Opinion ID: 1836662
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether flowers was denied his fundamental and constitutional right to a fair trial due to prosecutorial misconduct.

Text: ¶ 52. Flowers next argues that prosecutorial misconduct occurred at several stages throughout the trial. Flowers asserts that these individual occurrences and their cumulative effect denied him his right to a fair trial. The State argues several of Flowers's cited occurrences are procedurally barred by lack of contemporaneous objections. Flowers contends that objections were made in almost all of the instances, and that even if objections were not made, the plain error rule should apply. While some of these allegations of error are procedurally barred, we will address the merits of the underlying claims in the order raised by Flowers, knowing that any subsequent review will stand on the procedural bar alone. Chase v. State, 645 So.2d 829, 845 (Miss.1994); Foster v. State, 639 So.2d 1263, 1270 (Miss.1994). [I]t is the duty of a trial counsel, if he deems opposing counsel overstepping the wide range of authorized argument, to promptly make objections and insist upon a ruling by the trial court. The trial judge first determines if the objection should be sustained or overruled. If the argument is improper, and the objection is sustained, it is the further duty of trial counsel to move for a mistrial. The circuit judge is in the best position to weigh the consequences of the objectionable argument, and unless serious and irreparable damage has been done, admonish the jury then and there to disregard the improper comment. Johnson v. State, 477 So.2d 196, 209-10 (Miss.1985). See Wilson v. State, 234 So.2d 303, 308 (Miss.1970); Aldridge v. State, 180 Miss. 452, 456, 177 So. 765 (1938); Matthews v. State, 148 Miss. 696, 701, 114 So. 816 (1927). However, heightened scrutiny applies in death penalty cases. Plain error will apply to the issues we discuss hereafter. Foster v. State, 639 So.2d at 1289 (citing Gray v. State, 487 So.2d 1304, 1312 (Miss.1986) (defendant who fails to make a contemporaneous objection must rely on plain error to raise the assignment on appeal)). Two of Flowers's sub-claims regarding prosecutorial misconduct warrant discussion: (1) the attempted impeachment of witnesses by the prosecutor without a factual basis, and (2) the prosecutor's arguing of facts not in evidence.
¶ 53. Flowers argues the prosecution committed reversible error by arguing facts not in evidence when the prosecutor on cross-examination accused Latarsha Blissett, Stacey Wright and Mary Ella Fleming of harassing Clemmie Fleming and allegedly trying to get her to give false testimony. Flowers contends this same tactic was used by the State in Flowers I during the cross-examination of Connie Moore. The State argues that any impeachment questions were supported by the testimony of Investigator John Johnson. ¶ 54. Miss. R. Evid. 613, which governs prior statements of witnesses, provides: (a) Examining Witness Concerning Prior Statement. In examining a witness concerning a prior statement made by him, whether written or not, the statement need not be shown nor its contents disclosed to him at that time, but on request the same shall be shown or disclosed to opposing counsel. (b) Extrinsic Evidence of Prior Inconsistent Statement of Witness. Extrinsic evidence of a prior inconsistent statement by a witness is not admissible unless the witness is afforded an opportunity to explain or deny the same and the opposite party is afforded an opportunity to interrogate him thereon, or the interests of justice otherwise require. This provision does not apply to admissions of a party-opponent as defined in Rule 801(d)(2). (emphasis added). It is no longer required that the witness be directed to the statement on cross-examination as to a particular time or sequence, but the witness should be given an opportunity to explain the statement. See Miss. R. Evid. 613 & cmt. This Court has held that a stricter standard should be followed, and we have, therefore, required the questions to include, whether or not on a specific date, at a specific place, and in the presence of specific persons, the witness made a particular statement. Carlisle v. State, 348 So.2d 765, 766 (Miss.1977) (citations omitted). Then with the predicate properly laid, the witness may be impeached by showing prior statements inconsistent with the in-court testimony, so long as the statement made in court is one relevant to the issue in the case and therefore not collateral. Id. (citing Williams v. State, 73 Miss. 820, 19 So. 826 (1896), aff'd, 170 U.S. 213, 18 S.Ct. 583, 42 L.Ed. 1012 (1898)). ¶ 55. As we stated in Flowers I, it is of the utmost importance that counsel have a good faith basis for any question asked on cross-examination; therefore, counsel may not use prior inconsistent statements as a `guise of impeachment for the primary purpose of placing before the jury substantive evidence which is not otherwise admissible.' 773 So.2d at 326-27 (citing Harrison v. State, 534 So.2d 175, 178 (Miss.1988) (citations omitted) (emphasis in original); Foster v. State, 508 So.2d 1111, 1115 (Miss.1987)). This Court has stated: The asking of questions without a factual basis leaves an impression in the mind of jurors that the prosecutor actually had such facts in hand and that the insinuations through questioning contained some truth. This leaves false and inadmissible ideas in the minds of jurors that cannot be adequately rebutted by the testimony of witnesses or instructions from the court. Walker v. State, 740 So.2d 873, 884 (Miss. 1999). ¶ 56. In Flowers I, the State attempted to impeach the defense witness, Connie Moore. Id. 773 So.2d at 327-28. On direct examination, Moore testified that she bought a pair of Fila Grant Hill tennis shoes for her son. Id. at 328. On cross-examination, the State tried to show Moore had, in fact, bought them for Flowers. Id. During her testimony, the State asked Moore if Patricia Hollman was with her when she purchased the shoes. Id. Moore stated Hollman was not present when she bought the shoes. Id. Moore also testified that she did not tell Hollman she was buying the shoes as a gift for Flowers. Id. ¶ 57. After this particular questioning, this Court held the proper predicate for impeachment had been laid. Id. See also Carlisle v. State, 348 So.2d at 766. This Court further held the State was required to either continue with the impeachment by showing a basis in fact for the questions or offer a witness in rebuttal to prove the truth of the prior statement. Flowers I, 773 So.2d at 328. Because the State had no basis in fact to make the claim and because on rebuttal the State never refuted Moore's denial, this Court found the State's tactic to be in bad faith. Id. Although Patricia Hollman was called as a witness by the State, she was never questioned about either being present when Moore bought the shoes or hearing Moore state for whom she was buying the shoes. Id. Hollman was not called as a rebuttal witness after the State posed these particular questions to Moore. Id. This Court held this was clearly error by the State. ¶ 58. In the case sub judice, Flowers again argues that the State improperly attempted to impeach three witnesses without presenting a factual basis: Latarsha Blissett, Mary Ella Fleming and Stacey Wright. When cross-examining Flowers's witnesses, the State accused the witnesses of harassing their witnesses. During the cross-examination of Latarsha Blissett, the prosecutor asked her if she had tried to get Clemmie Fleming to lie for Flowers in order to get him out of jail, and if she and other family members had harassed Fleming in an effort to get her to change her story. The prosecution cross-examined Mary Ella Fleming on the premise that she had attempted to have Clemmie Fleming testify in such as way as to save Flowers. Also, Stacey Wright was cross-examined by the prosecution in such a way as to infer that she and others had been harassing Clemmie Fleming to get her to change her testimony. ¶ 59. After the above cross-examination was complete, the proper predicate for impeachment was laid. Flowers I, 773 So.2d at 328. See also Carlisle v. State, 348 So.2d at 766. According to Flowers I, the State was required to continue with the impeachment and show a basis in fact for the question, or to offer a subsequent witness in rebuttal to prove the statement[s] [were] true that [the witnesses] lied. 773 So.2d at 328. The State called Clemmie Fleming as a rebuttal witness, but on direct examination, the prosecutor failed to question Fleming about whether Latarsha Blisset, Mary Ella Fleming or Stacey Wright ever harassed her or asked her to lie. However, on redirect, the prosecution asked Fleming, [w]ho, if anyone, asked you to lie in relationship to this case? Fleming responded, Mary Fleming. Defense counsel immediately objected and asked the answer be stricken because he had no ability to cross-examine. The trial court asked the jury to disregard the witness's last statement and excused Fleming. ¶ 60. The State argues this claim is factually distinguishable from the defense's argument in Flowers I. The State contends the impeachment questions in the case sub judice were supported by the testimony of Investigator John Johnson. The State points out that when Clemmie Fleming was interviewed by Johnson, she was real nervous and upset. Although Johnson testified that Fleming did tell him why she was upset, he was not allowed to testify to any statements made by Fleming because of hearsay. Contrary to the contentions of the State, there is no evidentiary basis for this line of questioning. ¶ 61. This Court has clearly held that it is prejudicial error for questions on cross-examination to contain insinuations and intimations of such conduct when there is no basis in fact. Walker, 740 So.2d at 884 (citing Hosford v. State, 525 So.2d 789, 793 (Miss.1988)). Here, the only attempt by the prosecutor to prove that the three defense witnesses lied during cross-examination about statements made to Clemmie Fleming was to ask one question during redirect that was stricken from the record. This Court finds error in the State's failure to offer proof that Latarsha Blissett, Stacey Warren and Mary Ella Fleming lied. This line of questioning without evidentiary basis has been found by this Court to be inflammatory and highly prejudicial. This Court holds it was prejudicial to the case at bar.
¶ 62. Flowers also argues both the District Attorney and the Assistant District Attorney, in their closing arguments, argued facts not in evidence. Flowers cites to several specific examples in each closing argument where the State argued facts not in evidence. In response, the State tries to connect the comments made in the closing arguments to the proper testimony on which they were based. ¶ 63. The standard of review which this Court must apply to lawyer misconduct during opening statements or closing arguments is whether the natural and probable effect of the improper argument is to create unjust prejudice against the accused so as to result in a decision influenced by the prejudice so created. Sheppard v. State, 777 So.2d 659, 661 (Miss.2001) (citing Ormond v. State, 599 So.2d 951, 961 (Miss.1992)). ¶ 64. Attorneys are afforded wide latitude in arguing their cases to the jury, but they are not allowed to employ tactics which are inflammatory, highly prejudicial, or reasonably calculated to unduly influence the jury. Sheppard, 777 So.2d at 661 (citing Hiter v. State, 660 So.2d 961, 966 (Miss.1995)). The purpose of a closing argument is to fairly sum up the evidence. Rodgers v. State, 796 So.2d 1022, 1027 (Miss.2001). The State should convey those facts which the prosecution asserts a verdict of guilty would be proper. Clemons v. State, 320 So.2d 368, 370 (Miss. 1975). The prosecutor may comment upon any facts introduced into evidence, and he may draw whatever deductions and inferences that seem proper to him from the facts. Bell v. State, 725 So.2d 836, 851 (Miss.1998) (collecting authorities). Counsel cannot, however, state facts which are not in evidence, and which the court does not judicially know, in aid of his evidence. Neither can he appeal to the prejudices of men by injecting prejudices not contained in some source of the evidence. Nelms & Blum Co. v. Fink, 159 Miss. 372, 131 So. 817, 821 (1930). See also Sheppard, 777 So.2d at 661. ¶ 65. In appropriate circumstances, prosecutorial misconduct has been the basis for reversal of a defendant's conviction and sentence. Chase, 645 So.2d at 853. However, in discussing the broad latitude afforded attorneys in making their closing arguments, this Court has stated: Counsel was not required to be logical in argument; he is not required to draw sound conclusions, or to have a perfect argument measured by logical and rhetorical rules; his function is to draw conclusions and inferences from evidence on behalf of his client in whatever he deems proper, so long as he does not become abusive and go outside the confines of the record. Brown v. State, 690 So.2d 276, 296 (Miss. 1996) (quoting Johnson v. State, 416 So.2d 383, 391 (Miss.1982)). Indeed, we have held that the prosecutor may comment on facts in evidence and may draw proper deductions there from. Id. A defendant is entitled to a fair and impartial trial before a jury not exposed to abusive arguments appealing to their passions and prejudices. Although ours is an adversary system, prosecuting attorneys must exercise caution and discretion in making extreme statements in their arguments to the jury, if for no other reason than to save themselves, the defendant, the court and the jury the additional time, expense and effort involved in a retrial. Dunaway v. State, 551 So.2d 162, 163-64 (Miss.1989) (citing Keyes v. State, 312 So.2d 7, 10 (Miss.1975)). See also Stewart v. State, 263 So.2d 754, 758 (Miss.1972). ¶ 66. Where the argument does not result in unjust prejudice against the accused as to result in a decision influenced by the prejudice so created, this Court will find it harmless. Wells v. State, 698 So.2d 497, 507 (Miss.1997) (quoting Davis v. State, 684 So.2d 643, 656 (Miss.1996); Davis v. State, 530 So.2d 694, 701 (Miss. 1988)). ¶ 67. In Harvey v. State, 666 So.2d 798 (Miss.1995), this Court found the defendant's issue regarding the State's improper closing argument to be meritorious. This Court held the prosecutor crossed the line and proceeded outside of the record when the State told the jury the defense threatened a witness to keep her from testifying at the trial. Id. at 801. This Court determined: The prosecutor's comment of somebody connected with the defense and they threatened her, could be interpreted as referring to Harvey, other defense witnesses, or even defense counsel. The prosecutor should have limited his comments in argument to Brown's state of mind of being fearful at the time she testified. His failure to do so makes the verdict suspect as to whether Harvey received a fair trial. Id. This Court further held the natural and probable effect of the prosecutor's improper argument was to create unjust prejudice against Harvey so as to result in a decision by the jury which this Court cannot say with any degree of certainty was not influenced by prejudice. Id. See Johnson v. State, 596 So.2d 865 (Miss. 1992). ¶ 68. Flowers cites to at least fourteen different comments by the State which he believes are improper. Over one-half of the comments relate to the State's accusing the defense witnesses of either changing their stories or trying to get prosecution witnesses to lie for the defendant. The State lists several examples of testimony upon which it contends the comments were based. In one comment, the prosecution stated that the defense witnesses tried to force their prosecution witnesses to lie. BY MR. EVANS: You have heard testimony how the defense witnesses tried to get our witnesses to lie, to come into court and change their story and say that he was not the person. You have seen that happen in this courtroom before your very eyes.    [Curtis Flowers] got rid of [the Fila tennis shoes], but he couldn't get rid of the witnesses. They tried to force them to lie. They put pressure on them. ¶ 69. Because this Court held the State improperly impeached Latarsha Blissett, Stacey Warren and Mary Ella Fleming, there is no evidentiary basis for this statement. But as stated above, attorneys are afforded wide latitude in arguing their case to the jury. A prosecutor is allowed to draw whatever deductions and inferences that seem proper from the facts. Testimony was before the jury of one witness, Roy Harris, changing his story. The trial court also gave an instruction to the jury which said: BY THE COURT: Arguments, statements and remarks of counsel are intended to help you understand the evidence and apply the law, but are not evidence. If any argument, statement or remark has no basis in the evidence, then you should disregard that argument, statement or remark. ¶ 70. The test to make such determination is whether the natural and probable effect of improper argument is to create unjust prejudice against the accused so as to result in a decision influenced by prejudice. Harvey, 666 So.2d at 801 (citing Johnson v. State, 596 So.2d 865, 869 (Miss. 1992)). By specifically accusing the defendant and the defense of trying to coerce prosecution witnesses into lying, the State attempted to create a prejudice against Flowers that would influence the jury. ¶ 71. The remaining comments cited by the defense concern alleged misstatements of facts by the prosecution. Two examples cited by Flowers involve the prosecutor's closing arguments to the jury about the testimony of Sam Jones and Robert Campbell. The prosecutor argued Jones had testified that at 9:30 a.m., he received a call from Bertha Tardy to come to the store, while defense counsel asserted in his objection that Jones had testified that he received the call at 9:00 a.m. and arrived at the store at 9:30 a.m. After the trial judge ruled that the jury would recall the evidence and that [t]his is argument, the prosecutor fired the last shot by stating before the jury, [Jones] said he received a call around 9:30. I recall; I wrote it down. Additionally, the prosecutor argued to the jury that Campbell had testified that Flowers was mad because Mrs. Tardy had terminated his employment and was holding money out of his paycheck to cover the damaged batteries. Defense counsel objected on the basis that the prosecutor was mischaracterizing Campbell's testimony, and when the prosecutor responded that he was quoting verbatim from his notes, the trial court overruled the defense objection. ¶ 72. After a thorough examination of the record, it is clear from Jones's testimony that he testified he arrived at Tardy's at 9:30. He never once stated he was called at 9:30 on the morning of July 16, but he did testify he arrived at the store around 9:30. On direct examination, the State never questioned Jones about a specific time. He only stated he received a call from Mrs. Tardy on the morning of July 16. On cross-examination, Jones was asked what time he arrived at Tardy's, and he answered that it was around 9:30. ¶ 73. The second exchange involves the testimony of defense witness, Robert Campbell. After a thorough examination of the Campbell's testimony, it is clear Campbell never testified Flowers was upset at Mrs. Tardy. The State never questioned Campbell about Flowers's feelings toward Tardy or about any money. On redirect, Campbell was asked if Flowers ever mentioned anything was wrong with Mrs. Tardy and, Campbell stated Flowers never mentioned anything to him. ¶ 74. Flowers lists several other instances where the State misstated testimony of witnesses. The cumulative effect of the State's repeated instances of arguing facts not in evidence was to deny Flowers his right to a fair trial.