Opinion ID: 1473380
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Improper Prosecutorial Comment

Text: Defendants finally claim that the prosecutor made improper statements of personal opinion in closing. No objection was made at the trial, and therefore we review only for obvious error. Such an error must be so highly prejudicial and so taint the proceeding as to virtually deprive the defendant of a fair trial. State v. Williams, 653 A.2d 902, 908 (Me.1995). We have held that a prosecutor is free to use wit, satire, invective and imaginative illustration in arguing the state's case. State v. Weisbrode, 653 A.2d 411, 416 (Me. 1995) (citation omitted). The record demonstrates that the two comments at issue here were anecdotes used by the prosecutor in an attempt to educate the jury regarding their proper role in assessing the evidence. Although unwise, neither anecdote represents obvious error. Finally, contrary to Eastman's assertion, evidence in the record is sufficient for the jury to have found every element of the crimes charged beyond a reasonable doubt, see Williams, 653 A.2d at 908, and defendants' remaining arguments are without merit. The entry is: Judgments affirmed.