Opinion ID: 1103334
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: motion for judgment of acquittalidentity

Text: As his first claim on appeal, Fitzpatrick asserts that the trial court erred in denying his motion for judgment of acquittal because the circumstantial evidence in this case was not inconsistent with Fitzpatrick's reasonable theory of innocence. However, Fitzpatrick invokes an inapplicable standard. Contrary to Fitzpatrick's assertion that this case is wholly circumstantial, this Court need not apply the special standard of review applicable to circumstantial evidence cases because the State presented direct evidence in the form of DNA evidence and eyewitness testimony. See Pagan v. State, 830 So.2d 792, 803-04 (Fla.2002). In reviewing a motion for judgment of acquittal, a de novo standard of review applies. See id. at 803. Generally, an appellate court will not reverse a conviction that is supported by competent, substantial evidence. See id. (citing Donaldson v. State, 722 So.2d 177 (Fla.1998); Terry v. State, 668 So.2d 954, 964 (Fla. 1996)). If, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, a rational trier of fact could find the existence of the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, sufficient evidence exists to sustain a conviction. See id. (citing Banks v. State, 732 So.2d 1065 (Fla.1999)). In moving for a judgment of acquittal, a defendant admits not only the facts stated in the evidence adduced, but also admits every conclusion favorable to the adverse party that a jury might fairly and reasonably infer from the evidence. Beasley v. State, 774 So.2d 649, 657 (Fla.2000) (quoting Lynch v. State, 293 So.2d 44, 45 (Fla. 1974)). We have repeatedly reaffirmed the general rule that courts should not grant a motion for judgment of acquittal unless the evidence is such that no view which the jury may lawfully take of it favorable to the opposite party can be sustained under the law. Lynch, 293 So.2d at 45; see also Morrison v. State, 818 So.2d 432, 451 (Fla.), cert. denied, 537 U.S. 957, 123 S.Ct. 406, 154 L.Ed.2d 308 (2002); Gordon v. State, 704 So.2d 107, 112 (Fla. 1997). In this case, Fitzpatrick contends that he had a consensual sexual encounter with Romines between 9 a.m. and noon fifteen to eighteen hours before she was found naked and bleeding on the side of the roadand that Romines was killed by someone else. The evidence against Fitzpatrick can be summarized generally as follows: 1. Hall, the SAVE nurse, testified to numerous injuries and markings to Romines' body that led her to conclude that Romines had suffered forced sexual activity. Hall also concluded that the sexual activity occurred within a fairly close proximity of time, a maximum of an hour or two, before Romines was found. 2. The DNA profile that was developed from Romines' vaginal swabs was consistent with the DNA profile that was developed from the known blood standard of Fitzpatrick. 3. Fitzpatrick repeatedly denied having sexual intercourse with Romines until he was confronted with the DNA evidence. At that point, Fitzpatrick admitted that he had sexual intercourse with Romines between 9 a.m. and noon on August 17, 1996. 4. Fitzpatrick admitted picking up Romines at the 7-Eleven and dropping her off at the Sunny Palms Motel, but denied any further contact. Two eyewitnesses testified that they last saw Romines alive with Fitzpatrick leaving Howard's house at midnight on August 17. Another eyewitness testified that she saw the same Pro Pizza truck at the Sunny Palms Motel and later at Howard's house. 5. Fitzpatrick's Pro Pizza employers, Degele and Bradford, testified that Fitzpatrick regularly carried a knife, but that they never saw him with it again after the stabbing. 6. After detectives asked Fitzpatrick for a blood sample, Fitzpatrick attempted to have his sister, a nurse, assist him in obtaining two blood samples other than his own. In moving for judgment of acquittal, Fitzpatrick admits every conclusion favorable to the State that a jury might fairly and reasonably infer from the evidence. See Beasley, 774 So.2d at 657. Fitzpatrick was the last person seen with Romines alive three hours before she was discovered on the side of the road, there was DNA evidence matching Fitzpatrick to the source of the semen recovered from Romines, and evidence revealed that Romines had what was likely a forced sexual encounter two hours before her death. Moreover, Fitzpatrick denied his involvement with Romines only to change his story when confronted with DNA evidence. In addition, Fitzpatrick attempted to secure false blood samples. Finally, Fitzpatrick was never again seen in possession of a knife he was known to carry after the murder. Based on the foregoing, we conclude that the State presented competent, substantial evidence to support the conviction. Therefore, the trial court did not err in denying Fitzpatrick's motion for judgment of acquittal. Fitzpatrick also contends that the evidence against him is not sufficient for a jury to find that Fitzpatrick, and no one else, had committed the charged offense. As support for this argument, Fitzpatrick asserts that after the attack Romines identified someone named Steve, not Fitzpatrick, as the person who attacked her. However, the evidence established that while Romines initially mentioned someone named Steve, presumably Stephen Kirk, she later in the hospital indicated to the detectives that Steve actually was not her assailant. Further, the paramedic who treated Romines at the scene testified that Romines was in and out of consciousness and possibly did not understand the questions posed to her. Moreover, evidence conclusively exculpated Stephen Kirk from any involvement in the crime. Based on the foregoing, we conclude Fitzpatrick's convictions are supported by the sufficiency of the evidence.