Opinion ID: 3150734
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: ¶10. A motion seeking a judgment notwithstanding the verdict challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, and the “critical inquiry is whether the evidence shows ‘beyond a reasonable doubt that accused committed the act charged, and that he did so under such circumstances that every element of the offense existed; and where the evidence fails to meet this test it is insufficient to support a conviction.’” Bush v. State, 895 So. 2d 836, 843 (Miss. 2005) (Carr v. State, 208 So. 2d 886, 889 (Miss. 1968)). On the other hand, a motion for a new trial 6 challenges the weight of the evidence, and a ruling on that motion is viewed under the abuse of discretion standard. Smith v. State, 925 So. 2d 825, 832 (¶16) (Miss. 2006).