Opinion ID: 1399120
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Trial Court's Refusal to Admonish Jury Regarding Prosecutor's Guilt Phase Argument

Text: (20) Defendant contends that the prosecutor engaged in misconduct during closing argument, and that the trial court's refusal to admonish the jury to disregard it was error. We conclude that the prosecutor's comments were not misconduct, and consequently that no admonition was needed. The principal thrust of defense counsel's closing argument was, of course, that the jury should not credit the testimony of Buckley and Rowan. He argued that each was more deeply involved in the Urell killing than he was willing to admit. He contended each had a selective memory of the events in question, and cited other reasons to disbelieve their testimony. In rebuttal, the prosecutor argued that defense counsel had failed to address certain points the prosecutor had emphasized in urging the jury to believe Buckley and Rowan. Defense counsel objected, calling the prosecutor's comments a personal attack. The trial court determined the comments were merely a rehash of the prosecutor's opening argument, directed to what defense counsel did not say, rather than what he did say, and thus were not proper rebuttal. The prosecutor acceded to the trial court's ruling. Later, the court declined to admonish the jury, saying I attribute again no bad faith and I really don't feel that there was a whole lot of harm, if any.... We find it clear that the prosecutor's repeated reference to defense counsel's failure to address various points in no way amounted to a personal attack on defense counsel, but was in the nature of a rhetorical device. The prosecutor did not accuse defense counsel of lying or misleading the jury; he merely pointed out omissions from the latter's argument. It hardly need be said that the prosecutor is entitled to comment on the content of defense counsel's argument. Since there was no prosecutorial misconduct, there was no basis for an admonition to the jury. (21) Defendant also contends the trial court should have admonished the jury to disregard a statement the prosecutor made concerning defense witness Frisilone. It will be recalled that Frisilone met Buckley in jail while the former was waiting to be sent to prison for the latest of his four felony convictions. Frisilone testified that Buckley said he had placed a pillow over Urell's head after defendant hit him with the ax. At trial, Buckley denied doing so. Defense counsel argued that Frisilone should be believed because he must have learned that detail from Buckley. The record reflects that the prosecutor countered: He [defense counsel] asked us how do we know  or how did Frisilone know what happened in the courtroom? [¶] Well, he told us that he read it in the newspapers. Defense counsel made a speaking objection, arguing that although Frisilone testified he had access to newspapers in jail, he did not say he had read about what he testified to. The court stated that it shared defense counsel's recollection of the testimony, but that the final word will be with the reporter, if the jury feels it's necessary for that portion of Mr. Frisilone's testimony to be read back. The prosecutor responded, perhaps inaccurately, that he did not say that [Frisilone] read any particular item, but he had access to the newspapers as to this trial. Later, the court declined to admonish the jury, finding the prosecutor had not acted in bad faith and no harm had been done. We cannot accept defendant's contention that the jury was left to suppose the prosecutor somehow knew, from extrajudicial evidence, that Frisilone had based his testimony on what he read in the newspaper. The exchange between court and counsel made it plain to the jury that the record of Frisilone's testimony would speak for itself. The prosecutor's implication that Frisilone had fabricated his testimony from items reported in the paper was, however, a fair inference from the evidence. The trial court's refusal to admonish the jury was not erroneous.