Opinion ID: 70241
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the sufficiency of the evidence claim

Text: Felker contends that he is entitled to habeas corpus relief under Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979), because the evidence was insufficient to convict him. The voluminous evidence against Felker has been set out in detail by the Georgia Supreme Court, 314 S.E.2d at 626-31, 635-36, and we will not repeat it here. The constitutional test for the sufficiency of the evidence is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S.Ct. at 2789. In determining that there was sufficient evidence to convict Felker of false imprisonment and of murder, the Georgia Supreme Court explained: The evidence supports a finding that Joy Ludlam was bound at her wrists and ankles, gagged, and blindfolded, all against her will. She was therefore confined and detained without legal authority in violation of her personal liberty. Thus, the evidence was sufficient to support the conviction for false imprisonment. 314 S.E.2d at 638 (footnote omitted). As to the basis for the rape and aggravated sodomy convictions, the court said: We conclude that the evidence was sufficient to convince a rational trier of fact beyond a reasonable doubt that appellant accosted the victim for purposes of achieving deviant sexual gratification and that to this end she was bound and gagged, beaten, raped and sodomized. Thus, we find that the convictions for rape and aggravated sodomy are supported by sufficient evidence. Jackson v. Virginia, supra. Id. Reviewing the evidence de novo, we reach the same conclusions as the Georgia Supreme Court.