Opinion ID: 1653372
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: Comments During Closing Argument

Text: The defendant argues that the trial court erred in the wide latitude given to the state during closing argument. Having reviewed the entire record in this case, including the arguments of the prosecutor and defense counsel, we can find no abuse of discretion in the manner in which the trial judge controlled closing argument. See State v. Sutton, 562 S.W.2d 820, 823 (Tenn. 1978) (standard of review is abuse of discretion). The prosecutor is warranted in making an argument to the jury when that argument is supported by evidence introduced at trial. State v. Beasley, 536 S.W.2d 328, 330 (Tenn. 1976). Further, the prosecutor may state an ultimate conclusion which would necessarily follow if the testimony of the prosecution witnesses were believed by the jury. Id. In this case, the prosecutor's argument was well-grounded in the evidence presented at trial, recounting that evidence and the permissible inferences that could legitimately be drawn from it.