Opinion ID: 1710572
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Appellant argues that the trial court erred in submitting the charge of first degree murder to the jury. He claims there was no evidence from which the jury could find that appellant deliberated prior to the murders of Julie and Robin Kerry. When reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, the test is whether the state presented sufficient evidence that a reasonable juror could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Brown, 902 S.W.2d 278, 288 (Mo. banc 1995). Deliberation may be inferred from any circumstances that indicate cool reflection for any length of time no matter how brief. Id. The evidence and inferences from the evidence are viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict. State v. Storey, 901 S.W.2d 886, 895 (Mo. banc 1995). Evidence and any inferences therefrom that do not support a finding of guilt are ignored. State v. O'Brien, 857 S.W.2d 212, 216 (Mo. banc 1993). In cases of first-degree murder involving accomplice liability, the jury must find that the defendant himself deliberated. Id. at 217-218. While the act of homicide may be imputed to an accomplice, the element of deliberation may not be imputed by association. Id. Proof that a defendant merely aided another with the purpose of facilitating an intentional killing is not enough to prove first degree murder. Id. To make its case, the state must introduce evidence from which a reasonable juror could conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant (1) committed acts that aided his codefendant in killing the victims; (2) defendant's conscious purpose in committing the acts was that the victims be killed; and (3) defendant committed the acts after coolly deliberating on the victims' deaths for some amount of time, no matter how short. Id. In State v. Gray, 887 S.W.2d 369 (Mo. banc 1994), a companion case, this Court addressed the question of accessory liability. In examining the evidence, the Court noted three circumstances that appear highly relevant in determining if accomplice deliberation may be inferred. Id. at 376. The first circumstance is whether there is a statement or conduct by the defendant or by a codefendant in the presence of defendant prior to the murder indicating a purpose to kill someone. Id. Another is evidence that the murder was committed by means of a deadly weapon and the accomplice was aware that the deadly weapon was to be used in the commission of the crime. Id. at 377. Finally, evidence of deliberation will be found where it appears that the defendant either participated in the homicide or continued in the criminal enterprise even after it became apparent that a victim was to be killed. Id. In this case, there is ample evidence of statements or conduct by the defendant or in the defendant's presence indicating a purpose to kill. When the plan was first conceived, Marlin Gray announced that he felt like hurting someone. While the rapes were occurring, someoneby inference either appellant or Antonio Richardsonsaid to Julie Kerry: You stupid bitch, do you want to die? I'll throw you off the bridge if you don't stop fighting. [1] Appellant threw the sisters' clothes off of the bridge. After the rapes, first Richardson and then the appellant each put one of the Kerry sisters through the manhole to the platform below the bridge deck, from which the sisters were pushed to their deaths. Appellant then returned to the bridge deck where, after robbing Cummins, he discussed with Winfrey whether Cummins should live or die. Gray or Richardson could not have taken part in this discussion because Richardson was under the bridge and Gray had already started to walk off the bridge. Someone told Cummins that he had never had the pleasure of popping someone before. If appellant did not say this, it was said in his presence. Appellant then took Cummins and moved him next to the manhole, ordering him to lie down. Someoneeither appellant or Winfreysaid, You're going to die, after which appellant put Cummins into the manhole, before sending Winfrey to look for Gray and following Cummins through the manhole to the platform beneath the bridge himself. Once underneath the bridge, either appellant or Richardson pushed the Kerry sisters from the bridge and ordered Cummins to jump into the river. Afterward, appellant bragged, We threw them off. Statements made by the defendant or in his presence indicated an intention to kill. Appellant continued to play an active role in the death-producing events, even after it became abundantly clear that the victims would be killed. The evidence of deliberation in this case is substantial, compelling, and without doubt. The trial court did not err in submitting the charges of first degree murder to the jury.