Opinion ID: 2183912
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Evans alleges the evidence merely established his presence at the murder scene and thus was insufficient to support his convictions, either as principal or accessory. Although two cohorts identified him as an active participant, Evans asserts that their testimony was inherently incredible because they admittedly changed their account of the crime several times. He notes that the only remaining evidence is the testimony of the two witnesses and the surviving victim and cites their disagreement on the number of men who participated in the crime. The victim saw four youths, while the witnesses saw three. Neither the witnesses nor the victim specifically identified Evans in court. Evans is asking this Court to judge the credibility of witnesses and reweigh the evidence, an inappropriate task during appellate review. Loyd v. State (1980), 272 Ind. 404, 398 N.E.2d 1260, cert. denied, 449 U.S. 881, 101 S.Ct. 231, 66 L.Ed.2d 105. In addressing an insufficiency claim, we will affirm the conviction if, considering the probative evidence and reasonable inferences supporting the verdict, a reasonable trier of fact could conclude the defendant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. The evidence clearly established that Evans and at least two other youths acted in concert to rob the two victims. The youths used slabs of broken cement to overcome their victims, leaving one injured and another dying. One of the independent witnesses indicated the robbery-turned-murder appeared to be a joint effort; one youth stood guard over the surviving victim while two other youths beat the decedent. Evans' cohorts admitted being at the scene of the crime but testified that Evans had committed the robberies. The surviving victim testified that a youth brandishing a switchblade took his wallet. Evans' own testimony placed him at the scene with a switchblade, only a few feet away from the victims. The uncorroborated testimony of a witness, the victim, or the defendant's accomplices is sufficient to establish all elements of the crime and support a conviction for robbery. Townsend v. State (1984), Ind., 460 N.E.2d 139; Thompson v. State (1982), Ind., 441 N.E.2d 192; Tolbert v. State (1984), Ind., 459 N.E.2d 1189. With regard to the murder, the evidence was conflicting as to whether Evans administered the fatal blow to the decedent's head. The testimony of the victim and the witnesses established that the defendant was, at the least, an accessory to murder. The testimony of Evans' accomplices supported the inference that Evans was the principal. The distinction between principal and accessory is not significant here; all participants in a robbery which results in a killing are deemed equally guilty of the murder, regardless of which participant actually killed the victim. Rogers v. State (1974), 262 Ind. 315, 315 N.E.2d 707. Thus, we conclude the evidence was sufficient to support Evans' convictions.