Opinion ID: 1822272
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Was McDowell Entitled To A Peremptory Instruction?

Text: ¶ 8. McDowell first suggests that the trial court erred in refusing his peremptory instruction (D-1) which instructed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery in Count I and capital murder in Count II. This Court applies the same standard of review for a denial of a judgment notwithstanding the verdict, a directed verdict and a peremptory instruction. Each challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence and is tested in a light most favorable to the State. McClain v. State, 625 So.2d 774, 778 (Miss. 1993). In passing on McDowell's request for a peremptory instruction, the credible evidence consistent with his guilt must be accepted as true, together with any favorable inferences that may be reasonably drawn from that evidence. We are authorized to reverse only where the evidence so considered is such that reasonable and fairminded jurors could only find the accused not guilty. Id. ¶ 9. A review of the record before this Court does not reveal that it was so wanting for evidence that McDowell was entitled to a peremptory instruction. Hill's testimony that connected McDowell to the crime and the fact that the .410 shotgun used to kill Whitten belonged to McDowell, provided sufficient evidence to warrant the trial court's refusal of the peremptory instruction.