Prickett v. State

Summary

The court affirmed the denial of a new trial on ineffective-assistance, right-to-be-present, and prosecutorial-argument claims, concluding that any asserted deficiencies or errors did not prejudice Prickett. It held that the record either failed to show a violation of the right to be present or established acquiescence, and that any error concerning the prosecutor's closing argument was harmless. The court nevertheless vacated the convictions and sentences in part because the trial court imposed separate life sentences for two felony-murder convictions arising from one victim and improperly merged certain offenses, remanding for resentencing.