Case Title: State v. Free

Citation: 170 Vt. 605, 749 A.2d 622

Docket Number: 

State: vermont

Court: Vermont Supreme Court

Date: 2000-02-17T00:00:00Z

Document:
State v. Free (99-183); 170 Vt. 605; 749 A.2d 622

[Filed 17-Feb-2000]

                                 ENTRY ORDER

                       SUPREME COURT DOCKET NO. 99-183

                             DECEMBER TERM, 1999

State of Vermont	               }	APPEALED FROM:
                                       }
                                       }
     v.	                               }	District Court of Vermont,
                                       }	Unit No. 2, Bennington Circuit
Chad S. Free	                       }
                                       }	DOCKET NO. 1732-10-98Bncr

             In the above-entitled cause, the Clerk will enter:

       Defendant was charged with grossly negligent operation of a motor
  vehicle, death resulting.  See 23  V.S.A. § 1091(b).  He filed a motion to
  dismiss for lack of a prima facie case, pursuant to V.R.Cr.P.  12(d),
  arguing that the facts could not support a finding of gross negligence. 
  The district court  granted defendant's motion and held that the case would
  proceed on the theory of negligent  operation.  See 23 V.S.A. § 1091(a). 
  The State requested permission to appeal, which the court  granted.  See 13
  V.S.A. § 7403(b).  On appeal, the State argues that the court erred because
  the  evidence was sufficient to allow a reasonable jury to conclude that
  defendant was guilty of grossly  negligent operation. We affirm.

       In reviewing a V.R.Cr.P. 12(d) motion to dismiss for lack of a prima
  facie case, we view the  evidence in the light most favorable to the state,
  while excluding modifying evidence, in order to  determine whether the
  State has "'produced evidence fairly and reasonably tending to show the 
  defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.'"  State v. Dixon,         Vt.       
  ,        ,