Lawyers can make any idiotic statement which they wish as long as it fits the PC template. The judge can order it stricken from the records but the jury cannot disregard it anymore than you can unring a bell.
Dana's family was originally very supportive of the DA's decision to pursue this as a death penalty case.
In the end, her family graciously accepted the jury decision for life without parole because they didn't want to be dragged through the endless appeals process and reliving the horror it would involve.
As a practical matter, it is virtually impossible to execute anyone in Pennsylvania unless they take purposeful action to end the endless appeals, i.e. essentially volunteer to keep their date with the grim reaper.
That needs to change if we are going to respect the value of life.
I thought - only the facts were permitted. Not only he didn’t have any evidence plus he was implying - a beating is OK if someone says something derogatory when being beating to death.