Opinion ID: 1924358
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: whether the verdict of the jury was contrary to the overwhelming weight and sufficiency of the evidence.

Text: ¶ 57. Though Montana blurs the distinction between sufficiency and weight of the evidence, he apparently argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion for jnov or, in the alternative for new trial.
¶ 58. A motion for jnov challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence. McClain v. State, 625 So.2d 774, 778 (Miss. 1993). This Court will consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, giving the State the benefit of all favorable inference that may be reasonably drawn from the evidence. Coleman v. State, 697 So.2d 777, 787-88 (Miss.1997). We are authorized to reverse only where the facts so considered point so overwhelmingly in favor of the Montana that reasonable men could not have arrived at a contrary verdict. Id. ¶ 59. A review of the record before this Court does not reveal that it was so wanting for evidence that Montana was entitled to a judgment notwithstanding the verdict. We find the following evidence sufficient to warrant the trial court's refusal of Montana's motion for jnov. Montana admits that he fired a 9mm pistol. It is undisputed that Holloway was killed by a 9mm projectile. Although the bullet could not be conclusively linked to Montana's gun, Chris Hairston, who was in the driver's seat, testified that after the initial three-round burst of gunfire, he looked back and saw Montana point the gun at the minivan and that he then heard two additional shots and two windows breaking. Montana told law enforcement that to his knowledge no one else fired a single shot at the location of the crime, and no evidence was offered indicating that anyone else fired a weapon. ¶ 60. Montana argues that Hairston's testimony lacked credibility. Montana also points to conflicts in the testimony of various witnesses as to how the window in the back of the minivan was broken. Detective Steve Schlicht testified that he arrived at Stachura's residence around 1:45 A.M., and that he observed broken glass in the street just west of the driveway. On cross-examination, Schlicht admitted that he had no knowledge of whether that glass had been there prior to the shooting, and that to his knowledge no comparative tests were done to match the glass in the road to the minivan. As discussed previously, the veracity of witnesses and conflict in the testimony is for the jury to resolve. Evans v. State, 725 So.2d at 680-81; Wetz v. State, 503 So.2d at 812. The trial court did not err in denying Montana's motion for jnov.
¶ 61. In determining whether a jury verdict is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, this Court must accept as true the evidence which supports the verdict and will reverse only when convinced that the circuit court has abused its discretion in failing to grant a new trial. Dudley v. State, 719 So.2d 180, 182 (Miss. 1998) (collecting authorities). Only in those cases where the verdict is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence that to allow it to stand would sanction an unconscionable injustice will this Court disturb it on appeal. Id. ¶ 62. Though the evidence at trial was conflicting, we find that the verdict was not so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence that we must order a new trial. There was certainly evidence of such weight and quality to support the jury's verdict and its rejection of the theory that the only shots fired by Montana were three shots fired into the air for the purpose of scaring the interlopers. ¶ 63. Montana told police in his statement that he fired approximately five rounds with a 9mm pistol. All witnesses testified to hearing the first volley of shots. Hairston testified that there was a second round of gunfire after he and his companions scurried into their vehicles and attempted to leave the scene. This testimony is corroborated by that of Sean Johnson, who was in the passenger seat of the minivan, and that of Michael Herrington and Jennifer Davis, who were in the other two vehicles fleeing the scene. Patrick Bradley testified that he saw Montana fire three shots into the air, and that, after Bradley had run into the house, he heard two more shots fired. Sean Johnson's testimony that when the second round of shots was fired, the window of the minivan broke is consistent with Hairston's account. Again, while there was no conclusive proof shown that the glass in the roadway was from the minivan, its presence in the roadway certainly lends weight to the testimony of what occurred that evening. Holloway was killed by a 9mm bullet. There was no evidence presented that anyone other than Montana fired a weapon at time of the incident in question. ¶ 64. Other evidence supports Hairston's account of the incident, such as Montana's filing of the false police report; the trajectory of the bullet lodged in Holloway's head; the fact that the bullet which killed Holloway was a 9mm projectile; and the location of the broken glass 35 to 45 feet down the road. ¶ 65. We conclude that the jury's verdict was not contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Montana's motion for new trial.