Opinion ID: 1468342
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of evidence felony murder (rape) and rape

Text: Appellant assigns as error the trial court's denial of his motions for judgment of acquittal on charges of felony murder (rape) (count one) and rape (count five). We find no error and affirm. In deciding to submit these issues to the jury the trial judge need only have been satisfied that the government introduced enough evidence so that a reasonable person might find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Curley v. United States, 81 U.S. App.D.C. 389, 392-93, 160 F.2d 229, 232-33, cert. denied, 331 U.S. 837, 67 S.Ct. 1511, 91 L.Ed. 1850 (1947). On appeal, we view the evidence in a light most favorable to the party prevailing below. Saunders v. United States, D.C.App., 317 A.2d 867 (1974). The evidence in this case is compatible fully with a finding that appellant raped and killed Rebecca Rieser on September 10, 1972. There was evidence to support a conclusion that appellant was in the victim's room at the approximate time of the events which gave rise to the charges against him. Testimony established that appellant's fingerprints were found on the victim's dresser. His palm print was lifted from a Sunday newspaper which testimony established the victim had purchased at approximately 10:15 a. m. on her way home from church that morning. Appellant had keys to all apartments and rooms in the complex. There was also evidence to support a conclusion that appellant had intercourse with the victim on the morning of her death. Intact sperm was found in her vagina. Fiber samples recovered from the victim's bedsheets, body, and clothing connected appellant with the victim. Moreover, appellant had admitted to co-workers of having engaged in intercourse at McLean Gardens on that morning. There was evidence to support a conclusion that this intercourse was not voluntary. Evidence showed that the victim was an extremely orderly person, yet her room was disheveled when she was found, and her pants were inside out on the floor, missing a button. Her broken watchband was also found on the floor. There were strangle marks on the victim's neck. Although this evidence is circumstantial, we note that rape by its very nature rarely gives rise to eyewitness testimony. Because this court will not reverse a conviction on the facts as long as there is evidence which reasonably permits a finding of guilt, Manago v. United States, D.C.App., 331 A.2d 335, 336 (1975), and because we find evidence in abundance to support the verdict, we affirm appellant's conviction on counts one and five. Affirmance of appellant's conviction for felony murder compels us to vacate his concurrent sentence for second-degree murder. Second-degree murder is a lesser included offense of felony murder. Fuller v. United States, 132 U.S.App.D.C. 264, 293, 407 F.2d 1199, 1228-29 (1967) (en banc only on question whether concurrent convictions for first-degree felony murder and second-degree murder can stand), cert. denied, 393 U.S. 1120, 89 S.Ct. 999, 22 L.Ed.2d 125 (1968); Jackson v. United States, 114 U.S.App.D.C. 181, 183, 313 F.2d 572, 574 (1962). Because appellant failed to move below to have the issue of second-degree murder submitted to the jury only as a lesser included offense, and because we do not find that the trial court's failure to do so sua sponte was plain error affecting substantial rights, we will not reverse his conviction for second-degree murder. Fuller, supra, 132 U.S.App.D.C. at 295, 407 F.2d at 1230. See also Watts v. United States, D.C. App., 362 A.2d 706 (1976) (en banc); Adams v. United States, D.C.App., 302 A.2d 232 (1973). This does not, however, mean that his sentence on that conviction should stand. Fuller, supra, 132 U.S.App.D.C. at 298 n.52, 407 F.2d at 1233 n.52.