Opinion ID: 1649554
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: conclusion

Text: ¶ 20. A jury verdict will not be disturbed unless this Court concludes that no reasonable jury could have found the accused guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to a conviction. King did not overcome this rather high standard. In fact, we find ample evidence in the record to support a conviction in the present case. ¶ 21. While the State bobbled the handling of the physical evidence in this case (as evinced by its stipulation to the same), the absence of the evidence in question was not so significant to the defense as to warrant reversal of his conviction. We do take this opportunity, however, to admonish law enforcement to take all necessary precautions in the future. Convictions in cases similar to the present case need to be beyond reproach, so as to ensure fair and exacting justice. ¶ 22. Since we find no err in the record, we therefore affirm the conviction and sentence imposed by the Leflore County Circuit Court. ¶ 23. COUNT I: CONVICTION OF MURDER AND SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AFFIRMED. COUNT II: CONVICTION OF ARSON AND SENTENCE OF TWENTY YEARS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AFFIRMED. SENTENCE IN COUNT II SHALL RUN CONCURRENTLY WITH SENTENCE IN COUNT I. PITTMAN, C.J., McRAE, P.J., SMITH, MILLS, WALLER and EASLEY, JJ., CONCUR. COBB, J., CONCURS IN PART. BANKS, P.J., CONCURS WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION JOINED BY COBB, J.