Opinion ID: 1662359
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Appellant argues there was insufficient evidence presented at trial to demonstrate either that the victim died as the result of a criminal act or that he caused the victim's death. We do not reach this argument as Appellant did not properly preserve the issue for appeal. At the close of the State's case, Appellant made a motion for directed verdict on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the victim died as a result of a homicide and that Appellant in any way caused the victim's death. The court denied Appellant's motion. Appellant renewed his motion at the close of all the evidence; however, he did not obtain a ruling from the court. His failure to obtain a ruling on the renewed motion is fatal. This court has held numerous times that the burden of obtaining a ruling is on the movant, and objections and questions left unresolved are waived and may not be relied upon on appeal. Williams v. State, 289 Ark. 69, 709 S.W.2d 80 (1986). In Donald v. State, 310 Ark. 197, 833 S.W.2d 770 (1992), a case very similar to this one, the appellant moved for a directed verdict at the close of the State's case, and the motion was denied. Donald renewed his motion at the close of all the evidence, as required by Ark. R.Crim. P. 36.21(b), but he failed to obtain a ruling from the court. In that decision, we held that, the burden of obtaining a ruling is on the movant, and the failure to secure a ruling constitutes a waiver, precluding its consideration on appeal. Id. at 198, 833 S.W.2d at 771 (citations omitted). Because Appellant failed to obtain a ruling from the court on his renewed motion for directed verdict, he has not preserved the issue of sufficiency of the evidence for appeal.