Opinion ID: 2457072
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Sufficiency of Evidence of Deliberation

Text: Mr. Knese next argues that there was insufficient evidence of deliberation to support his conviction for first degree murder. Deliberation is defined as cool reflection for any length of time no matter how brief. [17] It is not necessary that the actor brood over his or her actions for a long period of time. [18] Rather, it is necessary only that the killer had ample opportunity to terminate the attack once it began. [19] In evaluating the sufficiency of the evidence, this Court reviews all evidence and inferences drawn therefrom in the light most favorable to the verdict, and disregards all contrary inferences. [20] Viewed in this light, Mr. Knese had ample opportunity to reconsider his course of behavior toward his wife and to terminate the beating short of killing her. Mr. Knese told Detective Morrissey that after he had been strangling Ms. Knese for such a long time that he was exhausted and could tell that Ms. Knese was losing her strength because he could barely feel her pulse, he nevertheless got to his feet, kicked her several times and then stood on her neck until she stopped moving. This Court has previously found premeditation to exist when a defendant strangled the victim with his bare hands, and then applied a towel to the victim's face for several minutes longer to make sure the victim was dead. [21] There was sufficient evidence, in particular Mr. Knese's own statements, from which a reasonable juror could have concluded that Mr. Knese deliberated on the killing of Ms. Knese.