Opinion ID: 1401058
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Belton contends the evidence is insufficient to convict him of involuntary manslaughter in the first degree. When considering the sufficiency of the evidence on appeal, this Court must determine whether sufficient evidence permits a reasonable juror to find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The evidence and all reasonable inferences therefrom are viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, disregarding any evidence and inferences contrary to the verdict. State v. Tisius, 92 S.W.3d 751, 763-64 (Mo. banc 2002). To convict Belton of involuntary manslaughter in the first degree, the State had to prove that he recklessly caused Adkins' death. Section 565.024.1(1), RSMo Supp.1999. [3] A person acts recklessly when he or she consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that circumstances exist or that a result will follow and such disregard constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise in the situation. Section 562.016.4. Recklessness resembles knowing conduct in one respect in that it involves awareness, but it is an awareness of risk, that is, of a probability less than a substantial certainty. State v. Beeler, 12 S.W.3d 294, 299 (Mo. banc 2000). Three witnesses testified Belton was showing off a gun and waving it around in the dining room, where Adkins was sitting at a table. Two of the witnesses left the home after they heard Belton threaten to shoot Adkins in the head. A third witness went into a bedroom because she was afraid of the gun. Upon hearing a gunshot a few minutes later, she came back into the dining room and saw that Adkins had been shot in the head. Although none of the witnesses saw the actual shooting, the evidence was sufficient to establish a reasonable inference that Belton shot Adkins. The State's theory focused on an intentional shooting, but the witness hearing the gunshot testified she thought it was an accident. Similarly, an inmate at a correctional facility with Belton testified that Belton admitted he accidentally shot a guy in the head. An accidental shooting, where the irresponsible use of a gun is shown, can support a finding of recklessness. State v. Gaskins, 66 S.W.3d 110, 113 (Mo.App.2001). At a minimum, the evidence was sufficient to establish the shooting death occurred as result of Belton's conscious disregard for the substantial risks involved in waving a gun around and pointing it toward Adkins. The jury could reasonably conclude his conduct was reckless, in that it grossly deviated from the standard of care a reasonable person would use under similar circumstances. See State v. Jennings, 887 S.W.2d 752, 754 (Mo.App.1994). The evidence was sufficient to support the jury's finding that Belton was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of recklessly causing Adkins' death.