Opinion ID: 2341690
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Issue 3: The prosecutor misattributed the source of evidence during closing argument.

Text: Tahah argues that the prosecutor's misconduct during closing argument violated his right to a fair trial. He argues that the prosecutor intentionally misstated the evidence when he informed the jury that the forensic pathologist told detectives the autopsy results proved Jones was killed by a high powered rifle. Tahah further alleges that the pathologist never testified that the bullet had gone through the glass as the prosecutor claimed. These alleged errors occurred during the following argument: The pathologist, forensic pathologist told you there was no gun powder and all that sort of stuff on [Jones'] body. So that meant there was distance. She's lying clutching a blanket on her left side. There are little fragments on her body right to the head where she was hit. You can look over here at the curtain and there's black something on it. Hole in the door, glass is fallen down. He could tell from the examination it was a bullet wound when they did the autopsy I think the very next day, if not, it was shortly after she was killed. The doctor then said there's a high powered rifle that committed this. That's why they didn't check the shotguns, didn't check the pistol. The expert said it was a high powered rifle. It [came] from a distance. That round had gone through glass. That's probably the glass lead peeling off the bullet that's on the curtain. (Emphasis added.)