Opinion ID: 1191763
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Murders Sufficiency of Evidence

Text: Defendant also argues that the State produced no credible evidence of guilt through witnesses Woods or Queen E. Ray, thereby leaving only the fingerprint evidence. As to the fingerprint evidence, it was legally insufficient to convict [Fong] on the homicides. (Emphasis in original.) Defendant's argument fails to address the appropriate standard of review: Reversible error based on insufficiency of the evidence occurs only where there is a complete absence of probative facts to support the conviction. The credibility of witnesses is an issue to be resolved by the jury; as long as there is substantial supporting evidence, we will not disturb their determination. State v. Scott, 113 Ariz. 423, 424-25, 555 P.2d 1117, 1118-19 (1976) (citation omitted). This court is not empowered to impose its own determination as to the credibility of Woods and Ray in deciding a Rule 20 motion. The only question before this court is whether there was substantial supporting evidence, and we conclude that there was. McCrimmon and Minnitt told Woods they robbed the market with the dude who set it up. Woods explained that McCrimmon and Minnitt had described Cha-Chi as Martin.... Betty Christopher's boyfriend. Fong had worked at the El Grande within a year of the murders and his girlfriend was Betty Christopher. Fong's fingerprints matched prints found on the produce bags and one of the food stamps found near Gee, who had apparently been ringing up a last-minute sale when he was shot. Queen E. Ray loaned McCrimmon her car on the night of the murders. Minnitt and Fong were with McCrimmon when he left with her car. About an hour later the trio returned without the car. Meanwhile, police investigating the scene found Ray's car abandoned three blocks from the El Grande Market. The car was not parked near the curb, but was left mid-turn. The hood was warm to the touch, the doors unlocked, and the rear windows rolled down. McCrimmon's fingerprints were found on the outside of the driver's side window, and two sets of hand prints were found on the car's trunk. The evidence is more than sufficient to withstand a Rule 20 motion for acquittal.