Opinion ID: 853950
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Pierce claims the evidence was insufficient to prove the elements of murder. [1] He argues that the evidence was only circumstantial and that a reasonable juror could not have found the elements of murder beyond a reasonable doubt on the basis of this evidence. He specifically asserts that the facts were insufficient to show that Pierce killed Morrison knowingly. On appeal, we do not reweigh the evidence or judge the credibility of witnesses, and we consider only the evidence most favorable to the verdict together with all reasonable and logical inferences to be drawn therefrom. [2] Nunn v. State, 601 N.E.2d 334 (Ind.1992). If there is substantial evidence of probative value to support the conclusion of the trier of fact, we will not disturb the verdict. Id. (citing Banks v. State, 567 N.E.2d 1126, 1129 (Ind.1991)). Certainly, a guilty verdict may be based solely upon circumstantial evidence. Harris v. State, 425 N.E.2d 112 (Ind.1981). The reviewing court need not determine that circumstantial evidence is adequate to overcome every reasonable hypothesis of innocence, but only that an inference may reasonably be drawn which supports the finding. Smith v. State, 468 N.E.2d 512 (Ind.1984). The circumstantial evidence was sufficient to allow a reasonable jury to infer that Pierce knowingly killed Dawn Morrison. As for proof that Pierce was the killer, it was reasonable to infer that at the time of the murder Pierce had exclusive control over the 9mm Lorcin pistol used to kill Morrison. Pierce purchased the weapon a month before the crime occurred, the box in which the pistol came was found in his apartment, and he showed the police the specific location of the weapon in Kelly Lake after the crime occurred. As for proof that Pierce killed knowingly, an expert witness testified that the Lorcin pistol in question could only be fired by pulling the trigger; thus, other types of mishandling could not have caused the gun to discharge as Pierce claims. Another expert noted that the bullet wound suffered by the victim was a contact wound, a type of injury to the skin which occurs only when the barrel of the gun is actually touching the skin's surface when fired. The same expert also testified that the position of the victim's body and the points where the bullet entered and exited the victim's head made suicide unlikely.