Opinion ID: 1570872
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: Whether the motion for a new trial was properly denied.

Text: ¶ 37. This Court will reverse a trial court's denial of a motion for new trial only when such denial amounts to an abuse of discretion. Neal v. State, 15 So.3d 388, 410 (Miss.2009). This Court will reverse when the verdict is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence that to allow it to stand would sanction an unconscionable result. Bush, 895 So.2d at 844. On motion for a new trial, `the court sits as a thirteenth juror [and] the power to grant a new trial should be invoked only in exceptional cases in which the evidence preponderates heavily against the verdict.' Id. quoting Amiker v. Drugs For Less, Inc., 796 So.2d 942, 947 (Miss. 2000). Furthermore, the evidence should be weighed in the light most favorable to the verdict. Id. ¶ 38. After reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we cannot say the trial court abused its discretion in denying the motion for a new trial. Kendrick Green made an in-court identification of Johnson as the man who had pointed two pistols at him and demanded his money. Whittington and a witness identified Johnson in court as the man who had hit Whittington with a gun and ripped off Whittington's pants and picked up an object that fell out. Whittington further testified that the only thing in his pants was a wallet containing $55. McKee also identified Johnson in court as the man who had demanded and taken his money at gunpoint. Johnson took the stand, only to say that all the witnesses were lying. The credibility of witnesses is not for the reviewing court, but only for the jury. Doby v. State, 532 So.2d 584, 591 (Miss.1988). After reviewing the record, we fail to see any abuse of discretion on the part of the trial judge. Johnson's motion for a new trial was properly denied.