Opinion ID: 1895115
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: the evidence was insufficient to support a verdict of guilty of manslaughter or in the alternative was against the overwhelming weight of credible evidence.

Text: Green next argues that the evidence was insufficient to support a verdict of a conviction of manslaughter, or in the alternative, was against the overwhelming weight of the credible evidence. When the sufficiency of the evidence is challenged, we must review the trial court's ruling on the last occasion when the sufficiency of the evidence was challenged. Wetz v. State, 503 So.2d 803, 808 n. 3 (Miss. 1987). The last occasion upon which Green challenged the sufficiency of the evidence was in his motion for new trial. We, therefore, consider all of the evidence presented throughout the course of the trial. We do so, however, in the light most favorable to the State. McFee v. State, 511 So.2d 130, 133-34 (Miss. 1987). The evidence presented clearly shows the killing of a human being without authority of law, satisfying two of the necessary elements of manslaughter. Use of a dangerous weapon in the killing, a third element of manslaughter, is also established by the evidence. There is no evidence to suggest that Green shot Camp in necessary self-defense. Green did not testify that he shot Camp in order to defend against Camp's assault; instead, Green argued that the gun accidentally discharged. This leaves only lack of malice and heat of passion. Though there is evidence in the record from which a rational jury could decide that Green killed Camp with deliberate design, there is also evidence in the record supporting the premise that the gun was fired in the heat of passion. This was a proper issue for the jury to resolve and the jury determined Green shot Camp in the heat of passion. Viewing the evidence in the light most consistent with the verdict, it cannot be said that reasonable and fair-minded jurors could only have found Green not guilty. Just as there was a sufficient evidentiary basis for a manslaughter instruction, there is sufficient evidence to support a conviction of manslaughter.