Opinion ID: 1905760
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: [1-4] This court's review is limited to determining whether the evidence adduced, believed and rationally considered by the jury was sufficient to prove defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. State ex rel. Kanieski v. Gagnon, 54 Wis.2d 108, 113, 194 N.W.2d 808 (1972). The jury may convict on the basis of uncorroborated testimony, Grayson v. State, 35 Wis.2d 360, 366, 151 N.W.2d 100 (1967), unless that testimony is patently or inherently incredible. Gauthier v. State, 28 Wis.2d 412, 418, 137 N.W.2d 101 (1965). Inconsistencies and contradictions in a witness' testimony are for the jury to consider in judging credibility and the relative credibility of the witnesses is a decision for the jury. Kain v. State, 48 Wis.2d 212, 217, 179 N.W.2d 777 (1970). The jury may consider a witness' motives in this weighing process. State v. Harling, 44 Wis.2d 266, 276, 170 N.W.2d 720 (1969). The question of credibility between witnesses or in respect to the same witness is a matter for the jury to determine and not for a trial judge or for this court, unless it can be said that the testimony is incredible as a matter of law. Nabbefeld v. State, 83 Wis.2d 515, 529, 266 N.W.2d 292 (1978). In Grayson, supra, the court noted that the victim's testimony was corroborated in all respects except for the facts of the attack itself and that her description of the incident was detailed. The court said credibility and interest were matters for the jury and only if the evidence were inherently incredible would this court substitute its judgment. In Syvock v. State, 61 Wis.2d 411, 213 N.W.2d 11 (1973), this court said the child's inconsistencies about the date of the incident and about how soon she told her mother did not mean the testimony was inherently incredible. As frequently occurs in cases involving this offense, no witnesses were present at the time of the actual commission of the act except the victim and the defendant. In the instant case the defendant acknowledged he was present in the home at the time the offense is alleged to have occurred. The fact that the victim had bruises on her arm resulting from beatings by the defendant is corroborated to the extent that the police officer saw bruises on her arm. The testimony of both the victim and the defendant is plausible. From our review of the record, it cannot be said that the testimony of either witness was patently or inherently incredible. [5] It was the duty and the responsibility of the jury to consider and determine the credibility of the witnesses based upon their testimony and general demeanor. The jury found the defendant guilty so they obviously assigned the greater credibility to Jean Marie. This assessment of credibility was within the province of the jury and the evidence in the record is sufficient to sustain the verdict. [6] The defendant asserts that Jean Marie's credibility was destroyed by her inconsistencies and improbable assertions. First the defendant challenges Jean Marie's statement that her sisters did not wake up during the incident even though she tossed and turned and may have yelled. Although the word yelled is used by the witness, Jean Marie, no descriptive testimony is given. None of the sisters were called as witnesses. There was testimony they slept soundly. Furthermore, there was no testimony they did not wake up. It would not be incredible that in the household Jean Marie described that a younger sister who did wake during this incident would remain silent. Jean Marie testified that the defendant beat them when he was angry. A child awakened in the middle of the night by such an incident involving a man who had terrorized her before might well pretend to be asleep. This portion of Jean Marie's testimony is not patently incredible. [7] The defendant also challenges Jean Marie's failure to report the attack right away. Again, considering the family situation and her testimony that she had received no help from her mother the first time she mentioned the defendant's attacks, her silence is not incredible. Jean Marie's mother did not testify, and the jury might have found it reasonable that Jean Marie's first report would be to a police officer who intervened in a family fight. [8] Jean Marie's dislike of the defendant is obvious and admitted and the defendant emphasizes that as a motive for what he claims are her false accusations. Again, motive is an element of credibility for the jury to weigh. Kain, supra . The fact of this hostility was amply demonstrated to the jury. The jury was entitled to give it whatever weight they thought appropriate. The evidence adduced, believed and rationally considered by the jury was sufficient to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.