Opinion ID: 160936
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Sufficiency of the Evidence to Prove Guilt Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Text: 41 Rojem argues there is insufficient evidence to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of murder or rape. In assessing sufficiency of the evidence, the relevant question 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 v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979).
42 Rojem challenged the sufficiency of the evidence to support the murder conviction in his first application for post-conviction relief. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals determined Rojem waived the claim. Rojem, 829 P.2d at 684. The federal district court found this claim procedurally barred because Rojem did not argue either cause and prejudice or a fundamental miscarriage of justice. See Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 750 (1991) (holding where a state prisoner has defaulted his federal claims in state court pursuant to an independent and adequate state procedural rule, federal habeas review of the claim is barred unless the prisoner can satisfy either cause and prejudice standard or fundamental miscarriage of justice standard). Relying on the newly discovered evidence, Rojem argues on appeal, for the first time, that procedural default would result in a fundamental miscarriage of justice. We will not consider this argument. See Jones v. Gibson, 206 F.3d 946, 958 (10th Cir.) (holding this court does not consider arguments raised for first time on appeal), cert. denied, 121 S. Ct. 496 (2000). Accordingly, we conclude this claim is procedurally barred. 43 Even if it were not barred, we agree with the federal district court that sufficient evidence presented at trial supported the murder conviction. 9 See Herrera v. Collins, 506 U.S. 390, 402 (1993) (holding newly discovered evidence should not be considered). While there often are some unresolved questions in a case based on circumstantial evidence, here, much evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the State, clearly points to Rojem as the murderer.
44 Rojem argues there is insufficient evidence of penetration to support the rape conviction. On direct appeal, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals determined there was sufficient evidence of penetration: 45 Oklahoma law provides that rape requires actual penetration, but that any sexual penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete the crime of rape. In the present case, the medical examiner testified that the dead child's hymen, labia minor, labia major and vaginal wall were bruised. It was Dr. Choi's opinion that the bruising resulted from a blunt force trauma to the hymen consistent with being caused by a male penis. She further stated the injuries were inflicted while the victim was yet living. 46 We find this evidence sufficient to allow any rational trier of fact to find that penetration occurred beyond a reasonable doubt. . . . [M]edical testimony of the bruised and lacerated condition of the victim's hymen and labia minora would sufficiently prove sexual penetration of at least one half inch, it being established that the hymen is located approximately that distance within the vagina. Although the medical examiner herein was unwilling to render an opinion whether penetration in the legal sense occurred, there was adequate testimony from which the jury could deduce that it had in fact occurred. 47 Rojem, 753 P.2d at 362-63 (citations omitted). Recognizing the state court correctly articulated and applied the Jackson standard, we conclude, after reviewing the record, the state court's determination was reasonable. See 28 U.S.C. 2254(d); see also Valdez v. Ward, 219 F.3d 1222, 1237 (10th Cir. 2000) (declining to decide whether 2254(d)(1) or (d)(2) applies), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___. 121 S.Ct. 1618, ___ L.E.2d ___ (2001).