Court Opinion

ID: 9710049
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 04:00:41.692389+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:53.866067
License: Public Domain

UHLENHOPP, Justice
(concurring specially).
I agree that the judgment must be reversed because of the prosecutor’s comments on defendant’s failure to call defendant’s wife as a witness. State v. Levy, 160 N.W.2d 460 (Iowa). I think however that the prosecutor’s comments on defendant’s failure to call other witnesses was proper. A prosecutor may comment on the failure of an accused to call witnesses who are competent to testify and available. 23A C.J.S. Criminal Law § 1099, at pp. 175-177; 75 Am.Jur.2d Trial § 247 at p. 326. See also State v. O’Kelly, 211 N.W.2d 589, 597 (Iowa); State v. Allison, 260 Iowa 176, 182, 147 N.W.2d 910, 913; State v. Boyd, 199 Iowa 1206, 1208, 200 N.W. 205, 206. The present case meets this test.