Opinion ID: 1843134
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: iii, v, and vi.

Text: These assignments of error have to do with Carnell Young only, III being with reference to the court's overruling Young's motion for severance, V having to do with the court's overruling a motion for a new trial because the verdict of the jury was against the weight of the evidence, and VI having to do with the court's overruling of Young's motion for a dismissal or mistrial because the court sua sponte polled the jury to determine whether the first verdict finding Carnell Young not guilty was the verdict of each juror. In view of our decision on V, it will be unnecessary for us to discuss and rule on III and VI. After carefully reviewing the evidence, we are of the opinion that the verdict of the jury finding Carnell Young guilty as charged and fixing his punishment at life imprisonment is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. The only witness against Young was T.J. Collier, who identified Young as being in front of City Jewelry talking with the other two defendants and another unidentified black female a few minutes before the robbery. Collier did not see Young go into the jewelry store, nor did any of the other four witnesses (who positively and unequivocally identified McFadden and Edwards) identify Young as being in the jewelry store at any time during the robbery. No other evidence connected Young with the crime. At the close of the case, the court should have granted Jury Instruction D-1(a) to find the Defendant Carnell Young not guilty.