Court Opinion

ID: 9721397
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 08:58:10.977556+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:25.480411
License: Public Domain

DeBRULER, Justice,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
Upon consideration of the evidence upon which the trier of fact could have determined appellant Tyrone Clay guilty of murder, I find the verdict as to him unsupported, and therefore respectfully dissent. *1095The strongest evidence against Clay is that he was present at the time of the murder at the pool hall, that he was a close companion of the two Balfours, that he shared their anger towards the victim, and that he had at sometime held a metal object in his hand. I cannot regard this as circumstantial evidence from which a reasonable trier of fact could conclude to a certainty beyond a reasonable doubt that Clay held a weapon in his hand at the time of the shooting and discharged it, or aided and abetted others in so doing. There is furthermore no direct evidence that he did so. The pre-trial statement of one witness admitted as part of the State’s case-in-chief does contain the express assertion that Clay held a gun and discharged it. This statement was admitted in evidence subject to the trial court’s express admonition which was:
“Alright, Ladies and gentlemen, the Court did overrule the objection to the reading of the first statement that is being read to you only, not for the purpose of the truth of statements made therein, but necessarily this is a fact for you to determine as you see fit. It is being introduced for the purpose of showing a prior inconsistent statement and you may judge the fact as you hear the testimony from the stand. With that you may allow it to be read.”
I take this admonition to limit the use of the statement by the jury to determining credibility. Its content is therefore not part of the evidence which this Court can consider as supporting the verdict of guilty. Webster v. State, (1980) Ind., 413 N.E.2d 898. I would therefore reverse the conviction of Clay and order a retrial as to him. I concur however in the affirmance of the conviction of Balfour.
PRENTICE, J., concurs.