Opinion ID: 1932173
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: did the trial court meet the standard for weighing the sufficiency of the evidence?

Text: In three of Wheeler's assignments of error he raises the issues of: (1) whether the trial court should have granted a directed verdict in favor of Wheeler; (2) whether the trial court should have granted a peremptory instruction; and (3) the sufficiency of the evidence. Although Wheeler complains of the overruling of his motion for a directed verdict, he waived any error thereof by adducing evidence in his own behalf. Robinson v. State, 418 So.2d 749, 750 (Miss. 1982). At the conclusion of the State's case, Wheeler moved for a directed verdict of acquittal of aggravated assault upon a law enforcement officer, and assigns as error the action of the trial judge in overruling his motion. After the motion was overruled, Wheeler presented evidence in an attempt to establish a defense and is thereby precluded from raising any issue on appeal with regard to the denial of his motion for a directed verdict. Robinson at 751 (quoting Tubbs v. State, 402 So.2d 830 (Miss. 1981). See also Lucas v. State, 381 So.2d 140 (Miss. 1980); Watts v. State, 317 So.2d 715 (Miss. 1975). Wheeler also assigns as error the trial court's denial of his motion for the peremptory instruction, which reinstructed the jury to find the defendant not guilty. The rule pertaining to peremptory instructions and directed verdicts in criminal cases was again stated in Hammond v. State, 465 So.2d 1031 (Miss. 1985). The rule for considering motions for directed verdicts and requests for peremptory instructions in criminal cases is stated in Warn v. State, 349 So.2d 1055 (Miss. 1977): Peremptory instructions should be refused if there is enough evidence to support a verdict.... The law regarding peremptory instructions in Mississippi is stated in Cochran v. State, 278 So.2d 451, 453 (Miss. 1973): The rule in regard to a peremptory instruction is the same in criminal and civil cases, the rule being that when all the evidence on behalf of the state is taken as true, together with all sound or reasonable inferences that may be drawn therefrom if there is enough to support a verdict of conviction, the peremptory instruction must be denied. See also Jackson v. State, 440 So.2d 307 (Miss. 1983); Gray v. State, 387 So.2d 101 (Miss. 1980); Rich v. State, 322 So.2d 468 (Miss. 1975); McGee v. Coccaro, 261 So.2d 465 (Miss. 1972); and Carroll v. State, 196 So.2d 878 (Miss. 1967). In considering the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court must accept as true the evidence which supports the verdict. Spikes v. State, 302 So.2d 250, 251 (Miss. 1974); Murphree v. State, 228 So.2d 599 (Miss. 1969). The testimony of the officers who were present at the scene was that Wheeler bolted out of the door into Officer Reid, took Reid's pistol from his holster before Reid was aware of it, and fired three rounds at the officers before they were able to subdue him. Wheeler testified that while a struggle did ensue the gun discharged while it was held by one of the officers. It is the jury's prerogative to accept the testimony it deemed to be more trustworthy and reject that it deemed was not. Robinson v. State, 418 So.2d 749, 751 (Miss. 1982); Newton v. State, 90 So.2d 375 (Miss. 1956). The jury believed the testimony of the police officers as was their right. The evidence, when viewed in the light most favorable to the State supports the jury's verdict. Norman v. State, 385 So.2d 1298, 1300-01 (Miss. 1980). See Gathright v. State, 380 So.2d 1276 (1980); Murphree v. State, 228 So.2d 599 (Miss. 1969). This assignment of error is without merit. In the case at bar, there was no reversible error in the trial below. The conviction and sentence of thirty (30) years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections is affirmed. AFFIRMED. ROY NOBLE LEE, C.J., HAWKINS and DAN M. LEE, P.JJ., and ROBERTSON, SULLIVAN, ANDERSON, GRIFFIN and ZUCCARO, JJ., concur.