Opinion ID: 888658
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Did the District Court properly deny Schmidt's motion for a directed verdict?

Text: ¶ 66 Schmidt claims that the District Court erred by denying his motion to dismiss at the close of the State's case. A district court properly grants a motion for a directed verdict only when no evidence exists upon which a rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt, when viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution. Marler, ¶ 20. ¶ 67 The record contains ample evidence upon which the jury could have found that Schmidt had committed the elements of deliberate homicide. Marler, ¶ 20. The precise sequence of events on the night of Correia's death remains elusive. Many of the witnesses had been drinking or were involved in the fighting at the Irish Times. It is undisputed, however, that Schmidt stabbed Correia and caused his death. Schmidt then fled the scene of the fight. Schmidt threw away his knife and cell phone, went home, and burned his clothes. Schmidt lied to police about the clothing that he had been wearing and the knife that he had used. The District Court properly allowed the jury to make the determination of whether the State had presented sufficient evidence to convict Schmidt. Marler, ¶ 35.