Opinion ID: 2321960
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: The claims based on witness testimony are meritless

Text: Norcross' fourth prosecutorial misconduct claim is that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to object to Gunnery Sergeant Booker's opinion that anyone can change his ways, but a man without a conscience is potentially dangerous. [78] According to defense counsel, that opinion testimony was without foundation and speculative. The evidence shows, however, that Sergeant Booker supervised Norcross while they were stationed at Camp Lejeune, had daily contact with Norcross for approximately three months, and evaluated Norcross as part of his responsibilities for Marines under his supervision. [79] Sergeant Booker was also available for defense cross examination to challenge his evaluation of Norcross. Therefore, we affirm the trial judge's finding that Norcross has not made a viable challenge to the admission of Sgt. Booker's testimony. [80] Finally, Norcross argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to Tanya Bennett's testimony that Norcross, when watching NYPD Blue on television, commented, the first time you kill someone, it's hard, but the second time it gets easier. [81] Defense counsel claims that the statements were inflammatory and prejudicial. The ineffective assistance of counsel claim fails because trial counsel did object to Bennett's statement. [82] The trial judge ruled against Norcross because the impact of that testimony could be nullified by pointing to Bennett's acknowledgement that Norcross made the remark in jest. [83] We find that trial counsel was not ineffective in its response to Tanya Bennett's testimony.