Opinion ID: 2587760
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Issue One: Whether plain error occurred when the prosecutor used improper victim impact argument and testimony.

Text: [¶ 12] Smith claims that the prosecutor used irrelevant victim impact argument and testimony which permeated the trial, fatally tainting the evidence against him. He recognizes that we must apply the plain error standard of review to this claim because he did not object at trial to the several instances he now identifies. Under that standard of review, he must show the record is clear as to the instances alleged to be error, a clear and unequivocal rule of law was clearly violated, and he was materially prejudiced by the error. Person v. State, 2004 WY 149, ¶ 32, 100 P.3d 1270, 1285-86 (Wyo.2004). [¶ 13] The instances of argument and testimony about which Smith complains fall into three groups. In the first group, the instances concern the impact of Smith's alleged acts on DH; in the second group, the instances concern the impact of DH's reporting of Smith's alleged acts on the relationships of DH and DH's mother with other family members; and in a third group, Smith identifies one brief question-and-answer exchange between the prosecutor and victim RT as another instance of improper victim impact evidence.