Opinion
No. 124028.
April 16, 2004.
Leave to Appeal Denied.
No. 124028. The defendant has failed to meet the burden of establishing entitlement to relief under MCR 6.508(D). Court of Appeals No. 246035.
Although I would deny defendant's application for leave to appeal, I write separately to express my belief that the assistant prosecutor's references during closing argument to defendant's religious views were inappropriate under MRE 610. Defendant initially raised the matter of his faith. That did not authorize the assistant prosecutor to argue to the jury that defendant's religious beliefs were insincere, hence defendant was not credible. People v. Leshaj, 249 Mich App 417 (2002). However, under the circumstances of this case, I find this error to be harmless.