Opinion ID: 1652376
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 31

Heading: Preserved Objections

Text: Morrow argues that the trial court erred by overruling his objection that there was no evidence to support the prosecutor's statement that John Koprowski's mother loved him. This argument is without merit. It is reasonable to infer that a mother loves her son. Moreover, Koprowski's wife testified as to the terrible impact that Koprowski's death had on his mother. The trial court did not abuse its discretion. Point denied. Morrow's next argument centers around the following remarks: When he does his next murder, Mr. Koprowski, this is when he really gets scared because he knows there's no such thing as a free murder, ladies and gentlemen. And sentencing him to life without parole for the death of this man completely ignores this man's death. Defense: Objection, improper argument. Morrow contends that this argument was impermissible because the jury had no authority over sentencing in the Abercrombie case. We find, instead, that the prosecutor was merely expressing his opinion fairly drawn from the evidence before the jury that the death penalty was appropriate. State v. Mease, 842 S.W.2d 98, 109 (Mo. banc 1992), cert. denied, 508 U.S. 918, 113 S.Ct. 2363, 124 L.Ed.2d 269 (1993). The evidence was undisputed that Morrow murdered Abercrombie. It was proper for the prosecutor to develop a theory as to why this fact made the death penalty appropriate in this case. The trial court did not abuse its discretion. Point denied. Morrow also objects to the state commenting that justice demands the death penalty in this particular case, to do anything else cheapens the value of human life. Morrow alleges that this argument violates State v. Storey, 901 S.W.2d 886, 902 (Mo. banc 1995). However, the argument in Storey was different. It misstated the law and potentially misled the jury into believing that the only inquiry required was whether the value of the victim's life exceeded the value of the defendant's life and erroneously grouped all persons guilty of murder into one category. The argument here did not misstate the law. See State v. Kenley, 952 S.W.2d 250, 270 (Mo.1997), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 118 S.Ct. 892, 139 L.Ed.2d 878 (1998). Nor did it group all persons guilty of murder into one category. Instead, it focused on the facts of this case warranting the death penalty and argued that justice demanded the death penalty in this case based on these facts. See Mease, 842 S.W.2d at 109. The trial court did not abuse its discretion. Point denied.