Opinion ID: 2551524
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: premeditated first-degree murder

Text: When the sufficiency of the evidence is challenged in a criminal case, the standard of review on appeal is whether, after review of all the evidence, viewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution, the appellate court is convinced that a rational factfinder could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Graham, 247 Kan. 388, 398, 799 P.2d 1003 (1990). A guilty verdict in a criminal case will not be disturbed on appeal if there is substantial evidence even though the evidence is entirely circumstantial. State v. Dunn, 249 Kan. 488, 491, 820 P.2d 412 (1991). The probative values of direct and circumstantial evidence are intrinsically similar, and there is no logically sound reason for drawing a distinction as to the weight to be assigned to each. State v. Wilkins, 215 Kan. 145, 156, 523 P.2d 728 (1974). When a verdict is challenged for insufficiency of evidence or as being contrary to the evidence, it is not the function of this court to weigh the evidence or pass on the credibility of witnesses. Wisker v. Hart, 244 Kan. 36, 37, 766 P.2d 168 (1988). In order to convict Scott of first-degree murder, the State had to prove that he killed Chappell intentionally and with premeditation. K.S.A. 21-3401(a); State v. Juiliano,268 Kan. 89, 97, 991 P.2d 408 (1999). Scott specifically argues that there was no evidence that the killing of Chappell was premeditated. Premeditation is the process of thinking about a proposed killing before engaging in the homicidal conduct. State v. Rice, 261 Kan. 567, 587, 932 P.2d 981 (1997); State v. Henson, 221 Kan. 635, 645, 562 P.2d 51 (1977). Premeditation is a state of mind. State v. Saleem, 267 Kan. 100, 105, 977 P.2d 921 (1999). Premeditation and deliberation may be inferred from the established circumstances of the case, provided the inference is a reasonable one. In such case, the jury has the right to make the inference. State v. Buie, 223 Kan. 594, 597, 575 P.2d 555 (1978). The evidence of premeditation need not be direct and is often established by circumstantial evidence. Rice, 261 Kan. at 586; State v. Phillips, 252 Kan. 937, 939, 850 P.2d 877 (1993). Scott argues that the State failed to prove premeditation because he did not have time to think about killing Chappell before engaging in the homicidal conduct. Scott argues that this court should consider the homicidal conduct to have begun the moment Scott began fighting with Chappell. We disagree. Premeditation does not have to be present before a fight, quarrel, or struggle begins. Premeditation is the time of reflection or deliberation. Premeditation does not necessarily mean that an act is planned, contrived, or schemed beforehand. Scott had his hand on Chappell's neck until she became unconscious. His continued application of pressure over a period of time is sufficient for a jury to find that Chappell's death was premeditated. Indeed, death by strangulation can be strong evidence of premeditation. This court hinted at as much in State v. Brown, 234 Kan. 969, 676 P.2d 757 (1984), where we affirmed the defendant's conviction for premeditated first-degree murder when the victim died from prolonged strangulation. In doing so, we specifically noted that the evidence of a struggle, the beating, and then the strangulation were sufficient to show premeditation. Other courts have specifically held that death by strangulation can support a finding of premeditation. See Carmichael v. State, 340 Ark. 598, 602, 12 S.W.2d 225 (2000) (premeditation can be inferred when the death is caused by strangulation); Dupree v. State, 615 So.2d 713, 719 (Fla. Dist. App. 1993) (evidence of beating and strangulation sufficient to support premeditation because the strangulation gives the defendant time to reflect upon his actions); Hounshell v. State, 61 Md. App. 364, 376, 486 A.2d 789 (1985) (affirming premeditated first-degree murder conviction where strangulation took place over an appreciable length of time giving the defendant opportunity for premeditation and deliberation); Commonwealth v. Lanoue, 392 Mass. 583, 590, 467 N.E.2d 159 (1984) (jury may consider evidence of strangulation when determining premeditation as strangulation gives defendant time to deliberate); People v. Johnson, 460 Mich. 720, 733, 597 N.W.2d 73 (1999) (evidence of manual strangulation can be evidence that the defendant had an opportunity to take a second look or deliberate); State v. El-Tabech, 225 Neb. 395, 406, 405 N.W.2d 585 (1987) (holding that evidence was sufficient to support premeditated first-degree murder conviction where strangulation was time consuming); State v. Richardson, 328 N.C. 505, 513, 402 S.E.2d 401 (1991) (noting that premeditation can be inferred from the circumstances of the death, including death by strangulation); and Beck v. Commonwealth, 2 Va. App. 170, 176-77, 342 S.E.2d 642 (1986) (manual strangulation and suffocation were relevant to the determination of premeditation and deliberation). Furthermore, premeditation may be inferred from various other circumstances, including: (1) the nature of the weapon used, (2) the lack of provocation, (3) the defendant's conduct before and after the killing, (4) threats and declarations of the defendant before and during the occurrence, or (5) the dealing of lethal blows after the deceased was felled and rendered helpless. Henson, 221 Kan. at 639; see State v. Sanders, 258 Kan. 409, 414-15, 904 P.2d 951 (1995). Scott's conduct after the struggle also supports the finding of premeditation by the jury. Scott attempted to clean up the crime scene by mopping up Ramsey's blood. Scott discarded both Chappell's knife that was used to cut Ramsey and his own knife that was used to cut Chappell's neck. Scott took affirmative and intentional steps to destroy and conceal evidence of the crime which indicates premeditation. Furthermore, Scott did not speak with police until 11 months after Chappell's death when officers came to him investigating the crime. Finally, the coroner testified that Chappell's neck was slashed as or after she died. Scott admitted to cutting Chappell's neck with his own knife after first asserting that Chappell cut her own neck during the struggle. Scott's continuous beating of Chappell also supports the jury's finding of premeditation. Chappell suffered bruises to the head when Scott beat her. Scott threw her into the wall. Chappell had more severe wounds from a hard object or surface. After Scott had thrown Chappell into the wall and beat her in the head, Scott then strangled Chappell until she became unconscious. Chappell died as a result of the strangulation accompanied by the blunt force trauma to her head. After reviewing all the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the State, we are convinced that a rational factfinder could have found Scott guilty of premeditated first-degree murder beyond a reasonable doubt.