GA 17-8-71 - GA 17-8-71

Denial of Right to Open and Close Denial of right to open and conclude works a reversal. - Right to open and conclude to the jury is an important right and an improper denial of that right will work a reversal. Hart v. State, 88 Ga. App. 334 , 76 S.E.2d 561 (1953). Trial court commits reversible error when at the close of the evidence for the state, over objection of the defendants, counsel for the state is granted the right to the opening and concluding argument, although the defendants introduced no evidence, but merely made the defendants' statements, during the making of which one of the defendants exhibited to the jury certain clothing which was never introduced in evidence. Hart v. State, 88 Ga. App. 334 , 76 S.E.2d 561 (1953). Right to open and conclude to the jury is an important r...