State v. Sawyers

Andrew Sawyers, together with two code-fendants, was convicted of robbery by a jury in the Superior Court. Sawyers was the only defendant to appeal and his claim for reversal and a new trial stems primarily from comments made by the prosecutor during his closing argument to the jury.

The facts concerning the alleged robbery are irrelevant to the issues on appeal and, therefore, need not be recounted. Instead our only concern is with the use of defendant’s criminal record at the trial. That record was first disclosed during cross-examination when he admitted to a prior conviction. Promptly on…