Zachary Stringer v. State of Mississippi ( 2013 )


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  •                     IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
    NO. 2013-KA-00586-SCT
    ZACHARY STRINGER a/k/a ZAC STRINGER
    v.
    STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
    DATE OF JUDGMENT:                           02/26/2013
    TRIAL JUDGE:                                HON. PRENTISS GREENE HARRELL
    COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:                  MARION COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
    ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT:                    OFFICE OF STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER
    BY: W. DANIEL HINCHCLIFF
    GEORGE T. HOLMES
    ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:                      OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
    BY: BILLY L. GORE
    DISTRICT ATTORNEY:                          HALDON J. KITTRELL
    NATURE OF THE CASE:                         CRIMINAL - FELONY
    DISPOSITION:                                AFFIRMED - 02/13/2014
    MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
    MANDATE ISSUED:
    BEFORE RANDOLPH, P.J., PIERCE AND KING, JJ.
    KING, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
    ¶1.    Zachary Stringer (Zachary), a minor, was charged with the murder of his younger
    brother, Justin Stringer (Justin). The jury found Zachary guilty of the lesser-included offense
    of manslaughter. The trial court sentenced Zachary to twenty years, with ten years to serve
    and ten years of post-release supervision, with five years reporting. Zachary is to serve his
    sentence in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) in the
    Youthful Offender Unit of the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility.
    ¶2.    Zachary appeals his conviction and sentence, raising two issues: (1) whether the trial
    court erred by allowing multiple gruesome photographs of the victim and the crime scene
    into evidence; and (2) whether the trial court erred in denying Zachary’s motion for judgment
    notwithstanding the verdict (JNOV).       Finding no error, this Court affirms Zachary’s
    conviction and sentence.
    FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
    ¶3.    Roger Dale Stringer (Roger), Zachary and Justin’s father, testified that his sons were
    hunters, and that they were familiar with guns and gun safety. Both boys had gun racks in
    their rooms, and each had two guns and ammunition. Roger personally taught the boys
    everything he knew about gun safety, and Zachary had taken a firearm-safety course.
    According to Roger, Zachary was one of the safest people he had ever seen with a firearm.
    ¶4.    On June 11, 2011, Roger had spent quality time with his sons throughout the day and
    had returned the boys to their mother’s home at approximately 8:15 p.m. According to
    Roger, a television show was airing at 8:30 p.m. which Zachary wanted to watch. Kim
    Stringer (Kim), the boys’ mother, was attending a party, so the boys were home alone.
    ¶5.    Justin called Kim on her cell phone at approximately 8:21 p.m. He asked Kim where
    she was and if she could come get him. Kim agreed and told Justin she would pick him up
    after she was done eating. According to Kim, nothing was unusual about Justin’s call; he did
    not seem upset, and he just “liked to go places.” At 8:42 p.m., Kim received a phone call
    from the home phone. Because the party was loud, Kim declined the call and walked away
    to a more quiet area. A few moments later, Kim received another call from the home phone;
    2
    this time, it was Zachary. She answered and Zachary told her that Justin had been shot.
    ¶6.    Frantic, Kim called Roger and informed him that something was wrong with Justin.
    Roger immediately drove back to Kim’s house, which was approximately three miles away.
    While in route, Roger received a phone call from Zachary. Zachary said, “I love you, daddy
    . . . you know that, don’t you?” Roger responded in the affirmative. Then, Zachary told
    Roger that Justin was dead, and that he had been shot with the .25-06 rifle.1 Roger called 911
    immediately, and the sheriff’s office was dispatched to the scene.
    ¶7.    Roger arrived at Kim’s house first. Zachary attempted to stop his father from entering
    the home, but Roger pushed past Zachary. As Roger entered, he saw blood splattered on the
    wall. Justin’s body was sitting in a chair, and the top of his head was missing. According
    to Roger, the only thing there was the roof of Justin’s mouth. Roger also noticed Justin’s
    twenty-gauge shotgun lying between his legs. Blood was on the end of the barrel. Roger
    stated that the scene did not look right and did not add up. Kim arrived at the house a short
    while later, but Zachary and Roger did not allow her to enter the home.
    ¶8.    Next, police and medical responders arrived at the home. Zachary told Cole Robbins,
    a medical responder, there was “no use” in entering the home. Despite this warning, Robbins
    entered and found Justin in a chair with a traumatic gunshot wound to the head. Justin was
    still breathing but he had no pulse. Zachary told Robbins that he was in his bedroom when
    he heard the gunshot. Because Zachary’s clothes were bloody, the clothing was collected as
    evidence. Robbins was allowed to retrieve clean clothes from Zachary’s closet. While in
    Zachary’s room, Robbins noticed a bloody fingerprint on the closet shelf. He immediately
    1
    The .25-06 rifle was Zachary’s personal gun .
    3
    notified Investigator Jamie Singley of this discovery. Investigator Singley entered Zachary’s
    room and noticed more evidence: a spent .25-06 rifle cartridge casing on the closet floor,
    bloody footprints on the carpet, and a .25-06 rifle with blood on it. All items were tested, and
    it was confirmed the blood belonged to Justin. According to Investigator Singley, these
    findings negated the report of a self-inflicted wound.
    ¶9.    Zachary gave three statements to police. On June 13, 2011, Zachary, along with his
    parents, voluntarily gave the sheriff’s office a handwritten statement in which he claimed
    Justin had shot himself. In pertinent part, Zachary stated that Justin had shot the family dog
    with a dart gun, 2 and the dog had run into Zachary’s room. Zachary removed the dart from
    the dog, went into the living room, and returned the dart to Justin. As Zachary left to return
    to his room, Justin said, “I love you Zac,” and Zachary responded, “I love you too man.”
    Zachary returned to his room, put his rifle away, and continued to watch a movie. Seconds
    later, Zachary heard a shot. He ran into the living room, and blood hit him in the face
    instantly. Zachary ran to Justin, apologized for “all the crap” he had put him through, told
    Justin he loved him, and gave him a hug. Next, Zachary called his parents and told them
    Justin had been shot. Following this statement, Investigator Lee Cotton obtained a warrant
    for Zachary’s arrest, which was served on June 17, 2011.
    ¶10.   Zachary gave a second statement to Investigator Singley and Investigator Cotton on
    August 5, 2011. This time, Zachary’s attorney was present. The statement was written and
    recorded. Zachary’s second statement began like the first: Justin shot the dog with the dart
    gun. This time, however, Zachary said that he took the dog to Justin. Zachary stated that he
    2
    Justin had just received a blow-dart gun as a present.
    4
    turned to go back to his room when Justin asked if they could talk. Zachary replied, “Hang
    on man. Let me get us a conversation piece.” Zachary retrieved his .25-06 rifle from his
    room and returned to the living room. Zachary sat on the couch, and he and Justin talked for
    about ten minutes. In the recorded statement, Zachary said they talked about hunting.
    Zachary stated that he got up from the couch, heard a click, the gun went off, and the recoil
    caused the gun to fly out of his hand. Zachary said that he “did not check the action.”
    According to Zachary, he went over to Justin, gave him a hug, told him he loved him, and
    said that he would miss him. Zachary admitted that he put his rifle in the closet, placing it
    on the top shelf. He had retrieved Justin’s twenty-gauge shotgun, fired a round into the
    woods, and placed the shotgun between Justin’s legs. Zachary admitted that he “was trying
    to make it look like an accident.” Zachary realized “it would raise questions” if his rifle was
    found in the closet, so he placed it on the gun rack.
    ¶11.   The third statement was an oral statement given to Ricky Dean, a Mississippi
    Highway Patrol investigator, on August 12, 2011. According to Dean, Zachary said that
    Justin had been pestering him with the dart gun, pretending to shoot at him. Zachary told
    Justin, “if you shoot me with that, I’ll shoot you with this,” referring to his .25-06 rifle.
    According to Dean’s testimony, Zachary said he had dropped a magazine and loaded a round
    into the chamber. When Zachary got up, the rifle went off, shooting Justin. Zachary
    maintained that he did not shoot Justin intentionally.
    ¶12.   At trial, experts testified regarding Justin’s manner of death and tests performed on
    the .25-06 rifle. Dr. Erin Barnhart, deputy chief medical examiner, testified that Justin’s
    manner of death (accidental shooting or homicide) could not be determined. Neither Dr.
    5
    Barnhart nor the previous medical examiner was able to determine the angle of trajectory or
    path of the projectile. According to Dr. Barnhart, this could have been done if she had the
    complete skull; however, the skull had shattered into many pieces. Regardless, Dr. Barnhart
    opined that she still could not have determined whether the death was a homicide or an
    accident even if she had the benefit of the entire skull.
    ¶13.   Lori Beall, a forensic scientist at the Mississippi Crime Laboratory, tested the firearm
    and the projectiles recovered from the scene. Some of the projectiles were mutilated and
    were of no comparison value. Beall was able, however, to test a projectile recovered from
    Justin’s chair and determined that the projectile was consistent with the type of projectile
    used in a .25-06 rifle, like Zachary’s. Beall also conducted several functional-reliability tests
    on Zachary’s rifle to determine if the rifle could or would discharge accidentally. The tests
    did not produce any accidental discharge, and thus confirmed that the rifle was in good
    working order. Beall also tested the trigger. Roger testified that Zachary’s rifle had a “hard
    trigger,” which took considerable force to fire. Beall testified that Zachary’s rifle had an
    adjustable trigger. According to Beall, Zachary’s trigger had never been adjusted, and it took
    more than five pounds to release the trigger.
    ¶14.   Several of Zachary’s family members testified regarding his behavior leading up to
    and during Justin’s funeral. Debbie Peavy, Zachary’s great aunt, stated that Zachary did not
    seem upset, and that he had made several strange comments. Peavy said that Zachary, while
    preparing for Justin’s funeral, modeled his new suit and said, “I look pretty good now[;]
    maybe I can get all the girls.” Zachary also had expressed that he would get all the Christmas
    presents now. Peavy testified that Zachary, while watching a video tribute for Justin,
    6
    laughed and said, “Look at Justin’s teeth . . . people won’t be laughing at his teeth anymore.
    At the wake, Zachary had noticed one of Justin’s female friends and had asked Peavy about
    her. Peavy informed Zachary that Justin had been talking to and texting the girl. In response,
    Zachary stated, “Well she’s pretty. I can see why Justin liked her, maybe I’ll try to talk to
    her now.”
    ¶15.   April Markins, Zachary’s aunt, testified regarding a comment Zachary made to her
    while he was greeting visitors in the receiving line. Markins told Zachary she was sorry
    about what had happened to Justin, and Zachary replied, “Look at momma and daddy[;]
    they’re making idiots of themselves.” Ryan Stringer (Ryan), Zachary’s uncle, testified
    regarding how Zachary was boastful about his new suit. Ryan also overheard Zachary say
    that he wished Justin could shoot him with the blowgun one more time, and he had overheard
    Zachary say that Justin had shot him in the foot with the blowgun. Roger testified that, while
    watching the funeral procession, Zachary commented, “I wonder if that many people would
    show up at my funeral.”
    ¶16.   After both sides had rested, the trial court went over jury instructions. In addition to
    a murder instruction, the State requested a jury instruction for the lesser-included offense of
    manslaughter.     Defense counsel objected.        The trial court, however, allowed the
    manslaughter instruction. The jury found Zachary guilty of manslaughter. The trial court
    sentenced Zachary to serve twenty years in the custody of MDOC, with ten years to serve,
    ten years of post-release supervision, and five years reporting; he also was ordered to pay a
    $10,000 fine. The trial court denied Zachary’s post-trial motions. Aggrieved, Zachary
    timely filed his notice of appeal.
    7
    ANALYSIS
    ¶17.   Zachary raises two issues on appeal: (1) whether the trial court erred by allowing
    gruesome photographs, depicting the crime scene and autopsy, into evidence, and (2) whether
    the trial court erred by denying Zachary’s motion for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict
    (JNOV).
    I. Photographs
    ¶18.   This Court reviews the trial court’s admission or exclusion of evidence for an abuse
    of discretion. Davis v. State, 
    849 So. 2d 1252
    , 1255 (Miss. 2003). “Photographs of a victim
    have evidentiary value where they ‘1) aid in describing the circumstances of the killing and
    the corpus delicti; 2) where they describe the location of the body and cause of death; and
    3) where they supplement or clarify witness testimony.’” 
    Id.
     (citing Westbrook v. State, 
    658 So. 2d 847
    , 849 (Miss.1995)). “Photographs of the victim[, however,] should not ordinarily
    be admitted into evidence where the killing is not contradicted or denied and the corpus
    delicti and the identity of the deceased have been established.” Conners v. State, 
    92 So. 3d 676
    , 687 (Miss. 2012) (quoting Jordan v. State, 
    995 So. 2d 94
    , 110 (Miss. 2008)). Reversal
    based on the admission of cumulative and/or gruesome photographs is rare. 
    Id.
     (citing
    Barfield v. State, 
    22 So. 3d 1175
    , 1181 (Miss. 2009)).
    ¶19.   The trial court admitted thirty-three photographs into evidence, depicting the crime
    scene, Justin’s body, evidence collected by police, and an autopsy photograph. Zachary
    takes issue with all thirty-three photographs, specifically those photographs of the crime
    scene, Justin’s body, and the autopsy photograph. Photographs of the crime scene depict
    blood splattered on the wall and brain matter and skull pieces scattered on the floor.
    8
    Photographs of Justin’s body were taken from various angles and depict Justin’s body in a
    chair with a twenty-gauge shotgun between his legs. The investigators also took closeup
    photographs of Justin’s injuries. The top of Justin’s head – from his nose upward – was
    completely gone.
    ¶20.   Zachary argues that the photographs admitted into evidence were gruesome,
    redundant, and more prejudicial than probative. To support his argument, Zachary notes that
    the trial-court judge stated that the photos were “extraordinarily graphic” and “very
    difficult,” and yet still allowed the photographs into evidence. Zachary also argues that the
    trial court failed to limit the number of photographs necessary for any evidentiary point and
    failed to examine the photographs separately to assess their probative value. According to
    Zachary, the thirty-three photographs served no evidentiary purpose or probative value, and
    the photographs were used simply to inflame and arouse the emotions of the jury.
    ¶21.   The State concedes that the photographs are gruesome; however, the State claims that
    the photographs have probative value. According to the State, the photographs provide
    evidence regarding the circumstances of the shooting, the location of Justin’s body, and the
    cause of death. The State also argues that the photographs help clarify witness testimony.
    The State notes that the jury’s guilty verdict as to manslaughter, instead of murder, proves
    that the jury was not inflamed or aroused by the photographs. Also, the State claims that
    defense counsel used the photographs in his closing statement to demonstrate that the
    shooting could not have been intentional.
    ¶22.   Undoubtedly, the photographs of Justin’s head injury are difficult to view. However,
    they have probative value. The trial court reviewed the photographs and, under Mississippi
    9
    Rule of Evidence 403, properly weighed the probative value against the danger of unfair
    prejudice. The trial court found that, although difficult to view, the photographs aided in
    describing the location of the body and cause of death and clarified witness testimony.
    ¶23.   Zachary maintains that the photographs were neither necessary for identification
    purposes nor to identify the cause of death.3 In addition, Zachary claims that the proof
    against him showed only that the shooting was an accident and, thus, the photographs were
    not needed to explain the circumstances surrounding Justin’s death or to clarify any witness
    testimony. While who killed Justin was not contradicted, the State counters that the manner
    of death – homicide or accident – was disputed, and that the photographs were relevant to
    that point.
    ¶24.   In Davis v. State, a fifteen-year-old defendant admitted shooting into a camp cabin.
    Davis v. State, 
    849 So. 2d 1252
    , 1253 (Miss. 2003). The victim was shot in the face, which
    produced severe injuries and killed him instantly. 
    Id.
     On appeal, Davis, in pertinent part,
    argued that the trial court erred by admitting into evidence gruesome photographs of the
    crime scene and the victim’s autopsy:
    Four of the disputed photographs depicted the interior of the camp cabin and
    the location and relation of Arnold’s body to the interior and blood splatters
    on the wall and floor. Two other photographs were taken during the autopsy
    each of which depict the injuries to each side of Arnold’s face and head.
    
    Id. at 1254
    . In a unanimous decision, the Court found that the photographs “served the
    3
    Zachary states that Dr. Barnhart could not use the autopsy photograph to identify
    Justin because she did not conduct the autopsy. He also states that Investigator Singley,
    through his testimony, established the nature of the wound. Thus, the photographs were
    unnecessary and used only to inflame the passions of the jury.
    10
    legitimate evidentiary purpose of depicting the angles and trajectories of the gunshots about
    which . . . the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy, testified, and they did not to
    [sic] inflame the jury.” 
    Id. at 1255
    . Accordingly, the Court ruled that the probative value
    of the photographs did outweigh the danger of unfair prejudice; thus, the trial court did not
    err by admitting the photographs. Id.
    ¶25.   In Baldwin v. State, the State sought to introduce 100 photos of the victim’s body.
    Baldwin v. State, 
    784 So. 2d 148
    , 158 (Miss. 2001).          The trial court noted that the
    photographs were gruesome, but found that the photos depicted the extent of the victim’s
    injuries and, thus, possessed evidentiary value. Id. at 157-58. The trial court, however,
    allowed only five to eight of the 100 photos into evidence.4 Id. at 157. On appeal, Baldwin
    challenged the admission of the photographs. The Court found that the photographs “[did]
    not rise to the level of inflammatory gruesomeness,” showed the location of the body and
    extent of the victim’s injuries, and clarified the forensic scientist’s testimony. Id. at 158.
    Accordingly, the Court approved the trial court’s exercise of discretion. Id.
    ¶26.   In one case, the Court reversed a murder conviction based on gruesome photographs
    of the victim’s body, which was nude, partially decomposed, and surrounded by maggots.
    McNeal v. State, 
    551 So. 2d 151
    , 159 (Miss. 1989). The Court held that alternative
    photographs could have been used to show the fatal wound. 
    Id.
     Accordingly, the Court
    found that the photographs’ probative value was outweighed by the danger of unfair
    prejudice. 
    Id.
    4
    In Baldwin, the opinion states that five photographs were admitted and later states
    that eight photographs were admitted. See Baldwin, 784 So. 2d at 157-58.
    11
    ¶27.   Of the thirty-three admitted photographs in this case, five photographs showed
    Justin’s body from a distance,5 three photographs showed his injuries close up, one
    photograph depicted his autopsy, and three photographs depicted brain matter and skull,
    which had landed on the floor. The remaining photographs depicted blood splatters and the
    evidence collected. Thus, given the variety of different subjects depicted by the photographs,
    the sheer number of photographs is not alarming.
    ¶28.   While photographs of Justin’s body are difficult to view, the photographs did not rise
    to the level of inflammatory gruesomeness exhibited in McNeal and have evidentiary value.
    Justin’s manner of death was disputed. Zachary proclaimed it was an accident, and the State
    proclaimed it was a homicide.           The photographs aided the jury in determining the
    circumstances of the killing.
    ¶29.   The photographs also were useful to clarify witness testimony. For instance, both
    Roger and Investigator Singley testified that Justin’s shotgun was sitting between his legs,
    indicating that the injury may have been self inflicted. Both also testified that, based on the
    nature of the wound and other evidence, it could not have been a self-inflicted wound.
    Furthermore, defense counsel harped on the State’s failure to determine the trajectory of the
    shot. As explained by Investigator Singley and Dr. Barnhart, and clarified and confirmed by
    photographs, Justin’s skull was in numerous pieces, which made it difficult to reconstruct the
    skull and determine the path of the bullet.
    ¶30.   Additionally, the photographs helped clarify the three statements Zachary made to
    5
    In the distant photographs, Justin’s injuries are barely visible.
    12
    investigators. In his second statement, Zachary claimed that his rifle accidentally discharged
    when he stood up from the sofa. In his third statement, Zachary told Investigator Dean that
    he had threatened to shoot Justin if Justin continued to pester him, and he had loaded a round
    into the chamber. Although Zachary claims the shooting was accidental, the photographs
    provided evidence – such as the location of the body and the distance of the sofa from
    Justin’s chair – for the jury to determine the validity of that claim.
    ¶31.   Based on the foregoing, the photographs provided evidentiary value and were more
    probative than prejudicial. Further, no evidence exists that the photographs were used to
    inflame the jury. Accordingly, this Court finds that the trial court did not abuse its discretion
    in allowing the photographs into evidence.
    II. JNOV
    ¶32.   A motion for JNOV challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence. Knight v. State,
    
    72 So. 3d 1056
    , 1063 (Miss. 2011). When ruling on a motion for a JNOV, the trial court
    must view all credible evidence consistent with the defendant’s guilt in the light most
    favorable to the State. 
    Id.
     This Court will not disturb the trial court’s ruling if “the evidence
    shows ‘beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused committed the act charged, and that he
    did so under such circumstances that every element of the offense existed[.]” 
    Id.
     (quoting
    Bush v. State, 
    895 So. 2d 836
    , 843 (Miss. 2005)). But “where the evidence fails to meet this
    test it is insufficient to support a conviction” and reversal is required. Id.
    ¶33.   Zachary was convicted of manslaughter as a lesser-included offense of murder.
    Zachary argues that the evidence was insufficient to prove culpable-negligence manslaughter.
    According to Zachary, the evidence showed only that Justin’s killing was an accident, and
    13
    Zachary committed no affirmative act of culpable negligence. He also claims that the State
    failed to prove the angle of trajectory, leaving the jury to infer an intentional killing based
    on Zachary’s demeanor and inappropriate comments.
    ¶34.   The State argues that it presented sufficient evidence to justify a murder conviction
    and, indeed, a conviction for manslaughter. The State contends that “[w]here there is
    evidence to justify a murder conviction, the appellant cannot complain of a manslaughter
    conviction.” Hubbard v. State, 
    437 So. 2d 430
    , 438 (Miss. 1983). According to the State,
    a reasonable jury could have concluded Zachary was guilty based on the physical evidence,
    the conflicting statements Zachary had given to investigators, and Zachary’s demeanor
    following Justin’s death.
    ¶35.   Manslaughter is “[e]very other killing of a human being, by the act, procurement, or
    culpable negligence of another, and without authority of law . . . .” 
    Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3
    -
    47 (Rev. 2006). Zachary claims that the State presented no evidence of culpable negligence.
    However, a reasonable jury could have found that the State met every element of
    manslaughter based on the physical evidence and Zachary’s statements to investigators.
    ¶36.   Although Zachary later admitted fault in Justin’s killing, he initially claimed that
    Justin had shot himself. In his second statement, Zachary stated that he had gotten a
    “conversation piece” – his rifle – to have a talk with Justin, and the rifle had discharged
    accidentally. He admitted staging the scene and putting his rifle away to make Justin’s death
    look like an accident. In his third statement, Zachary said that he had threatened to shoot
    Justin if Justin continued to pester him. He also admitted loading the rifle. Zachary still
    claimed that the rifle discharged accidentally. Evidence also was presented that Zachary’s
    14
    rifle had a “hard” trigger, and, when tested by the Mississippi Crime Laboratory, the rifle did
    not discharge accidentally or appear to be faulty.
    ¶37.   Zachary argues that he did not know the rifle was loaded, and he did not deliberately
    point the rifle at Justin. The evidence, however, tells a different story. In at least one
    statement, Zachary admits that he loaded the rifle and threatened to shoot Justin. Also, the
    physical evidence – Justin’s gunshot wound – suggests that the rifle could have been pointed
    directly at Justin’s head.6 Zachary complains that the State failed to prove the bullet’s angle
    of trajectory and, thus, failed to disprove Zachary’s theory that the shooting was an accident.
    While evidence of the bullet’s angle of trajectory would have supplemented the State’s
    evidence, Zachary’s provides no caselaw which mandates that such evidence is necessary for
    a conviction. See Simmons v. State, 
    805 So. 2d 452
    , 487 (Miss. 2001) (stating that “[f]ailure
    to cite relevant authority obviates the appellate court’s obligation to review such issues.”)
    ¶38.   The jury considers the weight and credibility of the evidence. Butler v. State, 
    102 So. 3d 260
    , 270 (Miss. 2012). From the verdict, the jury believed neither Zachary’s claim that
    the shooting was an accident nor the State’s claim that the shooting was intentional. The
    jury, instead, convicted Zachary of manslaughter, finding that Justin’s killing was a result of
    Zachary’s culpable negligence. Viewing all credible evidence consistent with Zachary’s
    6
    “Even where a defendant claims the firing of a gun is accidental, pointing a loaded
    gun at an individual supports a conviction of manslaughter because the defendant’s actions
    ‘show a conscious, wanton and reckless disregard of the likely fatal consequences of his
    willful act which created an unreasonable risk.’” Tait v. State, 
    669 So. 2d 85
    , 89 (Miss.
    1996) (quoting Jernigan v. State, 
    305 So. 2d 353
    , 354 (Miss.1974)).
    15
    guilt in the light most favorable to the State, ample evidence of culpable negligence existed,
    and the evidence was legally sufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Zachary
    committed the elements of the offense of manslaughter.
    CONCLUSION
    ¶39.   The trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the photographs into evidence.
    And, the evidence was legally sufficient to support the jury’s verdict. Thus, this Court
    affirms Zachary’s conviction and sentence for manslaughter.
    ¶40. CONVICTION OF MANSLAUGHTER AND SENTENCE OF TWENTY (20)
    YEARS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF
    CORRECTIONS WITH TEN (10) YEARS TO SERVE AND THE REMAINING TEN
    (10) YEARS TO BE SERVED UNDER POST-RELEASE PROVISIONS WITH A
    FIVE (5) YEAR SUPERVISION PERIOD, WITH CONDITIONS, AFFIRMED.
    WALLER, C.J., DICKINSON AND RANDOLPH, P.JJ., LAMAR, KITCHENS,
    CHANDLER, PIERCE AND COLEMAN, JJ., CONCUR.
    16
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 2013-KA-00586-SCT

Filed Date: 2/26/2013

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 10/30/2014