Opinion ID: 2457222
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: To preserve the question of the sufficiency of the evidence, a motion for directed verdict must be made at the close of the State's evidence and at the close of the case. Ark.R.Crim.P. 36.21(b). The motion must be specific and apprise the Trial Court of the ground asserted for granting the motion. Penn v. State, 319 Ark. 739, 894 S.W.2d 597 (1995); Jones v. State, 318 Ark. 704, 889 S.W.2d 706 (1994). A general motion will not do. Davis v. State, 319 Ark. 460, 892 S.W.2d 472 (1995). Mr. Monk's initial motion for directed verdict was to the effect that there had been no testimony identifying him as the culprit. In response, the Trial Court pointed out Detective Oberle's testimony concerning the pretrial identifications by the victim. Mr. Monk's counsel then renewed his motion to suppress that testimony as well as his objection to the admissibility of the envelope and contents. While we have some doubts about the sufficiency of the renewal of the directed verdict motion at the close of the case, we need not decide the case on the basis of the content of that motion. The sufficiency of the evidence question became, through counsel's discussion with the Trial Court, no more than renewal of his earlier evidentiary objections. We thus can dispose of the case by resolving the issues presented in those objections.