State v. Bennefield

HORSEY, Justice.

Pursuant to 10 Del. C. § 9903, 1 the State has appealed to this Court from a Superior Court jury verdict finding defendant Bruce Bennefield not guilty of first degree murder in connection with the death of Mar-zette Traylor. The subject of appeal is the defense counsel’s closing argument to the jury, during which defense counsel verbally attacked the character of several principal State witnesses, characterizing them, inter alia, as “scum,” “liars,” “snakes,” and “scoundrels.” Neither the prosecutor nor the trial court interrupted or objected, during or after the summation.

This…