Opinion ID: 1964385
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: New Trial and Motions to Dismiss

Text: Defendant Laaman next complains that there was insufficient evidence for him to be found guilty of riot pursuant to RSA 644:1 I(a) and that the court erred, therefore, in denying his motions for new trial and to dismiss. Laaman was charged with promoting and facilitating the issuance of demands to the prison administration as well as threats directed at prison guards present in the prison dining area on December 25, 1975. The record shows that Laaman was present in the dining area and conferred with Dunn on several occasions during the course of Dunn's speech and threats. When prison guard Rice returned from the warden's office to the dining area to bring the warden's response to inmates' demands, Laaman asked Rice what the hell he was doing there. Further, Laaman loudly cautioned Dunn against going to meet with the warden to present inmates' grievances stating that if Dunn went up there he would probably not return. Laaman refused to leave the dining area at the warden's request and made no effort to disassociate himself from the scene when Dunn announced that the inmates would take a stand against any invasion of the goon squad and that some of the inmates might be killed. There was also some evidence that Laaman was knowledgeable as to the inmates' game plan. It could be inferred from his statements and conduct that his conferences with Dunn were for the purpose of assisting him. [14, 15] It is well settled in this state that when reviewing evidence for the purposes of a motion to dismiss, the evidence must be taken `in the light most favorable to the State with all reasonable inferences therefrom.' State v. Canney, 112 N.H, 301, 303, 294 A.2d 382, 383 (1972). State v. Gilbert, 115 N.H. 665, 666, 348 A.2d 713, 714 (1975). We cannot say in reviewing the record that using this standard the jury could not have found Laaman guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. [16] The granting of a new trial is a question of fact for the trial court and its ruling will not be disturbed unless it appears that it resulted from mistake, partiality, or corruption. See State v. Wren, 77 N.H. 361, 92 A. 170 (1914). Laaman was heard by the court on his claim and it was rejected by the court which thereby implicitly found that the defendant's conviction was not unjust. Id.; State v. Lemire, 115 N.H. 526, 345 A.2d 906 (1975). There was no error in denying Laaman a new trial. The final claim made by defendants is that the court erred in denying their motion for new trial and to poll the jury. The motion is based on the following allegations. The jury, having been sequestered, asked permission to work on Saturday, May 29, and on Monday, May 31, which was Memorial Day, a holiday. Permission was granted and the jury worked on both days. Defendants conclude from this that the jury was exhausted. On Sunday, May 30, at 10:20 P.M., one of the jurors died which defendants claim further exhausted and demoralized the jurors. Dunn claims that one of the attorneys in his counsel's firm personally knew one of the jurors. Upon being approached, this juror stated that another juror had had a strong conviction that defendants were innocent. Defendants conclude that this juror yielded her conviction from her exhaustion and shock at the death of a fellow juror. The court held a detailed hearing on this motion. The sheriff and two deputies who supervised the jurors testified that the jury had been exceedingly good about having to be sequestered. The sheriff testified that the jury wanted to continue to work on the case on Saturday and Monday because they were into the case. He also testified as did the deputies that while the jurors were saddened at the death of a fellow juror the jurors appeared otherwise unaffected by the death. [17, 18] In our opinion the court correctly found that the defendants' claims were unsubstantiated by the evidence. Polling of the jury is a matter in which the trial court has broad discretion. LeClerc v. Gray, 112 N.H. 430, 298 A.2d 116 (1972); Bothwick v. LaBelle, 115 N.H. 279, 339 A.2d 29 (1975). Denial of such a motion will be overturned only for abuse of discretion and we find no abuse here. Id.; State v. Mann, 112 N.H. 412, 297 A.2d 664 (1972). Exceptions overruled.