Opinion ID: 1318712
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Impermissible Comment on Failure to Testify

Text: In this comprehensively briefed appeal, appellant's final claim of error is that during closing argument the prosecutor commented on appellant's failure to testify on his own behalf in violation of his Fifth Amendment rights under the United States Constitution and Art. 1, § 11 of the Wyoming Constitution. We have held that such comment is plain error and is prejudicial per se. Brewster v. State, Wyo., 712 P.2d 338 (1985); Westmark v. State, Wyo., 693 P.2d 220 (1984). The contentious questions addressed by this court in prior cases about the per se rule need not again be addressed here since we find no inappropriate comment was made. The prosecutor, in closing argument, said: Now, I detected some questions on cross-examination about where Fred, Sr. was and the incident three years ago, and Fred burned the fingers of little Freddie, the victim here. And perhaps you might have thought, well, I wonder if Fred, Sr. did this? He was coming and going from work and Village Inn, I think, and with his wife back and forth, but ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you one thing. Fred got right up here and denied it. He did not injure his child. You heard that under oath and subject to cross-examination. And I submit to you, Fred, Sr. did not do this to his child, and he told you that. Appellant claims that this statement clearly inferred that if appellant had not injured Freddie, he too would have taken the stand and denied it. We disagree. Throughout the trial, information was revealed to the jury which could have raised suspicion in the minds of the jury about Freddie's father. It was brought out on direct examination, cross-examination, and redirect examination of Freddie's father that he had been charged with child abuse in an incident where he burned Freddie's hand. Freddie's father received two years probation for the incident and agreed to counseling. Further, the school counselor who had been working with Freddie testified that when Freddie was asked to complete the sentence which she had begun, I like my father, but, Freddie responded, I wish he would quit kicking me. She checked Freddie's legs for bruises, because she was aware of the situation with Freddie's father. On the night of Freddie's death, Fred, Sr. was alone for a time at around midnight, and he was specifically asked if he had returned home and during that time had injured Freddie. With denial, his credibility was placed in issue. In his closing argument, appellant's attorney said: What about the Touneys? Fred, Lorraine, and Bernadette? They have feelings also. Fred had just gotten off probation, and obviously they don't want to lose their children. And obviously there's some things that have gone on in the family that don't sound very good. The condition of the house, the babysitting arrangements, et cetera. Are they going to want to, if not consciously, maybe subconsciously try and downplay their own parts or weaknesses, and is that going to affect their ability to recall accurately what was going on? Would what was going on affect their reaction of how much in fact Dennis did have to drink that night? And is it going to affect Bernadette and her fears about what if Dennis didn't do it? Is that going to affect what she remembers? The prosecutor obviously sensed that appellant's attorney had been effective in a very subtle way throughout the trial in keeping alive doubts about Freddie's father. It is not surprising that in his closing argument the prosecutor chose to confront directly the suspicions which members of the jury may have been entertaining about the father by attempting to close the door of doubt on that possibility. This is not an impermissible comment on appellant's failure to testify. The evidence in the case is overwhelming in support of the jury verdict. We find no trial error. Affirmed.