Opinion ID: 1792208
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Issue: Whether Prejudicial Comments by the Prosecutor and a State's Witness Should Have Resulted in a Mistrial?

Text: During the course of the trial, several improper comments were uttered by the prosecutor and a State's witness. In each instance, Johnny moved for a mistrial, and Judge Carlson overruled the motion and instructed the jury to disregard the comment. Johnny appealed the judge's decisions. The trial judge is in the best position for determining the prejudicial effect of an objectionable [comment]. Alexander v. State, 520 So.2d 127, 131 (Miss. 1988). Assuming the comment is not wholly harmless, the prejudicial effect may be sufficiently alleviated if the judge instructs the jury to disregard it. See Johnson v. State, 477 So.2d 196, 210 (Miss. 1985). In such cases where the prejudicial effect of what the jury heard was such that no amount of subsequent admonition from the trial judge would be likely to eradicate from the jury's mind the prejudicial effect, we reverse, although such occasions are rare. Weaver v. State, 497 So.2d 1089, 1094 (Miss. 1986); see also Dennis v. State, 555 So.2d 679, 680 (Miss. 1989); McFee v. State, 511 So.2d 130, 135-36 (Miss. 1987). Applying this law to the facts, this Court concludes that the comments do not warrant reversal. The instruction to the jury to disregard the comments sufficiently alleviated any prejudicial effect it may have had on Johnny's right to a fair trial, and the jury is deemed to have acted in good faith and to have followed the judge's instructions. Weaver, 497 So.2d at 1094; Johnson v. State, 475 So.2d 1136, 1142 (Miss. 1985) (same).