Opinion ID: 1839568
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: the trial court committed error in denying appellant's motion for directed verdict because the prosecution failed to prove its case against the appellant, and the verdict was against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, and the verdict evidences bias and prejudice against the appellant.

Text: ¶ 34. Finally, Daniels, like Jones, alleges that the State failed to prove its case against him and that the verdict was against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. In determining whether a jury verdict is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, this Court must accept as true the evidence which supports the verdict. This Court will reverse only where the trial court abused its discretion in not granting a new trial. Isaac, 645 So.2d at 907. This Court will not order a new trial `unless convinced that the verdict is so contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence that, to allow it to stand, would be to sanction an unconscionable injustice.' Robinson, 662 So.2d at 1105 (quoting McNeal v. State, 617 So.2d 999, 1009 (Miss. 1993)). ¶ 35. There was substantial credible evidence supporting a murder conviction for Daniels. Despite Daniels's allegations that he and McClenton were friends and that he was just trying to scare McClenton, there is evidence that Daniels meant to do exactly what he did. Daniels warned others to get out of the way and walked very close to McClenton. He also stated that he was going to kill McClenton. Further, an inference of intent to kill is raised through the intentional use of any instrument which, based on its manner of use, is calculated to produce death or serious bodily injury. Windham, 602 So.2d at 802. Malice too may be inferred when such a high degree of recklessness is involved, raising the level of crime from `culpable negligence' manslaughter to `depraved heart' murder. Clark v. State, 693 So.2d 927, 931 (Miss. 1997). In Clark, we relied on the defendant's statement to the police following the shooting, the transcript of a 911 emergency call in which the defendant repeatedly threatened to kill the victim, and the testimony at trial to indicate a sufficient degree of recklessness or indifference to human life to support a conviction for deliberate design murder. Id. See also Robinson v. State, 571 So.2d 275, 277-78 (Miss. 1990) (Court upheld conviction of defendant for aggravated assault when victim suffered no injuries even though he only intended to scare victim, where defendant threatened to kill victim, repeatedly told co-workers that he planned to burn the victim's house down, and chased victim out of house and threatened to kill her). Conduct directed at a single individual which is likely to produce death may evince a deliberate design to kill. Berry v. State, 575 So.2d 1, 12 (Miss. 1990). ¶ 36. Given the applicable standard, those facts supporting the jury verdict must be taken as true. Accordingly, we take to be true the evidence that Daniels threatened to kill McClenton and that he actually shot McClenton. With this evidence, we conclude that the verdict was not against the overwhelming weight of the evidence and that the verdict was not influenced by bias and prejudice.