Opinion ID: 2449875
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: The first issue on appeal is whether the Trial Court erred in denying Mr. Akins's motion for directed verdict. A motion for directed verdict is a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence. Carter v. State, 324 Ark. 395, 921 S.W.2d 924, (1996). In considering whether a conviction is supported by sufficient evidence, the Court need only consider the evidence that supports the guilty verdict, and the Court views the evidence in the light most favorable to the State and affirms if there is substantial evidence to support the verdict. Martin v. State, 328 Ark. 420, 944 S.W.2d 512, (1997); Hicks v. State, 327 Ark. 652, 941 S.W.2d 387 (1997). Substantial evidence is that which is forceful enough to compel reasonable minds to reach a conclusion one way or the other and permits the trier of fact to reach a conclusion without having to resort to speculation or conjecture. McGehee v. State, 328 Ark. 404, 943 S.W.2d 585 (1997). The original record, portions of which were lost, does not include a motion for directed verdict by counsel for Mr. Akins at the close of the State's case. The Trial Court held a reconstruction hearing pursuant to an order from this Court to complete the record, and concluded that defense counsel made the motion for directed verdict as required by Ark. R.Crim. Pro. 33.1. The ground stated was lack of substantial evidence identifying Mr. Akins as the perpetrator of the offense against Ms. Franklin. There was substantial evidence to support the jury's verdict. Ms. Franklin identified Mr. Akins from a photographic line-up, and most important, his DNA profile matched that contained in the rape kit. The jury also could have taken into consideration the opportunity Mr. Akins had to learn of the cash that he thought was in Ms. Franklin's possession, especially in view of the fact that the perpetrator mentioned, in the course of committing the offenses, having seen the money at Dave's Food Mart.