Opinion ID: 530736
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Opening Remarks

Text: 31 The prosecutor's opening statement should be an objective summary of the evidence reasonably expected to be introduced, and the prosecutor should not use the opening statement as an opportunity to 'poison the jury's mind against the defendant.'  Brockington, supra, at 875. 32 That part of the prosecutor's opening statement objected to by Escruceria is as follows: 33 Ladies and gentlemen, this is an organized crime case, an organized crime case involving an international cocaine conspiracy operated by the Escruceria family and controlled as the head of that family, the godfather, for lack of a better word, of that family by the defendant seated in the courtroom today, Samuel Alberto Escruceria-Delgado. 34 Escruceria claims that the prosecutor's reference to this as an organized crime case, and an international cocaine conspiracy involving a family operation, as well as his reference to Escruceria as the godfather of the family, were unduly inflammatory in that they brought to mind images of the Mafia. Clearly the second and third remarks were not improper. They were accurate descriptions of the case and, in and of themselves, they were not particularly inflammatory. 35 The prosecutor's use of the terms organized crime and godfather, could be construed as improper. Under the four factors to be considered, however, it does not appear that the use of these terms unduly prejudiced Escruceria. The reference to Escuceria as a godfather was made only once, and the term organized crime was used only twice--once in opening and once in closing. Thus, these remarks were isolated, rather than recurring instances. There exists little likelihood, therefore, that these words misled the jury to the prejudice of the defendant. Furthermore, in the absence of these remarks, there was sufficient proof to establish Escruceria's guilt. Finally, the trial judge immediately issued curative instructions, informing the jury that the remarks of counsel were not evidence.