Opinion ID: 1599703
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: # 5. Whether the trial court erred in failing to grant Instruction D-1 (Peremptory Instruction)?

Text: Appellant recites a great deal of C.A.'s trial testimony and argues that said testimony surely gives rise to great doubt and the court should have granted a directive [sic] verdict, defendant Instruction No. 1 should have been given. Said instruction read as follows: The Court instructs the Jury to find the Defendant, Ernest Lee Allman, not guilty. Albeit a valiant attempt, in our opinion, appellant has taken a great deal of testimony out of context, picking and choosing testimony that favors his position and wishes this Court to review only that testimony, ignoring the balance of C.A.'s testimony. Furthermore, he cites no case law with regard to the standard of review on the trial level and the appellate level relative to whether a peremptory instruction should be given. Appellee responds by stating that C.A. described the events surrounding counts one (1) and two (2). Her testimony made a prima facie case as to each of these two counts of rape in the indictment. Christian v. State, 456 So.2d 729, 734 (Miss. 1984); Barker v. State, 463 So.2d 1080, 1082 (Miss. 1985) (uncorroborated testimony of rape victim is sufficient to sustain rape conviction). The State's proof showed that C.A. was under the age of fourteen, that appellant was over the age of eighteen, and that appellant, on each of these two occasions, did rape the child and penetrate her private parts. § 97-3-65(1), MISS. CODE (1972) (Supp. 1987). Appellee, therefore, contends the evidence met the test for legal sufficiency. Weeks v. State, 493 So.2d 1280, 1282 (Miss. 1986). Appellee is correct in its analysis above. The evidence in the case at hand presented a guilt issue for the jury and the trial judge correctly overruled the peremptory instruction. Also, see state law with regards to ISSUE # 10, hereafter which law overlaps with Issue # 5.