Opinion ID: 1847235
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: the trial court erred in failing to sustain defendant's motion to exclude evidence based on the state's failure to produce actual proof of physical evidence of the stolen merchandise.

Text: ¶ 30. This issue is without merit. This Court heard this same argument in Reed v. State , and there held, [t]he best evidence rule applies only to documentary evidence. Reed v. State, 536 So.2d 1336, 1339 (Miss.1988) (citing Talbert v. State, 347 So.2d 352, 354 (Miss.1977)). ¶ 31. For the foregoing reasons, the conviction of Godbold on Count V, possession of stolen property, is reversed and remanded for a new trial not inconsistent with this opinion. As to all other parts of the trial court's ruling we affirm. ¶ 32. COUNT II: CONVICTION OF POSSESSION OF COCAINE AND SENTENCE OF THREE (3) YEARS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND PAYMENT OF A FINE OF $3,500 AND COURT COSTS AFFIRMED. COUNT V: REVERSED AND REMANDED FOR A NEW TRIAL. PRATHER, C.J., SULLIVAN, P.J., and BANKS, McRAE, JAMES L. ROBERTS, Jr., SMITH, MILLS AND WALLER, JJ., CONCUR.