ÿWPC …# VU:a %› 0¡w@¥ 4å ù  0H 0DX 0Jœ 0Tæ 0^: 0h˜ 0r 0|r 0†î 0t 1u 0dyU*ÝB)DC0 AMs½À B}v~švÓ D3ë 0@ AO^Æ­ 0Ds D/· Bæ˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLHÎ, øð AZ‹"Arial RegularX(Üg$¡¡Ñ°ÑÑ€°ÑÒ€°ÒÒX°ÒÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ7€YXXdðXXdð7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñ õö÷UøUùPúPûUüDýeþÓ€Ô¡¨ 3|x(ø(3IR$¤¤Ý ƒg!ÝѰÑÑ€°ÑÒ€°ÒÒX°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ7€?ÛXXdædæ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÝ  Ýà Ø àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Arial% Line 7 d 7Border 1dd€-!Cþÿ << Gÿÿ ³Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÑ  ÑÑ € ÑÒ € ÒÒ X ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ#€d#ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÝ  ÝÔ€ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€XÔÌÌJuneÏ30,Ï1997ÌÌCecilÏW.ÏCrowsonÌAppellateÏCourtÏClerkÔ  Ôó ó dPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva Ò$$$$'ÿÿdxd("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÑ  ÑÑ € ÑÒ € ÒÒ X ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ#€Xd#ÑÑ#€Xd#ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÝ  Ý›œÙ€€ÙßR€"#!A1-j|` , `€€@ÿRß›Þ ÞÌà@ àòòIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌóóÌà@ àòòAT€NASHVILLE€óóÌÌà@ à€€DECEMBER€1996€SESSIONÌÌÌÌÌSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,à àà àà à)à àNo.€01C01„9512„CC„00402€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àAppelleeà àà àà àà à)à à€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àMAURY€COUNTYÌV.à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àHON.€JAMES€L.€WEATHERFORD,ÌWILLIAM€CHARLES€JONES,à àà à)à àJUDGEÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àAppellant.à àà àà àà à)à à(Aggravated€Assault)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌÌÌòòFor€the€Appellant:óóà àà àà àà àà àòòFor€the€Appellee:óóÌÌClaudia€S.€Jackà àà àà àà àà àJohn€Knox€WalkupÌ22€Public€Squareà àà àà àà àà àAttorney€General€and€ReporterÌP.O.€Box€827à àà àà àà àà àà àà àÌColumbia,€TN€38402à àà àà àà àTimothy€F.€Behanà àà àà àÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àAssistant€Attorney€GeneralÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à450€James€Robertson€ParkwayÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àNashville,€TN€37243„0493ÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àT.€Michael€BottomsÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àDistrict€Attorney€GeneralÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àSamuel€D.€KennedyÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àAssistant€District€AttorneyÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à10€Public€SquareÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àP.O.€Box€1619Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àColumbia,€TN€38402ÌÌÌOPINION€FILED:€___________________ÌÌÌREVERSED€AND€REMANDEDÌÌÌWilliam€M.€Barker,€JudgeÌÇÓÓà@ àò òOPINIONó óÌà àThe€appellant,€William€Charles€Jones,€appeals€as€of€right€his€conviction€for€theÏoffense€of€aggravated€assault€by€a€Maury€County€Circuit€Court€jury.€€The€trial€courtÏsentenced€the€appellant€to€three€years€as€a€Range€I€standard€offender,€ordering€himÏto€serve€six€months€of€that€sentence€in€jail€and€the€remainder€on€probation.€€The€juryÏimposed€a€$10,000.00€fine.€€In€his€sole€issue€on€appeal,€the€appellant€argues€thatÏcomments€made€by€the€prosecutor€during€closing€arguments€amounted€toÏprosecutorial€misconduct.€€The€appellant€contends€that€the€prosecutorððs€argumentsÏwere€so€improper,€inflammatory,€and€prejudicial€that€he€was€denied€due€process€ofÏlaw.€€After€a€careful€review€of€the€record€on€appeal,€we€agree€with€the€appellant.€ÏAccordingly,€the€appellantððs€conviction€is€reversed€and€a€new€trial€ordered.€€Ìà@ àò òFACTUAL€BACKGROUNDó óÌà àThe€appellant€was€tried€jointly€with€four€other€co„defendants,€each€beingÏcharged€with€the€aggravated€assault€of€James€Terrell€Foster€late€on€the€evening€ofÏAugust€29,€1993.€€As€a€result€of€the€assault,€Foster€received€serious€injuries,€wasÏunconscious€for€approximately€two€days,€was€hospitalized,€and€had€residualÏnumbness€in€one€of€his€lower€extremities€for€approximately€six€months.Ìà àThe€events€leading€up€to€the€assault€began€earlier€in€the€day,€at€approximatelyÏ1:30€p.m.,€when€Foster€came€out€of€his€uncleððs€home€to€find€that€Kenyan€Jones€hadÏlaid€some€money€on€Fosterððs€car.€€When€Jones€refused€to€remove€the€money€fromÍthe€automobile,€the€two€young€men€fought€briefly,€neither€sustaining€any€seriousÏinjury.€€Foster€and€Jones€had€occasion€to€fight€each€other€again€that€night€at€aÏColumbia€night€spot,€the€300€Club.€€Again,€no€serious€injuries€were€sustained€byÏeither.€€Still€later€that€same€evening€at€the€300€Club,€Terrell€Fosterððs€older€brother,ÏTyrone€Jermaine€Foster,€became€engaged€in€a€fight€with€Kenyan€Jones€whichÏprogressed€to€the€point€that€Tyrone€Foster€had€Jones€in€a€standing€choke€hold€andÏwas€choking€him€to€the€extent€that€Jonesðð€eyes€began€to€ð ðbug€outðð€and€ð ðroll€back€inÏhis€head.ðð€€Ìà àPrior€to€the€time€of€the€fight€between€Tyrone€Foster€and€Kenyan€Jones,€a€largeÏcrowd€had€gathered€at€the€300€Club.€€Some€people€were€inside€the€club€where€aÏdisk€jockey€was€playing€music€and€food€and€drinks€were€available,€but€many€othersÏwere€outside€in€the€parking€lot€and€on€the€street.€€A€witness€described€the€outsideÏscene€as€a€street€party,€where€between€one€hundred€and€three€hundred€people€wereÏgathered,€talking,€drinking,€and€socializing.€€Ìà àAs€Tyrone€Foster€was€getting€the€better€of€Kenyan€Jones,€a€group€of€peopleÏrushed€in€to€aid€Jones€and€it€took€several€people€to€break€up€the€fight.€€ShortlyÏthereafter,€the€group€of€people€turned€to€the€victim,€who€was€standing€nearby€outsideÏa€coin€laundry.€€Testimony€revealed€that€one€of€the€defendants€struck€the€victim,Ïcausing€him€to€be€thrown€against€the€wall€of€a€coin€laundry.€€People€in€the€crowdÏrushed€in€and€began€throwing€punches.€€The€victim,€knocked€down€by€numerousÍblows,€lay€on€the€ground€trying€to€defend€himself.€€Many€people€kicked€him,€spat€onÏhim,€and€threw€things€at€him.€€Several€individuals€made€fruitless€efforts€to€break€upÏthe€fight,€which€continued€until€the€police€arrived.€€The€victim€was€found€lyingÏunconscious€on€the€pavement.€€Ìà àThree€of€the€Stateððs€witnesses€present€at€the€scene€testified€that€they€saw€theÏappellant€kicking€and€stomping€the€victim.€€They€each€agreed€that€appellant€eitherÏjumped€off€a€car€onto€the€victim€or€leaped€around€a€car€to€get€at€the€victim.€€However,Ïtheir€testimony€conflicted€on€several€other€details,€including€each€oneððs€presence€atÏthe€scene€and€what€they€were€able€to€observe.€€Lisa€Owen,€a€cousin€of€the€victim,Ïtestified€that€after€the€fight€appellant€complained€to€her€that€his€foot€hurt€because€heÏð ðstomped€Terrell€too€much.ðð€€She€added€that€approximately€three€weeks€prior€to€theÏtrial,€the€appellant€admitted€to€her€that€he€was€sorry€for€his€actions€because€he€wasÏdrunk€that€night€and€did€not€know€what€he€was€doing.€€Ìà àThe€police€did€not€interview€anyone€at€the€scene€of€the€assault,€but€laterÏinterviewed€Lisa€Owen€while€she€was€at€the€hospital€with€the€victim.€€She€providedÏpolice€with€names€of€four€of€the€defendants€as€the€victimððs€attackers€and€later€gave€aÏformal€written€statement€which€named€all€five€defendants.Ìà àJames€Terrell€Foster,€the€victim,€was€unable€to€identify€any€of€his€attackers.€€HeÏtestified€that€while€he€stood€near€the€coin€laundry,€a€man€approached€him,€called€himÏan€obscene€name,€and€swung€at€him.€€He€responded€defensively,€but€the€fightÍescalated€because€so€many€people€were€involved.€€He€was€unable€to€conclusivelyÏsay€whether€any€of€the€defendants€injured€him.€€Foster€testified€that€he€remainedÏunconscious€after€falling€to€the€ground€until€he€woke€up€in€the€hospital€two€days€later.€ÏIn€describing€his€injuries,€he€stated€that€he€had€scratches€all€over€his€legs,€fourÏstitches€in€his€head,€a€large€cut€from€his€shoulder€down€to€his€lower€back,€and€cutsÏover€both€eyes€which€caused€extensive€swelling.€€His€foot€was€also€injured€and€itÏremained€numb€for€six€months€after€the€assault.€€Due€to€his€injuries,€Foster€testifiedÏthat€he€was€unable€to€pass€the€physical€examination€required€for€entrance€into€theÏAir€Force.€€Ìà àTestifying€in€his€own€defense€at€trial,€the€appellant€stated€that€earlier€in€theÏevening€he€had€attended€a€local€high€school€football€jamboree€with€friends€and€thenÏwent€to€the€300€Club.€€However,€he€denied€his€presence€at€the€fight,€claiming€that€heÏwas€inside€the€club€during€the€melee.€€By€the€time€he€received€word€about€the€fracasÏand€went€outside,€the€ambulance€had€already€arrived.€€He€testified€that€he€observedÏFoster€lying€on€the€ground€outside€the€coin€laundry,€but€immediately€returned€insideÏat€the€urging€of€police€who€were€at€the€scene.€€Appellant€denied€any€participation€inÏthe€incident€and€stated€that€he€did€not€jump€off€of€anyoneððs€car€for€any€reason.€€HeÏstated€that€he€did€not€participate€in€the€fight€because€it€did€not€involve€him€and€heÏhad€no€reason€to€injure€Foster.€€Ìà àAppellant,€along€with€two€other€defendants,€was€convicted€of€aggravatedÏassault€and€fined€$10,000.00€by€the€jury.€€One€of€the€defendants€was€convicted€ofÏsimple€assault€and€the€remaining€defendant€was€acquitted.€€Ìà@ àò òCLOSING€ARGUMENTSó óÌà àThe€appellant€argues€that€he€was€denied€a€fair€trial€when,€during€closingÏarguments,€the€assistant€district€attorney:€(1)€improperly€interjected€race€into€theÏrecord;€(2)€mischaracterized€the€evidence€repeatedly€by€referring€to€the€assault€asÏð ðgang€violence;ðð€(3)€urged€the€jury€to€ð ðsend€a€message€to€the€communityðð€with€a€guiltyÏverdict;€and€(4)€encouraged€a€finding€of€guilt€on€a€lesser€standard€than€proof€beyondÏa€reasonable€doubt.€€We€agree.€€Ìà àDuring€the€Stateððs€rebuttal€argument,€the€prosecutor€made€the€followingÏstatement€regarding€race:€€ÌÓÓà8 àPROSECUTOR:€€But€ladies€and€gentlemen,€whatððs€going€on€here,€whatÏweððre€talking€about€is€black€on€black€crime€in€this€community.€€Now,€weÏhave€a€jury€of€11€white€males€and€one€lady,€all€of€the€lawyers€and€theÏJudge,€all€of€us,€obviously€white.€€Judging€on€black€on€black€crime€inÏthis€community€....€€I€wished€and€I€prayed€for€a€black€juror€on€this€juryÏbut€it€didnððt€happen....€€I€understand€the€black€community.€€Thatððs€theÏway€the€jury€system€works.€€I€welcome€this€jury.€€This€is€a€jury€that€livesÏin€this€community.€€This€is€a€jury€thatððs€concerned€about€this€community.€ÏBut€the€old€Southern€tradition€was€that€well,€what€those€folks€are€doingÏover€there,€we€donððt€worry€about,€we€just€surround€that€area€onÏweekends€and€then€come€Monday€morning€we€go€in€there€and€take€theÏbodies€out.ÌÌà8 àATTORNEY:€If€Your€Honor,€please,€I€object.ÌÌà8 àTHE€COURT:€All€right.€€Approach€the€bench€a€minute.ÌÌà8 àTHE€COURT:€Now,€there€hasnððt€been€anything€said€about€race€in€this,Ïand€I€donððt€see€a€whole€lot€of€need€in€getting€into€that.€€There€just€hasnððtÏbeen€anything€like€that.€€It€would€probably€be€better€not€to€get€into€thatÏany€further€than€you€have.€€Donððt€withdraw€anything,€but€I€think€that€isÏabout€as€far€as€you€need€to€go.ÌÌÓÓà àIn€addition€to€injecting€the€element€of€race€into€the€trial,€the€prosecutorÏcharacterized€the€fight€as€one€resulting€from€ð ðgang€violence.ðð€€During€argument,€theÏprosecutor€made€reference€to€gang€violence€on€nine€different€occasions.€€TheÏevidence€at€trial€clearly€established€the€victim€had€been€attacked€by€severalÏassailants,€but€there€was€no€evidence€indicating€the€assault€was€the€work€of€a€ð ðgangððÏas€that€term€is€commonly€understood€in€todayððs€society.€€Ìà àThe€following€are€examples€contained€in€the€record€of€the€prosecutorððsÏreferences€to€gang€activity:ÌÓÓà8 à[The€victim]€said€I€got€it€right€up€the€middle,€said€but€I€really€donððt€knowÏwhat€went€on.€.€.€.€€And€after€that€it€was€on€a€riot.€€A€riot,€òòa€gang€assaultóó,Ïwhatever€you€want€to€call€it,€you€can€use€all€those€conclusory€typeÏwords,€but€thatððs€what€weððve€got€here,€a€riot,€òòa€gang€assaultóó,€I€mean€itÏwas€just€on.€€The€crowd€went€in€and€these€five€over€here€arenððt€the€onlyÏones,€you€all€know€that.€€But€these€are€the€five€that€we€have€before€usÏhere€today.ÌÌà@ à*€*€*€*€*ÌÌà8 àIt€is€our€community.€€And€wherever€there€is€òògang€violenceóó.€.€.€.€€in€ourÏcommunity€it€concerns€us.€Ìà8 àNow,€in€this€particular€case€weððve€got€a€situation.€.€.€€where€weððve€gotÏòògang€violenceóó.€€But€we€as€a€community,€we€all€raise€our€hands€whenÍwe€said€weððre€against€crime.€€Some€of€us€shook€our€heads€as€we€wereÏtalking€about€the€facts€of€the€case€or€the€òògang€violenceóó.€.€.€.€€NothingÏhappens€without€your€verdict.ÌÌà@ à*€*€*€*€*ÌÌà8 àThe€police€canððt€do€anything.€€The€Judge€canððt€do€anything.€€TheÏgovernor€canððt€do€anything.€€But€this€is€it.€€This€is€where€the€buck€stops.€ÏAnd€this€is€as€good€as€it€gets€in€a€case€of€this€type.Ìà8 àThis€jury,€by€its€verdict,€sends€a€message.€€Now,€the€message€either€isÏwhen.€.€.€€thereððs€a€òògang€assaultóó,€thereððs€going€to€be€something€doneÏabout€it.€€The€message€is€that€when€you€come€up€here€and€.€.€.€€thereððs€aÏòògang€assaultóó€and€thereððs€all€sorts€of€conflicting€evidence€.€.€.€€we€justÏcanððt€figure€it€out€and€thereððs€nothing€that€can€be€done.€€Take€it€back€outÏinto€the€streets.ÌÌà@ à*€*€*€*€*ÌÌà8 àThis€is€where€Mr.€Foster,€and€Mr.€Foster,€his€son,€come€as€members€ofÏthis€community€to€ask€you€.€.€.€€to€help€them,€.€.€.€€to€do€something€aboutÏòògang€violenceóó€in€this€community.ÌÌà àATTORNEY:€I€object€at€this€point€.€.€.€.ÌÌà8 àCOURT:€Well,€this€is€final€argument.€€Iððm€going€to€let€him€go€ahead.€ÏOverrule€your€objection.ÌÌÓÓà àThe€prosecutor€also€encouraged€the€jury€to€ð ðsend€a€messageðð€by€its€verdictÏand,€in€addition,€described€the€burden€of€proof€as€follows:ÌÓÓà8 àPROSECUTOR:€The€burden€which€you€have€„„€the€burden€„„€I€representÏthe€State€or€the€people€as€you€see€it€on€television.€€You€are€the€people.€ÏYou€represent€the€people€of€this€community€„„ÌÌà8 àATTORNEY:€Your€Honor,€I€object.€€ÌÌà8 àTHE€COURT:€Well,€this€is€final€argument.€€Iððm€going€to€let€him€go€ahead.€ÏOverrule€your€objection.€€Go€ahead,€General.ÌÌà8 àPROSECUTOR:€The€burden€of€proof€which€we€impose€is€our€burden.€ÏThe€burden€which€says€that€before€somebody€can€be€convicted€it€mustÏbe€shown€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€that€theyððre€guilty,€and€that€is€aÏburden€that€we€.€.€.€€have€decided€is€.€.€.€€proper.€€òòThatððs€the€burden€thatÏwe€would€want€if€it€was€us€or€ours€that€were€on€trial.óó€€But,€ladies€andÏgentlemen,€what€that€means,€what€that€means,€reasonable€doubt.€.€.€isÏcommon€sense,€doubts€based€on€common€sense,€just€a€good€old€plainÏordinary€definition.€€And€I€submit€to€you€that€what€that€means,€what€thatÏmeans€is€that€if€youððre€at€Saturn,€say€at€work€six€months€from€now,€andÏyouððre€talking€and€you€turn€around€to€the€fellow€whoððs€next€to€you€andÏyou€say,€you€know,€we€tried€that€case€back€six€months€ago,€and€òòI€wasÏjust€confusedóó€about€a€lot€of€the€things€and€òòsome€things€didnððt€makeÏsense,óó€and€òòthe€State€didnððt€carry€its€burden,€and€we€had€to€return€aÏverdict€of€not€guilty,€but€I€know€those€old€boys€did€it.óó€€If€youððre€saying€thatÏto€yourself,€and€youððre€saying€that€to€the€folks€who€work€with€you€sixÏmonths€from€now,€òòthen€your€mind€does€rest€easy.óó€€òòAnd€then€you€know,Ïyou€are€comfortable€in€your€mind€that€the€burden€was€carried€and€yourÏduty€under€that€set€of€circumstances€to€your€community€is€to€return€aÏverdict€of€guilty.Ìà8 àDonððt€send€the€message€out€that€thereððs€nothing€that€can€be€done.óó€ÏNow,€if€youððre€„„€where€is€going€to€be€the€doubt?Ìà8 àNow,€your€mind€can€rest€easy€on€who€did€it.€€You€know€who€did€it.€€Or€atÏleast€you€know€some€of€who€did€it.€€You€know€there€are€more.€€YouÏknow€there€are€more,€but€you€know€some€of€who€did€it.€€And€the€verdictÏwhich€is€appropriate,€which€truth€dictates€and€justice€demands€is€guilty.€ÏòòAnd€if€youððre€turning€around€two€or€six€months€from€now€at€the€lunchÏcounter€then€you€donððt€have€a€reasonable€doubt€if€youððre€saying,€well,€IÏknow€they€did€it.óó€€òòAnd€if€youððre€saying,€well,€I€know€they€did€it€but,€thenÏyouððve€not€done€your€duty€to€your€community.óóÌÌà8 àATTORNEY:€If€Your€Honor€please,€in€accordance€with€the€mandates€ofÏthe€case€law,€I€contemporaneously€object€to€preserve€„„ÌÌà8 àTHE€COURT:€All€right.€€Note€your€objection.€€Go€ahead.ÌÌà8 àPROSECUTOR:€òòTo€send€a€message,€to€send€a€message.óó€€You€shouldÏdo€it€only€if€you€have€no€reasonable€doubt€as€to€the€guilt€of€these€fiveÏmen.€€òòBut€I€submit€to€you€that€reasonable€doubt€is€like€I€say,€if€you€turnÏaround€inside€of€six€months€from€now€and€say€I€know€he€did€it,€then€youÏreally€didnððt€have€a€reasonable€doubt.óó€€òòIf€you€say€I€know€he€did€it€butÏthen€you€havenððt€done€your€duty€to€your€community.óó€€The€verdict€whichÏtruth€dictates€and€justice€demands€is€a€verdict€of€guilty.€€Hang€in€withÏyour€convictions.€€Thank€you.ÌÌÓÓà@ àò òANALYSISó óÌà àIn€evaluating€the€appellantððs€challenge€to€the€prosecutorððs€closing€arguments,Ïwe€must€consider€several€well„settled€principles€of€law.€€Closing€argument€is€aÏvaluable€privilege€for€both€parties€and€the€trial€courts€generally€allow€wide€latitude€toÏcounsel€in€arguing€their€cases€to€the€jury.€€òòState€v.€Bigbeeóó,€885€S.W.2d€797,€809Ï(Tenn.€1994)(citations€omitted).€€However,€trial€judges€must€preserve€courtroomÏdecorum€and€have€authority€to€restrict€any€improper€commentary.€€òòCoker€v.€Stateóó,Ï911€S.W.2d€357,€368€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1995)(citations€omitted).€€Closing€argumentÏmust€be€temperate,€must€be€based€upon€evidence€produced€at€trial,€and€pertinent€toÏthe€issues€at€trial.€€òòState€v.€Suttonóó,€562€S.W.2d€820,€823€(Tenn.€1978).€€Moreover,Ïclosing€argument€must€be€evaluated€considering€its€context,€including€the€facts€inÏevidence,€the€character€of€the€trial,€and€the€conduct€of€opposing€counsel.€€òòCokeróó,€911ÏS.W.2d€at€368€(citations€omitted).€€Ìà àAlthough€improper€argument€may€often€be€harmless€in€the€overall€scheme€of€aÏtrial,€reversal€is€mandated€when€the€impropriety€affected€the€verdict€to€the€prejudiceÍof€the€defendant.€€òòHarrington€v.€Stateóó,€385€S.W.2d€758,€759€(Tenn.€1965).€€InÏdetermining€whether€improper€argument€has€resulted€in€such€prejudice,€the€followingÏfactors€are€relevant:€(1)€the€conduct€in€light€of€the€facts€and€circumstances€of€theÏcase;€(2)€any€curative€measures€taken€by€the€court;€(3)€the€intent€of€the€prosecutor€inÏmaking€the€statements;€(4)€the€cumulative€effect€of€the€improper€conduct€and€otherÏerrors€in€the€record;€and€(5)€the€relative€strength€or€weakness€of€the€case.€òòJudge€v.ÏStateóó,€539€S.W.2d€340,€344€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1976).€€Our€Supreme€Court€hasÏapproved€the€adoption€of€those€considerations€in€òòState€v.€Buckóó,€670€S.W.2d€600,€609Ï(Tenn.€1984).€€Ìà àRacial€considerations€should€play€absolutely€no€part€in€any€trial€unless€theyÏare€directly€related€to€the€issues€fairly€raised€by€the€evidence€in€the€record.€€òòState€v.ÏSparksóó,€563€S.W.2d€564,€569€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1978).€€It€can€hardly€be€said€that€theÏproof€presented€in€this€trial€ð ðfairly€raisedðð€the€issue€of€race.€€The€trial€court€remarked,Ïin€considering€the€appellantððs€motion€for€a€new€trial,€that€a€reading€of€the€transcriptÏfrom€the€beginning€of€the€trial€until€the€prosecutor€made€his€closing€argument€wouldÏnot€have€revealed€the€race€of€anyone€connected€with€this€trial.€€When€confronted€withÏthis€identical€issue,€this€Court€has€held€that€a€prosecutorððs€gratuitous€interjection€ofÏracial€issues€in€his€closing€argument€resulted€in€prejudice€to€the€defendant€whichÏrequired€reversal.€€òòSparksóó,€563€S.W.2d€at€569.€€We€find€the€prosecutorððs€racialÏremarks€in€this€case€particularly€offensive.€€Ìà àSecondly,€we€must€consider€the€curative€instructions€and€corrective€measuresÏundertaken€by€the€trial€court.€€Unfortunately,€in€appellantððs€case,€the€trial€court€failedÏto€provide€the€jury€with€any€such€instructions.€€The€trial€court€later€explained€at€theÏhearing€on€the€motion€for€a€new€trial€that€he€did€not€give€curative€instructionsÏbecause€he€felt€they€would€only€serve€to€emphasize€the€improper€comments€of€theÏprosecutor.€€Nevertheless,€a€curative€instruction€may€have€served€to€minimize€theÏprejudice€to€the€appellant.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Huntóó,€665€S.W.2d€751,€755€(Tenn.€Crim.ÏApp.€1984)(holding€that€prompt€curative€instructions€by€the€trial€court€following€aÏprosecutorððs€improper€argument€prevented€prejudice€to€the€defendant).€€Ìà àThe€intent€of€the€prosecutor€is€also€relevant€to€our€evaluation€of€the€prejudicialÏeffect€of€his€argument.€€We€believe€the€assistant€district€attorney€here€actedÏpurposefully;€he€deliberately€injected€the€element€of€race€into€the€juryððs€deliberationsÏthrough€his€closing€argument.€€The€comments€of€the€prosecutor€improperly€urged€theÏjury€to€make€race€a€factor€in€its€decision.€€Ìà àAdditionally,€the€prosecutor€made€at€least€nine€references€to€ð ðgang,ðð€ð ðgangÏassault,ðð€or€ð ðgang€violenceðð€in€his€closing€argument.€€Although€counsel€for€theÏdefense€objected€to€the€prosecutorððs€characterization€of€this€assault€as€gang„related,Ïthe€trial€court€overruled€those€objections.€€The€only€evidence€offered€in€that€regardÏwas€that€the€defendants€were€all€friends€who€frequented€the€300€Club€and€ð ðhung€outÏtogether.ðð€€The€prosecutor€may€have€intended€to€equate€gang€violence€with€a€riot€andÍnot€to€organized€gang€activity;€however,€many€citizens€do€associate€gang€violenceÏwith€organized€gang€activity.€€If€this€were€the€only€questioned€portion€of€the€argument,Ïit€would€not€be€of€sufficient€severity€to€require€reversal.€€It€takes€on€addedÏsignificance,€however,€when€combined€with€the€other€inflammatory€arguments.€€òòStateÏv.€Bigbeeóó,€885€S.W.2d€797,€812€(Tenn.€1994).€€ÌÌÌà àOther€portions€of€the€prosecutorððs€final€argument€were€also€improper.€€HeÏurged€the€jury€to€ð ðsend€a€message€to€the€communityðð€and€made€references€to€theÏdeterrent€effect€a€guilty€verdict€would€have€as€well€as€the€unfortunate€consequencesÏof€an€acquittal.€€Such€argument€is€improper.€€Argument€may€not€encourage€a€jury€toÏconsider€general€deterrence.€€òòState€v.€Henleyóó,€774€S.W.2d€908,€913€(Tenn.€1989),Ïòòcert.óó€òòdeniedóó€497€U.S.€1031,€110€S.€Ct.€3291,€111€L.€Ed.€2d€800€(1990);€òòState€v.€Irickóó,Ï762€S.W.2d€121,€131€(Tenn.€1988),€òòcert.óó€òòdeniedóó€489€U.S.€1072,€109€S.€Ct.€1357,€103ÏL.€Ed.€2d€825€(1989).€€òòSee€alsoóó€òòState€v.€Marshallóó,€870€S.W.2d€532,€541€(Tenn.€Crim.ÏApp.€1993).€€This€prohibition€has€been€applied€to€a€ð ðcrime€in€the€streetsðð€argument,Ïan€argument€that€the€juryððs€verdict€makes€a€statement,€and€arguments€that€a€juryððsÏverdict€demonstrates€that€a€community€will€not€tolerate€criminal€behavior.€€òòSeeóóÏòòHenleyóó,€774€S.W.2d€at€913;€òòIrickóó,€762€S.W.2d€at€131;€òòMarshallóó,€870€S.W.2d€at€541.€ÏThe€prosecutorððs€argument€in€this€regard€clearly€encouraged€the€jury€to€base€itsÍdecision,€at€least€in€part,€on€a€desire€to€curb€violence€in€Columbia€and€to€send€aÏmessage.€€Deterrence€is€completely€irrelevant€to€the€question€of€guilt€or€innocenceÏand€therefore€outside€the€scope€of€the€juryððs€consideration.€€Similarly,€there€shouldÏbe€no€commentary€on€the€consequences€of€an€acquittal.€€òòCokeróó,€911€S.W.2d€at€368.€€Ìà àFinally,€the€appellant€complains€that€the€prosecutor€improperly€andÏprejudicially€implored€the€jury€to€return€a€verdict€of€guilt€even€if€the€State€had€notÏproved€that€guilt€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.€€In€that€respect,€the€prosecutor€told€theÏjury:ÌÓÓà8 à.€.€.€[I]f€youððre€at€Saturn,€say€at€work€six€months€from€now,€and€youððreÏtalking€and€you€turn€around€to€a€fellow€whoððs€next€to€you€and€you€say,Ïyou€know,€we€tried€that€case€back€six€months€ago,€and€I€was€justÏconfused€about€a€lot€of€things€and€some€things€didnððt€make€sense,€andÏthe€State€didnððt€carry€its€burden,€and€we€had€to€return€a€verdict€of€notÏguilty,€but€I€know€those€old€boys€did€it.€€If€youððre€saying€that€to€yourself,Ïand€youððre€saying€to€the€folks€who€work€with€you€six€months€from€now,€ÌÌÌÌÌà àthen€your€mind€does€rest€easy.€€And€then€you€know€you€are€comfortable€inÏyour€à àmind€that€the€burden€was€carried€and€your€duty€under€that€set€ofÏcircumstances€à àto€your€community€is€to€return€a€verdict€of€guilty.€€ÌÌÓÓà àAgain,€counsel€for€the€defense€objected€to€that€portion€of€the€StateððsÏarguments,€but€the€trial€court€overruled€the€objection.€€The€argument€of€theÏprosecutor€regarding€reasonable€doubt€was€an€incorrect€statement€of€the€law,€wasÏprejudicial€to€the€appellant,€and€was€improper.€€The€trial€judge€erred€in€not€sustainingÍthe€objection€to€that€portion€of€the€argument€and€in€not€giving€an€immediate€curativeÏinstruction.€€In€substance,€the€assistant€district€attorney€was€telling€the€jury€that€even€ifÏit€were€confused€by€the€evidence,€and€even€if€the€State€had€not€proved€theÏappellantððs€guilt€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt,€it€should€convict€the€appellantÏnevertheless€if€the€individual€jurors€somehow€knew€in€their€ð ðheart€of€heartsðð€that€heÏwas€guilty.€€That€is€simply€not€the€law€in€this€State,€and€obviously€a€verdict€basedÏupon€such€a€standard€would€violate€the€appellantððs€constitutional€right€to€dueÏprocess€of€law.€€Ìà àFinally,€òòJudge€v.€Stateóó€requires€us€to€consider€the€relative€strength€orÏweakness€of€the€Stateððs€case€in€determining€whether€the€improper€argumentÏrequires€a€new€trial.€€Closing€argument€may€influence€the€jury€verdict€in€a€close€case,Ïand€when€it€is€improper,€we€must€question€the€integrity€of€the€verdict.€€Although€theÏevidence€was€sufficient€for€a€reasonable€jury€to€return€a€guilty€verdict,€the€StateððsÏproof€could€not€be€characterized€as€overwhelming.€€Only€one€eyewitness,€DelvinÏFrierson,€did€not€have€his€credibility€attacked,€and€he€was€a€solid€witness€for€theÏState€with€strong€testimony.€€The€other€eyewitnesses€testifying€for€the€State€gaveÏtestimony€which€contained€inconsistencies.€€Although€the€credibility€of€the€witnessesÏis€always€a€matter€for€the€jury,€when€the€proof€is€marginal€and€based€primarily€uponÏquestions€of€credibility,€it€is€more€likely€that€improper€comments€by€the€prosecutorÏresulted€in€prejudice€to€the€defendant.€€òòSeeóó€òòJudgeóó,€539€S.W.2d€at€346.€€Ìà àIn€sum,€we€simply€cannot€say€that€the€numerous€improper€comments€made€byÏthe€prosecutor€during€closing€argument€were€harmless.€€Rather,€we€are€convincedÏthat€the€prosecutorððs€comments€cumulatively€resulted€in€prejudice€to€the€appellant.€ÏThe€deliberate€and€intentional€interjection€of€race€into€the€trial,€deceptive€referencesÏto€gang€activity,€the€call€for€the€jury€to€send€a€message€by€its€verdict,€even€if€thatÏverdict€was€not€based€upon€proof€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€require€that€the€verdictÏof€guilt€be€set€aside€and€that€a€new€trial€be€granted.€€Accordingly,€the€appellantððsÏconviction€is€reversed€and€this€case€is€remanded€to€the€trial€court€for€a€new€trial.ÌÌà àà àà àà àà àÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà à_______________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àWilliam€M.€Barker,€JudgeÌÌÌÌ____________________________ÌPaul€G.€Summers,€JudgeÌÌÌÌ____________________________ÌJoe€G.€Riley,€Judge