Opinion ID: 2449956
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Hall challenges the sufficiency of the evidence of his first-degree murder conviction, arguing the State failed to prove premeditation beyond a reasonable doubt. Hall reasons the State failed to prove he formed the design or intent to kill before the shooting occurred because he did not know the victim, made no prior threats against her, and the shooting occurred very quickly after he exited the vehicle. When sufficiency of evidence is challenged in a criminal case, our standard of review is whether, after review of all the evidence, examined in the light most favorable to the prosecution, we are convinced that a rational factfinder could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Prine, 287 Kan. 713, 738, 200 P.3d 1 (2009) (citing Vasquez, 287 Kan. at 59, 194 P.3d 563; State v. Morton, 283 Kan. 464, 474, 153 P.3d 532 [2007] [ Morton II ]). In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, we do not reweigh the evidence or evaluate the credibility of witnesses. Rather, we leave that function to the jury. State v. Doyle, 272 Kan. 1157, 1162-63, 38 P.3d 650 (2002). We have noted that direct evidence of premeditation is rare. Rather, the element of premeditation generally must be proven with circumstantial evidence. Such evidence, however, is sufficient to establish even the gravest offenses, as in this case. Doyle, 272 Kan. at 1162, 38 P.3d 650; see Cravatt, 267 Kan. at 328, 979 P.2d 679. In Cravatt, the defendant shot the victim point blank between the eyes, killing him instantly. The court noted: Other than the defendant's alcohol consumption and statements made by him during the evening that persons, including the victim, were giving him a hard time at the party, there was little evidence of a motive for the killing. 267 Kan. at 316, 979 P.2d 679. Nevertheless, the court rejected the defendant's challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence of premeditation, noting the jury could infer premeditation from the established circumstances of the case provided the inference was a reasonable one. 267 Kan. at 329, 979 P.2d 679. Further, the court identified various circumstances from which a jury can infer premeditation: While premeditation to commit murder may not be inferred from the use of a deadly weapon alone, it may be inferred where other circumstances also exist. Circumstances which may give rise to the inference of premeditation include: (1) the nature of the weapon used; (2) the lack of provocation; (3) the defendant's conduct before and after the killing; (4) threats and declarations of the defendant before and during the occurrence; and (5) the dealing of lethal blows after the deceased was felled and rendered helpless. Cravatt, 267 Kan. 314, Syl. ¶ 4, 979 P.2d 679. Thus, while evidence of a motive is lacking in this case, the jury nevertheless could infer premeditation based upon the presence of several of the circumstances enumerated in Cravatt. Specifically, Hall utilized a .22 caliber handgun, and there was no provocation or altercation between Hall and the victim. In fact, Hall did not even know the victim. Further, the defendant's conduct just prior to the killing, while not extensive, adds to the inference of premeditation. Specifically, the victim and her friends were visible from Pahmahmie's car where Hall waited for several minutes while Rowe was inside. Just before getting out of the car, Hall indicated he was ready to go or ready to go do something. After getting out of the car, he paused for a moment, pulled up the hood of his sweatshirt, and walked down the corridor where the victim was sitting with her friends. He then shot the victim four times in the back, quickly returned to the car with the gun in his possession, and ordered Pahmahmie to just fucking go. Considering the Cravatt factors and viewing all the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, we find the evidence more than sufficient to support an inference of premeditation and consequently to support Hall's conviction for first-degree murder.