Case ID: vi_6/html/0134-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "GORDON, District Judge\n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS v. JAMES ALFRED TAYLOR, Appelant
    No. 16,338
    United States Court of Appeals Third Circuit
    Argued February 3, 1967
    Filed March 17, 1967
    
      See, also, 375 F.2d 771
    
    
      Croxton Williams, Esq., Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, for appellant
    
    John E. Stout, Esq., Assistant United States Attorney, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, for appellee
    
    Before STALEY, Chief Judge, and MARIS and FREEDMAN, Circuit Judges
    
   GORDON, District Judge

OPINION OF THE COURT

Appellant, convicted of attempted rape in the first degree, raises two issues on this appeal. He argues that there was insufficient evidence to support the jury’s guilty verdict. The. difficulty with appellant’s position is that he seeks to point out discrepancies and contradictions in. the testimony as supporting reversal. The reconciliation of conflicting testimony is for the jury. The burden he carries on appeal is that of showing that the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the Government, does not support the verdict. Government of the Virgin Islands v. Lake, 5 V.I. 594, 362 F.2d 770 (C.A. 3, 1966). We have reviewed the record and find that the evidence of guilt is overwhelming.

In his second point, appellant maintains that the court erred in failing to grant a view of the truck where the attempted rape occurred. Once again he carries a heavy burden. A view is not a matter of right; a grant or denial thereof rests in the sound discretion of the trial court, Hodge v. United States, 126 F.2d 849 (C.A.D.C., 1942); VI Wigmore, Evidence § 1164 (3d ed.), and will not be disturbed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion. No abuse of discretion appears in the record before us.

The judgment of the district court will be affirmed..