Opinion ID: 1202544
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Finally, defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient to sustain a conviction of first degree murder; and, therefore, the trial court erred in denying his motions for a directed verdict of acquittal. It is defendant's contention that since evidence of a dispute over the gambling debt lends equal credence to a theory of guilt or innocence, a rational jury could not have found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Defendant claims that a criminal conviction cannot be sustained if a reasonable hypothesis could be designed which is consistent with innocence. This, however, is not the test to determine sufficiency of the evidence and was rejected by the Supreme Court in Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979). An appellate court does not evaluate the evidence to determine whether some hypothesis could be designed which is consistent with a finding of innocence. Instead, the test to determine the sufficiency of evidence in New Mexico, which is the same as enunciated in Jackson, is whether substantial evidence of either a direct or circumstantial nature exists to support a verdict of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt with respect to every element essential to a conviction. State v. Montoya, 101 N.M. 424, 425, 684 P.2d 510, 511 (1984). A reviewing court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the state, resolving all conflicts therein and indulging all permissible inferences therefrom in favor of the verdict. State v. Lankford, 92 N.M. 1, 2, 582 P.2d 378, 379 (1978); State v. Gattis, 105 N.M. 194, 200, 730 P.2d 497, 503 (Ct.App. 1986). This court does not weigh the evidence and may not substitute its judgment for that of the fact finder so long as there is sufficient evidence to support the verdict. State v. McGhee, 103 N.M. 100, 104, 703 P.2d 877, 881 (1985). The fact finder may reject defendant's version of the incident. State v. Vigil, 87 N.M. 345, 350, 533 P.2d 578, 583 (1975). Where, however, a jury verdict in a criminal case is supported by substantial evidence, the verdict will not be disturbed on appeal. State v. Anaya, 98 N.M. 211, 212, 647 P.2d 413, 414 (1982). At trial, defendant did not deny killing Franklin. He claimed that the killing had been in self-defense. There were, however, no defensive wounds anywhere on Franklin's body to indicate that he attempted to protect himself from defendant. Defendant testified that Franklin did not struggle and his testimony to that effect was corroborated by codefendant Hoffman. After having beaten Franklin unconscious with the pipe, defendant covered Franklin's body with a blanket and proceeded to again hit him. Additional evidence was presented that defendant attempted to conceal his involvement in the killing by trying to dispose of his blood-stained clothing, by wiping blood spatters from the walls of Franklin's cell, and by stating to a correctional officer that he did not know what had happened to Franklin. The jury was instructed on defendant's theory of self-defense, and although evidence conflicting with the state's theory of first degree murder was introduced, the jury resolved conflicts in the evidence and questions of credibility in favor of guilt, thereby rejecting defendant's version of the incident. We have reviewed the record and conclude there was sufficient evidence for the jury to find that defendant had the capacity to act with deliberate intent when he killed Franklin. A reviewing court may neither reweigh the evidence nor substitute its judgment for that of the jury. Lankford, 92 N.M. at 2, 582 P.2d at 379. The judgment of conviction is AFFIRMED. IT IS SO ORDERED. SCARBOROUGH, C.J., and RANSOM, J., concur.