People v. Austin

Defendant was convicted, after jury trial, of armed robbery, aggravated vehicular hijacking, and aggravated assault.  Defense did not establish a prima facie showing of discrimination resulting from State's peremptory challenges of 2 black venirepersons. Court's refusal of defense's proferred instruction was not error because jury instructions given apprised jury of the relevant law. Prosecutor's closing argument was a summation and was not an improper comment on Defendant's right to silence after his arrest. Evidence proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Defendant committed armed robbery.(PIERCE and MASON, concurring.)