Carley, Justice.
A jury found Daniel Greene guilty of murder, armed robbery and aggravated assault. The jury also found, as an aggravating circumstance, that Greene committed the murder during the course of an armed robbery and, based upon that finding, the jury imposed a death sentence for the murder. For the armed robbery, Greene received a life sentence and, for the aggravated assault, a 20-year sentence.
Greene appealed and, in one of his enumerations, he asserted that the trial court erred by excusing five prospective jurors for cause based upon their opposition to the death penalty. Greene v. State, 266 Ga. 439, 440 (2) (469 SE2d 129) (1996). In addressing this enumeration, we initially noted that Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U. S. 412 (105 SC 844, 83 LE2d 841) (1985) “is the controlling authority as to the death-penalty qualification of prospective jurors. . . .” Greene v. State, supra at 440 (2). In the course of our subsequent review of the trial court’s specific rulings on the exclusion of the five prospective jurors, we also cited Wainwright v. Witt as “controlling authority.” Greene v. State, supra at 441 (2). Our ultimate conclusion was that “the trial court’s finding that the prospective jurors were disqualified must be affirmed.” Greene v. State, supra at 442 (2). Only Chief Justice Ben-ham and Justice Sears dissented, urging that the trial court erred in finding the prospective jurors were disqualified under the standard established by Wainwright v. Witt.
The Supreme Court of the United States granted Greene’s petition for a writ of certiorari. Greene v. Georgia, 519 U. S._(117 SC 578, 136 LE2d 507) (1996). The Supreme Court held that this Court “correctly recognized that [Wainwright u] Witt is, ‘the controlling authority as to the death[-penalty] qualification of prospective jurors. . . .’ [Cit.]” Greene v. Georgia, supra at 578-579. However, the Supreme Court also held that Wainwright v. “Witt is not ‘controlling authority5 as to the standard of review to be applied by state appellate courts reviewing trial courts’ rulings on jury selection.” Greene v. Georgia, supra at 579. “[T]he Supreme Court of Georgia is free to adopt the rule laid down in [Wainwright v.] Witt for review of trial court findings injury-selection cases, but it need not do so.” Greene v. [48]*48Georgia, supra at 579. Accordingly, the Supreme Court reversed the judgment in Greene v. State, supra, and remanded the case to us for further proceedings not inconsistent with its opinion. Pursuant to that mandate, we now reconsider the issue of the disqualification of the five prospective jurors.
The proper standard for determining the disqualification of a prospective juror based upon his views on capital punishment “is whether the juror’s views would ‘prevent or substantially impair the performance of his duties as a juror in accordance with his instructions and his oath.’ ” Wainwright v. Witt, supra at 424 (II). This standard does not require that a juror’s bias be proved with “ ‘unmistakable clarity.’ ” Ledford v. State, 264 Ga. 60, 64 (6) (439 SE2d 917) (1994). Despite a lack of clarity in the record, “there will be situations where the trial judge is left with the definite impression that a prospective juror would be unable to faithfully and impartially apply the law.” Wainwright v. Witt, supra at 425-426 (II). “As the U. S. Supreme Court has recognized, ‘many veniremen simply cannot be asked enough questions to reach the point where their bias has been made “unmistakably clear.” . . .’ [Cit.]” Ledford v. State, supra at 64 (6). Here, the trial court found that the views on capital punishment held by the five prospective jurors were such as to disqualify them. The issue before us is whether the trial court was authorized to find that the prospective jurors’ views would prevent or substantially impair the performance of their duties in accordance with their instructions and oaths.
In Wainwright v. Witt, the Supreme Court also held that, under 28 USC § 2254 (d), a federal court must give deference to a state trial court’s finding of prospective juror bias. As noted, we are not bound by that additional holding in Wainwright v. Witt, since this Court is not a federal court which conducts a habeas corpus review of a state trial court’s findings pursuant to 28 USC § 2254 (d). Nevertheless, we do apply the Wainwright v. Witt standard of review because this Court previously has adopted it as the controlling law of Georgia.
It is because veniremembers “may not know how they will react when faced with imposing the death sentence, or may be unable to articulate, or may wish to hide their true feelings!,)” [cit.], that deference must be paid to the trial court’s determination of whether the views of a prospective juror will “prevent or substantially impair the performance of his duties as a juror in accordance with his instructions and his oath.” [Cits.]
Ledford v. State, supra at 64 (6). See also Crowe v. State, 265 Ga. 582, 588 (9) (a) (458 SE2d 799) (1995); Hittson v. State, 264 Ga. 682, 688 [49]*49(6) (h) (449 SE2d 586) (1994); Thornton v. State, 264 Ga. 563, 573 (13) (b) (449 SE2d 98) (1994); Potts v. State, 261 Ga. 716, 722 (8) (410 SE2d 89) (1991); Wade v. State, 261 Ga. 105, 108 (9) (401 SE2d 701) (1991); Spencer v. State, 260 Ga. 640, 641 (1) (c) (398 SE2d 179) (1990) ; Isaacs v. State, 259 Ga. 717, 730 (22) (386 SE2d 316) (1989); Childs v. State, 257 Ga. 243, 249 (7) (357 SE2d 48) (1987); Jefferson v. State, 256 Ga. 821, 824 (2) (353 SE2d 468) (1987). Accordingly, we must now determine whether the trial court erred in excusing the five prospective jurors, giving to the trial court’s findings the deference to which they are entitled under the controlling law of this state. In so doing, we hereinafter paraphrase Greene v. State, supra at 440-442 (2), applying the same legal principles as were originally applied therein, but relying now upon only controlling Georgia authority.
Under that controlling Georgia authority, our review of the trial court’s disqualifications of the prospective jurors must be based upon a consideration of the voir dire as a whole. Crowe v. State, supra at 588 (9) (a); Spivey v. State, 253 Ga. 187, 197, fn. 3 (319 SE2d 420) (1984). Although a prospective juror gives answers which, standing alone, might indicate that his or her opposition to the death penalty is not “automatic,” this is not decisive. Alderman v. State, 254 Ga. 206, 207 (4) (327 SE2d 168) (1985). “A trial court’s determination of a potential juror’s ability to serve is not limited to the juror’s opinion of his own impartiality. [Cit.]” Burgess v. State, 264 Ga. 777, 781 (7) (450 SE2d 680) (1994). Moreover, it is immaterial that the disqualification of a prospective juror does not appear with “unmistakable clarity.”
As has been pointed out, “ ‘determinations of juror bias cannot be reduced to question-and-answer sessions which obtain results in the manner of a catechism.’ [Cit.] Often, the answers of a prospective juror will to some degree be contradictory. [Cit.]” [Cit.]
Jefferson v. State, supra at 823 (2).
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Carley, Justice.
A jury found Daniel Greene guilty of murder, armed robbery and aggravated assault. The jury also found, as an aggravating circumstance, that Greene committed the murder during the course of an armed robbery and, based upon that finding, the jury imposed a death sentence for the murder. For the armed robbery, Greene received a life sentence and, for the aggravated assault, a 20-year sentence.
Greene appealed and, in one of his enumerations, he asserted that the trial court erred by excusing five prospective jurors for cause based upon their opposition to the death penalty. Greene v. State, 266 Ga. 439, 440 (2) (469 SE2d 129) (1996). In addressing this enumeration, we initially noted that Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U. S. 412 (105 SC 844, 83 LE2d 841) (1985) “is the controlling authority as to the death-penalty qualification of prospective jurors. . . .” Greene v. State, supra at 440 (2). In the course of our subsequent review of the trial court’s specific rulings on the exclusion of the five prospective jurors, we also cited Wainwright v. Witt as “controlling authority.” Greene v. State, supra at 441 (2). Our ultimate conclusion was that “the trial court’s finding that the prospective jurors were disqualified must be affirmed.” Greene v. State, supra at 442 (2). Only Chief Justice Ben-ham and Justice Sears dissented, urging that the trial court erred in finding the prospective jurors were disqualified under the standard established by Wainwright v. Witt.
The Supreme Court of the United States granted Greene’s petition for a writ of certiorari. Greene v. Georgia, 519 U. S._(117 SC 578, 136 LE2d 507) (1996). The Supreme Court held that this Court “correctly recognized that [Wainwright u] Witt is, ‘the controlling authority as to the death[-penalty] qualification of prospective jurors. . . .’ [Cit.]” Greene v. Georgia, supra at 578-579. However, the Supreme Court also held that Wainwright v. “Witt is not ‘controlling authority5 as to the standard of review to be applied by state appellate courts reviewing trial courts’ rulings on jury selection.” Greene v. Georgia, supra at 579. “[T]he Supreme Court of Georgia is free to adopt the rule laid down in [Wainwright v.] Witt for review of trial court findings injury-selection cases, but it need not do so.” Greene v. [48]*48Georgia, supra at 579. Accordingly, the Supreme Court reversed the judgment in Greene v. State, supra, and remanded the case to us for further proceedings not inconsistent with its opinion. Pursuant to that mandate, we now reconsider the issue of the disqualification of the five prospective jurors.
The proper standard for determining the disqualification of a prospective juror based upon his views on capital punishment “is whether the juror’s views would ‘prevent or substantially impair the performance of his duties as a juror in accordance with his instructions and his oath.’ ” Wainwright v. Witt, supra at 424 (II). This standard does not require that a juror’s bias be proved with “ ‘unmistakable clarity.’ ” Ledford v. State, 264 Ga. 60, 64 (6) (439 SE2d 917) (1994). Despite a lack of clarity in the record, “there will be situations where the trial judge is left with the definite impression that a prospective juror would be unable to faithfully and impartially apply the law.” Wainwright v. Witt, supra at 425-426 (II). “As the U. S. Supreme Court has recognized, ‘many veniremen simply cannot be asked enough questions to reach the point where their bias has been made “unmistakably clear.” . . .’ [Cit.]” Ledford v. State, supra at 64 (6). Here, the trial court found that the views on capital punishment held by the five prospective jurors were such as to disqualify them. The issue before us is whether the trial court was authorized to find that the prospective jurors’ views would prevent or substantially impair the performance of their duties in accordance with their instructions and oaths.
In Wainwright v. Witt, the Supreme Court also held that, under 28 USC § 2254 (d), a federal court must give deference to a state trial court’s finding of prospective juror bias. As noted, we are not bound by that additional holding in Wainwright v. Witt, since this Court is not a federal court which conducts a habeas corpus review of a state trial court’s findings pursuant to 28 USC § 2254 (d). Nevertheless, we do apply the Wainwright v. Witt standard of review because this Court previously has adopted it as the controlling law of Georgia.
It is because veniremembers “may not know how they will react when faced with imposing the death sentence, or may be unable to articulate, or may wish to hide their true feelings!,)” [cit.], that deference must be paid to the trial court’s determination of whether the views of a prospective juror will “prevent or substantially impair the performance of his duties as a juror in accordance with his instructions and his oath.” [Cits.]
Ledford v. State, supra at 64 (6). See also Crowe v. State, 265 Ga. 582, 588 (9) (a) (458 SE2d 799) (1995); Hittson v. State, 264 Ga. 682, 688 [49]*49(6) (h) (449 SE2d 586) (1994); Thornton v. State, 264 Ga. 563, 573 (13) (b) (449 SE2d 98) (1994); Potts v. State, 261 Ga. 716, 722 (8) (410 SE2d 89) (1991); Wade v. State, 261 Ga. 105, 108 (9) (401 SE2d 701) (1991); Spencer v. State, 260 Ga. 640, 641 (1) (c) (398 SE2d 179) (1990) ; Isaacs v. State, 259 Ga. 717, 730 (22) (386 SE2d 316) (1989); Childs v. State, 257 Ga. 243, 249 (7) (357 SE2d 48) (1987); Jefferson v. State, 256 Ga. 821, 824 (2) (353 SE2d 468) (1987). Accordingly, we must now determine whether the trial court erred in excusing the five prospective jurors, giving to the trial court’s findings the deference to which they are entitled under the controlling law of this state. In so doing, we hereinafter paraphrase Greene v. State, supra at 440-442 (2), applying the same legal principles as were originally applied therein, but relying now upon only controlling Georgia authority.
Under that controlling Georgia authority, our review of the trial court’s disqualifications of the prospective jurors must be based upon a consideration of the voir dire as a whole. Crowe v. State, supra at 588 (9) (a); Spivey v. State, 253 Ga. 187, 197, fn. 3 (319 SE2d 420) (1984). Although a prospective juror gives answers which, standing alone, might indicate that his or her opposition to the death penalty is not “automatic,” this is not decisive. Alderman v. State, 254 Ga. 206, 207 (4) (327 SE2d 168) (1985). “A trial court’s determination of a potential juror’s ability to serve is not limited to the juror’s opinion of his own impartiality. [Cit.]” Burgess v. State, 264 Ga. 777, 781 (7) (450 SE2d 680) (1994). Moreover, it is immaterial that the disqualification of a prospective juror does not appear with “unmistakable clarity.”
As has been pointed out, “ ‘determinations of juror bias cannot be reduced to question-and-answer sessions which obtain results in the manner of a catechism.’ [Cit.] Often, the answers of a prospective juror will to some degree be contradictory. [Cit.]” [Cit.]
Jefferson v. State, supra at 823 (2). The relevant inquiry on appeal is whether the trial court’s finding that a prospective juror is disqualified is supported by the record as a whole. See Crowe v. State, supra at 588 (9) (a); Taylor v. State, 261 Ga. 287, 292 (5) (404 SE2d 255) (1991) ; Spivey v. State, supra at 197 (6) (d), fn. 3. An appellate court should not substitute its own finding for that of the trial court, since it must pay deference to the trial court’s determination. See Ledford v. State, supra at 64 (6); Jefferson v. State, supra at 823 (2). This deference encompasses the trial court’s resolution of any equivocations and conflicts in the prospective jurors’ responses on voir dire. See Burgess v. State, supra at 780 (6); Ledford v. State, supra at 64 (6) (b); Isaacs v. State, supra at 730 (21); Jefferson v. State, supra at 823 (2). [50]*50Whether to strike a juror for cause is within the discretion of the trial court and the trial court’s rulings are proper absent some manifest abuse of discretion. Diaz v. State, 262 Ga. 750, 752 (2) (425 SE2d 869) (1993).
Prospective Juror Irma Miller
Ms. Miller initially stated that she was conscientiously opposed to the death penalty in “some cases.” She then said that she would not vote for that punishment in any case. However, she next appeared to equivocate, stating that she did not “really know” whether she would never vote for the death penalty. Nevertheless, she thereafter affirmed that, even if she believed the death penalty was the most appropriate sentence, she could not vote for that penalty “no matter, regardless of what the facts and circumstances showed in the case” and that she did not think she could ever vote for that sentence. Eventually, she appeared to equivocate yet again, conceding that “there are certain circumstances where it might be necessary that we vote for the death penalty” and that she “probably would vote for the death penalty.” However, she concluded her voir dire by admitting that she was “ninety percent” opposed to the death penalty and committed to the belief that only God should take a life.
At best, Ms. Miller gave conflicting and- equivocal answers regarding her views on the death penalty. Because Ms. Miller appears to have been unable to articulate her true feelings, deference must be paid to the trial court’s assessment of her qualification. This deference extends to the trial court’s resolution of the conflicts and equivocations in Ms. Miller’s voir dire. Considering Ms. Miller’s voir dire as a whole and giving the requisite deference to the trial court’s findings, we conclude that the trial court was authorized to find that the thoughts she expressed on the death penalty conveyed the impression that she would be unable to apply the law faithfully and impartially and that she was, therefore, subject to disqualification.
Prospective Juror Linda McDougal
Although Ms. McDougal began her voir dire by stating that she was not conscientiously opposed to the death penalty, she did admit, upon further examination, that she “truly” could not “say at this time” that she could vote for that penalty. Only when subsequently pressed did she state that she could vote for the death sentence. However, then she admitted that she leaned toward a life sentence and “truly” did not know whether that leaning would interfere with her decision to .vote for a death sentence. Thereafter, Ms. McDougal gave answers which seem to indicate that she was qualified, but she eventually began weeping and finally acknowledged that she was not [51]*51unbiased and “would hate to be involved in putting a man to death.”
Ms. McDougal’s responses were conflicting and equivocal and she had some difficulty expressing her true feelings regarding the death sentence. Having seen Ms. McDougal and heard the entirety of her voir dire, however, the trial court was authorized to find that, if faced with imposing the death sentence, she would respond on the basis of her emotional aversion to that sentence, rather than in accordance with her instructions and oath.
Prospective Juror Alicia Oden
Ms. Oden began her voir dire by acknowledging that she was conscientiously opposed to capital punishment. Although she did state that she would vote for the death penalty in some circumstances, she nevertheless expressed some “serious concerns” about that penalty. Those “concerns” took the form of the religious “price” she “would have to pay for partaking in something that resulted in someone else’s life being taken.” When asked whether she could set aside her religious beliefs, Ms. Oden did not respond. When pressed, however, she stated that she “would try to follow the orders of the court.” (Emphasis supplied.) A more definite response was requested and Ms. Oden admitted that she “would not be able to. I cannot say definitely that I would be able to.” (Emphasis supplied.) Thereafter, she appeared to equivocate and gave some responses which indicated that she was qualified. However, she then reiterated that she had a “feeling against the death penalty,” but would “try to be fair.” Finally, she acknowledged a “semi” strong leaning against the death penalty which was “going to come with” her into the jury room.
From the entirety of Ms. Oden’s voir dire, it is apparent that the trial court was authorized to find that she harbored a strongly held religious aversion to the death penalty. Indeed, she frankly questioned her own ability to adhere to the instructions of the court, rather than to her beliefs. She could state only that she would “try to be fair” and she further qualified that statement by acknowledging that her religious beliefs would still be with her in the jury room. Having seen and heard Ms. Oden, the trial court was authorized to form the impression that, based upon her religious views in opposition to the death penalty, she would be unable to apply the law.
Prospective Juror Bendolyndo Bady
When asked if she was conscientiously opposed to the death penalty, Ms. Bady replied that she never in her “heart felt like that you should take one life for another. So, you know, it’s kind of hard for me to answer.” However, she thereafter did state that she could vote for the death penalty in some circumstances. Nevertheless, when she [52]*52subsequently was asked again whether she could vote for the death penalty, she equivocated and stated: “I don’t know. I can’t say yes to that one.” Finally, she admitted that it would “be hard for me to do it. I guess my answer would have to be no” (Emphasis supplied.) Nevertheless, she then gave yet another set of responses which seemed to indicate that she was qualified. When asked about the conflict in her responses, Ms. Bady stated that, although it would be difficult, she would, if “convinced,” vote for the death penalty. However, she thereafter stated that she “would rather go for a life sentence than the death penalty” and that this was a “strongly held belief.” According to Ms. Bady, she believed that the jury should not take another’s life and her belief in this regard was a part of her “makeup.” Her personal belief about the death penalty was so strong that she could not be talked out of it by the attorneys.
The trial court was authorized to find that Ms. Bady held a strong personal aversion to the death penalty and was uncertain as to whether she could actually vote to impose that sentence. In order for Ms. Bady to be qualified, she would have to be willing to set aside her own strong personal feelings and follow, instead, her instructions and oath. However, she acknowledged that her belief was strong and that she could not be talked out of it by the attorneys. If she could not be talked out of her strongly held belief by the attorneys, the trial court was not required to believe that she nevertheless could set aside her belief and follow her instructions and oath instead. To the contrary, the trial court was authorized to believe that portion of Ms. Bady’s voir dire wherein she acknowledged that she would not vote for the death penalty. Consequently, the trial court was authorized to determine from the content and tenor of Ms. Bady’s responses that she would be unable to apply the law, rather than follow her own personal belief.
Prospective Juror Betty Ann Sims
Ms. Sims began her voir dire by stating that she was not conscientiously opposed to the death penalty. However, when asked specifically whether she would vote for that penalty if authorized by the charge and the evidence, she stated that she did not think that she could. When asked about this conflict, she replied that she did not “really think [she] could put a person in the electric chair. . . . [She did not] think [she] could go along with that.... Maybe [she] didn’t understand [the] first question.” Upon further questioning, she then stated that she was so conscientiously opposed to the death penalty that she did not think that she could vote for that penalty under any circumstances. However, she then stated that she “probably could” vote for the death penalty “under some circumstances.” Thereafter, [53]*53she gave a series of responses which seem to indicate that she was qualified. However, she eventually acknowledged that it was “probably so” that she would always vote for a life sentence rather than the death penalty. She then admitted that she could not be talked out of her opposition to the death penalty. She continued to give equivocal answers and eventually admitted that she did not know whether she could vote for the death penalty even “assuming that evidence was produced to [her] which would cause [her] to believe that the death penalty was the best sentence, the proper sentence to be imposed ...” However, she followed this by giving a series of responses which seemed to indicate that she was qualified. However, when asked whether she would impose the death sentence if convinced that the circumstances warranted that sentence, she could only give a qualified answer to the effect that she “guess[ed] so.”
The transcript of Ms. Sims’ voir dire shows conflict with regard to her views on the death penalty. In resolving the conflicts and equivocations in Ms. Sims’ responses, the trial court was authorized to conclude that she was disqualified, since she could not affirm that she was unbiased against the death penalty and could, at best, state only that she “probably could” be fair and could only “guess” that she would vote for the death penalty even though convinced that it was the proper sentence.
As support for his contention that the trial court’s findings must be reversed, Greene cites Jarrell v. State, 261 Ga. 880, 881 (1) (413 SE2d 710) (1992) and urges that the five prospective jurors were disqualified merely because they harbored “qualms” about the death penalty or “leanings” toward a life sentence. In Jarrell, however, the prospective juror was asked whether she “leaned” toward a life sentence and had “qualms” about the death penalty, and, when she answered “yes,” the trial court disqualified her without hearing anything further. Thus, the prospective juror in Jarrell literally was disqualified for expressing no more than a “leaning” toward a life sentence and “qualms” about the death penalty. Under these circumstances, this Court properly reversed, holding that
[fjurther voir dire examination of this juror might have established a reluctance to impose a death sentence so strong it would “prevent or substantially impair” the performance of her duties as a juror.
Jarrell v. State, supra at 881-882 (1). Here, entirely unlike Jarrell, however, the trial court did not base its disqualifications upon the prospective jurors’ mere expressions of “qualms”, and “leanings.” Instead, the trial court undertook an extensive and thorough voir dire to determine whether the prospective jurors’ views on capital [54]*54punishment were such as would prevent or substantially impair the performance of their duties in accordance with their instructions and oath. The trial court’s findings in this regard cannot be reversed simply because, at some point during the extensive and thorough voir dire, each of the prospective jurors may have uttered statements which seemingly indicated her qualification. The trial court, in the exercise of its discretion, was not required to accept a prospective juror’s isolated expression of an opinion as to her own qualification.
Greene also urges that Pope v. State, 256 Ga. 195, 201 (7) (e) (345 SE2d 831) (1986) compels a reversal of the trial court’s findings in this case. In Pope, however, the trial court found a prospective juror to be qualified, despite his unequivocal and uncontradicted testimony that, if a guilty verdict was returned, he would vote for the death penalty automatically and without regard to the evidence of mitigation. Under these circumstances, this Court properly reversed, holding that “[a] juror who has made up his mind prior to trial that he will not weigh evidence in mitigation is not impartial.” Pope v. State, supra at 202 (7) (e). This case differs from Pope, however, in that, here, none of the prospective jurors offered unequivocal and uncontradicted testimony which demanded a finding of her qualification. Instead, each of the prospective jurors offered equivocal and contradictory testimony which authorized the trial court to find that her view on capital punishment was such as to prevent or substantially impair the performance of her duties. The trial court’s findings in this regard cannot be reversed simply because the disqualifications do not appear with “unmistakable clarity.” The trial court, in the exercise of its discretion, was not required to accept that portion of a prospective juror’s equivocal and contradictory testimony which indicated her qualification.
Considering the entirety of the extensive and thorough voir dire and giving the requisite deference to the trial court’s findings, a reversal of the disqualifications of the prospective jurors in this case would be contrary to the controlling authority of Ledford, supra, and innumerable other cases previously decided by this Court. Accordingly, we adhere to our original judgment and affirm Greene’s convictions and sentences.
Judgments affirmed.
All the Justices concur, except Ben-ham, C. J., Fletcher, P. J., and Sears, J., who dissent.