Opinion ID: 1859882
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Derrick's Jury Verdict Contrary to the Overwhelming Evidence

Text: ¶ 46. Derrick asserts that the jury's guilty verdict on Count II, as to the armed robbery of Jackie, was against the weight of the evidence and, therefore, the armed robbery charge should be dismissed, or in the alternative, he should be granted a new trial on the count of armed robbery. ¶ 47. Jackie testified that Derrick was in the car that picked her up on the night of December 1, 1997. A gun was pulled on Jackie, and she was robbed and forced to take off her clothes. Jackie testified Eskridge had the gun. Jackie testified that Derrick did not do anything to help her. Jackie also testified that she did not know what the other people in the car had planned that night. She stated that she did not know who fired shots at her while she ran away. ¶ 48. Terry Yates testified that Derrick hit Jackie in the back of the head and shot at her two times. Terry testified that no one offered to help Jackie and that everyone laughed at what was going on, including Derrick. After they got Jackie's money, they all went and bought cigarettes and beer and went back to where they picked up Derrick that night. ¶ 49. Derrick argues that the verdict was contrary to the overwhelming weight of evidence. However, Terry's testimony placed Derrick at the armed robbery and established involvement. We find that Jackie's testimony did not clear Derrick as he alleged. She testified that she did not know if they may have had a plan that night, she did not know who fired the shots and Derrick did not do anything to help her. The testimony at trial did not establish that Derrick had abandoned the other parties after the incident with Jackie or ended his involvement. The testimony was that Derrick continued to hang out with them that evening. ¶ 50. This Court finds that this issue is without merit.