Opinion ID: 2582377
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Fields' final point of error asserts that the prosecution failed to adduce sufficient admissible evidence to support his conviction. Our standard for assessing the sufficiency of the evidence is well settled: considered in the strongest light for the prosecution, the finding of guilt must be supported by substantial evidence  i.e., credible evidence which is of sufficient quality and probative value to enable a person of reasonable caution to support a conclusion that every material element of the charged offense was proven. State v. Martinez, 101 Hawai`i 332, 338-39, 68 P.3d 606, 612-13 (2003) (citations omitted). Furthermore, the analysis excludes from its purview all evidence erroneously admitted for consideration by the trier of fact. See State v. Wallace, 80 Hawai`i 382, 414 n. 30, 910 P.2d 695, 727 n. 30 (stating that sufficiency of the evidence is reviewed based only on the evidence that was properly admitted at trial) (some emphasis omitted). HRE § 709-906(1) describes the offense for which Fields was convicted, and provides, in pertinent part, as follows: § 709-906 Abuse of family or household members; penalty. (1) It shall be unlawful for any person, singly or in concert, to physically abuse a family or household member. . . . For the purposes of this section, family or household member means . . . persons jointly residing or formerly residing in the same dwelling unit. In assessing whether sufficient evidence supports a conviction under HRS § 709-906(1), the following additional guidance is relevant: [T]o physically abuse someone is to maltreat in such a manner as to cause injury, hurt or damage to that person's body. State v. Nomura, 79 Hawai`i 413, 416, 903 P.2d 718, 721 (App.), cert. denied, 80 Hawai`i 187, 907 P.2d 773 (1995); State v. Ornellas, 79 Hawai`i 418, 421, 903 P.2d 723, 726 (App.), cert. denied, 80 Hawai`i 187, 907 P.2d 773 (1995). HRS § 709-906 does not designate the requisite state of mind attendant to the offense of physical abuse of a household member. Thus, that element is established if, with respect thereto, a person acts intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly. HRS § 702-204 (1985). Cf. State v. Holbron, 78 Hawai`i 422, 424, 895 P.2d 173, 176 (1995) (requisite state of mind under HRS § 134-7(b) (Supp.1992) unspecified, thus, it is intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly), reconsideration denied, 79 Hawai`i 424, 903 P.2d 729 (1995). State v. Canady, 80 Hawai`i 469, 474-75, 911 P.2d 104, 109-10 (App.1996). Here, the admissible evidence [18] indicates that (1) Staggs, Fields, and Richards were present, (2) Lhamo heard slapping noises and a hard thug, (3) Lhamo admitted that she did not know who was being slapped and whose body she heard hitting the ground, (4) Lhamo testified that she heard someone, presumably Richards, yell, Reggie, get off her, (5) after Fields and Richards left the premises, Lhamo found Staggs shook up, kind of scared and . . . half beaten or something, (6) the responding police officers, Officers Kapua and Ke, observed that Staggs had sustained injuries to her face and right shoulder, and (7) despite exhibiting some degree of memory loss at trial, Staggs had earlier reported to Officer Ke that Fields approached her from behind, held her neck against the couch, and punched her on the left side of her face. Hence, we conclude that, considered in the light most favorable to the prosecution, the evidence is of sufficient quality and probative value to enable a person of reasonable caution to support the conclusion that Fields intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly maltreated Staggs. See Martinez, 101 Hawai`i at 338-39, 68 P.3d at 612-13.