Opinion ID: 1656179
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: analysis

Text: ¶ 7. Shumpert argues the evidence is insufficient because he committed an intentional act, which cannot form the basis for a conviction of manslaughter by culpable negligence. In other words, if the jury was going to convict him of anything, it should have been depraved heart murder; therefore, the jury verdict was irrational. Hence, Shumpert argues the trial court erred when it refused to grant his motion for a directed verdict, a peremptory instruction, or a judgment notwithstanding the verdict. On the issue of jury irrationality, the United States Supreme Court has said: inconsistent verdicts ... should not necessarily be interpreted as a windfall to the Government at the defendant's expense. It is equally possible that the jury, convinced of guilt, properly reached its conclusion on the compound offense, and then through mistake, compromise, or lenity, arrived at an inconsistent conclusion on the lesser offense. But in such situations the Government has no recourse if it wishes to correct the jury's error; the Government is precluded from appealing or otherwise upsetting such an acquittal by the Constitution's Double Jeopardy Clause. Inconsistent verdicts therefore present a situation where error, in the sense that the jury has not followed the court's instructions, most certainly has occurred, but it is unclear whose ox has been gored. Given this uncertainty, and the fact that the Government is precluded from challenging the acquittal, it is hardly satisfactory to allow the defendant to receive a new trial on the conviction as a matter of course. ... there is no reason to vacate respondent's conviction merely because the verdicts cannot rationally be reconciled. Respondent is given the benefit of her acquittal on the counts on which she was acquitted, and it is neither irrational nor illogical to require her to accept the burden of conviction on the counts on which the jury convicted. United States v. Powell, 469 U.S. 57, 65, 69, 105 S.Ct. 471, 83 L.Ed.2d 461 (1984) (citations omitted). ¶ 8. This Court has adopted the rule that review of the sufficiency of the evidence is adequate protection from jury irrationality. Holloman v. State, 656 So.2d 1134, 1141 (Miss.1995). Further, a motion for J.N.O.V., peremptory instruction, and directed verdict all challenge the legal sufficiency of the evidence. Hawthorne v. State, 835 So.2d 14, 21 (Miss. 2003). When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court must ask whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Bush v. State, 895 So.2d 836, 843 (Miss.2005). The proper remedy for a verdict based on insufficient evidence is for this Court to reverse and render. Id. ¶ 9. In support of his argument Shumpert first cites Hurns v. State, 616 So.2d 313, 315 (Miss.1993), in which the defendant was convicted for beating a fellow inmate to death in jail. The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be massive trauma to the brain as a result of multiple blows to the head with a blunt object in a short period of time, and Hurns was found guilty of murder after the trial court denied his request that the jury be given an instruction for manslaughter by culpable negligence. Id. at 320. This Court rejected his argument on appeal, holding that the murder instruction was proper because his acts were intentional, not reflecting culpable negligence, defined as a flagrant and reckless disregard for the safety of others, or willful indifference to the injury liable to follow. Id. ¶ 10. Shumpert also cites Goff v. State, 778 So.2d 779 (Miss.Ct.App.2000). The defendant in that case was convicted for hitting a bar patron and kicking him twice. Id. at 781. The jury was instructed on both murder and manslaughter, and the defendant requested an instruction on manslaughter by culpable negligence. Id. at 782. The court held he was not entitled to a culpable negligence instruction because his acts were intentional, rather than evidencing culpable negligence. Id. ¶ 11. The third case cited by Shumpert is Sanders v. State, 781 So.2d 114 (Miss. 2001). This case concerned a defendant found guilty of deliberate design murder. Id. at 116. He argued that the trial court erred by not instructing the jury on manslaughter by culpable negligence. Id. at 119. This Court rejected that argument, pointing out that all the testimony revealed that the defendant intentionally hit the victim with a hammer, making an instruction on manslaughter by culpable negligence inappropriate. Id. ¶ 12. Shumpert argues that these cases require this Court to reverse and render. He claims that the State failed to prove a prima facie case for depraved heart murder, and should not have been allowed to fall back on manslaughter by culpable negligence when that instruction does not fit the facts of this case. The State made a general argument that the evidence was sufficient to sustain the verdict. ¶ 13. All three cases cited by Shumpert are distinguishable. In each, the defendant requested the instruction of manslaughter by culpable negligence, but that instruction was not given to the jury. In the current case, the jury was instructed on both depraved heart murder and culpable negligence manslaughter, and decided that manslaughter was more appropriate. In addition, there was conflicting evidence at trial, which makes it implausible on appeal to ascertain what version of the story the jury believed. Shumpert is asking this Court to make the broad declaration that intentional acts cannot form the basis for culpable negligence. However, [c]ulpable negligence must be ascertained from the facts of each case, and no ironclad statement can be set forth as applicable to all classes of cases. Sims v. State, 149 Miss. 171, 115 So. 217, 219 (1928). ¶ 14. Shumpert also seeks to make a distinction between an intentional act leading to death and a negligent, or accidental act leading to death, arguing that because he intended to deliver the blow to Collier, he cannot be guilty of manslaughter by culpable negligence. This attempted distinction is flawed because manslaughter by culpable negligence is such gross negligence ... as to evince a wanton or reckless disregard for the safety of human life, or such an indifference to the consequences of an act under the surrounding circumstances as to render such conduct tantamount to willfulness. Evans v. State, 562 So.2d 91, 95 (Miss.1990) (citations omitted). The only requirement is recklessness or a willful disregard for an unreasonable risk. Campbell v. State, 285 So.2d 891, 893 (Miss.1973). Furthermore, a recognized distinction between manslaughter by culpable negligence and depraved heart murder concerns the degree of mental culpability. Windham v. State, 602 So.2d 798, 801 (Miss.1992). The determination of a defendant's mental culpability is an issue properly resolved by the jury. Morris v. State, 748 So.2d 143, 148 (Miss.1999). ¶ 15. Shumpert admitted hitting Collier even though Collier never threatened, insulted, or attacked him. Shumpert said he did this because he thought Collier had some kind of weapon, and was going to hurt Middlebrooks. The jury could have determined this series of events constituted criminal negligence because Shumpert stated he did not intend to kill Collier, but nevertheless hit him and left him lying on the street without medical attention after the attacks. Morris testified that Shumpert, along with Judon, repeatedly kicked Collier while he was on the ground. The jury could have decided Shumpert was criminally negligent because he acted in concert with or instigated Judon and Middlebrooks in bringing about harm, and later death, to Collier. Pursuant to the evidence presented, a rational juror could have determined that Shumpert was guilty of manslaughter by culpable negligence. ¶ 16. Manslaughter is a lesser-included offense of murder. State v. Shaw, 880 So.2d 296, 304-05 (Miss.2004); Fairley v. State, 871 So.2d 1282, 1284-85 (Miss. 2003) (this Court held that an instruction which stated that culpable negligence manslaughter is a lesser-included offense of murder was properly submitted to the jury). Mississippi law requires trial courts to instruct juries on lesser-included offenses unless the lesser-included offense has no basis in evidence. Clark v. State, 693 So.2d 927, 932 (Miss.1997). There is a basis in evidence for the culpable negligence manslaughter charge because a blow delivered by one individual to another can be intentionally delivered, and at the same time negligently delivered with excessive force. See Campbell, 285 So.2d at 893. Therefore, the trial court was required to give the instruction. ¶ 17. We see no reason for this Court to reverse Shumpert's conviction and render a contrary decision simply because he engaged in an action or some actions that may have been intentional. The jury was properly charged with determining which crime encompassed Shumpert's mental state, and the evidence in the record is sufficient to support this decision. Shumpert's argument is without merit.
¶ 18. Jury instructions are to be read together and taken as a whole with no one instruction taken out of context. Rushing v. State, 911 So.2d 526, 537 (Miss.2005). Shumpert is entitled to have jury instructions given which represent his theory of the case; however, this entitlement is limited in that the court may refuse an instruction which incorrectly states the law, is covered fairly elsewhere in the instructions, or is without foundation in the evidence. Byrom v. State, 863 So.2d 836, 874 (Miss.2003). Jury instructions are within the sound discretion of the trial court. Goodin v. State, 787 So.2d 639, 657 (Miss.2001).
¶ 19. The proposed instruction on simple assault stated that: [t]he Court instructs the jury that if Jamarcus Shumpert knowingly, recklessly or purposefully caused bodily harm to the decedent, then Jamarcus Shumpert is guilty of a simple assault. The trial judge refused to allow the jury instruction on simple assault, saying: I think we are faced with a unique set of facts in this case because this defendant admitted from the stand that he threw the punch or threw a punch. But to give this instruction, I've got to believe that simple assault is a lesser crime of manslaughter and that simple assault is a lesser crime or of murder, and in this instance, there is a death. And I'm going to deny the instruction. ¶ 20. Shumpert gives three reasons why this instruction should have been given. He argues that simple assault is a lesser-included offense of murder, and therefore the jury should have been instructed on its elements. He cites Clark, 693 So.2d at 932, for the rule that a lesser-included offense instruction is required unless, considering the evidence in the light most favorable to the accused, no rational jury could have found the defendant guilty of the lesser-included offense, or not guilty of the greater offense. While Shumpert correctly cites the Clark rule, he makes an incorrect assumption that assault is a lesser-included offense of murder. In Wolfe v. State, 743 So.2d 380, 387 (Miss.1999), this Court reiterated the longstanding rule in Mississippi that assault is not a lesser-included offense of murder. Further, the jury was instructed on manslaughter, which is a lesser-included offense of murder. See Shaw, 880 So.2d at 304-05. Therefore, this argument is without merit. ¶ 21. Second, Shumpert argues that a defendant is entitled to an instruction embodying his theory of the case if that instruction is supported by the evidence and is a correct statement of law, citing Montana v. State, 822 So.2d 954, 962 (Miss.2002). He claims there is sufficient evidence in the record to support a jury instruction on simple assault. From the record, it appears that Shumpert's theory of the case was that although he assaulted Collier, Judon actually caused Collier's death by kicking or stomping him when he was on the ground. In his opening statement, Shumpert's attorney laid out this theory: You will hear the evidence of how [Shumpert] hit a man once. Somebody else came along and kicked him. And I'll ask you not to find him responsible, Jamarcus here, I'll ask you not to find Jamarcus responsible for the actions of some other individual, and I'll ask you to find him not guilty. Shumpert testified at trial that he hit Collier once, and denied kicking Collier along with Judon. Morris testified he saw Shumpert take part in stomping on Collier's head. The trial judge heard all the evidence and made the determination that the record did not justify an instruction on simple assault. ¶ 22. Assuming arguendo that Shumpert did not stomp or kick Collier along with Judon, there is still credible evidence that he aided and abetted in bringing about the death of Collier, making him guilty for Collier's death. See Doss v. State, 882 So.2d 176, 196 (Miss.2004) (The law is well settled in this State that any person who is present, aiding and abetting another in the commission of a crime, is equally guilty with the principal offender). ¶ 23. Shumpert admitted to hitting Collier in the face, and there is evidence this blow knocked Collier to the ground, where he was left without medical attention. The evidence shows that Shumpert did shout at Middlebrooks to hit Collier, and Middlebrooks subsequently exerted a blow to Collier's head or neck. There is testimony that Shumpert and Judon kicked Collier in the head. Shumpert was later seen running with Judon after the beating, and when asked why they ran, Judon said he and Shumpert knew we done did something bad. ¶ 24. Lesser offense instructions should not be granted indiscriminately, and only where there is an evidentiary basis in the record. Gangl v. State, 539 So.2d 132, 136 (Miss.1989). Further, [u]nwarranted submission of a lesser offense [instruction] is an invitation to the jury to disregard the law. Stewart v. State, 909 So.2d 52, 55 (Miss.2005). We do not find the trial judge abused her discretion by refusing to instruct the jury on simple assault because the record does not support a charge of simple assault.