Opinion ID: 1190445
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Remark by unidentified spectator

Text: (19) Later on the first day of trial, Darlene Brice, who was Brice's wife and Anthony's mother, was being examined by the prosecutor. Q: When was the funeral? What date was the funeral of your son and your husband? A: August 21st, I believe. Q: August 21? A: Yes. Member of the Audience (unidentified): Twenty-first. The witness: Yes. (Italics added.) This is barren ground in which to root a claim of prejudice. This momentary, two-word utterance did not refer to defendant or the circumstances of the crime. Defendant contends only that the mention of the date, made it clear that members of the audience were very close to the case. We are not persuaded. The assumption is questionable and, even if true, fails to show prejudice. Moreover, the trial court immediately cautioned that, I heard something from the audience. Somebody made a statement as to the answer to a question, but somebody in the audience must not speak out in any way, shape or form. And as explained above, the jury was firmly admonished at the end of the day to disregard spectator remarks.