Opinion ID: 1854952
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Burden of Proof, Sufficiency of the Evidence

Text: The burden is never on the defendant to establish his innocence; if the evidence raises reasonable doubt as to his guilt, he should be acquitted. Hubbert v. State, 32 Ala.App. 477, 27 So.2d 228 (1946). The State is not required to prove the impossibility of the accused's innocence. Lovelady v. State, 15 Ala.App. 615, 74 So. 734 (1917). It need only prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Circumstantial evidence alone is enough to support a guilty verdict of the most heinous crime, provided the jury believes beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty. Lowe v. State, 90 Fla. 255, 105 So. 829 (1925). Circumstantial evidence is said to be the inference of a fact in issue which follows as a natural consequence according to reason and common experience from known collateral facts. Lowe, supra . A trial judge has the power to grant a motion for a new trial if the verdict is contrary to the great preponderance of the evidence, or if there is newly-discovered evidence. Davis v. State, 245 Ala. 589, 18 So.2d 282 (1944). Granting the motion is largely within the discretion of the trial court, whose discretion should not be exercised to grant the relief sought except in plain cases of deviation from justice and right.