Opinion ID: 1910074
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Challenges to Prosecutor's Argument

Text: Appellant argues that the trial court plainly erred in failing to take corrective measures when the prosecutor made improper remarks during opening statement. Specifically, he contends that the prosecutor attempted to inflame the passions of the jury by describing appellant in opening statement as a man who could not let go and who had almost cost the complaining witness her life. Additionally, appellant challenges as improper the prosecutor's reference to prior bad acts before the trial court had ruled on the issue and references in closing argument to appellant's statements that he would ram and kill the complaining witness. In reviewing claims of improper prosecutorial conduct, the court must first determine whether the remark was improper. Irick v. United States, 565 A.2d 26, 32 (D.C.1989). If the remarks are improper, then this court must consider the gravity of the improper comments, their relation to guilt, the effect of any corrective action taken, and the strength of the government's case. Id. Since no objections were made at trial, we review for plain error. United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732-35, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993). Under that standard, to warrant reversal, appellant must show that the error resulted in a miscarriage of justice `or that the trial court's error seriously affected the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings.' Wilson v. United States, 785 A.2d 321, 326 (D.C.2001) (quoting Olano, 507 U.S. at 736, 113 S.Ct. 1770) (other citations omitted). In opening statement, the parties are permitted to give a broad outline of the evidence expected to be presented at trial. Bailey v. United States, 831 A.2d 973, 981 (D.C.2003). Neither of the challenged statements in the prosecutor's opening went beyond permissible bounds. The prosecutor previewed what she expected the evidence to show concerning appellant's attempts to hold onto a relationship with the complainant and the conduct supporting the attempted aggravated assault charge. The use of the words ram and kill in closing argument were not improper because they were supported by the evidence. The complainant testified that appellant used those very words on the day of the offenses. The government is not required to sanitize the evidence or remove its emotional impact. Irick, supra, 565 A.2d at 36-37. Contrary to appellant's arguments, the complainant's account of the threatening statements that appellant made while pursuing her is not hearsay. See Harris v. United States, 834 A.2d 106, 116 (D.C.2003) (A party's own statements are admissible in evidence.) (citations omitted). Finally, we conclude that the trial court did not plainly err in failing to strike the government's reference to the prior bad acts prior to the trial court's ruling and instruction. The trial court ruled prior to the prosecutor's opening statement that the government could introduce most of the prior bad acts evidence. Appellant has not demonstrated that the prosecutor strayed from the parameters of the trial court's ruling. Therefore, we find no error, and clearly no plain error, resulting from the mention of the prior bad acts evidence during the prosecutor's opening statement.