Opinion ID: 1768435
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether the prosecution characterized Petitioner as a liar.

Text: ¶ 7. During closing argument in the guilt phase of the trial, the district attorney argued that Goodin was a liar and that the jury should punish him for that. No objection was made at trial, and the issue was not raised on direct appeal. Goodin now argues that the district attorney violated his right to a fair trial with this argument. The State answers first that Goodin is procedurally barred from raising an issue that could have been raised on direct appeal but was not. See Miss.Code Ann. § 99-39-21(1). The State also argues that the district attorney was merely arguing the facts, answering Goodin's defense that the State's witnesses were lying. The State cites Hull v. State, 687 So.2d 708, 721 (Miss.1996), where we stated, It is not improper for a prosecutor to comment that the defendant was lying when the contention is supported in the record. We agree that this issue is both procedurally barred and without merit.