Opinion ID: 2452857
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Penalty-Phase Statement

Text: During the penalty phase, the prosecutor asked the jury to be like Brenda Craig Wells, do what is right in this case. Brenda Craig Wells testified during the penalty phase that on April 24, 1981, Hall came to her house claiming to be interested in her garage sale, but then held a gun to her stomach and tried to force her into her house. Wells testified that she grabbed the gun out of Hall's hand and said, Now I'm going to have to kill you. Wells said Hall took the gun back from her, ran to his car, and drove away. Wells memorized Hall's license plate number and called the police. As a result of the incident Hall was convicted of displaying a deadly weapon in a rude, angry and threatening manner. Hall failed to object to this statement at trial and, therefore, failed to preserve his argument for appellate review. Reversal is only required upon a finding of plain error. Simmons, 955 S.W.2d at 737. To warrant reversal, plain error requires that the argument have a decisive effect on the jury's determination. Shurn, 866 S.W.2d at 460. Evidence of past crimes is admissible during the penalty phase of a criminal trial. State v. Brown, 902 S.W.2d 278, 291-92 (Mo. banc 1995), cert. denied 516 U.S. 1031, 116 S.Ct. 679, 133 L.Ed.2d 527 (1995). Further, the prosecutor is allowed to argue that the jury should send a message that criminal conduct will not be tolerated. Phillips, 940 S.W.2d at 520; see also Roberts, 948 S.W.2d at 594-95 (A prosecutor may argue the need for strong law enforcement, the prevalence of crime in the community, and that conviction of the defendant is part of the jury's duty). The trial court did not err by permitting this statement. Point denied.