Wend v. People

We granted certiorari in this case to review the court of appeals' conclusion in an unpublished decision that, although the prosecutor improperly used the word "lie" in opening and closing statements, there was no reversible error. We agree that use of the word "lie" or any of its other forms is categorically improper according to our precedent. However, we hold that because the prosecutor repeatedly stressed the word "lie" in a trial in which the defendant's eredibility was essential to the defense, the prosecutor's conduct prejudiced the fundamental fairness of the trial and constituted…