Opinion ID: 1711335
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: did the trial court err in refusing to grant circumstantial evidence instructions proposed by the defendant?

Text: ¶ 19. At the objection of the district attorney, the trial court altered Sullivan's suggested Jury Instructions D-3, 4, D-5, D-10, D-11, and D-12, by removing all circumstantial evidence language. Specifically, four of the instructions made reference to the State proving beyond a reasonable doubt and to the exclusion of every reasonable hypothesis consistent with innocence, and the court struck that phrase in each of the instructions. One other instruction used the same phrase when defining the duty to find Sullivan not guilty, and the final refused instruction contained that same phraseology two additional times. ¶ 20. The well-established rule of this Court is that when the collection of admitted evidence is either direct evidence, or a combination of both direct and circumstantial evidence, circumstantial evidence jury instructions are not necessary. See Stringfellow v. State, 595 So.2d 1320, 1322 (Miss.1992); King v. State, 580 So.2d 1182, 1191 (Miss.1991). The evidence must be wholly circumstantial to warrant a circumstantial evidence instruction. See Windham v. State, 602 So.2d 798, 800 (Miss.1992). ¶ 21. It is possible to view the facts of this case as a mixture of direct and circumstantial evidence. There is direct evidence contained in Sarah Bradley's testimony. She went with Karlton Bradley to Simpson County, she discussed with Karlton the purpose of those trips, she watched Karlton meet with Sullivan and pick up the newspaper containing the amphetamine. Simone Reeves testified about her relationship with Karlton Bradley and the fact that he obtained amphetamine for her. Even Sullivan acknowledges that he was involved in drug activity with Karlton Bradley, and there are audio tapes confirming that their relationship existed and that they exchanged drugs. The existence of any direct evidence eliminates the need for a circumstantial evidence instruction. Thus, this issue is likewise without merit.