Joyce v. State

Blackburn, Judge.

Jamie C. Joyce appeals his convictions for kidnapping and sexual battery, following a jury trial, contending that the prosecutor violated the provisions of OCGA § 17-8-76 (a) in his closing argument to the jury and the trial court committed reversible error by not granting his concomitant request for a mistrial pursuant to OCGA § 17-8-76 (b). As we find that the prosecutor’s comments, viewed in context, served merely to instruct the jury that they were to consider Joyce’s guilt and not his punishment, we affirm.

OCGA § 17-8-76 (a) provides: “No attorney at law in a criminal…