Court Opinion

ID: 9762789
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 02:31:12.691182+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:37.480327
License: Public Domain

*596MACK, Associate Judge,
dissenting in part:
In the circumstances of this case, I cannot agree that the prosecutor’s closing argument, tending to enhance Farley’s credibility as a witness, was harmless error as to Myrick. Farley was the sole eyewitness to testify for the government. He said he was an innocent bystander, that the murder was Myrick’s idea and that he saw Myrick shoot Reed. Myrick’s defense was that it was he who was an innocent bystander; it was Farley’s plan and Farley shot Reed. The prosecutor’s argument that the jury should believe Farley because he had no motive to lie, combined with the jury’s understanding that the charges against Farley had been dropped, Farley’s maintaining of his innocence, and the inability to impeach Farley with respect to a relevant matter about which counsel knew he was lying, obviously bolstered Farley's credibility and diminished Myrick’s. It is unavoidable, and the jury understands, that prosecutors at times must rely upon the testimony of less-than-savory characters but the jury should not be told that the testimony bears the government’s stamp of approval. I would reverse as to Myrick.