Opinion ID: 2590208
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Struzik first contends that because there was evidence in which the jury could have concluded that the injuries which resulted in Troy's death had been inflicted prior to Debra leaving Troy in Struzik's care, the evidence was insufficient to sustain the conviction. When the sufficiency of the evidence is challenged in a criminal case, the standard of review is whether, after review of all the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, the appellate court is convinced that a rational factfinder could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Johnson, 266 Kan. 322, 326, 970 P.2d 990 (1998). A conviction of even the gravest offense may be sustained by circumstantial evidence. State v. Smith, 245 Kan. 381, 393, 781 P.2d 666 (1989). There was evidence that prior to the date of the fatal injuries, Debra had hit, kicked, and verbally abused Troy. However, Debra was not a suspect for causing her son's death because she did not have access to Troy when, according to the medical experts, the fatal injuries were inflicted. Struzik testified that he was the sole caretaker of Troy during the hours immediately preceding the head trauma that resulted in Troy's death. Struzik testified that while Troy was in his care, he and Troy played video games, tickling games, chased around the house, played in the backyard, went for a walk, and played on the swings at a neighborhood park. Struzik stated that after playing in the park, they returned home and Troy accidently fell down the stairs while Struzik was in the bathroom. Struzik testified that although Troy appeared to be less rambunctious than normal, Troy did not cry or fuss more than usual. For support of his theory, Struzik points out that at trial one of the State's experts, Dr. Jill Gould, testified that Troy's fatal injuries could have been sustained up to 72 hours prior to the onset of symptoms. Struzik argues that since the basis for conviction was his sole access to Troy in the hours immediately preceding the onset of trauma symptoms, the possibility of an earlier act from which Troy could have sustained the fatal head trauma and the possibility of delayed brain swelling creates reasonable doubt as to his guilt. Dr. Gould, the forensic pathologist who performed Troy's autopsy, testified that Troy died as a result of subdural hematomas over the entire surface of his brain and brain swelling. Dr. Gould opined that due to the severity of Troy's injuries, Troy would have been symptomatic immediately after receiving the injuries. When questioned about the possibility of delayed brain swelling, Dr. Gould stated that although in some cases brain swelling may be delayed for 12 to 72 hours after an injury, it was her medical opinion that Troy's injury did not occur within that time frame because of Struzik's account of the child's activities after the alleged fall. Struzik had informed the investigators that Troy had been engaged in normal play prior to the onset of the symptoms which led to his hospitalization. Dr. Gould stated that a period of normal functioning as claimed by the defendant was not consistent with the character and extent of Troy's brain injury. Struzik also argues there exists a possibility that Debra inflicted the fatal injuries on Troy between 7 and 9 p.m. Struzik asserts that while he slept on the couch, Debra could have entered the bedroom where Troy was sleeping and inflicted the nine multidirectional blows to his head and various other injuries. The jury could have believed that while Struzik slept on the couch, Debra entered the bedroom where Troy was sleeping and inflicted nine multidirectional blows to his head and various other injuries, but it did not. The function of weighing the evidence and passing on credibility belongs to the jury, not to us. A verdict secured on substantial competent evidence will not be disturbed on appellate review. State v. Borthwick, 255 Kan. 899, 904-05, 880 P.2d 1261 (1994) (quoting State v. Cooper, 252 Kan. 340, 347, 845 P.2d 631 [1993]). The expert evidence was sufficient for a rational factfinder to conclude that Struzik inflicted Troy's fatal injuries prior to putting Troy in bed for a nap.