Opinion ID: 1742511
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: An Alleged Comment on Defendant's Failure to Testify

Text: The defendant argues that the State referred to his failure to testify when it commented on his lack of remorse. This argument also fails. If the prosecutor makes a direct reference to the defendant's failure to testify, a mistrial should be declared, regardless of the prosecutor's intent. State v. Johnson, 541 So.2d 818, 822 (La.1989). But when the prosecutor's reference is not direct, the reviewing court inquires into the remark's intended effect on the jury to distinguish between impermissible indirect references to the defendant's failure to testify and permissible general statements that the prosecution's case is unrebutted. Id. See also State v. Smith, 433 So.2d 688, 696-97 (La.1983) (prosecutor's comments actually related to lack of evidence). The State commented on Langley's state of mind, not even indirectly on his failure to testify. Accordingly, this argument lacks merit.