Opinion ID: 1689484
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: whether the jury's verdict of capital murder was against the overwhelming weight of the evidence?

Text: ¶ 38. Pierce argues that the jury's verdict was against the weight of the evidence; and therefore, the trial court erred in denying Pierce's motion for new trial. On appeal, Pierce questions whether Collins and Veal were credible witnesses. Pierce alleges that the only evidence that the jury could have relied upon to convict him was the testimony of Collins and Veal. Pierce argues neither Collins nor Veal established the slightest conclusive proof that he committed the crime of capital murder. ¶ 39. Pierce primarily attacks Collins's credibility based on Collins's own admission that he had used crack cocaine and had been drinking at the time he witnessed the murder. Pierce also claims that he was not in an established relationship with Veal at the time of the crime. Pierce's testimony at trial contradicted Veal's testimony that Pierce told her that he had killed someone. The testimony of Pierce's mother and brother contradicted that of Veal' regarding whether Pierce called his mother inquiring if the police were looking for him. ¶ 40. The trial court has the discretion to set aside the jury's verdict and order a new trial only where the court is convinced that the verdict is so contrary to the weight of the evidence that to allow it to stand would be to sanction an unconscionable injustice. Roberts v. State, 582 So.2d 423, 424 (Miss.1991). See Groseclose v. State, 440 So.2d 297, 300 (Miss.1983). ¶ 41. This Court has held that the motion for a new trial is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court. Burge v. State, 472 So.2d 392, 397 (Miss. 1985). The credible evidence consistent with [a defendant's] guilt must be accepted as true. The prosecution must be given the benefit of all favorable inferences that may be reasonably drawn from the evidence. McClain v. State, 625 So.2d 774, 778 (Miss.1993). See Van Buren v. State, 498 So.2d 1224, 1228 (Miss.1986). This Court stated it will reverse only when it is convinced that the trial judge has abused his discretion. Malone v. State, 486 So.2d 360, 366 (Miss.1986); Quinn v. State, 479 So.2d 706, 710 (Miss.1985). ¶ 42. In Benson v. State, 551 So.2d 188, 193 (Miss.1989), this Court held that factual disputes are properly resolved by the jury in a criminal prosecution and do not mandate a new trial. The jury is the trier of witness credibility. Collier v. State, 711 So.2d 458, 462 (Miss.1998). Jurors are permitted to and have a duty to resolve conflicts in testimony they hear. Groseclose, 440 So.2d at 300; Gandy v. State, 373 So.2d 1042, 1045 (Miss.1979). [Jurors] may believe or disbelieve, accept or reject, the utterances of any witness. Gandy, 373 So.2d at 1045. There is no formula that dictates the juror's decision in resolving conflicts in testimony of the witness. Id. ¶ 43. This Court in Carter v. State, 743 So.2d 985, 989 (Miss.1999), in addressing this same assignment of error raised by Pierce's co-defendant, Carter, stated as follows: The fact that the prosecution's eyewitness had some drug and alcohol problems and that one of them was drunk at the time of the shooting does not render them incompetent per se. The general trend is to reject rigid rules of incompetence in favor of admitting the testimony and allowing the triers of fact judge the weight to be given such evidence. See e.g., United States v. Blankenship, 923 F.2d 1110 (5th Cir.1991); United States v. Killian, 524 F.2d 1268, 1275 (5th Cir.1975) (trial court did not abuse discretion in allowing witness to testify despite contention that he was a heavy user of drugs and suffered time to time from hallucinations); White v. State, 403 So.2d 331 (Fla.1981); People v. Burgos, 243 Ill.App.3d 993, 184 Ill. Dec. 858, 614 N.E.2d 59, 63 (1993) (eyewitness testimony of witness in murder case was not unworthy of belief even though witness admitted that he had drunk beer on the night of incident and he and defendant were seeking to purchase marijuana at time of crime); State v. Johnson, 714 S.W.2d 752 (Mo.App. 1986) (not error to allow eyewitness to testify even though he admitted to habitual drug use including lots of cocaine prior to killing); State v. Hubbard, 601 P.2d 929 (Utah 1979). ¶ 44. In the case sub judice, the jury as the trier of witness credibility and factual disputes determined that Pierce was guilty of capital murder. Collins testified that he knew Pierce, and he clearly saw Pierce at the liquor store when he heard shots fired. Collins described the clothing that Pierce was wearing at the time of the crime. ¶ 45. Veal also similarly identified the clothing worn by Pierce as that described by Collins. Veal further testified that she and Pierce have a child together, and they went together to Memphis on October 28, 1996, to stay with Pierce's brother. Veal testified that when she asked Pierce what was wrong with him he confided that he had killed a man at the liquor store because the man had seen him. The jury was able to weigh the testimony of the witnesses for both the State and the defense. We find that the jury, after deliberation, determined there was sufficient evidence on which to base a conviction for capital murder. This assignment of error is without merit.