Opinion ID: 1687603
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: cavett's constitutional right to remain silent

Text: ¶ 45. A defendant has a constitutional right not to testify at trial or have his silence anytime after his arrest be used against him. Carr v. State, 655 So.2d 824, 845 (Miss.1995). `Direct comment on a defendant's failure to testify is constitutionally impermissible and constitutes error.' Taylor v. State, 672 So.2d 1246, 1280 (Miss.1996) (Sullivan, P.J., concurring in part and dissenting in part) (quoting Ladner v. State, 584 So.2d 743, 754 (Miss.1991)). `Prosecutors are also forbidden from referring to a defendant's failure to testify `by innuendo and insinuation.'' Taylor, 672 So.2d at 1280 (quoting Jimpson v. State, 532 So.2d 985, 991 (Miss.1988)). ¶ 46. It is undisputed that Cavett did not testify at trial. During closing argument the following comments were made: [ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY]:... We see all the bullets to that car and you'll have the photographs to see where they were shooting at the driver's side of the car, the bullet holes. You'll see how they went through and across the back seat there and went out where the police officer recovered them there in the door on the opposite side of the car. You'll have those photographs to see. And we know Jason Brown was sitting there with his window up. Mike Childress explained that to you and you will see from the photographs where he pointed out that even with the broken glass you can tell the window was up because of the glass and the way it was still there at the very base of it. Why? Why? What did the defendants say? [STRAHAN'S ATTORNEY]: Your Honor, we're going to object to that. It's improper, what the defendants say. It's improper and move for a mistrial. THE COURT: Overruled. Motion denied. ¶ 47. The majority fails to address this issue, apparently because Cavett's attorney did not object to the improper comment after Strahan's attorney had objected and the motion for a mistrial was denied and furthermore this issue was not raised by Cavett on appeal. In view that this error affects the fundamental right not to testify, this Court has held that even if no contemporaneous objection was made, this Court still may reverse. See Alexander v. State, 610 So.2d 320 (Miss.1992); Griffin v. State, 557 So.2d 542, 552 (Miss.1990). ¶ 48. The majority in Strahan v. State, 1998 WL 409923, ___ So.2d ___ (Miss.1998) addressing this exact language in the same joint trial, concedes this a very close issue, which involves a fundamental right and cites to Whigham v. State, 611 So.2d 988, 995 (Miss.1992) for the premise that [t]he right would be eviscerated if the government were free to make invidious reference when accused chose not to testify. Nevertheless, the majority agrees with the State that the prosecutor was not commenting on the defendant's silence, but, rather, was commenting upon the evidence, namely the statements made to police by co-defendants Cavett and Stevens. I disagree. The comment Why? Why? What did the defendants say? is a direct comment on Cavett's silence at trial and is constitutionally impermissible and constitutes impermissible error that warrants reversal of Cavett's conviction. Although references were made to both Stevens and Cavett's statements to the police earlier in the closing argument, the comments made prior to the reference about what the defendants said all related to the victim, Jason Brown. There is no other reasonable construction of the language used by the district attorney other than a direct comment on Cavett's invocation of his constitutional right to refuse to testify at trial. Ladner v. State, 584 So.2d 743, 754 (Miss.1991). At the very least it could reasonably be construed by a jury as a comment on the defendant's failure to testify. Griffin, 557 So.2d at 552. This particular error affecting such a fundamental right, even when a cautionary instruction is given to the jury prior to deliberations, is incurable. See Livingston v. State, 525 So.2d 1300, 1307 (Miss.1988); Peterson v. State, 357 So.2d 113, 115 (Miss.1978). ¶ 49. We have never demanded the State provide a perfect trial, but we do require a fair one. Taylor v. State, 672 So.2d 1246, 1281 (Miss.1996) (Sullivan, P.J. concurring in part and dissenting in part). Both Cavett's constitutional right to confront his accusers and his right to remain silent were violated during the assistant district attorney's closing argument. Therefore, Cavett was not given a fair trial that comports with his constitutional rights that our forefathers thought so important. For both of these reasons, I respectfully dissent. BANKS and McRAE, JJ., join this opinion.