Opinion ID: 1771367
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts and the proceedings in the trial court

Text: ¶ 2. On August 8, 1998, Deputy Sheriff Robert Zwick of the Jackson County Sheriff's Department responded to a 911 call at the residence of Sam Ivan Martin and Crystal Martin. While at the residence, Deputy Zwick discovered that Crystal was not at home and there appeared to be signs of a disturbance. Deputy Sheriff Mike Sears discovered casings from a 12-gauge shotgun. Fearing foul play, Detective Sergeant James O'Bryant of the Jackson County Sheriff's Department (Criminal Investigation Division) arranged for Martin to come in for questioning on August 9, 1998. After being interrogated by Investigator O'Bryant, Martin confessed that he had shot Crystal after she had attempted to shoot herself. Martin then buried Crystal's body in the septic tank behind the couple's home. Crystal's body was removed from the septic tank, and it was determined that she had suffered from two shotgun blasts, one to her face and one to her chest. Martin was arrested on August 9, 1998. ¶ 3. Martin was indicted, tried, found guilty of murder and sentenced to serve a term of life imprisonment in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The trial court denied Martin's motion for a new trial or, in the alternative, a JNOV.