Opinion ID: 1101231
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the state committed reversible error during its closing argument by making a challenge to defense counsel and by appealing to the bias and prejudice of the jurors.

Text: ¶ 16. Weatherspoon contends that the following remarks made by the State during closing argument were improper, because they merely appealed to the bias and prejudice of the jury: And its my job and what I'm doing here today is asking you to point the finger at this man and say, hey, buddy, what are you doing on our streets with this crack cocaine in your pocket: Ask some questions of him. What are you doing with this in your pocket? I see it everyday. I see it every drug trial we have. They walk through that door, sit at that table, and ask you to let them walk out of here. They have the gall to do it. And I have the gall to ask you to find them guilty for what they're doing wrong. You see, I see_ also see this everyday. You see that rock? That's a murder. You see that rock? That's a burglary. You see that rock? That's a rape. You see that rock? That's a kid born on crack cocaine. Mr. Flood: We're going to object to this, Your Honor. We're going to object to that part of the argument. The Court: Sustained. Weatherspoon failed to move for a mistrial or request that the judge admonish the jury to disregard the comments. The dissent is correct in noting that an order to disregard would have cured any possible prejudice. However, it is incumbent upon counsel to move for a mistrial or ask for an admonishment. See Johnson v. State, 477 So.2d 196, 210 (Miss.1985). For whatever reason, Weatherspoon did not take this next step. We will not reverse the trial court based upon something that it was not asked to do. ¶ 17. On appeal to this Court, Weatherspoon also objects to the following remarks made by the State during its rebuttal closing argument: Mr. Savant: You heard that allegations of wrongdoing, and I ask you to look back at the police officers who testified here today. I ask you to look back at the lady from the Crime Lab who testified here today. There was no wrongdoing in this case. I've been accused of wrongdoing, the State of Mississippi has. Mr. Flood and I will take that up after court. Again, again, if you want Tommie Weatherspoon on the streets of Madison County, Mississippi, possessing this poison, find him not guilty. I don't think you want that. I'm asking you to find him guilty. This is poison. He's guilty of possessing it. He's broken the law. Don't allow him to walk into this courtroom and lie to you and tell you untruth after untruth. Police officers have no reason to lie. Monica Artis has no reason to lie. I have no reason to lie. And we have not lied to you today. The evidence is before you. Find him guilty. ¶ 18. Weatherspoon asserts that the State made inappropriate remarks in this portion of closing argument by improperly challenging defendant's counsel, expressing a personal opinion, and vouching for its own truthfulness. The State correctly argues that none of these comments made in the final summation were contemporaneously objected to. As a result, we find that this issue is procedurally barred from review. Johnson v. State, 477 So.2d 196, 209-10 (Miss.1985); Ratliff v. State, 313 So.2d 386, 388 (Miss.1975).