Opinion ID: 1290209
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: issues

Text: The sole issue presented by this appeal is whether Appellant was entitled to a directed verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. There is a presumption that every criminal defendant is sane. This presumption relieves the State of the burden of proving sanity in every case. However, when the defendant offers evidence of insanity, the presumption disappears and it is encumbent on the State to present evidence from which a jury could find the defendant sane. Any evidence of sanity is sufficient to present a jury issue when the defendant relies on the affirmative defense of insanity. The State argues that it presented sufficient evidence in its case-in-chief to make the question of Appellant's sanity a jury issue. It argues that the jury had two pieces of evidence to rebut Appellant's affirmative showing: (1) evidence of flight from the crime scene and (2) the presumption of sanity. This Court has long held that evidence of flight is evidence of guilty knowledge from which a jury may infer sanity. State v. Thompson , 278 S.C. 1, 292 S.E. (2d) 581, cert denied , 456 U.S. 938, 102 S.Ct. 1996, 72 L.Ed. (2d) 458 (1982). We adhere to this view; however, the circumstances of this Appellant's flight are such as to negate that permissible inference. In our view, the only evidence in this case from which the jury could have found Appellant sane was the presumption of sanity. This case presents the first opportunity for this Court to address the question whether the presumption of sanity is in itself sufficient to create a jury issue when the defendant has presented evidence of insanity. We hold today it is not. We hold that the trial judge erred in refusing to direct a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The Appellant met his burden of proving insanity by a preponderance of the evidence. We caution the Bench and Bar that this opinion should not be read to require the State to produce expert testimony whenever the defendant does so. A jury may properly disregard expert testimony. State v. Johnson , 66 S.C. 23, 44 S.E. 58 (1903). We simply hold that the State presented no evidence of sanity in this case and that therefore no jury question was presented. While reversing the convictions, we order that the remittitur in this case shall be stayed until custody of the Appellant has been transferred from the Department of Corrections to the Department of Mental Health. Upon notification by the Departments, the remittitur shall be sent down with instructions to enter a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Reversed. GREGORY and HARWELL, JJ., concur. LITTLEJOHN, C.J., and NESS, J., dissenting.