People v. Vaughn

Defendant was convicted by a jury of felony murder (armed robbery), MCL 750.316; MSA 28.548, and felony-firearm, MCL 750.227b; MSA 28.424(2). Thereafter sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for the felony-murder conviction and a mandatory two-year term for the felony-firearm conviction, defendant appeals as of right.

Defendant raises numerous issues on appeal. We reverse on two and affirm as to the balance.

First, we agree with defendant that the prosecution improperly and repeatedly appealed to the jurors’ sympathy in its opening and closing argument. Moreover, the prosecution…