Opinion ID: 1935963
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: did the trial court err in refusing to grant the defendant's motion for a directed verdict and in failing to grant his request for a peremptory instruction on murder?

Text: The jury acquitted Gollott of murder through its conviction of Gollott for manslaughter. Therefore, this Court will not generally consider errors on jury instructions concerning murder. Carter v. State, 402 So.2d 817, 819 (Miss. 1981). However, since the Weathersby rule applies to all homicides, this Court considers this issue. Weathersby v. State, 165 Miss. 207, 209, 147 So. 481, 482 (1933). The Weathersby rule requires the jury to accept the defendant's version of events leading to a homicide, if reasonable. Weathersby does not apply if substantial evidence materially contradicts the defendant's version, through credible witnesses, physical facts, or commonly known facts. Weathersby, 165 Miss. at 209, 147 So. at 482; see also Blanks v. State, 547 So.2d 29, 33-34 (Miss. 1989). Gollott was the only eyewitness to the shooting itself. Gollott's account basically alleged that he accidentally shot Diane while attempting to shoot himself. Gollott asserts that absent substantial contradictory evidence, his version must be accepted, and the trial court erred in failing to direct a verdict, or in failing to issue a peremptory instruction of not guilty on all counts. However, Helena Fuller testified that Diane called her the night of her death, which led to Fuller keeping a close watch on Diane. Fuller contradicted Gollott's testimony that he went to the truck to get the murder weapon, stating that he never went to the truck once Diane arrived home. Fuller also stated that she saw Diane make a defensive gesture with her left hand in the air. The State's expert opined that the stippling pattern of skin imbedded gunpowder indicated that Diane was turning away from the gun and making a defensive gesture. This evidence both contradicts Gollott's testimony, casting doubt on his credibility, and supports an inference that Diane's death did not occur by accident, since eyewitness testimony and expert analysis indicates she was moving away from the pistol in a defensive gesture at the time of the shooting. The testimony of threats Gollott made to several people would contradict Gollott's version of events. In addition, Gollott gave contradictory statements on the shooting. He first said Diane grabbed the gun itself. He later stated Diane grabbed at the gun or made a motion to the gun, causing him to stumble. Weathersby is inapplicable when a defendant gives conflicting testimony as to how the homicide occurred. Blanks, 547 So.2d at 33. The standard of general review for criminal convictions and directed verdicts is to consider all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the State. Harveston v. State, 493 So.2d 365, 370 (Miss. 1986). This Court can only reverse where, under the evidence, a reasonable juror could only find the defendant not guilty. Jones v. State, 606 So.2d 1051, 1060 (Miss. 1992). Without repeating the facts, the expert testimony, Gollott's own testimony of the shooting, and other eyewitness testimony, this record supports a finding that the shooting was not accidental, and that the verdict was at least manslaughter. Accordingly, this Court denies this assertion of error.