Court Opinion

ID: 9673540
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 04:14:16.028159+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:38:47.855719
License: Public Domain

CLINTON, Judge,
dissenting.
The majority says the rhetorical questions raised by the prosecutor in his argument pass muster in part, with respect to the wife, because “the record does not show whether or not the appellant had a wife.” If the record does not show that fact, what then is the prosecutor doing arguing outside the record? I submit that the State has “the right in jury argument to comment on appellant’s failure to call such witnesses” only if the record shows they exist. The prosecutor should not be allowed to create a family for any accused and then denounce him and them for not coming in to vouch for his character.
I dissent.