Opinion ID: 1917594
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: facts

Text: ¶ 2. The brother of Yolanda Mullin (Mullin) hosted a barbecue at their mother's home the evening of September 7, 1998, that lasted until the early hours of September 8, 1998. Among the people at the barbecue were Kelvin Barrett (Barrett), Seldon and Hawthorne. Seldon and Hawthorne were cousins. ¶ 3. During the early morning hours of September 8, 1998, Savona Autman (Autman) first saw Hawthorne standing on the porch of Rhonda Williams's (Williams) apartment with Johnny and Lashail Stewart (Stewart). According to Autman, Hawthorne agreed to take her to get a sack of powder, i.e. cocaine. Autman, Stewart and Hawthorne left in Williams's car with Hawthorne driving. ¶ 4. Stewart recalled that Hawthorne told them that his cousin had taken something out of his pocket. Hawthorne did not say he was going to kill Seldon, but he was mad that his cousin had taken his money. Hawthorne claimed that Seldon had taken $30-$50 out of his pocket a few days before earlier while they both were at Williams's apartment. Hawthorne, Williams and Seldon had been drinking and having fun when Hawthorne had gotten tired and fallen asleep. Williams told Hawthorne that Seldon took the money while he was asleep. ¶ 5. Some time before 2:00 a.m., Mullins and Chuck Potts (Potts) left the barbecue and went to Potts's house. Barrett and Seldon had already left the barbecue and gone to Taco Bell. Barrett was driving Seldon's truck. Barrett and Seldon parked in front of Potts's house to eat. Mullins and Potts saw Barrett and Seldon drive up in front of Potts's house. Barrett was driving. ¶ 6. As Autman, Stewart and Hawthorne were riding down Meadowlark Drive, Autman spotted Seldon. She informed Hawthorne that she saw Seldon. Hawthorne turned the car around, and he parked the car right next to Seldon's truck. Stewart saw that Hawthorne had a gun when he got out of the car. Stewart and Autman tried to get Hawthorne to get back in the car. ¶ 7. Barrett testified that Seldon rolled his window down. Hawthorne jumped out of the car yelling at Seldon. Mullins and Potts testified that when Barrett started the truck, Hawthorne pointed his gun at Barrett. According to Barrett, Hawthorne told him to turn off the truck or he would blow his brains out. Barrett complied. ¶ 8. Barrett stated that the argument between Seldon and Hawthorne was basically over money. Seldon did not seem to take Hawthorne very seriously. When Hawthorne pointed the gun at Seldon, Seldon started pulling money out of his pocket. According to Barrett, Hawthorne said, You don't believe I'll shoot you. Seldon replied, No, if you love me so much, no, you won't shoot me. Hawthorne was within three or four inches of Seldon when he fired the gun. ¶ 9. Hawthorne began shaking Seldon saying, Cuz, cuz, wake up. Wake up. Barrett did not see Seldon try to grab Hawthorne's gun. Stewart did not look up until she heard the gun go off, and she saw Hawthorne shaking Seldon saying, Cuz, wake up. Autman did not see Seldon grab Hawthorne's gun. ¶ 10. When Autman heard the shot, she ran to the house across the street and told them to call the police. Stewart jumped out of the car. She saw Hawthorne get into the truck with Seldon. Mullins and Potts went inside to call the police. Barrett exited the truck and ran. Barrett heard Hawthorne start the truck and leave with Seldon. Stewart and Autman returned to Williams's car. They attempted to follow Seldon's truck, but they lost sight of the truck. ¶ 11. Hawthorne testified in his own defense. Hawthorne claimed that Seldon told him, If [y]ou want your money? Take it. Take it. Hawthorne thought take it meant he would have to physically take the money from Seldon. Hawthorne claimed he did not intend to shoot Seldon. Hawthorne alleged that he had armed himself merely for his protection. Hawthorne claimed that the gun fired because Seldon tried to grab it. ¶ 12. When the Gulfport police arrived on the scene at 0209 hours, they found Seldon's truck in a ditch with the engine compartment on fire. The police discovered Seldon covered with blood. The police put out the flames, and they pulled him from the vehicle. He was not responsive. ¶ 13. Hawthorne claimed he was attempting to take Seldon to the hospital when he drove away with Seldon in the truck. At Edgewood Manor, Hawthorne hit the curb causing the truck to wreck. Hawthorne contends that he ran to Edgewood Manor to get someone to call an ambulance, but no one would open their door. Hawthorne asserted that he never saw flames or smoke coming from the truck. ¶ 14. Hawthorne went to the house of his cousin, Deborah Robinson (Robinson), where he changed his clothes. When Hawthorne saw on television that Seldon had died, he left Robinson's house and went to the police station to talk with the police. ¶ 15. Pathologist Dr. Paul McGarry (Dr. McGarry) testified that Seldon suffered a gunshot wound that entered the right jaw area along the jaw line. The bullet went through the back and center of Seldon's spine, damaging his spinal cord, opening a jugular vein and totally opening a major artery to the brain before exiting through the upper back causing major blood loss. Dr. McGarry determined the gunshot to be Seldon's cause of death. ¶ 16. Following the testimony offered by the State, Hawthorne moved for a directed verdict arguing that the State had failed to make a prima facie case of the elements of deliberate design murder. The trial court denied Hawthorne's motion for J.N.O.V. or a new trial. Hawthorne now appeals his conviction to this Court. ¶ 17. Hawthorne raises the following issues on appeal: I. Whether the trial court erred in granting jury instruction S-3-A. II. Whether offering jury instruction D-12-A constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. III. ether the evidence offered as to deliberate design was legally sufficient to support the jury's verdict.