Opinion ID: 1896204
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Chamberlain argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion for judgment of acquittal based on legal insufficiency of the evidence. This issue is wholly without merit. This Court recently reaffirmed the standard for ruling on a motion for judgment of acquittal. In Darling v. State, 808 So.2d 145, 155 (Fla.), cert denied, 537 U.S. 848, 123 S.Ct. 190, 154 L.Ed.2d 78 (2002), we stated: In moving for a judgment of acquittal, a defendant admits not only the facts stated in the evidence adduced, but also admits every conclusion favorable to the adverse party that a jury might fairly and reasonably infer from the evidence. Lynch v. State, 293 So.2d 44, 45 (Fla.1974). As explained in Lynch: The courts should not grant a motion for judgment of acquittal unless the evidence is such that no view which the jury may lawfully take of it favorable to the opposite party can be sustained under the law. Where there is room for a difference of opinion between reasonable men as to the proof of facts from which the ultimate fact is sought to be established, or where there is room for such differences as to the inference which might be drawn from conceded facts, the Court should submit the case to the jury for their finding, as it is their conclusion, in such cases, that should prevail and not primarily the views of the judge. Id. The trial court's finding denying a motion for judgment of acquittal will not be reversed on appeal if there is competent substantial evidence to support the jury's verdict. Rogers v. State, 783 So.2d 980, 988 (Fla.2001). Because the jury was instructed on both premeditated and felony murder and found Chamberlain guilty on a general verdict form, the evidence must support either premeditated or felony murder. See Jones v. State, 748 So.2d 1012, 1024 (Fla.1999) (citing Mungin v. State, 689 So.2d 1026, 1029-30 (Fla.1995)). Here, there is sufficient evidence of both theories of first-degree murder. Three witnesses testified against Chamberlain regarding his involvement in the triple homicide and robbery. Dascott and Thibault both testified that Chamberlain supplied the gun to Thibault. Dascott, Thibault, and Ingman testified that Chamberlain participated in the planning of the robbery. Thibault testified that it was Chamberlain's idea to use the gun and that Chamberlain gave the gun to Thibault only because Thibault was physically larger. Dascott, Thibault, and Ingman all verified that Chamberlain had an asp with him the night of the murders, and Thibault stated that Chamberlain used the asp on Harrison. The medical examiner testified that Harrison had a bruise on his knee consistent with being struck by a blunt object. Once Ketchum and Harrison were in the bathroom, Chamberlain actively began looting the house and putting items in his car. After Thibault killed Ketchum, testimony from Ingman and Thibault revealed that it was Chamberlain who first encouraged Thibault to kill the other witnesses. Thibault stated that Chamberlain stood beside him while Thibault emptied the gun into Kenyan and Harrison. Chamberlain then picked up the bullet casings to avoid leaving incriminating evidence. Thibault testified that after Chamberlain and Thibault discovered Harrison was still alive, it was Chamberlain who went to the car, retrieved more bullets, and reloaded the gun. Dascott's testimony supported Thibault's version of the killings. Thus, in this case there is competent, substantial evidence to support the jury's verdict on either theory of first-degree murder, as well as armed robbery. First, all three murders indisputably occurred in the course of a robbery for which Chamberlain both possessed and supplied a weapon. Therefore, the evidence supports verdicts of guilt of armed robbery and felony murder. Second, regarding premeditated murder, [p]remeditation is defined as `more than a mere intent to kill; it is a fully formed conscious purpose to kill.' Green v. State, 715 So.2d 940, 943 (Fla.1998) (quoting Coolen v. State, 696 So.2d 738, 741 (Fla.1997)). This purpose to kill must exist for a sufficient time before the homicide to permit reflection as to the nature of the act to be committed and the probable result of that act. Id. at 944, (quoting Coolen, 696 So.2d at 741). At a minimum, ample evidence supports the jury's verdict of guilt of the premeditated murders of Harrison and Kenyan. [10] The testimony of Ingman, Thibault, and Dascott established that Chamberlain encouraged Thibault to eliminate the witnesses, stood beside Thibault while he executed the witnesses, calmly picked up the shell casings, and finally went to the car to retrieve more bullets after it was discovered that Harrison was not dead. Although Chamberlain did not actually pull the trigger, the evidence supports the conclusion that he played an integral part in the executions of Harrison and Kenyan, and is guilty as a principal. See Ferrell v. State, 686 So.2d 1324, 1329 (Fla.1996) (While [the defendant] may not have actually pulled the trigger, the evidence establishes that he played a[n] integral part in these crimes and in actually luring the victim to his death. Thus, at a minimum, he is guilty as a principal under the statute.); Hall v. State, 403 So.2d 1319, 1320 (Fla.1981) (evidence, including fact that defendant and his companion planned robbery of victim together and were together at site of victim's assault and death, supported conclusion that, even if defendant did not pull trigger, he was a principal to crime of murder). [11] Therefore, the trial court properly denied the motion for judgment of acquittal. There is sufficient evidence of the first-degree murder of all three victims and Chamberlain is not entitled to relief on this issue.