The appellant was charged with and, in due time, pled guilty in the Pike Circuit Court to the offenses of armed robbery, malicious shooting at without wounding, malicious striking with intent to kill, escape from jail, and an attempt to escape from jail. His sentences were ordered to run сoncurrently. While in jail awaiting trial, appellant’s efforts to be released from custody on bail proved fruitless.
Lycans v. Burke etc.,
Ky.,
The circumstances surrounding the commission of the offense of armed robbery, which resulted in the remaining charges, аre these. James Dotson operated a small store at Stone, Pike County, Kentucky. In
On this appeal appellant presents two issues:
“1. Where, on a plea of guilty, a charge or armed robbery is submitted to a trial jury for the fixing of punishment, may the Commonwealth introduce evidence of othеr offenses committed during the robbery to enhance punishment?
2. Where, on a plea of guilty, a charge of armed robbery is submitted to а trial jury for the fixing of punishment, may the Commonwealth’s Attorney make the ‘Golden Rule’ argument?”
It is significant that while the robbery was actually in progrеss, appellant shot at Claude Trout. Mr. Trout was outside looking in and appellant was inside looking out. Counsel for appellant objected to the introduction of this testimony, arguing that evidence of other crimes committed during the robbery are not admissible as evidence before a jury that had been impaneled to determine punishment. Also, appellant takes the position that in this particular case this evidence was introduced in an effort to persuade the jury to fix appellant’s penalty at the maximum. This, the Commоnwealth’s Attorney had a right to do.
First of all, the Commonwealth had a right to and did select a jury to fix a penalty for these hideous crimes.
Commonwealth v. Howard,
Ky.,
The appellant would have this court believe that he was nоt dealt with fairly. The record does not bear out this supposition. The challenged testimony is unquestionably a part of the res gestae and admissible.
Further, counsel for appellant accuses the Commonwealth’s Attorney of making the “Golden Rule” type of argument tо the jury. In a criminal case a golden rule type of argument is one that urges the jurors collectively or singularly to place themsеlves or members of their families or friends in the place of the person who has been offended and to render a verdict as if thеy or either of them or a member of their families or friends was similarly situated.
In his summation to the jury, the record reflects that the Commonwealth’s Attorney said, “ * * * They almost beat him to death and left his eye laying out on his cheek and left him laying there handcuffed, bleeding all over. Supрose that you run a store and somebody comes in on you and does that to you. What’s it worth?" Appellant’s counsel objected to the latter statement. The trial judge should have sustained the objection and should have admonished the jury not to consider it for any purpose.
The Attorney General characterizes the remark of the Commonwealth’s Attorney as a reference to the jury collectively rather than individually. The Commonwealth’s Attorney approрriately explained to the jury that it was trying the appellant on the robbery charge and that the other cases had been disposed of and should not be considered by it in arriving at a decision in the case on trial. The argument of the Commonwealth’s Attorney was short, terse, and to the point. Other than for this one offhand remark, it was wholly within the bounds of propriety. It matters not whether the challenged remarks of the Commonwealth’s Attorney in his closing argument referred to the jurors collectively or individually, they were not of such significance as to prejudice the jury.
The judgment is affirmed.