Opinion ID: 4237534
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Liar remarks

Text: ¶120 Hulsey claims that the prosecution argued over objection that both defense counsel and defense expert, Dr. Wicks, lied to the jury regarding Hulsey’s IQ. Referring to Dr. Wicks, the prosecutor stated: He lied. He’s a doctor and he is a psychologist and he’s board certified. Give him all that. Put him on the pulpit, but that hero has clay feet. That guy came in here, looked you -- and remember how he looked at you when he was doing direct 37 STATE V. HULSEY Opinion of the Court examination, looked you right in the eye and lied. After the objection was overruled, the prosecutor explained that the expert misstated what tests he ran and that he “made up a number.” ¶121 The record generally shows that the prosecutor would not let Dr. Wicks explain his reasons for picking a prorated number and why he would have “made up a number.” The prosecution accurately argued that Dr. Wicks “did all these tests and didn’t report them,” but incorrectly stated that Dr. Wicks lied by stating that he completed the two-phase test. To the extent that the prosecutor insinuated that Dr. Wicks acted unethically, it was improper; and any insinuation that the time constraints were Dr. Wicks’ fault was also improper. But any effect this may have had on the jury subsided on redirect, when defense counsel gave Dr. Wicks an opportunity to explain any inconsistencies. Dr. Wicks told the jury he had to prorate the score of one of the tests because he was running out of time and discussed standard protocol. Moreover, the trial court instructed the jury that the arguments of counsel were not evidence.