Opinion ID: 780418
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Improper Closing References

Text: 160 During closing arguments in Mr. Sinisterra's penalty phase trial, the prosecutor made reference to Adolf Hitler, Charles Manson, and Jeffrey Dahmer. Appellants did not object to these references at trial so our review is for plain error. United States v. Robinson, 110 F.3d 1320, 1326 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 975, 118 S.Ct. 432, 139 L.Ed.2d 331 (1997). The prosecutor made these references when arguing that a family's love for a convicted criminal should not excuse the criminal's behavior. Tr. 2891. The prosecutor was not directly likening appellants' crimes or characters to those of Hitler, Manson, or Dahmer. Instead, the thrust of his argument was that familial love should not outweigh the aggravating circumstances of a crime in deciding on the appropriate punishment. This type of reference is not prejudicial enough to deprive [the] defendant[s] of [their] constitutional rights to a fair penalty phase hearing. United States v. Allen, supra, 247 F.3d at 776. We reach this conclusion after considering that there was only a single reference to these famous criminals, and that defendants failed to object at that time. The prosecutor's behavior did not seriously affect the fairness, integrity or public reputation of the penalty-phase hearing. United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 736, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993).