Opinion ID: 769328
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Inconsistent Prosecutorial Arguments

Text: 24 Paul asserts that the prosecutor argued at both Paul and Ingle's trials that the defendant on trial pulled the trigger, and argues the prosecution cannot take such inconsistent actions. Again, the government points out that there was no objection to this argument at trial and that review is for plain error. This court has recently issued an opinion addressing a similar argument. In Smith v. Groose, 205 F.3d 1045 (8th Cir. 2000), we granted habeas relief to a petitioner because the prosecutor had relied upon factually inconsistent theories to obtain murder convictions in separate trials for the same murder. See id. at 1052-53. In Smith, we held that Smith's trial was fundamentally unfair and he was deprived of due process because the state relied upon factually inconsistent and irreconcilable evidence at the two trials, and because Smith could not have been convicted of felony murder under both theories. See id. 25 Here, the theory that either Paul or Ingle, or both, shot Williams, was not factually irreconcilable and was supported by the evidence. Paul stated to both Chris Rogers and Cindy Wallace that he shot Williams. In addition, Paul told Rogers that Ingle also shot Williams after Paul did. The defense admitted the evidence was in conflict during closing argument at the guilt phase, stating: I think throughout the testimony we heard three things; that Jeffrey shot Mr. Williams, that Trinity shot Mr. Williams, that Jeff and Trinity shot Mr. Williams. It is never a consistent story as to who shot Mr. Williams. More importantly, Paul could have been convicted of aiding and abetting in the murder of Sherman Williams under either theory. See United States v. Clark, 980 F.2d1143, 1146 (8th Cir. 1992) (To convict under the aiding and abetting statute, 18 U.S.C. 2, the government need only prove that [each] defendant associated himself with the unlawful venture, participated in it as something he wished to bring about, and by his action sought to make the activity succeed.). 26 Finally, Paul only argues that the prosecutor made inconsistent arguments at the two trials, but cannot point to the use of evidence at the different trials which was factually inconsistent and irreconcilable. At the guilt-phase closing argument in Paul's trial, the prosecutor also conceded there were three possible scenarios with regard to the shooting. 5 When it cannot be determined which of two defendants' guns caused a fatal wound and either defendant could have been convicted under either theory, the prosecution's argument at both trials that the defendant on trial pulled the trigger is not factually inconsistent. See Nichols v. Scott, 69 F.3d 1255, 1268-69 (5th Cir. 1995) (regarding the analogous felony murder situation). Thus, because there was evidence that supported both theories, and since Paul could have been convicted of aiding and abetting under either theory, we find no error. 27