Opinion ID: 1826799
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: whether the verdict of the jury of guilty on all counts of the indictment was against the overwhelming weight of the evidence.

Text: Herring contends that the jury's verdict was against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. In determining whether a jury verdict is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, this Court must accept as true the evidence which supports the verdict and will reverse only when convinced that the circuit court has abused its discretion in failing to grant a new trial. Thornhill v. State, 561 So.2d 1025, 1030 (Miss. 1989), rehearing denied, 563 So.2d 609 (Miss. 1990). Only when the verdict is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence that to allow it to stand would sanction an unconscionable injustice will this Court disturb it on appeal. Benson v. State, 551 So.2d 188, 193 (Miss. 1989) ( citing McFee v. State, 511 So.2d 130, 133-134 (Miss. 1987)). Thus, the scope of review on this issue is limited in that all evidence must be construed in the light most favorable to the verdict. Mitchell v. State, 572 So.2d 865, 867 (Miss. 1990). Herring admits that all evidence should be taken in a light most favorable to the State. However, in his argument, he merely points out the inconsistencies between the defense's story and the State's. The facts as described in the section Statement of Facts make it clear that there was ample evidence to support the jury verdict. The fact was that it became an issue of credibility. Who do you believe: the sheriff, the undercover agent, the police officer, and the MBN agent, OR the defendant who is fighting for his freedom? The jury determined that the State was telling the truth and not Herring. This Court shall not disturb the findings of the jury unless fair-minded jurors could only find the accused not guilty. Mitchell, 572 So.2d at 867. The facts when viewed in a light most favorable to the State prove that Herring did sell two rocks of crack cocaine to Diggs on May 31, 1990, and that he conspired with Draper to sell and did sell two rocks of crack cocaine to Officer Wright on June 1, 1990. We cannot submit that the jury verdict was against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. In fact, the lower court correctly denied the motion for a new trial/j.n.o.v. This Court will not disturb the jury verdict unless it will sanction an unconscionable injustice, something that is just not present in the case at hand. Thus, the lower court should be affirmed.