Opinion ID: 2120348
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Appellant argues that the evidence was insufficient to convict him of capital murder, because it was circumstantial and did not exclude every reasonable hypothesis other than his guilt. We do not reach the merits of this point, because Appellant failed to preserve his argument below. This court has repeatedly held that Ark. R.Crim. P. Rule 33.1 requires that a motion for directed verdict be made at the close of the State's case and again at the close of all of the evidence. See, e.g., Doss v. State, 351 Ark. 667, 97 S.W.3d 413 (2003); Grady v. State, 350 Ark. 160, 85 S.W.3d 531 (2002); Pyle v. State, 340 Ark. 53, 8 S.W.3d 491 (2000). This renewal is more than a matter of mere form; it goes to the substance of the evidence arrayed against the criminal defendant. Cathey v. State, 351 Ark. 464, 95 S.W.3d 753 (2003); Willis v. State, 334 Ark. 412, 977 S.W.2d 890 (1998). Accordingly, the failure to challenge the sufficiency of the evidence at both the close of the State's case and the close of all of the evidence will constitute a waiver of any question pertaining to the sufficiency of the evidence on appeal. See Doss, 351 Ark. 667, 97 S.W.3d 413; Cathey, 351 Ark. 464, 95 S.W.3d 753; Grady, 350 Ark. 160, 85 S.W.3d 531. Here, the record reflects that after the State presented its case in chief, defense counsel made the following motion: I'd move for a directed verdict, Your Honor, on the charge of capital murder. Testimony so far the key witness didn't see who shot who. There was testimony that he observed a gun in the hand of defendant but he never testified that he saw the defendant shoot anybody. And the defendant says he didn't shoot anybody through the statement he gave. The trial court denied the motion, and instructed defense counsel to call his first witness. Thereafter, the defense presented testimony from Marilyn Larry and Appellant. Following Appellant's testimony, the defense rested, and the State announced that it had no rebuttal. The trial court then recessed the jury and went into chambers to discuss jury instructions with the attorneys. Defense counsel never renewed the directed-verdict motion. As such, Appellant's challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence is not preserved for our review.