Opinion ID: 4521869
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Improperly Appealing to the Passion and

Text: Prejudice of the Jury During Closing Argument During closing argument, the prosecution told the jury that they had a choice to make, i.e., they could either show defendant mercy and not impose the death penalty even though defendant deserves it or could impose the death penalty because it is the “appropriate” penalty: “Do you want to be the jury that gives mercy when he gave none? . . . [H]e’s going to ask you for mercy when Pam Fayed had none of these?” On appeal, defendant maintains that by suggesting that justice and mercy are incompatible, the prosecution improperly appealed to the passions and prejudices of the jury. Defendant forfeited the issue by failing to object to this argument or request an admonition. We conclude it lacks merit in any event. “We have repeatedly approved prosecutors arguing that a defendant is not entitled to mercy, and in particular arguing that whether the defendant was merciful during the crimes should affect the jury’s decision.” (People v. Gamache (2010) 48 Cal.4th 347, 389390 [citing cases].)