Opinion ID: 1107701
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Impermissible Appeals to the Jurors' Emotions and Sympathies

Text: In his next allegation of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, Belcher argues that defense counsel failed to object to numerous statements made by the victim's brother, Ricky Embry, during the guilt phase. Belcher also argues that, although trial counsel objected to a few of the photographs offered into evidence by the State, there were others that were published to the jury that constituted gruesome appeals to the jury's sympathy. Belcher also takes issue with a few statements from the prosecutor's closing argument as flagrant appeals to the emotions of the jurors. Finally, Belcher argues that trial counsel should have objected when, during the penalty phase, the prosecution got mitigation witnesses, prison inmates, to testify on cross-examination about prison life. Belcher claims that this entire line of questioning was calculated to inflame, arouse fear of prison escape, and create an overall sense of indignation in the minds of the jurors. Again, we find that Belcher has demonstrated no error in the trial court's decision to summarily deny relief on this claim. The lower court concluded that defense counsel did, in fact, object during Ricky Embry's testimony, arguing that it constituted victim impact testimony intended to create sympathy for the victim; furthermore, trial counsel also objected to the admission of some of the photographs. The court also concluded that, given the wide latitude allowed in arguing to a jury, the comments by the prosecutor during the closing argument did not rise to the level of vitiating the entire trial. We affirm the trial court's reasoning in rejecting relief on this claim and agree that Belcher has not established ineffective assistance of counsel.