Court Opinion

ID: 9730989
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 15:29:55.780402+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:11.908349
License: Public Domain

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE CRAVEN, dissenting: I respectfully disagree with the conclusion that the closing argument was only harmless error. I agree that it was error and upon this record, reversible error. In my opinion, the majority’s reliance upon the authority of Blokes is misplaced. There the closing argument of the prosecutor contained an admonition in connection with, but separated from, the improper comment. Thus, in Blokes, the argument did not effectively shift the burden of proof to the defendant. Here, the closing argument of the prosecutor without the requisite admonition impermissibly shifted the burden of proof to the defendant. In view of the fact that the only testimonial evidence of the defendant’s guilt comes from the associate, I cannot say that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.