Opinion ID: 1145366
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: In his final argument, Relish asserts that there was insufficient evidence to convict him of aggravated homicide by vehicle. Wyoming's aggravated homicide by vehicle statute can be found at W.S. 6-2-106(b) (Cum.Supp.1993) and it provides, in relevant part: (b) A person is guilty of aggravated homicide by vehicle    if       (ii) He operates or drives a vehicle in a reckless manner, and his conduct is the proximate cause of the death of another person. This court applies an oft-repeated standard when reviewing claims of insufficient evidence. We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the State and determine whether it is sufficient to support a finding of a reasonable inference of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Glazier v. State, 843 P.2d 1200, 1203 (Wyo.1992). The essence of Relish's argument is that his actions were not sufficiently egregious to constitute driving in a reckless manner. Although reckless is not defined in the criminal code, the term recklessly is defined as follows: A person acts recklessly when he consciously disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the harm he is accused of causing will occur, and the harm results. The risk shall be of such nature and degree that disregarding it constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a reasonable person would observe in the situation[.] W.S. 6-1-104(a)(ix) (1988). This definition is a fair statement, long accepted in law, and a reasonable definition of what the legislature intended as behavior that would constitute driving in a reckless manner. At trial the State was able to demonstrate that: (1) Relish was travelling I-80, a road he had driven often, during a snow storm at a minimum speed of 45 miles per hour and perhaps as high as 60 miles per hour; (2) the safe speed in those conditions was 20-25 miles per hour; (3) Relish was in a hurry to deliver a load of perishable vegetables to Wisconsin and unconcerned about being involved in a collision; (4) Relish drove his truck completely off the paved portion of the interstate onto the shoulder where he slammed into a parked vehicle with its hazard lights on, crushing the car and Tom Neal with it; and (5) Relish continued down the interstate approximately one mile until his semi would go no further. Relish, as an experienced interstate truck driver, was well aware of the dangerousness of winter weather conditions on this section of I-80, yet he pushed his 80,000 pound semi at unsafe speeds. These facts are sufficient to support a reasonable inference of proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Relish was operating his semi in a reckless manner.