Opinion ID: 853485
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Motion for mistrial made during closing argument

Text: During its case-in-chief the State introduced evidence that Flowers' DNA matched samples taken from the rape kit swabs received from H.B. The State's DNA experts testified that the probability the DNA belonged to someone other than Flowers was one in seventy million. During the presentation of his defense, Flowers introduced testimony from his own DNA expert criticizing the conclusions reached by the State's DNA experts. Although Flowers' expert could not say that Flowers should have been excluded as a suspect, he testified that additional testing should have been done. R. at 2627, 2629. Flowers' expert did not actually conduct DNA testing of his own. Rather, he examined the tests conducted by the State's experts. During closing argument defense counsel followed up on the theme that the conclusions reached by the State's DNA experts were faulty. In rebuttal the prosecutor commented: Nobody else did the [DNA] testing. It was the state's experts. Now, ladies and gentlemen, don't misunderstand me. It's the state's burden. We had the burden to prove to you beyond a reasonable doubt. But obviously the defense doesn't (inaudible) a lot of testing. The evidthe evidence was that there was sample left. They aren't precluded. R. at 2753-54. Flowers objected and moved to strike the prosecutor's comment. The trial court overruled the objection and denied the motion to strike. After the State completed its closing argument but before the jury retired for deliberations, Flowers moved for a mistrial. The trial court denied the motion. In this appeal Flowers argues the trial court erred in denying his mistrial motion insisting that the prosecutor's comments shift[ed] the burden of proof to the defense.... Brief of Appellant at 15. To preserve an issue regarding the propriety of a closing argument for appeal, a defendant must do more than simply make a prompt objection to the argument. Defendant must also request an admonishment, and if further relief is desired, defendant must move for a mistrial. Wright v. State, 690 N.E.2d 1098, 1111 (Ind.1997). Failure to request an admonishment results in waiver of the issue for appellate review. Phillips v. State, 719 N.E.2d 809, 811 (Ind.1999). Here, although Flowers objected to the prosecutor's remarks at trial, he failed to request an admonition. This issue is waived. Waiver notwithstanding, Flowers still cannot prevail. In Pettiford v. State, 506 N.E.2d 1088 (Ind.1987), we held that the impropriety of a prosecutor's comments during closing argument inferring that the burden of proof shifted from the State to the defendant was de minimis and cured by the court's preliminary and final instructions which advised the jury that the defendant was not required to present any evidence or prove his innocence. Id. at 1089-90; see also Chubb v. State, 640 N.E.2d 44, 48 (Ind.1994) (applying the Pettiford rationale). Here, assuming for the sake of argument that the prosecutor's comments can be interpreted as shifting the burden of proof, the record shows that in both its preliminary and final instructions the trial court advised the jury: Under the law of this State, a person charged with a crime is presumed to be innocent. To overcome the presumption of innocence, the State must prove the defendant guilty of each essential element of the crime charged, beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant is not required to present any evidence to prove his innocence or to prove or explain anything. R. at 921, 1004. Thus, as in Pettiford and Chubb, the jury here was properly instructed that the defendant was not required to present any evidence or prove his innocence. Accordingly, we find that any impropriety in the prosecutor's closing argument was de minimis and overcome by the preliminary and final instructions. The trial court did not err in denying Flowers' motion for mistrial.