Opinion ID: 1662152
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: proof of purpose

Text: As applied to this case, the requisite mental state is purposely causing the death of another. Section 5-10-102(a)(2); see Walker v. State, 324 Ark. 106, 918 S.W.2d 172 (1996). A person acts purposely with respect to his conduct or a result thereof when it is his conscious object to engage in conduct of that nature or to cause such a result[.] Ark. Code Ann. § 5-2-202(1) (Repl.1993). The law is well-settled that a criminal defendant's intent or state of mind is seldom capable of proof by direct evidence and must usually be inferred from the circumstances of the crime. Williams v. State, 321 Ark. 635, 906 S.W.2d 677 (1995). The intent necessary to sustain a conviction for first-degree murder may be inferred from the type of weapon used, from the manner of its use, and the nature, extent, and location of the wounds. Walker, 324 Ark. 106, 918 S.W.2d 172. The law is also well-settled that circumstantial evidence of a culpable mental state may constitute substantial evidence to sustain a guilty verdict. Crawford v. State, 309 Ark. 54, 827 S.W.2d 134 (1992) (citing Farris v. State, 308 Ark. 561, 826 S.W.2d 241 (1992), and Davis v. State, 251 Ark. 771, 475 S.W.2d 155 (1972)). However, in order for circumstantial evidence alone to constitute substantial evidence, it must exclude every other reasonable hypothesis consistent with innocence. Key, 325 Ark. 73, 923 S.W.2d 865. Once the evidence is determined to be sufficient to go to the jury, the question of whether the circumstantial evidence excludes any other hypothesis consistent with innocence is for the jury to decide. Id. That appellant caused the victim's death with a single 9mm gunshot wound to the chest is not disputed. The following circumstances established by the evidence in this case were sufficient for the jury to infer that appellant acted with the purpose of causing the victim's death. One witness had struggled with the victim prior to the victim's death; this witness did not see a gun on the victim, but did see appellant with a gun just prior to the killing. Another witness argued with the victim prior to the murder. She testified that she did not see the victim with a gun during their argument but later saw appellant pull a gun from his pants and try to point it at the victim's head; she also saw the gun up in the air and it was just going ever which way. This witness also testified that appellant initiated the altercation with the victim. Another witness, who was babysitting at the house next door to where the murder occurred, testified that she saw and heard people talking loudly in the yard; she later heard gunfire and saw one person chasing the other around a parked car; she saw the person who was doing the chasing holding a gun and heard the other person say [p]lease don't shoot me; she also saw the man who had the gun leave the scene. A neighbor testified that he saw someone shooting at the victim while the victim tried to duck and dodge the bullets. The neighbor stated that the shooter would pause, look under the car to locate the victim's feet, and then rise to fire another shot. The officer who arrested appellant found him hiding under some bushes a block from the murder scene; the officer could hear appellant breathing heavily and noticed where appellant had covered himself with leaves. In short, after using a handgun to shoot the victim while the victim was pleading for his life and dodging and ducking bullets, appellant fled from the scene and was found to be hiding from police. From these circumstances, the jury could reasonably infer that appellant acted with the purpose of causing the victim's death. See Williams, 321 Ark. 635, 906 S.W.2d 677; see also Crawford, 309 Ark. 54, 827 S.W.2d 134. Any conflicts and inconsistencies in the evidence were for the jury to resolve as factfinder, and not for the trial court to resolve on a directed-verdict motion. Williams, 321 Ark. 635, 906 S.W.2d 677.