Opinion ID: 4561134
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: standard of review

Text: [1] Whether a party may recall a witness to introduce further testimony after the party rests is within the discretion of the trial court. 2 [2,3] A motion to dismiss in a nonjury trial is equivalent to a directed verdict in a jury trial. 3 When a motion for a directed verdict made at the close of all the evidence is overruled by the trial court, appellate review is controlled by the rule that a directed verdict is proper only where reasonable minds cannot differ and can draw but one conclusion from the evidence, and the issues should be decided as a matter of law. 4 [4] When reviewing a criminal conviction for sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the conviction, the relevant question for an appellate court is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. 5 [5] An appellate court reviews criminal sentences for abuse of discretion, which occurs when a trial court’s decision is based upon reasons that are untenable or unreasonable or if its action is clearly against justice or conscience, reason, and evidence. 6