You’re about to step into the shoes of a prosecutor delivering a closing speech. The courtroom falls silent, all eyes turn to you. Your words will be the last thing the jury hears before they make their decision. This moment can determine the outcome of a case.
Want to learn how to deliver a powerful prosecution closing speech? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve got six sample speeches that’ll show you exactly how it’s done. Let’s get started.
Prosecution Closing Speech Samples
These six sample speeches demonstrate various approaches to closing arguments in different cases. Read on to find the perfect inspiration for your next courtroom appearance.
1. The Straightforward Approach
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the evidence before you is clear and unambiguous. The defendant, John Smith, entered the convenience store on Main Street at 11:45 PM on June 15th. He brandished a firearm, demanded money from the cashier, and fled with $500 in cash.
We’ve presented security camera footage showing the defendant’s face clearly as he committed this crime. The store owner and two customers positively identified him in a lineup. The gun used in the robbery was found in the defendant’s apartment, along with the clothes he wore that night.
The defense would have you believe this is all a case of mistaken identity. But ask yourselves: How likely is it that someone who looks identical to the defendant, wearing the same clothes, would commit this crime and then plant the evidence in the defendant’s home?
The facts speak for themselves. John Smith committed armed robbery. He threatened innocent people and stole money that didn’t belong to him. Now, it’s time for him to face the consequences of his actions.
You have a duty to uphold the law and protect our community. The prosecution has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that John Smith is guilty of armed robbery. We ask you to return a verdict of guilty. Thank you.
— END OF SPEECH —
Commentary: This speech takes a direct approach, laying out the evidence clearly and concisely. It’s well-suited for cases with strong physical evidence and eyewitness testimony. The speaker addresses potential defense arguments and emphasizes the jury’s duty to the community.
2. The Emotional Appeal
Members of the jury, we’re discussing more than just a crime. We’re talking about shattered lives, broken trust, and a community living in fear.
Sarah Johnson was just 25 years old. She had her whole life ahead of her. A loving family, a promising career, dreams of starting her own business. All of that was taken away in an instant when the defendant, Mark Davis, got behind the wheel of his car after drinking all night at a local bar.
You’ve heard from Sarah’s parents. You’ve seen the pain in their eyes as they described the moment they learned their daughter was gone forever. You’ve heard from Sarah’s colleagues, who spoke of her dedication and kindness. And you’ve heard from the doctors who did everything they could to save her life.
The defense wants you to believe this was just an accident. But let’s be clear: getting drunk and deciding to drive isn’t an accident. It’s a choice. A selfish, reckless choice that cost an innocent young woman her life.
The evidence is overwhelming. The defendant’s blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit. Witnesses saw him stumbling out of the bar and fumbling with his keys. He ignored his friends who offered to call him a taxi.
Mark Davis chose to drink. He chose to drive. And because of those choices, Sarah Johnson will never come home again. Her parents will never see her walk down the aisle or hold their grandchildren. Her dreams will remain unfulfilled.
You have the power to send a message. To say that in our community, we value life. We value responsibility. And we will not tolerate those who endanger others with their reckless actions.
Find Mark Davis guilty. Not just for Sarah, but for all of us who share the roads and trust others to drive responsibly. Thank you.
— END OF SPEECH —
Commentary: This speech uses emotional appeal to connect with the jury on a personal level. It’s effective for cases involving tragic outcomes, particularly when dealing with DUI incidents or other preventable fatalities. The speaker paints a vivid picture of the victim and the impact of the crime on her family and community.
3. The Methodical Breakdown
Ladies and gentlemen, throughout this trial, we’ve presented substantial evidence proving the guilt of Lisa Thompson in the embezzlement of $2 million from Acme Corporation. Let’s review the key points:
First, the financial records. Our forensic accountant traced every missing dollar to accounts controlled by the defendant. These weren’t one-time transfers, but a systematic siphoning of funds over two years.
Second, the timing. The embezzlement began shortly after Ms. Thompson was promoted to CFO, giving her unrestricted access to company accounts. It stopped abruptly when the annual audit was announced.
Third, the lifestyle changes. Despite no increase in salary, the defendant suddenly bought a new home, a luxury car, and took five international vacations during the period in question.
Fourth, the cover-up attempt. When the investigation began, Ms. Thompson tried to delete financial records from her work computer. Fortunately, our tech experts recovered this data.
Fifth, the confession. You heard testimony from Ms. Thompson’s assistant, who stated that the defendant admitted to taking the money, saying she “deserved it” for her hard work.
The defense claims Ms. Thompson was framed by a jealous colleague. But they’ve presented no evidence to support this theory. No other employee had the access, the technical skills, or the motive to commit this crime.
You don’t need to be 100% certain to convict. You need to be sure beyond a reasonable doubt. Given the overwhelming evidence, can you honestly say you have any reasonable doubt about Lisa Thompson’s guilt?
The prosecution has met its burden of proof. We ask you to deliver justice for Acme Corporation and its employees whose livelihoods were put at risk by the defendant’s greed. Find Lisa Thompson guilty of embezzlement. Thank you.
— END OF SPEECH —
Commentary: This speech takes a methodical approach, breaking down the evidence point by point. It’s well-suited for financial crimes or cases with multiple pieces of evidence. The speaker anticipates and addresses the defense’s main argument, then reminds the jury of the standard of proof required for conviction.
4. The Story-Driven Narrative
Members of the jury, let me tell you a story. It’s a story about trust betrayed, about vulnerability exploited, and about justice delayed but not denied.
For ten years, Dr. James Wilson was the most respected pediatrician in our town. Parents trusted him with their children’s health and well-being. But behind closed doors, Dr. Wilson was betraying that trust in the most horrific way imaginable.
You’ve heard from five brave individuals who stepped forward to share their stories. They told you how Dr. Wilson used his position of authority to abuse them when they were at their most vulnerable. They described the fear, the confusion, and the lasting trauma they’ve endured.
The defense would have you believe these victims are lying or misremembering. But ask yourselves: Why would five unrelated people, from different backgrounds, tell the same lie? Why would they subject themselves to the pain of reliving their trauma in this courtroom if it weren’t true?
You’ve seen the evidence supporting their accounts. The inappropriate photos found on Dr. Wilson’s computer. The journal entries describing his twisted desires. The testimony from his nurse who witnessed suspicious behavior.
This story doesn’t end with Dr. Wilson’s crimes. It ends here, in this courtroom, with you. You have the power to write the final chapter. Will it be a story of justice served, of a predator finally held accountable for his actions? Or will it be a story of a criminal escaping punishment, free to hurt more innocent children?
The choice is yours. We ask you to consider all the evidence, to honor the courage of the victims who came forward, and to find Dr. James Wilson guilty on all counts. Let’s ensure this story has the ending it deserves. Thank you.
— END OF SPEECH —
Commentary: This speech uses a storytelling approach to engage the jury emotionally while still presenting the facts of the case. It’s particularly effective for cases involving a pattern of behavior over time, such as serial abuse or fraud. The speaker anticipates defense arguments and turns them into rhetorical questions for the jury to consider.
5. The Community-Focused Argument
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we’re not just deciding the fate of one individual. We’re making a statement about what kind of community we want to live in.
The defendant, Carlos Ramirez, stands accused of running a drug trafficking operation that has plagued our city for the past three years. You’ve heard testimony from undercover officers who infiltrated his organization. You’ve seen financial records showing millions of dollars in unexplained income. You’ve even heard recordings of Mr. Ramirez discussing drug shipments and threatening those who crossed him.
But this case is about more than just drugs and money. It’s about the lives destroyed by addiction. It’s about families torn apart. It’s about neighborhoods living in fear of drug-related violence.
Think about Sarah, the recovering addict who testified. She told you how she lost her job, her home, and nearly her life because of the drugs Mr. Ramirez brought into our community. Think about Officer Johnson, who described the increase in burglaries and assaults as people desperately sought money for their next fix.
The defense argues that Mr. Ramirez is just a businessman meeting market demand. But we’re not talking about selling cars or smartphones. We’re talking about selling poison that destroys lives and communities.
By finding Carlos Ramirez guilty, you’ll be doing more than convicting one man. You’ll be taking a stand for our community. You’ll be saying that we won’t tolerate those who profit from others’ misery. You’ll be giving hope to the addicts struggling to get clean, to the parents trying to keep their kids safe, to the honest business owners trying to thrive in neighborhoods plagued by drug-related crime.
The evidence is clear. The harm is undeniable. Now, it’s time for accountability. Find Carlos Ramirez guilty on all counts. Let’s take back our community, one verdict at a time. Thank you.
— END OF SPEECH —
Commentary: This speech focuses on the broader impact of the crime on the community. It’s particularly effective for cases involving organized crime, drug trafficking, or other offenses that affect the entire community. The speaker personalizes the impact through specific examples and emphasizes the jury’s role in shaping their community’s future.
6. The Evidence-Focused Rebuttal
Members of the jury, over the past week, you’ve heard a lot of testimony and seen a great deal of evidence. The defense has tried to muddy the waters, to create confusion where the facts are actually quite clear. Let’s take a moment to cut through the noise and focus on what really matters.
The defendant, Emily Chen, is charged with insider trading. The prosecution has presented a clear timeline of events:
On March 1st, Ms. Chen attended a confidential board meeting where she learned about the upcoming merger between her company and its biggest competitor.
On March 2nd, she called her broker and purchased 10,000 shares of her company’s stock.
On March 15th, the merger was announced publicly. The stock price soared.
On March 16th, Ms. Chen sold her shares, making a profit of $500,000.
The defense wants you to believe this was all a coincidence. They claim Ms. Chen made her investment decision based on public information and gut instinct. But let’s look at the facts:
Ms. Chen had never before purchased company stock in such large quantities.
She used her entire life savings and took out a loan to make this purchase.
Between her stock purchase and the merger announcement, she made no other significant financial decisions.
Her own emails, which you’ve seen, show she was under financial stress due to her recent divorce. This trade erased her debts overnight.
The defense’s expert witness tried to argue that the stock was undervalued and due for a rise. But during cross-examination, he admitted he wouldn’t have recommended such a large, leveraged purchase to a client in Ms. Chen’s financial situation.
Ladies and gentlemen, sometimes the simplest explanation is the correct one. Emily Chen had inside information. She used that information to make a profit. That’s the textbook definition of insider trading.
You took an oath to uphold the law. The law is clear: insider trading is illegal because it undermines the fairness of our financial markets. It’s cheating, plain and simple.
The prosecution has proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. We ask you to return a verdict of guilty. Let’s send a message that in our financial markets, everyone plays by the same rules. Thank you.
— END OF SPEECH —
Commentary: This speech focuses heavily on the evidence, methodically laying out the prosecution’s case while addressing and rebutting the main points of the defense. It’s well-suited for white-collar crimes or other cases where the evidence is primarily documentary or circumstantial. The speaker uses rhetorical techniques to simplify financial concepts for the jury.
Final Thoughts
There you have it – six different approaches to crafting a compelling prosecution closing speech. Each sample showcases a unique style, but they all share common elements: clear presentation of evidence, anticipation of defense arguments, and a strong call to action for the jury.
The key to a successful closing argument is to tailor your approach to the specific case and jury. Use the facts at your disposal, appeal to the jury’s sense of justice, and always keep your ultimate goal in mind: proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
With practice and preparation, you’ll be delivering powerful closing arguments that leave a lasting impact on the jury and serve the cause of justice. Good luck in the courtroom!