Opinion ID: 1464772
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Accusing Appellant of Lying

Text: The prosecutor's assertion that Appellant was lying is a more serious matter, but is likewise not reversible error. Consistent with the general rule that in closing arguments counsel may make reasonable inferences based on the evidence, the Commonwealth may suggest that a defendant was lying if this is a reasonable inference. United States v. Francis, 170 F.3d 546, 551-52 (6th Cir.1999); see also People v. Wilson, 36 Cal.4th 309, 30 Cal. Rptr.3d 513, 114 P.3d 758, 779 (2005). To make this a reasonable inference, the defendant must take the stand and there must be discrepancies between the evidence and the defendant's testimony. In this case, it was reasonable to infer that Appellant was lying. In fact, Appellant's testimony directly contradicted the testimony of several other witnesses. Consequently, either Appellant was lying or several other witnesses were. For example, Appellant testified that Susan was injured while she struggled with him over the rifle but that he never intentionally hit her with it. Testimony from Susan, which was consistent with her injuries and the testimony of two other witnesses, indicated that he rather aggressively beat her over the head with the butt of the rifle as she attempted to run away and deflect his blows. Additionally, Appellant denied trying to shoot his rifle; other witnesses testified that he aimed the gun and pulled the trigger. And Appellant's own son testified that he crossed the street in front of two cars stopped at red traffic lights, contrary to Appellant's testimony that the traffic was oncoming. The above contradictions support the inference the prosecutor made that Appellant's story just doesn't make sense, and it doesn't make sense because he's lying. There was no error.