Opinion ID: 1960644
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether the jury verdict is contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence produced at trial?

Text: ¶ 15. Williams claims that the evidence for self-defense was so strong that the trial court should have directed a verdict or granted a new trial. However, this Court has stated that once the jury has returned a verdict of guilty in a criminal case, we are not at liberty to direct that the defendant be discharged short of a conclusion on our part that given the evidence, taken in the light most favorable to the verdict, no reasonable, hypothetical juror could find beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was guilty. Gary, 760 So.2d at 749 (quoting Ashford v. State, 583 So.2d 1279, 1281 (Miss.1991)). The weight and credibility of the evidence are matters left to the jury. Gary, 760 So.2d at 749 (citing Fisher v. State, 481 So.2d 203, 212 (Miss.1985)). ¶ 16. The issue of whether this killing was murder or self-defense was for the jury to determine. After hearing all of the facts, the jury believed the witnesses for the State and returned a verdict accordingly. ¶ 17. The defense presented testimony from McGee, Tracy Bolton and Blakely that Powe was the aggressor. They stated that the vehicle which Powe was in swept by them at least twice in the park, and that each time someone was yelling threats and waving the rifle at Williams. Williams testified that Powe told him that [he] could die today. The defense further put on evidence that Powe had the rifle aimed at Williams during their confrontation and that Williams only shot him once it appeared that Powe was about to shoot him. ¶ 18. However, the State put on evidence from numerous witnesses that while Powe exited the vehicle with a rifle, he never aimed that rifle anywhere other than at the ground. The State's witnesses testified that Powe was arguing with Strickland and that Williams shot him from the side while this was going on. The State further presented forensic testimony that the gunshot that killed Powe was fired into his left temple from a distance of less than ¼ of an inch. ¶ 19. Upon review of the evidence presented, this verdict was not unreasonable. Thus, we find that the record below adequately supports the verdict.