Opinion ID: 1678225
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether the jury's verdict was against the overwhelming weight and sufficiency of the evidence.

Text: ¶ 20. At the close of the State's evidence, Northup made a motion for a directed verdict, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence, and this motion was denied. On appeal, Northup again challenges the sufficiency of the evidence and also the weight of the evidence. ¶ 21. Northup argues that the inconsistencies in the witnesses' testimony were sufficient to raise a reasonable doubt as to his participation in the murder. For example, Chastity testified that she saw Northup and Donnie throw the knives into the river, but Donnie testified he never saw any knives being thrown into the river. A security guard at a convenience store testified that he saw Diane and Chastity enter the store the night of the murder and that there were two men sitting in their truck. While Diane testified that they stopped at a convenience store, Chastity did not testify to this, and Donnie testified that they had stopped at a gas station. Chastity testified that she did not exactly see Northup when he got back in the truck, but she also testified that Donnie and Northup were in the back of the truck. Northup argues that because of these inconsistencies in the witnesses' testimony and the fact that there were no eyewitnesses to the murder other than his co-defendant, Donnie, the evidence does not support the weight of the jury verdict finding him guilty. ¶ 22. As to the weight of the evidence, we have held that the question of whether the verdict is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence is essentially an allegation that the trial judge erroneously overruled the motion for a new trial. Wetz v. State, 503 So.2d 803, 812 (Miss.1987) (citing Gray v. State, 487 So.2d 1304, 1311 (Miss.1986)). The decision of whether to grant a new trial is in the sound discretion of the trial judge, and a new trial should only be ordered when the trial judge finds that the verdict is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence that to allow it to stand would be to sanction an unconscionable injustice. Wetz, 503 So.2d at 812 (citations omitted). ¶ 23. In determining whether the evidence in the record is sufficient to sustain a finding adverse to a defendant, we have held that we must consider all the evidencenot just the evidence which supports the case for the prosecutionin the light most favorable to the verdict. As we have stated, The prosecution must be given the benefit of all favorable inferences that may be reasonably drawn from the evidence. Id. at 808 (citations omitted). ¶ 24. It appears from the record that the testimony of Northup's co-defendants was sufficient to submit this matter to a jury for determination. The trial judge found the testimony of the witnesses was sufficient to implicate Northup in his participation in the death of Loper. The trial judge correctly overruled the motion for directed verdict, and this ruling is affirmed.