Opinion ID: 867478
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Use of Reports in Closing Argument

Text: ¶ 166 Moody argues that the prosecutor improperly used the non-testifying doctors' reports as substantive evidence on four occasions during closing argument and rebuttal. First, the prosecutor referred to Dr. Geffen's initial testing as proof of Moody's history of malingering. Second, he stated that Drs. LaWall, Potts and Geffen also say he's malingering. Third, he argued that even if the jurors agreed with Dr. Lewis's diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder, Dr. Vesper's opinion was that such a disease did not prevent an individual from controlling his or her actions. Finally, he stated that Drs. LaWall, Potts, and Geffen didn't buy Moody's insanity defense. ¶ 167 Moody claims that by arguing the substantive content of the non-testifying doctors' reports in closing argument, the prosecutor violated this court's determination in Lundstrom that while such reports may be used to show the bases of the expert's opinion, they may not be used as substantive evidence. 161 Ariz. at 148, 776 P.2d at 1074. We note, however, that by failing to object to any of these instances at trial, Moody deprived the court of the opportunity to cure any misuse of the reports by instructions or otherwise. See State v. Dann, 205 Ariz. 557, 575, ¶ 73, 74 P.3d 231, 249 (2003). Consequently, as above, Moody's burden is not merely to demonstrate error, but also to show that the error deprived him of a fair trial. See Smith, 114 Ariz. at 420, 561 P.2d at 744 (defining fundamental error). ¶ 168 In light of this burden, we conclude that the prosecutor's injection of the non-testifying doctors' opinions into closing argument was not fundamental error. Indeed, given the other evidence presented at trial, it was merely cumulative. Both Drs. Sullivan and Morenz testified at trial that they believed Moody to be malingering, and both set forth substantial grounds upon which they based their opinions. Because the jury already had before it ample proper evidence that Moody was faking or exaggerating symptoms of mental illness, the prosecutor's recitation of the non-testifying doctors' cumulative opinions in closing argument did not deny Moody a fair trial. Consequently, we conclude that if there were error here, it was not fundamental and therefore does not require reversal.