Opinion ID: 1810649
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Ineffective closing argument

Text: ¶ 80. Crawford next claims that counsel's closing argument was so inadequate as to become ineffective. However, counsel's fourteen page closing sits well with this court given its purposeto make one last effort to argue that Crawford was not guilty by reason of insanity. Counsel's aim was to portray Crawford as a monster in order for the jury to find him not guilty by reason of insanity. Crawford does not direct this Court's attention to any case law that stands for the proposition that counsel must describe his client in a pleasant manner at closing argument. This portion of the issue is without merit. ¶ 81. In addition, and despite Crawford's assertion, counsel never conceded guilt in this case, just underlying facts. However, counsel steadfastly maintained throughout trial that his client was not guilty due to insanity. This issue has already been addressed under a similar heading. Crawford has failed to show that counsel was deficient in his closing and, therefore, this portion of the claim also fails. See Woodward, 843 So.2d at 7.