Opinion ID: 1696923
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: pro se issue

Text: VIII. WHETHER THE STATE COMMITTED PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT DURING CLOSING ARGUMENTS. ¶ 90. McGowen argues in his pro se supplemental brief that the State improperly misrepresented facts and evidence during closing arguments. McGowen's main contention concerns whether there was a light on a utility pole located twenty-five feet from where Shelby's body was found. During McGowen's testimony, he stated that it was pitch black and he could not see anything when he and his brother left Shelby's body in the woods. However, during closing arguments, the State deduced that it was not dark because there would have been light from the utility pole located only twenty-five feet away. McGowen argues he was not allowed a chance to investigate this new evidence because it was presented during the State's rebuttal closing argument. McGowen also contends the State was asking the jury to infer that McGowen lied about it being dark when Shelby's body was left in the woods. ¶ 91. The standard of review which this Court must apply to prosecutorial misconduct during closing arguments is whether the natural and probable effect of the improper argument is to create unjust prejudice against the accused so as to result in a decision influenced by the prejudice so created. Sheppard v. State, 777 So.2d 659, 661 (Miss.2001) (citing Ormond v. State, 599 So.2d 951, 961 (Miss.1992)). See also Flowers v. State, 842 So.2d 531, 553 (Miss.2003). The purpose of a closing argument is to fairly sum up the evidence. Rogers v. State, 796 So.2d 1022, 1027 (Miss.2001). The prosecutor may comment upon any facts introduced into evidence, and he may draw whatever deductions and inferences that seem proper to him from the facts. Bell v. State, 725 So.2d 836, 851 (Miss.1998) (collecting authorities). Counsel cannot, however, state facts which are not in evidence, and which the court does not judicially know, in aid of his evidence. Neither can he appeal to the prejudices of men by injecting prejudices not contained in some source of the evidence. Nelms & Blum Co. v. Fink, 159 Miss. 372, 131 So. 817, 821 (1930). See also Sheppard, 777 So.2d at 661. Flowers, 842 So.2d at 554. In discussing the broad latitude afforded attorneys in making their closing arguments, this Court has stated: Counsel was not required to be logical in argument; he is not required to draw sound conclusions, or to have a perfect argument measured by logical and rhetorical rules; his function is to draw conclusions and inferences from evidence on behalf of his client in whatever he deems proper, so long as he does not become abusive and go outside the confines of the record. Brown v. State, 690 So.2d 276, 296 (Miss. 1996) (quoting Johnson v. State, 416 So.2d 383, 391 (Miss. 1982)). If the argument does not result in unjust prejudice against the accused as to result in a decision influenced by the prejudice so created, it will be deemed harmless. Wells v. State, 698 So.2d 497, 507 (Miss.1997) (quoting Davis v. State, 684 So.2d 643, 656 (Miss.1996); Davis v. State, 530 So.2d 694, 701 (Miss. 1988)). ¶ 92. This assignment of error is without merit. The State simply logically deduced from the evidence that there was a light on the utility pole. This logically drawn conclusion based upon evidence found in the record did not unjustly prejudice McGowen.