Opinion ID: 2085662
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Jury Was Free to Disbelieve the Alibi

Text: Lott claims the State failed to rebut his alibi. Lott testified that on the night before Stotts's death, he left work at 9 p.m. When he returned home that evening, his mother and sister were there. Lott resided with his parents. Shortly after his arrival, his girlfriend visited. Lott testified that his girlfriend stayed until midnight and that after she left, he went to bed. Lott also testified he did not leave the house until the next morning when he left for work. The State is not required to rebut directly a defendant's alibi. It may disprove the alibi by proving its own case in chief beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury may choose not to believe an alibi if the State's evidence in chief is such to render disbelief reasonable. Jones v. State, 267 Ind. 680, 372 N.E.2d 1182 (1978). The State's evidence was sufficiently credible to permit the jury to reject Mark's alibi.