Opinion ID: 1822272
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether the verdicts of the jury of guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery and capital murder are against the overwhelming weight of the evidence.

Text: ¶ 19. The trial court denied McDowell's post-trial motion for a new trial, or in the alternative, for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV). McDowell's assertion that he was entitled to a new trial or a JNOV, actually challenges not only the weight but also the legal sufficiency of the evidence. McDowell recites our standard for reviewing whether a judgment is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, but fails to show that this standard has not been met. ¶ 20. This Court reviews a motion for a new trial, which challenges the weight of the evidence, as follows: [This Court] must accept as true the evidence which supports the verdict and will reverse only when convinced that the circuit court has abused its discretion in failing to grant a new trial. A new trial will not be ordered unless the verdict is so contrary to the overwheling weight of the evidence that to allow it to stand would sanction unconscionable injustice. Crawford v. State, 754 So.2d 1211, 1222 (Miss.2000)(internal citations omitted). The credibility of a witness is a question for the jury. Hughes v. State, 724 So.2d 893, 896 (Miss.1998)(citing Jackson v. State, 614 So.2d 965, 972 (Miss.1993)). ¶ 21. On the other hand, we review a motion for a JNOV, which challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction, under the standard articulated in Issue I above. ¶ 22. In the case sub judice, McDowell offered no evidence of his own at trial to rebut the State's evidence. He now merely attempts to highlight what he considers inconsistencies in the testimony of prosecution witness Deaigo Hill. Giving the State the benefit of all favorable inferences that may reasonably be drawn from the evidence, the trial court correctly found that there was ample and sufficient evidence to support the jury verdict of guilty. This issue is without merit.