Opinion ID: 1735417
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Comment Regarding Drug Use and Being a Member of a Gang.

Text: ś 168. Walker argues that the prosecutor improperly commented on his drug use and being a member of a gang because such matters were not in evidence. Conversely, the State contends that the comments were supported by the evidence. In regard to drug use, Walker's witness at the sentencing phase, Dr. Webb, testified on direct examination that part of Walker's diagnosis was that he admitted to abusing marijuana: he describes abusing and using marijuana to excess for years. In regard to gang involvement, Dr. Webb testified on cross-examination that Walker admitted being a member of a gang: I did ask him about gangs, and he did describe being in a gang situation in Okolona and some connection of interaction with a gang in Tupelo. Additionally, although she did not per se state that Walker was a member of a gang, Walker's mother, Indiana C. Ezell, testified that Walker was under the influence of other people. ś 169. During the closing arguments at the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor stated: Near as I can tell, the rest of the mitigation consisted of y'all being told the defendant is kind of a ne'er-do-well. He is a gang member. Smokes a ton of marijuana. Been in trouble since his teenage years. The prosecutor was merely arguing that Walker's background does not relieve him of the responsibility of his actions. The comments were clearly supported by the evidence. Therefore, we hold that the prosecutor's comments were supported by the evidence presented and did not deprive Walker of a fundamentally fair trial.