Opinion ID: 1444179
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Prosecutorial misconduct in opening statement

Text: On September 11, 1996, in the opening statement, the prosecutor misquoted appellant as saying, If I get the death penalty I'll kill anybody who gets in my way. At the end of the opening statement, the prosecutor repeated the misquote and again attributed it to appellant. On September 14, 1996, the prosecutor cleared up his misquote during direct examination of Warden Neven. Warden Neven testified that appellant actually said something like, If they give me the death sentence, I will do anything and everything I can and have to to get out of here. On cross-examination of Warden Neven, defense counsel pointed out the prosecutor's misquote. Appellant contends that the prosecutor knowingly misquoted him and inappropriately waited three days to correct himself. Appellant did not object to any of the prosecutor's allegedly improper statements, and we conclude that there was no plain or constitutional error such that we should consider these issues on appeal. See Emmons v. State, 107 Nev. 53, 60-61, 807 P.2d 718, 723 (1991); Lord v. State, 107 Nev. 28, 32-33, 806 P.2d 548, 550-51 (1991) (holding that error was harmless where prosecutor overstated the evidence in opening statement because defense counsel clarified error on cross-examination and in closing argument and jury was instructed that argument by counsel is not evidence). As stated above, the prosecutor clarified on direct examination of Warden Neven that he misquoted appellant, defense counsel pointed out the prosecutor's misquote, and the jury presumably followed the instruction that argument by counsel is not evidence. See Lisle v. State, 113 Nev. 540, 558, 937 P.2d 473, 484 (1997), clarified on other grounds, 114 Nev. 221, 954 P.2d 744, and cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 119 S.Ct. 101, ___ L.Ed.2d ___ (1998). In addition, Warden Neven testified that appellant could have meant what the prosecutor said in his misquote of appellant. In the opening statement, the prosecutor also said that Heverly would testify to what he could remember of how appellant tried to kill him. At the time the prosecutor made this statement, the district court had not yet determined whether that prior bad act was admissible. Appellant argues that the prosecutor knew that a hearing would be held with respect to whether Heverly would testify and therefore did not act in good faith in making this statement to the jury. Appellant did not object to the prosecutor's comment, and we conclude that there was no error which warrants considering this issue on appeal. See Emmons, 107 Nev. at 60-61, 807 P.2d at 723. Appellant cannot show any prejudice resulting from the prosecutor's statement. Even though Heverly did not testify, Flood testified about appellant's attempt to murder Heverly.