Opinion ID: 1903505
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Was Hughes's Fifth Amendment right to silence violated?

Text: ¶ 12. Hughes argues that certain statements made by the prosecutor during his closing argument violated his right to silence, since he declined to testify on his own behalf. This argument is without merit. The prosecutor, in closing, stated that Simeon Hughes is the only one that knows why they let him [Brown] off with just $21 dollars. There were no noteworthy objections at trial regarding any statements made by the prosecutor during his closing argument. However, Hughes now argues that this is a direct comment by the prosecutor on his failure to testify. ¶ 13. Attorneys have wide latitude in arguing the facts and evidence in their closing arguments. Ahmad v. State, 603 So.2d 843, 846 (Miss.1992). We find that the prosecutor did not make any remarks in his closing arguments that violated Hughes's Fifth Amendment right to silence.