Opinion ID: 1297463
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Denial of the Motion for a Directed Verdict

Text: Copeland contends the trial court erred in refusing to direct a verdict in her favor on the armed robbery charge because the evidence failed to establish that property was taken from the Victim. We disagree. The trial court has a duty to submit the case to the jury where the evidence is circumstantial, if there is any evidence which reasonably tends to prove the guilt of the accused or from which his guilt may be fairly and logically deduced. State v. Williams, 303 S.C. 274, 400 S.E.2d 131 (1991); State v. Edwards, 298 S.C. 272, 379 S.E.2d 888 (1989). In ruling on a motion for a directed verdict, the trial court is concerned with the existence of evidence, not with its weight. State v. Edwards, supra . When this Court reviews the denial of a motion for a directed verdict, it views the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, and if there is any direct or circumstantial evidence which reasonably tends to prove the guilt of the accused, refusal by the trial court to direct a verdict is not error. State v. Stokes, 299 S.C. 483, 386 S.E.2d 241 (1989); State v. Edwards, supra ; State v. Irvin, 270 S.C. 539, 243 S.E.2d 195 (1978). Evidence existed from which Copeland's guilt of the charge of armed robbery could be fairly and logically deduced. McBride and Carter testified that Copeland knew the Victim had a large amount of cash and that the sole purpose of the plan was to steal money from the Victim. Other testimony established that (1) the Victim had cashed two checks totalling in excess of one thousand dollars immediately prior to being murdered; (2) the Victim always carried two wallets; (3) the Victim had at least one and possibly both wallets in his pockets prior to being murdered; and (4) the Victim's wallets were not found after his murder. We therefore conclude that sufficient circumstantial evidence was presented to warrant submission of the armed robbery charge to the jury. For the foregoing reasons, the decision of the trial court is AFFIRMED. FINNEY, C.J., and TOAL, MOORE and WALLER, JJ., concur.