Opinion ID: 2441278
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Improper Closing Argument During Guilt Phase

Text: Simmons assigns error to the trial court's failure to correct the prosecutor's closing argument during the guilt phase. Of the errors claimed, only one was properly preserved for review. During the guilt phase of the trial, the prosecutor argued: The evidence is uncontroverted. Uncontroverted. The evidence of plotting, the evidence of burglary, the evidence of premeditation, the evidence of binding, the evidence of blindfolding, transporting, of murder. I'm going to ask you to go back, and render a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree. You're never going to get to the other verdict because there was premeditation. This wasn't sudden passion. This wasn't an accident. Premeditation, binding and transporting. Render that verdict so we can get on with the rest of the trial. Defense counsel objected to the highlighted portion of the argument. The trial court overruled the objection. Simmons claims that the argument improperly refers to the punishment phase of the trial without giving the defense an opportunity to address the argument. Simmons relies on State v. Maxie, 513 S.W.2d 338, 345 (Mo.1974), for the proposition that if punishment is discussed in closing arguments, the discussion should occur in the opening portion of the state's argument so that defense counsel has an opportunity to respond to that argument. Simmons also contends that the prosecutor's statement is contrary to the instructions of the court because the prosecutor argued that the jury should hurry in its deliberations. The trial court's ruling will not be overturned absent an abuse of discretion resulting in prejudice to the defendant. State v. Mahurin, 799 S.W.2d 840 (Mo. banc 1990). An abuse of discretion exists only where the prosecutor's statements are plainly unwarranted and clearly injurious to the defendant. Id. Reading the prosecutor's statements in context, we do not believe that the prosecutor is urging the jury to hurry its deliberations or inviting the jury to consider punishment prematurely. At most, the prosecutor's argument is an inartful attempt to summarize the overwhelming and undeniable evidence of guilt. The point is denied.