Com. v. Ryan
| Decision Date | 07 December 1979 |
| Citation | 397 N.E.2d 1128,8 Mass.App.Ct. 941 |
| Parties | COMMONWEALTH v. William P. RYAN. |
| Court | Appeals Court of Massachusetts |
Hugh W. Samson, Salem, for defendant.
Willie I. Carpenter, Jr., Asst. Dist. Atty., for the Commonwealth.
Before BROWN, GREANEY and DREBEN, JJ.
RESCRIPT.
The defendant appeals from convictions on two indictments charging rape of a female child under sixteen and one charging kidnapping. Our review of the transcript establishes that the defendant's assignment of error pertaining to the judge's ruling limiting defense counsel's cross-examination of the complaining witness is without merit.
We are constrained, however, to reverse and remand for a new trial, as once again (in the wake of numerous warnings, see, e. g., Commonwealth v. O'Brien, --- Mass. ---, --- - --- A, 388 N.E.2d 658 (1959), the prosecutor has exceeded the bounds of proper closing argument. See Commonwealth v. Burke, 373 Mass. 569, --- B, 369 N.E.2d 451 (1977). Compare United States v. Cotter, 425 F.2d 450, 452-453 (1st Cir. 1970). Very recently, in Commonwealth v. Grammo, --- Mass.App. ---, --- C, 395 N.E.2d 476, 484 (1979), citing cautionary language in Commonwealth v. Borodine, 371 Mass. 1, 11-12, 353 N.E.2d 649 (1976), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 1049, 97 S.Ct. 760, 50 L.Ed.2d 765 (1977), as well as other recent cases and rules of court, we stated our "hope that well-aimed volleys will replace misdirected barrages." The list of cases directed to this point is too long to list, but we do mention two exemplars. Commonwealth v. Earltop, 372 Mass. 199, 204-207 & n.1, 361 N.E.2d 220 (1977) (Hennessey, C. J., concurring) and Commonwealth v. Shelley, --- Mass. ---, --- - --- D, 373 N.E.2d 951 (1978).
There still appears no other way to get the point across to those prosecutors who do not prepare their closing arguments with care. Commonwealth v. Villalobos, --- Mass.App. --- E, 388 N.E.2d 701 (1979). See Commonwealth v. Earltop, supra at 207, 361 N.E.2d 220 (Hennessey, C. J., concurring). See also Commonwealth v. Haas, 373 Mass. 545, --- n.11, F 369 N.E.2d 692 (1977).
The most egregious of the prosecutor's transgressions was that he referred to matters not in evidence. See Commonwealth v. Shelley, supra at ---, G 373 N.E.2d 95. He stated that the victim "was given other shots, also, in case of or for miscarriage." He also stated that "sperm does not always occur in ejaculation," and by this remark provided an explanation for the otherwise unexplained medical evidence which indicated no traces of sperm in the victim's mouth or vagina. This purported assertion of fact went to the heart of the defense that the victim's accusation of rape was fabricated. Moreover, the prosecutor's error was compounded by the judge because after an objection by the defendant, the judge indicated that it was "proper argument."
In addition, the prosecutor made an inflammatory reference to the community's particularly negative feelings about sex crimes against minors (see Id.); he also implied that there was comment in the press about the defendant. See United States v. Cotter, supra at 452. Compare Commonwealth v. MacDonald (No. 1), 368 Mass. 395, 402, 333 N.E.2d 189 (1975). Although the judge stopped the prosecutor in mid-sentence as he was making reference to the defendant's failure to testify in the lower court (compare Commonwealth v. Palmarin, --- Mass. ---, --- - --- H, 392 N.E.2d 534 (1979), we believe that this aborted comment, and the others already cited, manifest a deliberate choice to sail "unnecessarily close to the wind." Commonwealth v. Redmond, 370 Mass. 591, 597, 351 N.E.2d 501 (1976). Unfortunately, in this instance, the paramount interest of the public in justice was scuttled. Cf. Berger v. United States, 295 U.S. 78, 88, 55 S.Ct. 629, 79 L.Ed. 1314 (1935).
We add in closing that the Commonwealth's performance in this instance cannot be based on its right to fight fire with fire (see Commonwealth v. Haas, supra at --- I, 369 N.E.2d 692 and cases cited), a concept which the Supreme Judicial Court has "given (only) modest recognition." Commonwealth v. Earltop, supra at 206, 361 N.E.2d 220 (Hennessey, C. J., concurring). Compare Commonwealth v. Burnett, 371 Mass. 13, 18-19, 353 N.E.2d 665 (1976), with Commonwealth v. Smith, 342 Mass. 180, 186, 172 N.E.2d 597 (1961). Nor do we find any comfort in the Commonwealth's argument that the judge cured any prejudice by informing the jury that closing arguments are not evidence. Compare Commonwealth v. Burke, supra, 373 MASS. AT --- , 369 N.E.2D 451J.
Judgments reversed.
Verdicts set aside.
a. Mass.Adv.Sh. (1979) 985, 991-992.
b. Mass.Adv.Sh. (1977) 2243, 2253.
c. Mass.App.Ct.Adv.Sh. (1979) 1978, 1991.
d. Mass.Adv.Sh. (1978) 448, 452-458.
e. Mass.App.Ct.Adv.Sh. (1979) 701.
h. Mass.Adv.Sh. (1979) 1797, 1801-1802.
To continue reading
Request your trial
-
Com. v. Amirault
...459, 373 N.E.2d 1121 (1978) (stating that prosecutor's argument cannot comment on facts not in evidence). See Commonwealth v. Ryan, 8 Mass.App.Ct. 941, 941, 397 N.E.2d 1128 (1979) (where prosecutor stated that sperm is not always present in an ejaculation, without proper evidentiary foundat......
-
Com. v. Jones
...to reverse. See Commonwealth v. Villalobos, --- Mass.App. --- r, 388 N.E.2d 701 (1979); Commonwealth v. Ryan, --- Mass.App. --- s, 397 N.E.2d 1128 (1979). In this case we leave the verdicts intact because the "message" commentary was erased by prompt and complete curative instructions. Comm......
-
Com. v. Gagnon
...the Commonwealth had more evidence in its quiver which would have been used, but for technical obstacles. See Commonwealth v. Ryan, 8 Mass.App. 941, 397 N.E.2d 1128 (1979). It is an inadequate justification for referring to Nelson's extra-judicial statements that some of the subjects they t......
-
Com. v. Mosby
...372 Mass. 199, 204-206, 361 N.E.2d 220 (1977) (Hennessey, C. J., concurring); Commonwealth v. Ryan, --- Mass.App. ---, ---, l 397 N.E.2d 1128 (1979). 3. Exclusion of questions under rape shield Prior to trial, the defendant brought motions to allow evidence of the complainant's reputation f......