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Many litigants misapprehend the role of appellate review.
The judicial system distinguishes between issues of fact and issues of law. One reason that appellate courts do not reopen the facts in a case is that the jury and trial court occupied a better position from which to judge the credibility of the evidence presented. Although his words clearly state that the defendant spent the evening assembling care packages for charity causes, he shifts around in his chair a great deal. Additionally, his voice shakes and he sweats profusely. If the appellate court reconsidered the evidence from the transcript, it might find the testimony more persuasive without knowledge of the witness's suggestive body language and demeanor.