Opinion ID: 1952970
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Closeness of the Case

Text: Bugra alleges the case was close. As support he states the fact that the prosecutor mainly attacked his credibility in his closing argument and did not discuss the facts of the case. The case, however, was not close. Ede testified to the events that happened that evening. He related that Bugra had hit him in the head with a beer bottle. Furthermore, the state offered into evidence hospital records that indicated the nature of Ede's injuries. Most telling, however, is the statement taken by Detective Aguilar shortly after he arrested Bugra. In that statement Bugra admits to having hit Ede with a beer bottle. Although Bugra later changed his account of the events at trial, it was reasonable for the jury to infer from the statement taken by the officer that Bugra had in fact hit Ede with a beer bottle. In addition, two of the witnesses indicated that they saw Bugra standing over Ede with a beer bottle in his hand. Bugra had no evidence or witnesses to support his version of the events. Furthermore, his depiction of what occurred that night changed from the time he made his statement to the police officer until the time of trial, weakening his credibility. In light of the evidence in the record and the testimony of the witnesses, especially Detective Aguilar, this was not a close case.