adversarial testing of prosecutor's case. Bell v. Cone, 535 U.S. 685, 122 S.Ct.
1843, 1851, 152 L.Ed.2d 914 (2002) (discussing egregious trial conduct
necessary to remove a case from Strickland analysis and apply a Cronic
analysis).
When applying Strickland or Cronic, the distinction between
counsel's failure to oppose the prosecution entirely and the
failure of counsel to do so at specific points during the trial is a
"difference ... not of degree but of kind." [Bell, 122 S.Ct. at 1851
(quoting Cronic, 466 U.S. at 659, 104 S.Ct. 2039)]. Under this
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rationale, when counsel fails to oppose the prosecution's case at
specific points or concedes certain elements of a case to focus
on others, he has made a tactical decision. Id. at 1851-52. By
making such choices, defense counsel has not abandoned his or
her client by entirely failing to challenge the prosecution's case.
Such strategic decisions do not result in an abandonment of
counsel, as when an attorney completely fails to challenge the
prosecution's case. Under the Court's reasoning, then, Cronic is
reserved only for those extreme cases in which counsel fails to
present any defense. We presume prejudice in such cases because
it is as if the defendant had no representation at all. In contrast,
strategic or tactical decisions are evaluated under Strickland's
traditional two-pronged test for deficiency and prejudice.
Haynes v. Cain, 298 F.3d 375, 381 (5th Cir. 2002).
A defendant is not entitled to errorless counsel. Hansen v. State, 649 So.2d
1256, 1259 (Miss.1994), Johnson v. State, 511 So.2d 1333, 1339-40
(Miss.1987). This Court must look to the entire performance of counsel to
determine whether he or she was competent and conscientiously fulfilled the
role as advocate.
Branch, 882 So.2d at 65-66. This Court found that a review of the record showed that Branch
was “represented by competent and zealous counsel” who “challenged the State’s evidence at
all stages of this case,” and there was no merit to the issue. Branch, 882 So.2d at 66.
¶18. The State contends that Knox’s trial counsel challenged the State’s case and there was
no violation under Cronic. The State points out that defense counsel filed numerous pre-trial
motions; cross-examined nine out of eleven prosecution witnesses; points out a long colloquy
between the circuit court and defense counsel on whether one defense witness might be
located and called (the witness ultimately was not called because he would have corroborated
the State’s witnesses as to what happened when Knox was taken into custody); notes that Knox
was thoroughly examined on whether or not he wanted to take the stand; and that the physical
evidence in the case was overwhelming in favor of the State. The State attaches to its Response
10
an affidavit from Gus Sermos, one of Knox’s trial attorneys, wherein Sermos states that he met
with Knox on numerous occasions and even discussed a plea offer from the State with Knox,
which Knox ultimately rejected. The terms of the plea offer are not supplied.
¶19. As Knox has not suggested any new evidence or testimony which should have been
offered by his trial counsel, we find that there was no violation of Knox’s right to counsel
under Cronic or Strickland.
C. Failure to Investigate and Present Mitigating Evidence Concerning
Mental Health
¶20. This issue was raised in both Knox’s original Petition for Post-Conviction Relief, as
his sole claim for ineffective assistance, and his Supplement/Amendment to Petition for Post-
Conviction Relief, under Issue C.
¶21. Knox argues that trial counsel failed to adequately investigate mitigation factors and
interview potential mitigation witnesses. Knox notes that trial counsel called no witnesses
during the guilt phase of his trial and only two witnesses during the sentencing phase, Knox’s
mother and aunt. Trial counsel also introduced copies of Knox’s Social Security records
during the sentencing. Knox suffered a head injury while doing construction work in 1998.
Knox claimed that he suffered from headaches because of this injury. In October 1998 he
applied for SSI disability due to his head injury. His application was denied.
¶22. Knox also attaches two affidavits from Deidre Jackson, a paralegal, and Tomika Harris,
an investigator, both with the Mississippi Office of Capital Post Conviction Counsel. Each
affidavit states that Jackson and Harris conducted a phone interview with Mildred Knox,
mother of Steve Knox, on January 30, 2003. The affidavit states that Steve Knox was a slow
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child who didn’t talk much until the age of seven and that she believed he had learning
disabilities, but she couldn’t afford to take him to a doctor; that he wet his pants until his was
ten, but medication helped that problem; that Steve would wake up on some days and complain
that he could not see, and would stay in bed until his vision returned; that Steve’s favorite hobby
growing up was boxing; that Steve couldn’t hold a job for a long period of time; and that he
seemed to have mental problems but the problems worsened when Steve was struck in the head
with a backhoe bucket at a construction job in North Carolina. Knox states that this
information could have been presented at trial or should have led to further investigation as to
mitigating evidence or even as to possible mental retardation.
¶23. Knox also states that he “had a prior history of substance abuse beginning at the age of
fourteen,” that he was “a heavy user of crack and occasionally marijuana,” and as a result of his
drug use, he “was often homeless.” Knox cites no authority for these assertions.
¶24. Knox cites Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 120 S.Ct. 1495, 146 L.Ed.2d 389 (2000),
where the United States Supreme Court found that counsel had been ineffective at the
sentencing phase of trial because of counsel's failure to investigate and uncover proof of
Williams's tragic childhood because counsel thought that state law barred access to certain
relevant records. The Court said counsel could have discovered that Williams's parents had
been imprisoned for criminal neglect of their children, that Williams had been beaten by his
father, that Williams had spent time in an abusive foster home, that Williams was borderline
mentally retarded and did not advance past the sixth grade in school, and that Williams had
helped authorities during his stay in prison.
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¶25. Knox also cites Jackson v. Calderon, 211 F.3d 1148 (9th Cir. 2000), where Jackson's
attorney was found to be ineffective in the sentencing phase for spending about two hours
investigating in preparation for sentencing and calling only Jackson's estranged wife and
mother as witnesses. In invalidating the death sentence, the Ninth Circuit stated that Jackson's
attorney never investigated beyond the mother and wife because he never expected the case to
reach the sentencing phase, and he never investigated or presented evidence concerning
Jackson's addiction to PCP or his PCP intoxication at the time of the murder, never
investigated a separate aggravating factor, and never investigated beatings Jackson had endured
as a child or signs that Jackson was mentally ill. See also Smith v. Stewart , 140 F.3d 1263
(9th Cir. 1998) (death sentence vacated where counsel presented no mitigating evidence when
evidence concerning mental problems, drug abuse and family ties was available).
¶26. The State answers by first stating that the affidavits of the Office of Capital Post-
Conviction Counsel staff contain hearsay, and when Mildred Knox purports to convey what
other people have stated, they contain double hearsay. The State cites Bishop v. State, 882
So.2d 135, 155 nn. 11 & 12 (Miss. 2004), where this Court found that similar affidavits would
not be considered in post-conviction proceedings.
¶27. The State then discusses the Social Security documents attached by Knox to his
Petition, noting that the same documents were admitted as an exhibit during the sentencing
phase of Knox’s trial. Defense counsel was allowed to give a short explanation to the jury
concerning Knox’s injury and his attempt to be declared disabled by the Social Security
Administration.
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¶28. The State also cites the affidavit from trial counsel Gus Sermos, which states that
Sermos and co-counsel Rosenthal met with Knox on numerous occasions, and trial counsel
concluded that “neither Knox’s sanity nor his competency to assist counsel and go forward
with the case were issues in question.” Sermos further states in the affidavit that he spoke to
or attempted to speak to numerous members of the Knox family and the way in which he
evaluated the information they gave him.
¶29. The State points out that Knox managed to hold certain menial jobs and was never
declared disabled by the Social Security Administration. The State points out that Knox has
supplied little or nothing as to what an effective attorney performing a proper investigation
would or should have found in the way of mitigating testimony. The State argues that the
accusation that trial counsel failed to properly investigate is merely an unfounded allegation.
We agree with the State. This issue is without merit.
D. Failure to determine competency to stand trial.
¶30. Knox next argues that, considering his head injury and his attempt to obtain Social
Security disability benefits, trial counsel should have asked that the circuit court make a
determination as to Knox’s competency before trial. Knox states that failure to ask for such
a determination despite the warning signs available to counsel amounts to ineffective
assistance. Knox cites Agan v. Singletary, 12 F.3d 1012 (11th Cir. 1994); Bouchillon v.
Collins, 907 F.2d 589 (5th Cir. 1990); Jackson v. State, 857 S.W.2d 678 (Tex. Ct. App. 1993);
and State v. Green, 632 So.2d 1187 (La. Ct. App. 1994). In all of these cases counsel was
found to ineffective for failure to investigate competency or some other aspect of the client’s
mental state or failure to object when the statutory means for determining competency was not
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followed. There was also medical evidence of mental illness, insanity, retardation and
substance abuse presented in each of these cases. Knox has presented no such evidence in this
case. He has not supplied an affidavit from any doctor or mental health professional which
states that he is incompetent now or that he was incompetent at the time of his trial. Absent
some evidence of this type, the case law cited by Knox is irrelevant.
¶31. Knox next argues that appellate counsel was ineffective for failure to raise as error on
appeal the circuit court’s failure to order a competency examination even where none
requested. Neither Knox nor the State cite authority from this Court stating that the failure to
ask for a competency hearing, by itself, amounts to ineffective assistance of counsel. Absent
some substantial evidence, in addition to the medical and Social Security records already
produced, which raises a legitimate question concerning Knox’s competence, we find that trial
counsel was not ineffective here.
E. Failure to Investigate and Present Mitigating Evidence
¶32. This is a restatement of subsection C of this issue. Nothing presented here changes this
Court’s earlier finding, that Knox has failed to show ineffective assistance of counsel on the
failure to investigate and find mitigating evidence, mostly in the area of mental health.
III. EVIDENCE OF ROBBERY.
¶33. Knox argues that the circuit court erred in failing to grant a directed verdict on the
capital murder charge because the evidence was insufficient to support a guilty verdict on
robbery, the underlying felony. Knox cites Register v. State, 232 Miss. 128, 97 So.2d 919
(1957), where Register was convicted of robbery. This Court reversed Register’s conviction
because it was not proven that Register took the personal property of his victim
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contemporaneously with his assault on her, or that the violence Register used against the
victim was the means by which her personal property was taken. Knox argues that there was
no testimony based on personal knowledge as to the alleged robbery of Ella Mae Spears or how
Knox got the house key and car key in question. Knox argues that this conjecture does not
amount to a robbery under Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-19. Knox also cites Clayton v. State, 759
So.2d 1169 (Miss. 1999), where Clayton’s robbery conviction was reversed because it was not
proven that Clayton put his victim in fear of immediate injury before he snatched her purse.
¶34. The State argues that consideration of this issue is barred by res judicata, because the
issue was raised on direct appeal and found to be without merit by this Court. See Miss. Code
Ann. § 99-39- 21(3); Doss v. State, 882 So.2d 176, 197 (Miss. 2004). A review of this Court’s
opinion shows this to be correct. This Court found that “the elements of robbery by theft of
house and car keys, the underlying felony, was clearly established and proven beyond a
reasonable doubt.” Knox, 805 So.2d at 532. We note that Knox argued and relied upon
Register on direct appeal. This Court also stated that, “[i]t is not necessary that the victim be
deprived of property prior to death to sustain a conviction for robbery.” Id. at 531 (citing West
v. State, 463 So. 2d 1048, 1056 (Miss. 1985)). We also noted, “a blood trail led from a spot
in her garage to the trunk of her car, with no sign of entry into her home, all of which indicates
that Knox took the keys from Spear’s person while she was in the garage.” Id. at 532. We also
noted that the house and car keys was “property of nominal and modest value” but, that was “of
no great concern,” citing Fisher v. State, 481 So. 2d 203 (Miss. 1985), where this Court has
upheld the underlying felony of robbery where only property of nominal or modest value was
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taken. Id. See also People v. Gonzalez, 254 A.D. 2d 157, 158, 681 N.Y.S.2d 3, 4 (N.Y. App.
Div. 1998) (Car keys were taken and consisted of only modest or nominal value.)
¶35. It is thus apparent to this Court, as it obviously was to the jury, that Knox killed his
victim in the garage, took the house and car keys from her, drug her body and placed it in the
trunk of the car. The jury could have then concluded that Knox killed Ms. Spears and took the
keys “intending to take her car and that he either failed to do so or intended to return at a later
time.” 805 So. 2d at 532. This issue is without merit.
IV. CONSTITUTIONALITY OF DEATH PENALTY STATUTES.
¶36. Knox next argues that Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-19(2)(e), § 99-19-101(5)(d) and § 99-
19-101(7) are unconstitutional. Section 97-3-19(2)(e) provides circumstances under which
killing of a human being can become capital murder, i.e. murder in the commission of a felony;
Section 99-19-101(5)(d) lists certain felonies as potential aggravating circumstances in a
capital offense; and Section 99-19-101(7) lists the so-called Enmund factors. Knox concedes
that this Court has consistently held that § 97-3-19(2)(e) “passes constitutional muster.” Knox
disagrees with these repeated findings.
¶37. As to § 99-19-101(5)(d), Knox appears to argue that a person could be given the death
penalty because “anyone who commits a felony during which a killing takes place has
contemplated that lethal force would be used and is therefore death eligible.” Knox argues that
the required level of intent would not be met here. This is an academic argument in this case.
The jury found that Knox actually killed Ella Mae Spears. Knox also concedes that this Court
has found § 99-19-101(5) to be constitutional.
¶38. Finally, as to § 99-19-101(7), this Court has stated:
17
Stevens asserts that the jury instructions given during the penalty phase of his
trial were constitutionally defective in light of Tison v. Arizona, 481 U.S. 137,
107 S.Ct. 1676, 95 L.Ed.2d 127 (1987). Stevens argues that Miss.Code Ann. §
99-19-101(7) improperly allows the commission of a felony to be used as an
aggravating factor in determination of a death sentence, thereby lowering the
level of culpability required to impose a death sentence. However, even Stevens
acknowledges that the death penalty may be imposed as punishment for a killing
which takes place during the commission of a felony. Stevens v. State, 806
So.2d at 1053. Stevens also argues that the capital sentencing scheme violates
the Eighth Amendment because it potentially might allow one who merely
participates in a felony to receive the death sentence for a killing he had no
intent to commit.
This Court has previously determined that a sentencing scheme which permits
imposition of the death penalty for certain felony murders without a finding of
a specific intent to kill is not violative of either the Eighth Amendment or due
process protections. Holland v. State, 705 So.2d 307, 319- 20 (Miss.1997).
The Court has also held that the "during commission of a felony" aggravating
factor is not unconstitutional because other statutes prevent the sentencing body
from imposing a punishment that is greater than the crime. Grayson v. State,806
So.2d 241, 252 (Miss.2001). These issues are without merit.
Stevens v. State, 867 So.2d 219, 223 (Miss. 2003).
¶39. The State argues that Knox is procedurally barred from raising this issue because it was
not raised on direct appeal. See Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(1). This is correct. In addition,
a review of the merits shows that Knox is due no relief on this issue.
V. PROPORTIONALITY OF DEATH SENTENCE.
¶40. Knox next argues that his death was disproportionate “when considering his relative
mental state and culpability.” He also states that his sentence “violates federal case law
because it ignores the mental state of the defendant and because there is no rational basis for
treating a felony murderer more culpable than a depraved heart murderer.” Knox cites Furman
v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238, 92 S.Ct. 2726, 33 L.Ed.2d 346 (1972); Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U.S.
153, 96 S.Ct. 2909, 49 L.Ed.2d 859 (1976); Enmund v. Florida, 458 U.S. 782, 102 S.Ct.
18
3368, 73 L.Ed.2d 1140 (1982); Tison v. Arizona, 481 U.S. 137, 107 S.Ct. 1676, 95 L. Ed 2d
127 (1987); and Grayson v. State, 806 So.2d 241 (Miss. 2001).
¶41. This Court considered the proportionality of Knox’s death sentence on direct appeal
and found:
Miss.Code Ann. §99-19-105(3) (2000) requires that a proportionality review
be conducted by this Court when affirming a death sentence in a capital case. It
does not appear that Knox's death sentence was imposed under the influence of
passion, prejudice or any other arbitrary factor. As discussed previously, the
evidence supports the "heinous, atrocious, or cruel" aggravating factor. Finally,
it does not appear upon comparison to other factually similar cases where the
death sentence was imposed, that the sentence of death is disproportionate in
this case. See Appendix of death penalty cases decided by this Court. Having
given individualized consideration to Knox and the crimes in the present case,
this Court concludes that there is nothing about Knox or his crimes that would
make the death penalty excessive or disproportionate in this case. See Doss v.
State, 709 So.2d 369 (Miss.1997) (death sentence was proportionate where
defendant robbed and shot victim); Cabello v. State, 471 So.2d 332,
350(Miss.1985) (death sentence was proportionate where defendant strangled
and robbed victim); Evans v. State, 422 So.2d 737, 739 (Miss.1982) (death
sentence was proportionate where defendant robbed and shot victim).
Knox, 805 So.2d at 534.
¶42. The State argues that consideration of the issue is barred by res judicata, as the issue
was considered and found to be without merit on direct appeal. See Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-
21(3); Doss v. State, 882 So.2d at 197. Knox appears to be raising a new basis for the
proportionality argument here, as he did not raise any proportionality argument on direct
appeal; rather, it appears that this Court considered this issue on its own because of the
requirement of Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-105(3). In this case, this argument is procedurally
barred because it was not raised on direct appeal. See Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(1).
19
¶43. Even if the merits of the issue were considered, this argument has been raised and
rejected by this Court previously on the post-conviction level. See Grayson v. State, 879
So.2d 1008, 1019 (Miss. 2004). The issue is without merit.
VI. CUMULATIVE ERROR.
¶44. Knox next argues that he is entitled to relief based on cumulative error, though he does
not name any specific issues. Considering the issues he has raised previously, along with those
not yet discussed, we find no error sufficient to allow him to proceed in the trial court,
cumulative or otherwise.
¶45. Knox argues that a reviewing court must also consider the cumulative effect of
counsel’s deficient performance. This Court did so under discussion of Issues II and VII, and
found no cumulative error.
VIII. SUFFICIENCY OF THE INDICTMENT.
¶46. Knox next argues that his indictment was defective because the aggravating factors were
not included in the indictment. He cites Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584, 122 S.Ct. 2428, 153
L.Ed.2d 556 (2002); Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435
(2000); Jones v. United States, 526 U.S. 227, 119 S.Ct. 1215, 143 L.Ed.2d 311 (1999); and
United States v. Allen, 247 F.3d 741 (8th Cir. 2001).
¶47. The State answers that this issue was raised, considered and found to be without merit
by this Court in Simmons v. State, 869 So.2d 995 (Miss. 2004), Puckett v. State, 879 So.2d
920 (Miss. 2004) and Berry v. State, 882 So.2d 157 (Miss. 2004). This Court found that
Ring’s holding was that juries must find aggravating factors; that in Mississippi, only juries can
20
find aggravating factors in capital cases; and that none of the cases cited by Petitioners
mandated that indictments for state capital defendants include all aggravating factors. This
issue is without merit.
IX. INSTRUCTION S-2.
¶48. Knox argues that a portion of Sentencing Instruction 2 was improperly worded and
allowed for an improper finding by the jury. Instruction 2 stated in part:
Consider only the following elements of aggravation in determining whether the
death penalty should be imposed:
1. Whether the capital offense was committed while the defendant was engaged
in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or
attempting to commit, a robbery, in that Steven Knox was attempting to rob Miss
Ella Spears of her automobile when he killed her and had, in fact, taken her car
keys from the premises.
¶49. Knox argues that the jury’s verdict did not establish that the jury found the existence of
aggravating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt, as some jurors could have found that a
robbery occurred, others could have found that attempt to rob occurred, and still others could
have found that flight after a robbery occurred.
¶50. The State argues first that there was no objection to this instruction at trial and its
submission was not raised as an error on direct appeal, and Knox is procedurally barred from
raising it here for the first time. See Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(1). The Court agrees that
Knox is procedurally barred from raising this issue.
¶51. Without relaxing the bar, the Court will consider the merits of the claim. See Walker
v. State, 671 So. 2d 581, 591-93 (Miss. 1995). The State argues that Knox only quotes part
of the instruction, and when Instruction 2 is read in its entirety there is no error or danger of
21
alternative findings. The part of the instruction Knox quotes is taken from Miss. Code Ann.
§ 99-19-101(5)(d), and is stated in the disjunctive. However, the factual portion of the
instruction which follows narrows the aggravating circumstance so that the jury, in its decision
on the aggravator in question, was finding only that Knox was attempting to rob Ella Mae
Spears when he killed her. This issue is procedurally barred and , alternatively without merit.
X. INSTRUCTION S-11.
¶52. Knox next argues that the jury was improperly instructed, citing Instruction 11, in
particular the following portion:
The Court instructs the jury that Steve Knox does not have to prove the
existence of mitigating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt. Rather, you
must find a mitigating circumstance to exist if you find it to exist to a
preponderance of the evidence.
Knox argues that the jury was not provided with a definition of “a preponderance of the
evidence,” and was therefore improperly instructed.
¶53. The State answers, first, that this issue was not raised at trial or on direct appeal and is
Knox is procedurally barred from raising it first at the post-conviction level. See Miss. Code
Ann. § 99-39-21(1). We agree.
¶54. Second, the State notes that Knox is quoting an instruction that he submitted. Knox
argues that “the only burden of proof the jury was provided instruction for was ‘beyond a
reasonable doubt’ which is a much more stringent standard.” The State points out that Knox
did not submit any definition of preponderance of the evidence in his instructions.
22
¶55. The State further argues that the jury was instructed that the burden of proof for
mitigating circumstances was less than that for aggravating circumstances. Instruction 4 states
in part:
However, mitigating circumstances do differ from aggravating circumstances
because you are not required to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that a
mitigating circumstance exists before you must take that circumstance into
account as you deliberate this case. You must consider a mitigating
circumstance if you believe that there is any evidence to support it.
¶56. The State finally cites Holland v. State, 705 So.2d 307, 354 (Miss. 1997), where the
trial court refused to instruct the jury that the burden of proof for mitigating circumstances
was to a preponderance of the evidence. In Holland, this Court found no error. Here too, we
find that this issue is without merit.
XI. ADMISSION OF PHOTOGRAPH OF DECEASED.
¶57. The State introduced a photograph of the deceased, Ella Mae Spears, taken shortly
before her death, during the testimony of her niece, Guy Alice Spears Green. Defense counsel
objected on the grounds of relevance and the State’s attempt to engender sympathy. The
objection was overruled. Knox did not raise the admission of the photograph as an issue on
direct appeal.
¶58. Knox now argues that the photograph was irrelevant and was meant only to inflame the
jury. Knox cites several cases from other jurisdictions where this was found to be reversible
error. Knox cites Coleman v. State, 218 Miss. 246, 67 So.2d 304 (1953), where Coleman
killed the marshal of the Town of Doddsville while the marshal was attempting to run Coleman
out of town. This Court found that the conviction of murder was improper, and the jury should
have been instructed on the issue of manslaughter, as Coleman was resisting the marshal’s
23
unlawful act at the time Coleman killed him. This Court further found that admission of the
marshal’s photograph was erroneous because of lack of relevance.
¶59. The State argues that this issue was not raised on direct appeal and is procedurally
barred under Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(1). We agree with the State’s argument as to
procedural bar. Alternatively, as to the merits of the claim, the State cites Edwards v. State,
737 So.2d 275 (Miss. 1999), where this Court found that photographs of two deceased
victims, taken before their deaths, were admissible. The Court finds that, pursuant to Edwards,
the issue is without merit. In conclusion, this issue is procedurally barred and alternatively,
without merit. See Brewer v. State, 819 So. 2d at 1167-68; Walker, 671 So. 2d at 591-93.
XII. PROPORTIONALITY OF DEATH SENTENCE.
¶60. Knox argues once again that his death penalty was disproportionately imposed. He
states that
[a]n adequate review necessarily requires that cases in which a life sentence has
been imposed must be included in the comparison. Also, it is necessary in the
comparison of defendants that more than just prior criminal records need to be
examined. Failure to consider changes in capital law and the effect that those
changes might have on the legitimate similarities of some of these cases is
unacceptable. The way in which proportionality review is conducted must be
changed, otherwise, the review is inaccurate, misleading and essentially serves
no legitimate purpose.
Knox cites no case law in support of this argument. He then repeats some of the argument
presented under Issue VIII, once again citing Apprendi v. New Jersey and Ring v. Arizona.
¶61. The State answers, as it did under Issue V where Knox first raised his proportionality
argument, that the argument was considered by this Court on direct appeal and is barred by res
24
judicata. We agree. The State next points out that Apprendi and Ring have nothing to do with
proportionality review.
¶62. The State finally argues that this Court has considered and rejected the argument that
cases resulting in life sentences should be included for comparison in proportionality review.
See Blue v. State, 674 So.2d 1184, 1235 (Miss. 1996); Gray v. State, 472 So.2d 409, 420
(Miss. 1985). This issue is without merit.
CONCLUSION
¶63. After thorough consideration, we deny Steve Knox’s Petition for Post-Conviction
Relief, including the Supplement/Amendment.
¶64. LEAVE TO SEEK POST-CONVICTION RELIEF DENIED.
WALLER AND COBB, P.JJ., EASLEY, CARLSON, GRAVES, DICKINSON AND
RANDOLPH, JJ., CONCUR. DIAZ, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.
25
Steve Knox v. State of Mississippi
Combined Opinion