Opinion ID: 1713224
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: was the jury's verdict contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence?

Text: ¶ 11. The State is required to prove every element of the offense charged beyond a reasonable doubt. Heidel v. State, 587 So.2d 835, 843 (Miss.1991). This Court's stringent standard of appellate review for challenges to the legal sufficiency of the evidence was articulated in Garrett v. State, 549 So.2d 1325, 1331 (Miss.1989) (quoting McFee v. State, 511 So.2d 130, 133-34 (Miss.1987)): When on appeal one convicted of a criminal offense challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence, our authority to interfere with the jury's verdict is quite limited. We proceed by considering all of the evidencenot just that supporting the case for the prosecutionin the light most consistent with the verdict. We give the prosecution the benefit of all favorable inferences that may reasonably be drawn from the evidence. If the facts and inferences so considered point in favor of the accused with sufficient force that reasonable men could not have found beyond a reasonable doubt that he was guilty, reversal and discharge are required. On the other hand, if there is in the record substantial evidence of such quality and weight that, having in mind the beyond a reasonable doubt burden of proof standard, reasonable and fairminded jurors in the exercise of impartial judgment might have reached different conclusions, the verdict of guilty is thus placed beyond our authority to disturb. (citations omitted). ¶ 12. We further stated in Mason v. State, 429 So.2d 569, 572 (Miss.1983) (quoting Young v. State, 425 So.2d 1022, 1024 (Miss.1983)), Only slight corroboration of an accomplice's testimony is require to sustain a conviction. Feranda v. State, 267 So.2d 305 (Miss.1972). The testimony of Harrison and Dorman was corroborated to some extent by Easterling and Patricia Thrasher. The credibility and reasonableness of the testimony of Harrison and Dorman was for the determination of the jury. Cochran v. State, 278 So.2d 451 (Miss.1973). It is within the province of the jury to accept parts of the testimony of any witness, and the jury may give consideration to all inferences flowing from the testimony. Grooms v. State, 357 So.2d 292 (Miss. 1978). (emphasis added). ¶ 13. As to the weight of the evidence, this Court will order a new trial [o]nly where the verdict is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence that to allow it to stand would be to sanction an unconscionable injustice .... Herring v. State, 691 So.2d 948, 957 (Miss. 1997). ¶ 14. Although there is uncontradicted testimony that Mangum did not enter the package store, Bracey testified that Mangum participated in planning the armed robbery. According to Bracey, it was Mangum who specifically picked Sandy's Package Store as the target. Bracey testified that Mangum was to drive the getaway car. Bracey further testified that it was indeed Mangum who drove him away from the scene of the crime. Hobson testified that all three of them discussed how they were to commit the robbery, which store to rob, and how they would share the money. Hobson further testified that he did not return to the truck, but instead went elsewhere. The testimony of the accomplices was corroborated to some extent by Shows and Taylor. Shows saw a black male carrying a pistol run toward and get in the passenger side of a green truck driven by another male. Taylor saw three males in a green truck constantly circling the package store on the day of the crime. ¶ 15. Although there exists some discrepancies between the accomplices' pretrial statements and their testimony, they consistently implicated Mangum in the planning of the crime. Moreover, the jury was instructed to view the accomplices' testimony with great suspicion and distrust. The evidence, when viewed in the light most favorable to the State, supports the jury's verdict. Garrett v. State, 549 So.2d at 1331. Therefore, this issue is without merit.