Opinion ID: 2824353
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Negative inference argument

Text: Rimer claims that the district court erred by refusing to allow him to argue that the jury could draw negative inferences from the State's failure to call Spencer and Enoch as witnesses, present evidence regarding the contents of the second refrigerator and freezer on the first floor, and present evidence regarding the chemical containers that allegedly endangered the Rimer children. A defense attorney is permitted to argue all reasonable inferences that arise from the evidence presented at trial, including negative inferences that may arise when the State fails to call important witnesses or present relevant evidence and has some special ability to produce such witnesses or evidence. Glover v. Eighth Judicial Dist. Court, 125 Nev. 691, 705, 220 P.3d 684, 694 (2009). However, prosecutors and defense attorneys may not premise their arguments on facts that have not been admitted into evidence. Id. Here, the State decided not to call Spencer and Enoch as witnesses, and defense counsel decided not to hold the children over the weekend and call them to testify during the following week. The district court ruled that Rimer could argue that the State had the ability to call Spencer and Enoch as witnesses and its decision not to call them as witnesses is something that the jury should consider when evaluating whether there is sufficient SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA 26 (0) 1947A evidence to sustain guilty verdicts. The district court further ruled that Rimer could not comment on the evidentiary value of evidence that was not admitted into evidence. We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in this regard.