Opinion ID: 720596
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Missing Witness Inference

Text: 15 In closing argument, Smith sought to argue that the jury could draw an inference from the failure of John Rich, a correctional officer and named defendant, to testify. The district court sustained the correctional officers' objection to that argument. The district court has broad discretion in ruling on the propriety of closing argument. United States v. Collins, 996 F.2d 950 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 114 S.Ct. 412, 126 L.Ed.2d 359 (1993). We will not disturb the court's ruling absent an abuse of that discretion. Slathar v. Sather Trucking Corp., 78 F.3d 415, 420 (8th Cir.1996). To constitute reversible error, we must find that the district court's action resulted in injury or prejudice. Id. Here, Smith had an opportunity to depose the witness and could have offered the witness' deposition testimony. See Campbell v. Coleman Co., 786 F.2d 892, 897-98 (8th Cir.1986) (under Missouri law, a negative inference may not be raised if the witness is equally available to both parties). In addition, the witness was a party defendant and Smith was allowed to argue to the jury that he had not show[n] up to defend himself. Transcript Vol. 2 at 92. Under the circumstances, we find no abuse of discretion.