Opinion ID: 2355938
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The trial court properly denied Appellant's motion for directed verdict on the attempted murder charge

Text: At the conclusion of the prosecution's case, Appellant's counsel made a motion for a directed verdict of acquittal on the attempted murder charge, reasoning that the prosecution failed to establish Appellant's intent to commit this crime. However, Appellant's counsel failed to renew this motion at the close of all of the evidence. Since he failed to renew his motion at the close of all evidence, this issue is unpreserved. Kimbrough v. Commonwealth, 550 S.W.2d 525, 529 (Ky.1977): see also Baker v. Commonwealth, 973 S.W.2d 54, 55 (Ky.1998) (A defendant must renew his motion for a directed verdict, thus allowing the trial court the opportunity to pass on the issue in light of all of the evidence, in order to be preserved for our review.). However, this Court will review for palpable error. RCr 10.26. Therefore, only upon a showing that there was an error causing manifest injustice may relief be granted to Appellant. Id. Appellant argues that there was inadequate evidence to prove that he intended to kill Hubbs. See KRS 506.010(1) (A person is guilty of criminal attempt to commit a crime when, acting with the kind of culpability otherwise required for commission of the crime he . . . intentionally engages in conduct which would constitute the crime if the attendant circumstances were as he believes them to be; or . . . intentionally does or omits to do anything which, under the circumstances as he believes them to be, is a substantial step in a course of conduct planned to culminate in his commission of the crime.). Appellant believes that since there is no direct evidence showing he wanted to kill Hubbs, we must review the circumstances surrounding the act to determine his intent. Appellant cites to the fact that he never threatened to kill Hubbs and that several of the fired bullets hit far away from Hubbs to show that the circumstances do not support the inference that he intended to kill Hubbs. A trial court's decision regarding a directed verdict motion is reviewed under the standard articulated in Commonwealth v. Benham, 816 S.W.2d 186 (Ky. 1991): On motion for directed verdict, the trial court must draw all fair and reasonable inferences from the evidence in favor of the Commonwealth. If the evidence is sufficient to induce a reasonable juror to believe beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty, a directed verdict should not be given. For the purpose of ruling on the motion, the trial court must assume that the evidence for the Commonwealth is true, but reserving to the jury questions as to the credibility and weight to be given to such testimony. On appellate review, the test of a directed verdict is, if under the evidence as a whole, it would be clearly unreasonable for a jury to find guilt, only then the defendant is entitled to a directed verdict of acquittal. Id. at 187. Using this standard, the trial court properly denied Appellant's motion for a directed verdict of acquittal. The facts show that Appellant did fire his gun in the general direction of Hubbs several times. While two of the bullets missed Hubbs by a wide margin, one of the bullets hit him. Appellant's repeated firing of his pistol was a substantial step in a course of conduct planned to culminate in his [murdering Hubbs]. KRS 506.010. Additionally, since one of the bullets actually hit Hubbs, a jury could reasonably find that Appellant had the specific intent to kill Hubbs. See Anastasi v. Commonwealth, 754 S.W.2d 860, 862 (Ky.1988) (Intent can be inferred from the actions of an accused and the surrounding circumstances. The jury has wide latitude in inferring intent from the evidence.). Thus, there is nothing remotely close to palpable error here.