Opinion ID: 1229851
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Solicitor's Closing

Text: During the guilt phase of Elkins' trial, numerous references were made to Garner's trial. In closing argument, the Solicitor stated: Y'all heard the testimony of Ralph Garner. They attempted to make something out of it that he had changed his story. He got on that witness stand and he told y'all, and to be honest with you, I think he should have been convicted at the last trial. I don't know whether y'all know that he wasn't, but I'm sure that you well, I think all of you know that he wasn't convicted. I personally, if I'd been on the jury  The trial judge immediately interrupted: The Court: Solicitor? Ladies and gentlemen, I don't think we ought to ... That's outside of the facts of this particular case and I'm going to instruct the jurors to disregard any inference or any reference to that whatsoever. Solicitor: Okay, sir. May I  The Court: No, sir, I'm going to instruct you not to refer to any other trials. Let's confine ourselves  Solicitor: Okay, sir. The Court:  to this trial. (Emphasis supplied). Elkins did not object to the Solicitor's comment or the Judge's immediate curative instruction, nor did he move for a mistrial. Elkins now contends that the comment was so prejudicial and inflammatory as to deny him a fair trial. We disagree. Notwithstanding no objection was made, the trial judge sua sponte instructed the jury that the comments were outside the record and that the jurors should disregard any inference or any reference to that whatsoever. If the remarks were prejudicial, the Court's instruction was sufficient to cure any error. State v. Dawkins, 297 S.C. 386, 392, 277 S.E.2d 298, 302 (1989). We hold that, under the circumstances, the Solicitor's comments did not so infect the trial with unfairness as to make the resulting conviction a denial of due process. State v. Hawkins, 292 S.C. 418, 421, 357 S.E.2d 10, 12 (1987) [citing Donnelly v. DeChristoforo, 416 U.S. 637, 94 S.Ct. 1868, 40 L.Ed.2d 431 (1974)].