Brett Prince v. State of Mississippi

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

NO. 2015-KA-01890-COA

BRETT PRINCE A/K/A BRETT M. PRINCE APPELLANT
A/K/A BRETT MATTHEW PRINCE

v.

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI APPELLEE

DATE OF JUDGMENT: 10/29/2015
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. JEFF WEILL SR.
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: HINDS COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT,
FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: KEVIN DALE CAMP
JARED KEITH TOMLINSON
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY: BARBARA WAKELAND BYRD
DISTRICT ATTORNEY: ROBERT SHULER SMITH
NATURE OF THE CASE: CRIMINAL - FELONY
TRIAL COURT DISPOSITION: CONVICTED OF FIVE COUNTS OF
AGGRAVATED DRIVING UNDER THE
INFLUENCE AND SENTENCED TO
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE CUSTODY
OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS FOR COUNT I, FIVE
YEARS EACH FOR COUNTS II AND III,
AND TWENTY YEARS EACH FOR
COUNTS IV AND V, WITH THE SENTENCE
FOR COUNT I TO RUN CONSECUTIVELY
TO THE SENTENCE FOR COUNT II, AND
CONCURRENTLY WITH THE SENTENCES
FOR COUNTS III-V
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 05/23/2017
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:

BEFORE LEE, C.J., ISHEE AND GREENLEE, JJ.

ISHEE, J., FOR THE COURT:
¶1. Brett Prince was convicted in the First Judicial District of the Hinds County Circuit

Court of five counts of aggravated driving under the influence (DUI) in violation of

Mississippi Code Annotated section 63-11-30(5) (Rev. 2013). These convictions stemmed

from an automobile accident in which Prince struck the Salas family vehicle at a high rate

of speed, causing a death and other severe injuries. The jury found that Prince operated his

vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) over

the legal limit of 0.08%, and that he was the cause of both the resulting death and serious

bodily injuries. As a result, Prince was sentenced to serve twenty-five years in the custody

of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) for Count I, five years each for

Counts II and III, and twenty years each for Counts IV and V, with the sentence for Count

I to run consecutively to the sentence for Count II, and concurrently with the sentences for

Counts III-V, totaling a term of thirty years’ imprisonment.

¶2. Prince now appeals, asserting that the State failed to present sufficient evidence to

prove the requisite elements of the crimes charged, that the verdict was against the weight

of the evidence, that the circuit court erred regarding the admission of certain evidence, and

that the court erred in denying proposed jury instruction D-3. Finding no error, we affirm.

STATEMENT OF FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶3. On June 15, 2013, Prince collided with the Salas family’s vehicle after running a red

light at the intersection of Springridge Road and Highway 18. Prince struck the Salas

vehicle—occupied by Michael, his wife, and their four children—at an excessive rate of

speed; there was dispute at trial among the accident-reconstruction experts regarding Prince’s

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exact speed. Michael testified as to his family’s injuries. He sustained a broken hip and

broken ribs, while the Salases’ youngest son died at the scene. In addition, one of the

children suffered paralysis of his right side, is now bound to a wheelchair, and suffers brain

damage, delayed speech, inability to communicate, and loss of vision. Another Salas child

suffered paralysis in her left arm and injuries that left permanent scarring on her face. The

last child suffered a neck injury.

¶4. Trooper James Gray of the Mississippi Highway Patrol responded to the scene of the

accident. When he arrived, Gray observed the Salases’ tan SUV in the median, and Prince’s

Ford pickup truck located just east of the SUV. Gray noticed that the airbags had been

deployed in Prince’s vehicle, and that beer cans were found in and around the SUV driven

by Michael; officers found a cooler full of alcoholic beverages in the bed of Prince’s truck.

¶5. Witnesses to the collision testified to the events that took place. One witness, Jerrica

Davis, stated that prior to the accident, Prince approached her vehicle from the rear, driving

in an erratic manner, and caused her and others’ vehicles to veer off the road. Davis stated

that she then attempted to record Prince’s license-plate number to report to authorities.

Unable to catch up with Prince, however, Davis testified that she realized she would be able

to get Prince’s tag number at the red light they were approaching. But Davis observed that

Prince was not slowing, and subsequently ran the red light, causing the ensuing collision.

Following the wreck, multiple witnesses offered aid. Of those witnesses that assisted Prince,

one witness testified that beer cans poured out of his truck when he opened the door and that

he reeked of alcohol. Another witness stated that beer cans were flung out the truck’s cab

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during the course of the collision.

¶6. Shortly after Gray appeared on scene, Trooper Maurice Kennedy of the Mississippi

Department of Public Safety arrived to assist. Kennedy stated that he arrived at

approximately 6:19 p.m., and that at that time, Prince was already handcuffed and seated in

the back of a Hinds County Sheriff’s Office patrol car. Kennedy stated that he observed

Prince for forty-one minutes, which began at 6:35 p.m. Photographs at the scene, however,

showed that Kennedy was outside of Prince’s presence at 6:37 p.m., 6:46 p.m., 6:47 p.m., and

6:53 p.m. Nonetheless, Kennedy opined that Prince appeared to be intoxicated based upon

Prince’s slurred speech, glazed-red eyes, his emanating of an alcoholic odor, and his

admission to Kennedy that he had been drinking. Following these observations, Kennedy

elected to conduct a breathalyzer test at the scene, utilizing a portable “Intoxilyzer 8000.”

Kennedy began the breath test at 7:16 p.m., with the first breath sample being taken at 7:23

p.m. The results of the breathalyzer test indicated Prince possessed a BAC of .199%.

¶7. On September 28, 2015, trial commenced, and Prince was convicted by a jury of five

counts of aggravated DUI in violation of Mississippi Code Annotated section 63-11-30(5).

Prince moved for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV) or, in the alternative, a new

trial. The circuit court denied his motion. Prince now appeals.

DISCUSSION

I. The circuit court did not err by admitting into evidence the results
of the Intoxilyzer 8000.

¶8. Before a court may admit into evidence the results of a DUI test, the court must first

determine that: (1) the proper procedures were followed; (2) the operator of the machine was

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properly certified to perform the test;1 and (3) the accuracy of the machine was properly

certified. McIlwain v. State, 700 So. 2d 586, 590 (¶18) (Miss. 1997). At trial, Prince sought

to exclude the results of his breathalyzer test for two reasons: (1) Kennedy allegedly did not

conduct the mandatory twenty-minute observation period before administering the

breathalyzer, as required by police procedure; and (2) the State allegedly violated Uniform

Rule of Circuit and County Court 9.04 by failing to disclose documents required for the

introduction of the Intoxilyzer 8000 results. Upon review of the record, we find no error.

A. The observation period was proper.

¶9. Prince first argues that Kennedy did not perform the mandatory twenty-minute

observation period of Prince, and therefore, the results should not have been admitted into

evidence—this was the principal theme of his defense throughout trial. “The standard of

review regarding the admission or exclusion of evidence is abuse of discretion.” Parkman

v. State, 108 So. 3d 443, 445 (¶5) (Miss. Ct. App. 2012). “Absent an abuse of that discretion,

the trial court’s decision will not be disturbed on appeal.” Id. (quoting McCoy v. State, 820

So. 2d 25, 31 (¶15) (Miss. Ct. App. 2002)).

¶10. In Parkman, this Court reaffirmed the principles set forth in the seminal case of

Hudspeth v. State, 28 So. 3d 600 (Miss. Ct. App. 2009), and stated:

Mississippi Code Annotated section 63-11-5(1)(c) (Rev. 2004) states that “[n]o
such tests shall be given by any officer or any agency to any person within
fifteen (15) minutes of consumption of any substance by mouth.” However,
a twenty-minute observation period is required under the Mississippi
Department of Public Safety’s guidelines and the Intoxilyzer 8000 Implied

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The record reflects that Kennedy had been trained and certified for operation of the
Intoxilyzer 8000.

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Consent Policies and Procedures manual:

According to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s
guidelines and the Intoxilyzer 8000 Implied Consent Policies
and Procedures manual, a twenty-minute observation period is
required immediately before a breath sample is taken. The
glossary to this manual defines observation period as follows:
“A period during which the person being tested has been
observed to determine that he has not ingested alcohol or other
fluids, regurgitated, vomited, eaten, smoked, or placed anything
into his mouth in the 20 minutes immediately prior to the
collection of a breath sample.”

Parkman, 108 So. 3d at 445 (¶6) (quoting Hudspeth, 28 So. 3d at 602 (¶6)). Relying on

Mississippi Supreme Court precedent, we further elaborated:

The length of time that a person charged with driving under the influence must
be observed prior to the administration of the breath test is mandatory. In
Mississippi, by statute, that length of time is fifteen minutes; however, police
procedure requires that the person be observed for twenty minutes. The
observation itself can be performed as long as the defendant is in the presence
of the officer. The officer is not required to stare at the defendant for the
observation to be effective. A dispute as to whether the observation lasted the
mandatory length of time or whether the observation was performed while in
the presence of an officer goes to the weight of the testimony and the
credibility of the witnesses.

Id. at 446 (¶6) (quoting Fisher v. City of Eupora, 587 So. 2d 878, 882 (Miss. 1991)).

¶11. In a pretrial suppression hearing, Prince sought to exclude the breathalyzer results by

claiming that Kennedy had failed to observe Prince for the requisite amount of time.

Through testimony provided at the suppression hearing, Kennedy stated that he recalled

observing Prince over a time frame ranging from forty minutes to one hour—affirming,

however, that he observed Prince for at least twenty minutes prior to his administering the

breathalyzer. Kennedy stated that his observation primarily consisted of speaking with

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Prince while he was handcuffed in the back of the patrol vehicle. Following Kennedy’s

testimony at the hearing, defense counsel did not offer any rebuttal evidence. Defense

counsel then conceded the motion, and the circuit court subsequently denied the motion to

suppress the breathalyzer results. Thus, the results were admitted into evidence. Reviewing

Kennedy’s testimony and the transcript of the suppression hearing, we cannot find that the

denial of Prince’s motion to suppress was an abuse of discretion.

¶12. At trial, however, Prince renewed his motion to suppress the breathalyzer results based

upon photographic evidence that allegedly discredited Kennedy’s testimony. Kennedy stated

at trial that he observed Prince for forty-one minutes, which began at 6:35 p.m. But

photographs taken from the scene showed that Kennedy was outside of Prince’s presence at

6:37 p.m., 6:46 p.m., 6:47 p.m., and 6:53 p.m. Kennedy nonetheless opined that Prince

appeared to be intoxicated based upon Prince’s slurred speech, his glazed-red eyes, his

emanating of an alcoholic odor, and his admission that he had been drinking. Kennedy

further stated that during this time of observation, Prince did not drink, eat, vomit, burp,

belch, regurgitate, smoke, or place anything in his mouth. Kennedy began the breath test at

7:16 p.m., with the first breath sample being taken at 7:23 p.m.

¶13. Kennedy was questioned by defense counsel regarding the times that he was pictured

outside Prince’s presence. Kennedy testified that he could not verify the accuracy of the time

stamps on the photos taken with the digital camera, but stated that he used his watch when

he recorded his observation time for purposes of administering the breathalyzer test—not the

digital camera. According to his watch, Kennedy stated he began the observation at 6:35

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p.m. With the last photo showing Kennedy outside Prince’s presence being time stamped at

6:53 p.m., and the first breath sample being taken at 7:23 p.m., there was at least thirty

minutes available for Kennedy to observe Prince before he provided his first sample. See

Hudspeth, 28 So. 3d at 602 (¶6) (“[A] twenty-minute observation period is required

immediately before a breath sample is taken.”) (emphasis added). Therefore, regardless of

the photographs discrediting Kennedy’s observation as described, the circuit court found the

defense failed to rebut that an adequate amount of time existed to satisfy the twenty-minute

requirement.

¶14. Thus, we find as the circuit court did, and hold that the mandatory twenty-minute

observation period was satisfied. Furthermore, any “dispute as to whether the observation

lasted the mandatory length of time or whether the observation was performed while in the

presence of an officer goes to the weight of the testimony and the credibility of the

witnesses,” not the admissibility of the evidence. See Parkman, 108 So. 3d at 446 (¶6)

(emphasis added). As such, because proper observation procedure was followed, we find no

abuse of discretion by the circuit court in denying Prince’s motions to suppress, and

therefore, in admitting the breathalyzer results into evidence. This issue is without merit.

B. The State did not violate Uniform Rule of Circuit and
County Court 9.04.

¶15. Prince next asserts that the breathalyzer results should not have been admitted into

evidence because the State failed to disclose certification documents required for the

introduction of those results, and thus, violated Rule 9.04. Supporting this argument, Prince

relies upon Rule 9.04(I), which reads as follows:

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If during the course of trial, the prosecution attempts to introduce evidence
which has not been timely disclosed to the defense as required by these rules,
and the defense objects to the introduction for that reason, the court shall act
as follows:

1. Grant the defense a reasonable opportunity to interview the
newly discovered witness, to examine the newly produced
documents, photographs or other evidence; and

2. If, after such opportunity, the defense claims unfair surprise
or undue prejudice and seeks a continuance or mistrial, the court
shall, in the interest of justice and absent unusual circumstances,
exclude the evidence or grant a continuance for a period of time
reasonably necessary for the defense to meet the non-disclosed
evidence or grant a mistrial.

3. The court shall not be required to grant either a continuance
or mistrial for such a discovery violation if the prosecution
withdraws its efforts to introduce such evidence.

URCCC 9.04(I). Therefore, according to Rule 9.04, Prince asserts that the proper remedy

would have been either to exclude the certification documents from evidence, grant a longer

continuance to allow the defense to properly defend against the evidence, or declare a

mistrial. We disagree.

¶16. The State points out that before breathalyzer results may be entered into evidence, the

court must first determine whether the accuracy of the machine was properly certified.

McIlwain, 700 So. 2d at 590 (¶18). Mississippi Code Annotated section 63-11-19 (Rev.

2013) requires that Intoxilyzer machines “shall be subject to periodic tests, ‘but not less

frequently than quarterly,’ in order to ensure the accuracy of the machines.” Dobbins v. City

of Starkville, 938 So. 2d 296, 297 (¶6) (Miss. Ct. App. 2006). Prince, however, neither

argued at trial, nor argues here on appeal, that the breathalyzer results should be excluded

9
because the machine was inaccurate or improperly calibrated. Rather, Prince argues that the

State committed a discovery violation by not providing the documents prior to trial, and

therefore, the certification documents should be excluded from evidence. And if the

certification documents are excluded from evidence, then the State cannot certify the

accuracy of the Intoxilyzer results, which Prince concludes would be fatal to the State’s case.

This line of reasoning, however, is misguided, as the State introduced evidence, other than

the certification documents at issue, which sufficiently proved the machine’s

accuracy—namely, Kennedy’s testimony and an IP-01E form.

1. Kennedy’s Testimony and the IP-01E Form

¶17. First, Kennedy testified that the Intoxilyzer 8000 utilized was a “self-calibrating

machine.” Kennedy further explained that with such an instrument, the machine took in a

number of air blanks (which samples the surrounding air), and then performed a self-

diagnostic check. Once the self-calibration is complete, it prompts the subject to provide a

sample. If, through the self-calibration and its diagnostic check, errors are revealed, the

machine will not allow the subject to blow, and abort the test—which would have required

Kennedy to use another machine. Second, the State offered into evidence an IP-01E form,

which displayed the results of the breathalyzer test, and provided information that the

machine was correctly calibrated and accurate. The IP-01E form stated that the machine’s

diagnostics were “ok,” and that the “calibration of the instrument [was] certified to meet

acceptable standards of accuracy.” The IP-01E form was introduced as Exhibit 168, and

defense counsel acknowledged receiving this document through discovery. Therefore, both

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Kennedy’s testimony and the IP-01E form allowed the court to satisfy its initial

determination that the machine was accurate. See Dobbins, 938 So. 2d at 297 (¶6).

2. Calibration Certificates

¶18. Prince, however, does not contest this portion of Kennedy’s testimony, or the IP-01E

form—instead, Prince argues that the calibration certificates, which contained much of the

same information, were required to be introduced, either before or simultaneously, with the

IP-01E form. The disputed certificates affirmed the accuracy of the Intoxilyzer used on

Prince, before and after Prince’s breath sample was taken. Because they allegedly were not

disclosed before trial, Prince asserts that this constituted a discovery violation, and therefore,

he was entitled to some form of relief as set out in Rule 9.04.

¶19. “In reviewing rulings of a trial court regarding matters of evidence . . . and discovery

violations, the standard of review is abuse of discretion.” Myers v. State, 145 So. 3d 1143,

1147 (¶10) (Miss. 2014). Prince argues the circuit court abused its discretion when it

admitted into evidence the certification documents and breathalyzer results, resulting in

prejudice to Prince. His principal foundation for this argument is that, had the defense been

made aware that the State would seek to introduce these calibration certificates, the defense

would have requested other documents regarding the machine’s accuracy. Prince further

argues that this alleged discovery violation hindered the defense’s ability to properly

investigate and defend against the undisclosed documents.

¶20. “When a discovery violation is alleged, we must review the record to determine

whether the procedure set forth in Box v. State, 437 So. 2d 19, 23-25 (Miss. 1983)

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(Robertson, J., specially concurring), was followed by the trial court.” Bankston v. State, 907

So. 2d 966, 971 (¶15) (Miss. Ct. App. 2005). The guidelines set forth in Box have been

adopted in Rule 9.04(I). Id. Reviewing Rule 9.04 and the record, we find that the circuit

court complied with the Box procedures, and thus did not abuse its discretion.

¶21. The circuit court stated that it was not going to find there was a discovery violation

by the State for a variety of reasons. First, the defense did not prove that the State willfully

withheld the certification documents—the State claimed it disclosed the documents, while

the defense claimed it did not. See Travis v. State, 13 So. 3d 320, 329 (¶30) (Miss. Ct. App.

2008) (holding “[e]xclusion of evidence for a discovery violation is an extreme sanction and

is only appropriate where . . . [the] violation was willful and motivated by a desire to obtain

a tactical advantage”). Second, the information provided in the IP-01E form was essentially

the same as that found within the allegedly undisclosed certification certificates. Third, the

court found that defense counsel—being well experienced in DUI litigation—could have

easily requested any additional documentation he knew, or believed, he would need. Lastly,

the court found that any discovery violation, if one had occurred, would be cured by a

continuance—which the court provided defense counsel. The court specifically granted the

continuance so that the defense could review the certification documents with its expert;

following the continuance, defense counsel did not move for another continuance or a

mistrial.

¶22. Therefore, we find that the circuit court properly followed the procedures set forth in

Box and Rule 9.04(I); thus, the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the

12
certification documents into evidence. As there was ample evidence related to the Intoxilyzer

8000’s accuracy, we do not find there was any discovery violation requiring the exclusion

of these results, nor grounds to declare a mistrial. This issue is without merit.

II. The circuit court did not err in denying Prince’s motion for a
JNOV.

¶23. Prince next argues that the circuit court erred in denying his motion for a JNOV. “A

challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence requires this Court to determine whether the

evidence shows ‘beyond a reasonable doubt that [the] accused committed the act charged,

and that he did so under such circumstances that every element of the offense existed[.]’”

Nolan v. State, 182 So. 3d 484, 488-89 (¶7) (Miss. Ct. App. 2016) (quoting Bush v. State, 895

So. 2d 836, 843 (¶16) (Miss. 2005)). Evidence is deemed “insufficient to support the verdict

where ‘the facts and inferences . . . point in favor of the defendant on any element of the

offense with sufficient force that reasonable [jurors] could not have found beyond a

reasonable doubt that the defendant was guilty[.]’” Id. The evidence must be viewed in the

light most favorable to the State. Id.

¶24. Prince was convicted of aggravated DUI under section 63-11-30(5), which required

the State to show that: (1) Prince operated a vehicle while he was under the influence of an

intoxicating liquor or possessed a BAC of .08% or higher; (2) he drove in a negligent

manner; and (3) his negligent operation caused the death of another, or mutilated, disfigured,

permanently disabled, or destroyed the tongue, eye, lip, nose, or any other limb, organ, or

member of another. See Miss. Code Ann. § 63-11-30(5). Looking to the evidence presented

by the State, we find that there was sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt

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that Prince violated section 63-11-30(5).

¶25. As discussed above, the State offered into evidence Prince’s breathalyzer results,

which showed he had a BAC of .199% at the time of his arrest—over twice the legal limit.

See Miss. Code Ann. § 63-11-30(1)(d)(i). This alone would be enough to prove the first

element. However, Kennedy provided additional evidence, testifying that Prince had slurred

speech, had glazed-red eyes, emanated an alcoholic odor, and admitted to Kennedy that he

had been drinking. Witnesses also testified that Prince was driving erratically before the

accident, and beer cans fell from his vehicle during the collision or shortly thereafter. The

State next showed that Prince operated his vehicle in a negligent manner, sufficiently

satisfying the second element of section 63-11-30. Again, witness testimony revealed that

prior to the collision, Prince’s driving forced other drivers off the road. Furthermore, the

accident was caused because Prince negligently ran a red light, causing him to strike the

Salases’ vehicle, which had the right-of-way.

¶26. Regarding the final element, Prince asserts that expert testimony was required to prove

the severity of the injuries sustained by the Salases. In arguing this point to the circuit court,

defense counsel cited no authority, and fails to do so on appeal to this Court. We find as the

circuit court did, and hold that Michael’s testimony provided sufficient evidence of his and

his family’s severe injuries. Michael testified that he sustained a broken hip and broken ribs,

while the Salases’ youngest son died at the scene. Additionally, one of the children suffered

paralysis of his right side; is wheelchair bound; and suffers brain damage, delayed speech,

inability to communicate, and loss of vision. Another Salas child suffered paralysis in her

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left arm and permanent scarring on her face. The last child suffered a neck injury.

¶27. We find that the State did not have to provide expert testimony regarding the degree

of injuries sustained by the Salas family. Thus, Michael’s testimony was sufficient to prove

the final element of section 63-11-30(5). When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence,

this Court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the State. Bush, 895 So. 2d

at 843 (¶16). In doing so, we find there was substantial, credible, and reasonable evidence

to sufficiently support Prince’s convictions of aggravated DUI. This issue is without merit.

III. The verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the
evidence.

¶28. Prince next argues that the verdict was against the overwhelming weight of the

evidence. This Court “will only disturb a verdict when it is so contrary to the overwhelming

weight of the evidence that to allow it to stand would sanction an unconscionable injustice.”

Id. at (¶18). “The evidence should be weighed in the light most favorable to the verdict.”

Id.

¶29. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we cannot say that to

let the jury’s verdict stand would sanction an unconscionable injustice. See id. (citing Amiker

v. Drugs For Less Inc., 796 So. 2d 942, 947 (¶18) (Miss. 2000)). Based upon the evidence

introduced by the State, we find that any rational trier of fact could have found Prince guilty

of aggravated DUI beyond a reasonable doubt. Despite Prince’s attempt to discredit

Kennedy’s testimony regarding his observation, the circuit court found that proper procedure

was followed, resulting in the admission of Prince’s breathalyzer results. We have found no

error with the admission of those BAC results. Thus, regardless of whether the weight of

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Kennedy’s testimony was substantially lessened by the arguments set forth at trial by Prince,

the jury still found Kennedy’s statements credible and convincing. As such, we find the State

provided sufficient evidence for each element of the charged offense, and therefore, the

jury’s verdict is not so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence that to let it

stand would sanction an unconscionable injustice. We find no merit to this issue.

IV. The circuit court did not err in denying jury instruction D-3.

¶30. Lastly, Prince argues that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his proposed

jury instruction, D-3. We give “abuse-of-discretion deference to the trial judge’s decision”

with regard to the giving or refusing of jury instructions. Flowers v. State, 51 So. 3d 911,

912 (¶5) (Miss. 2010). “[P]roposed instructions should generally be granted if they are

correct statements of law, are supported by the evidence, and are not repetitious.” Id. at (¶6)

(citation omitted). If, however, “[w]hen read together, . . . the jury instructions state the law

of the case and create no injustice, then no reversible error will be found.” Watkins v. State,

101 So. 3d 628, 634 (¶22) (Miss. 2012).

¶31. Denied jury instruction D-3 read as follows:

According to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s guidelines and the
Intoxilyzer 8000 Implied Consent Policies and Procedures manual, a twenty-
minute observation period is required immediately before a breath sample is
taken. The observation period is a period during which the person being tested
has been observed to determine that he has not ingested alcohol or other fluids,
regurgitated, vomited, eaten, smoked, or placed anything into his mouth in the
20 minutes immediately prior to the collection of a breath sample.

If you find that Master Sergeant Maurice Kennedy did not observe the
Defendant for the required twenty-minute period prior to BRETT MATTHEW
PRINCE’S breath test, you cannot find that his blood alcohol concentration
was at or above eight one-hundredths percent (.08%) and must find him NOT

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GUILTY.

¶32. By having this proposed jury instruction denied, Prince claims he was deprived his

right to have his theory of the case presented to the jury—i.e., that Kennedy did not observe

Prince for the mandatory twenty-minute period. The trial court, however, denied the

instruction for two reasons: (1) defense counsel had no caselaw to support the instruction;

and (2) the instruction inaccurately stated the law in that it would encroach upon the circuit

court’s gatekeeping authority regarding the admissibility of evidence. We agree.

¶33. Before the breathalyzer results could be admitted into evidence, the trial court was

required to determine whether the proper procedures were followed. McIlwain, 700 So. 2d

at 590 (¶17). Here, the circuit court found they were, and admitted Prince’s breathalyzer

results. The admissibility of evidence is within the province of the court. Once evidence is

deemed competent, and admitted by the court, then the jury “may determine the weight to be

given the [evidence], and this includes all the attendant circumstances showing the strength

or weakness of the [evidence]. The jury is the judge of the weight and worth of the

[evidence] admitted . . . by the judge.” Harden v. State, 59 So. 3d 594, 609 (¶40) (Miss.

2011). To reiterate, “[a] dispute as to whether the observation lasted the mandatory length

of time or whether the observation was performed while in the presence of an officer goes

to the weight of the testimony and the credibility of the witnesses.” Parkman, 108 So. 3d at

446 (¶6) (emphasis added).

¶34. Here, the jury was instructed as follows:

The production of evidence in court is governed by the rules of law. From
time to time during the trial it has been [the] duty as judge to rule on the

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admissibility of evidence. You must not concern yourself with the reasons for
my rulings since they are controlled and governed by the rules of law . . . . It
is [the jury’s] exclusive province to determine the facts in this case and to
consider and weigh the evidence for that purpose . . . . You, as jurors, are the
sole judges of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight their testimony
deserves.

Thus, we find that the instructions ultimately given were accurate statements of law, and

proficiently outlined the jury’s duty. The jury was free to weigh Kennedy’s testimony as it

found fit—however, it was not within the jury’s duty to determine whether evidence

presented in the case was competent or admissible. See Harden, 59 So. 3d at 609 (¶40)

(holding “[i]t is the judge’s duty to determine whether or not the [evidence] is admissible”).

And because Prince repeatedly asserted his theory of the case throughout trial, we find the

circuit court did not abuse its discretion in denying proposed jury instruction D-3. This issue

is also without merit.

CONCLUSION

¶35. Reviewing the record before this Court, we find no error on the part of the circuit

court. Accordingly, we affirm.

¶36. THE JUDGMENT OF THE HINDS COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT, FIRST
JUDICIAL DISTRICT, OF CONVICTION OF FIVE COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND SENTENCE OF TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
FOR COUNT I, FIVE YEARS EACH FOR COUNTS II AND III, AND TWENTY
YEARS EACH FOR COUNTS IV AND V, WITH THE SENTENCE FOR COUNT I
TO RUN CONSECUTIVELY TO THE SENTENCE FOR COUNT II, AND
CONCURRENTLY WITH THE SENTENCES FOR COUNTS III-V, IS AFFIRMED.
ALL COSTS OF THIS APPEAL ARE ASSESSED TO THE APPELLANT.

LEE, C.J., IRVING AND GRIFFIS, P.JJ., CARLTON, FAIR, WILSON AND
GREENLEE, JJ., CONCUR. BARNES, J., CONCURS IN PART AND IN THE
RESULT WITHOUT SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION. WESTBROOKS, J.,

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CONCURS IN RESULT ONLY WITHOUT SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION.

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