Opinion ID: 1335858
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: venue: directed verdict and proposed jury charge

Text: Brisbon raises two arguments relating to venue. He argues the trial court erred in not granting a directed verdict where the State failed to present any substantial evidence that Brisbon committed the murder in Lexington County. Further, he contends the court erred in refusing to instruct the jury with the proposed charge that venue must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Because both arguments fundamentally raise the issue of the degree of proof necessary to establish venue, we will address them together. Although an accused has a right to be tried in the county in which the offense is alleged to have been committed, this right is not jurisdictional. State v. Evans, 307 S.C. 477, 415 S.E.2d 816 (1992). Venue in a criminal case need not be affirmatively proved if there is sufficient evidence from which it can be inferred. State v. Owens, 293 S.C. 161, 359 S.E.2d 275, cert denied, 484 U.S. 982, 108 S.Ct. 496, 98 L.Ed.2d 495 (1987); State v. Home, 282 S.C. 444, 319 S.E.2d 703 (1984); State v. Vareen, 223 S.C. 34, 74 S.E.2d 223 (1953). Evidence of venue, though slight, is sufficient in the absence of conflicting evidence and may be proved by circumstantial as well as direct evidence. State v. Wharton, 263 S.C. 437, 211 S.E.2d 237 (1975); State v. Henderson, 285 S.C. 320, 329 S.E.2d 448 (Ct.App.1985). Where acts essential to the offense are committed in different counties, the accused may be tried in either county. State v. McLeod, 303 S.C. 420, 401 S.E.2d 175 (1991); Wray v. State, 288 S.C. 474, 343 S.E.2d 617 (1986); State v. Allen, 266 S.C. 468, 224 S.E.2d 881 (1976); State v. Gasque, 241 S.C. 316, 128 S.E.2d 154 (1962). S.C.Code Ann. § 17-21-20 (1976) specifically covers the issue of venue where a person causes injury in one county and death occurs in another: When any person shall be struck, wounded, poisoned or otherwise injured in one county and dies thereof in another any inquisition or indictment thereon found by jurors of either county shall be as good and effectual in law as if the stroke, wound, poisoning or other injury had been committed and done in the county in which the party shall die. And the person guilty of such striking, wounding, poisoning or other injury and every accessory thereto, either before or after the fact, shall be tried in the county in which such indictment shall be found and, if convicted, punished in the same mode, manner and form as if the deceased had suffered such striking, wounding, poisoning or other injury and death in the county in which such indictment shall be found. In Owens, we determined that where there were signs of a struggle at the victim's Horry County residence at which he was last seen, and where ransom money was demanded and delivered in Horry County, there was sufficient evidence to establish venue in Horry County. Owens, 293 S.C. 161, 359 S.E.2d 275. In McLeod, this Court held that venue was proper in either Colleton or Beaufort counties. The victim's clothing and decomposed body were found in Beaufort County. However, she was last seen alive in Colleton County, witnesses saw her there being forced into a car by the defendant, and there were signs of a struggle at her Colleton County residence. McLeod, 303 S.C. 420, 401 S.E.2d 175. Under the low threshold discussed above, there exists sufficient evidence in the present case to find that venue was proper in Lexington County. Brisbon worked in Lexington County; blood that could potentially be Victim's was found on a sofa at Brisbon's workplace; an axe on which were found blood stains and Brisbon's palm print was likewise found at the same location. Thus, despite the fact that Victim's body was found in Lee County, evidence critical to the commission of the offense was connected to Lexington, thereby rendering it an appropriate venue. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in refusing to grant a directed verdict to Brisbon on the issue of the State's failure to establish Lexington as a proper venue. The above recitation of law also makes clear that Brisbon's second argument relating to venuethat it must be proved beyond a reasonable doubtlacks validity. This Court has written: The rule of our decisions, which requires allegation and proof of the place of death in homicide cases and which was the common law, developed before the advent of paved roads and motor vehicles.... [W]here the record discloses no possibility of prejudice to appellant in his defense, justice requires liberality in the application of the rule. Otherwise, it is easy to conceive of facts under which a murderer could successfully conceal the place of death of his victim with reference to a county line, and escape conviction. Proof of the place of death would be impossible and, therefore, conviction impossible and the guilty escape. State v. Gregg, 230 S.C. 222, 228, 95 S.E.2d 255, 259 (1956). Further, The purpose of requiring the State to allege and prove the place of the assault and the place of death is (1) to show jurisdiction of the court and (2) to fully inform the defendant of the nature and cause of the accusation. In the application of the foregoing rule, however, it has been held that, where the jurisdiction of the court is established in the county where the fatal assault was committed, the requirement that the place of death must be proved will be applied with liberality when it clearly appears that no prejudice will result to the defendant in his defense. State v. Bostick, 243 S.C. 14, 17, 131 S.E.2d 841, 842 (1963). Accordingly, we reject Brisbon's argument that the State is required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the location of death.