Opinion ID: 1652618
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Allegedly Improper Closing Argument

Text: As in voir dire and the guilt phase, Johnson claims that several comments made by the State during closing arguments constituted prosecutorial misconduct, that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to object, and that the trial court plainly erred in not ordering a mistrial sua sponte. Those comments include: 1) that this case was the first time that the prosecutor had ever requested the death penalty and that there were several reasons why the death penalty was being requested; 2) that after Johnson killed Officer Roark, he was a murderer and that by the end of the night he had a significant criminal history; 3) that peace officers should not have to worry that their job endangers their families; 4) that Johnson's mother was a victim of his crimes; and 5) that the officers who returned fire at Johnson would have been justified if they had killed him and that the officers would have been lauded as heroes. In addition, Johnson complains of several instances where the State allegedly personalized the argument and one instance where the State asked the jury to consider whose life has more value. No objection was made to any of these comments. Even if the comments were erroneous, which is a tenuous proposition, this Court declines to undertake plain error review because no manifest injustice or miscarriage of justice resulted. Rule 30.20; Simmons, 955 S.W.2d at 736. This point is denied.