Opinion ID: 2494425
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Aqui Demetrius Rhodes

Text: ¶ 21. Rhodes was convicted of two counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault. Rhodes claims insufficient evidence was shown of the elements of malice aforethought and deliberate design. ¶ 22. Section 97-3-19 of the Mississippi Code reads in pertinent part: (1) The killing of a human being without the authority of law by any means or in any manner shall be murder in the following cases: (a) When done with deliberate design to effect the death of the person killed or any human being. [6] ¶ 23. It is undisputed that Rhodes did not have the authority of law, that both victims had been shot and killed with a firearm, and that Rhodes had shot his firearm multiple times at the victims. So the only question is whether the State presented the jury with sufficient evidence that Rhodes did so with deliberate design. ¶ 24. Under Mississippi law, the terms deliberate design and malice aforethought are considered synonymous and both connote an intent to kill. [7] This intent may be formed quickly, even moments before the act and maybe inferred from the use of a deadly weapon. [8] ¶ 25. McNair testified that the confrontation with Rhodes was based on an earlier break-in, and Rhodes had believed the victims were responsible. Additionally, both McNair and Rhodes testified that Rhodes had possessed and fired a gun. [9] The testimony on these two points, coupled with all reasonable inferences favorable to the prosecution, meet the standard for the deliberate design element. ¶ 26. The State presented sufficient evidence on all elements of murder such that reasonable, fair-minded jurors could have found that the State proved these essential elements as to Rhodes, beyond a reasonable doubt. Based on the foregoing, we affirm the convictions against Rhodes.