Jowers v. State

The prosecutor's closing argument that the jury needed to "send a message to the people in Columbus, Georgia that we're not going to tolerate the brutal shootings" was not improper.

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A Muscogee County jury convicted Larry Jowers of armed robbery, OCGA § 16-8-41 a. Jowers appeals, contending the trial court erred in overruling his objections to a police investigator’s testimony and to the State’s closing argument. He also claims he was denied the effective representation of counsel during sentencing.1 Finding no error, we affirm. Viewed in the light most favorable to the jury’s verdict,2 the record shows that just after midnight on December 19, 2000, Jowers and his brother-in-law, Junior Mack, went to a Columbus gas station. Jowers went into the small convenience store inside the station, while Mack stood near the door and held it open. Jowers approached the counter where the victim was working and demanded money from the victim. The victim saw that both men were pointing guns at him and he believed that they were going to shoot him as soon as he gave them the money. The victim grabbed his own weapon and shot Mack in the chest. Jowers immediately shot the victim in the throat and ran outside. Mack collapsed in a lot near the station and died. At the time of his death, Mack was wearing a black knit ski cap and latex gloves.

Jowers drove the van to Mack’s house. According to Mrs. Mack, who was Jowers’ sister, when Jowers arrived at her house, he looked “scared” and “in shock,” was crying, and had blood on his clothing. Jowers told Mrs. Mack that her husband had been shot and was dead. Mrs. Mack got in the van and drove to the gas station. Jowers called his parents and, when they arrived at Mrs. Mack’s home, Jowers was dressed only in his underwear. His clothes were later discovered in the trunk of his father’s car.

Jowers v. State

The prosecutor's closing argument that the jury needed to "send a message to the people in Columbus, Georgia that we're not going to tolerate the brutal shootings" was not improper.

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