Opinion ID: 1913318
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 30

Heading: did the prosecutor improperly argue about a contradiction between the brain scan/eeg result and holland's psychological test scores, as administered by dr. zimmerman?

Text: ¶ 136. Holland asserts finally that the prosecutor's closing arguments highlighting the apparent contradiction between the brain scans and EEG reports, finding Holland normal, and the psychologist's testimony of abnormality, constitute error. Holland contends that because Dr. Zimmerman stated the brain scans are not designed to pick up all brain injuries, the contradiction was explained. ¶ 137. Prosecutors are limited to arguing facts introduced in evidence, deductions and conclusions that may be reasonably draw therefrom, and application of law to facts. Ivy v. State, 589 So.2d 1263, 1266 (Miss. 1991). With that limitation in mind, attorneys are permitted wide latitude in arguing their respective positions and theories to the jury. Campbell v. State, 437 So.2d 3, 5 (Miss. 1983). ¶ 138. Evidence showed the brain scan and EEG results to be normal. This evidence was in conflict with the testimony of Dr. Zimmerman's, who stated that Holland's performance on neuropsychological tests indicated brain dysfunction. Dr. Zimmerman testified that there was no contradiction because the tests measured two different things. However, this testimony did not block the prosecutor from offering his theory that the brain scan and EEG results did show that Holland is normal, despite Dr. Zimmerman's own tests. Because the prosecutor's statements were based on fact, namely the tests themselves, we hold that there is no error in this issue.