Tonnie L. Thomas v. State of Mississippi

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2008-KA-01637-SCT
TONNIE L. THOMAS
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 08/28/2008
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. RICHARD A. SMITH
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: WASHINGTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: GEORGE T. KELLY, JR.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY: JEFFREY A. KLINGFUSS
DISTRICT ATTORNEY: W. DEWAYNE RICHARDSON
NATURE OF THE CASE: CRIMINAL - FELONY
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 08/26/2010
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
BEFORE WALLER, C.J., LAMAR AND PIERCE, JJ.
LAMAR, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
¶1. Tonnie Thomas was convicted of murder1 and first-degree arson 2 and sentenced to life
without parole as a habitual offender under Mississippi Code Section 99-19-83. He argues
the trial court erred in admitting two statements in violation of his Fifth-Amendment right
against self-incrimination and his Sixth-Amendment right to counsel, and in denying a
1
Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-19 (1) (Rev. 2006).
2
Miss. Code Ann. § 97-17-1 (Rev. 2006).
directed verdict on each charge. Finding no merit in the errors raised, we affirm the
convictions for murder and arson.
FACTS
Testimony and Evidence Admitted at Trial
¶2. On March 1, 2007, the police and fire department responded to a house fire at 619
Silver Street in Greenville, Mississippi. Once the fire was extinguished, the responders
discovered a body, later identified as that of Louis Harris, located in the kitchen. Expert
testimony established that the fire was the result of six separate fires intentionally set in
various locations of the house.
¶3. Harris’s body was located under a pile of debris, and various surfaces of the body
were charred. Dr. Steven Hayne, a pathologist, testified that the burns had occurred after
death. The body also had puncture wounds at multiple sites, including the face and neck.
Dr. Hayne stated that Harris’s death was caused by a puncture wound to the neck, which led
to massive external blood loss.
¶4. Ursula Fowler, Harris’s neighbor, testified that she had seen Harris that morning,
standing alone on the steps of his house. Later that evening, she heard a commotion, like
fighting, that lasted about fifteen minutes. Approximately ten to twenty minutes later, a man
knocked on her door to alert her that Harris’s house was on fire. Fowler testified that she had
witnessed violent arguments between Harris and his girlfriend, Laquanda Gilmore, but that
she had not seen Gilmore at Harris’s house that day or during the week prior.
2
¶5. Investigator Dondi Gibbs responded to the scene and took photographs showing blood
splatters throughout the house. He also collected from the scene blood samples that he sent
to the Mississippi Crime Laboratory for DNA testing. Gibbs testified that it appeared a
struggle had occurred, since the home was in disarray, with furniture thrown about. Gibbs
also testified that he had returned to the home on March 9 to collect more evidence, including
two shirts stained with blood and a VCR box.
First Statement
¶6. The police department developed Thomas as a suspect, and on Friday, March 2, 2007,
Thomas turned himself in to the police. Gibbs took an unrecorded statement3 from Thomas
that Friday because Thomas needed medical attention for some “severe injuries” and had a
“loud odor” of alcohol on his person. Gibbs stated that Thomas told him, “Yeah, I killed that
punk bitch. I was feeding him money, marijuana, and my crack, and he wouldn’t give my
money. He bought a [VCR] and he couldn’t give me my money.” Thomas was then taken
to the hospital, where he received medical attention. Thomas suffered from a bite mark on
his face, with a stab wound below it, a scratch mark under his right eye, a stab wound on his
upper right lip, a cut on his inside right palm, and a stab wound in his left leg.
3
Facts relevant to this statement will be discussed in more detail under Thomas’s first
assignment of error. Gibbs provided more detailed testimony concerning the first statement
at the suppression hearing.
3
Second Statement
¶7. Gibbs testified that on Saturday, March 3, 2007, Thomas gave a second, recorded
statement.4 The recording was played for the jury, and a transcript of the recording also was
admitted into evidence. In his second statement, Thomas stated that he had been living with
Harris, and that on March 1, 2007, he had confronted Harris about a $65 debt for marijuana.
Harris had just bought a VCR and had told Thomas that he did not have the money.
According to Thomas, Harris then started “talking crazy and laughing” and swung at him
with a hammer. Thomas stated that he and Harris began to fight in the bedroom, and that
their fight continued into the living room and kitchen. While fighting with Harris, Thomas
pulled a knife out of his pocket and eventually stabbed Harris in the kitchen. Thomas stated
that he had blood on his hands and head, and that he had washed it off before he left the
house. Thomas denied setting the house on fire.
Third Statement
¶8. On March 8, 2007, Thomas requested to speak with an investigator and gave a third
statement to Investigator Jerome Jackson. A tape and transcript of this recording were
admitted into evidence. In this statement, Thomas denied that he had killed Harris. Thomas
stated that he had witnessed another person stab and kill Harris, but that he was afraid his
family would be hurt if he disclosed the killer’s identity.
4
This statement will be discussed in more detail under Thomas’s first assignment of
error.
4
Fourth Statement
¶9. On March 28, 2007, Thomas requested to speak with Investigator Timothy Elzy, and
Elzy witnessed a fourth statement. Elzy testified that he twice administered Miranda 5
warnings before Thomas gave the fourth statement. Elzy testified that Thomas refused to be
recorded but that Thomas wanted to tell him where to find the murder weapon. Thomas
informed Elzy that after he had left the house, he had pushed the knife, blade down, into the
ground. After receiving this information, Elzy tried to locate the knife with a metal detector
but could not find it.
¶10. The jury also heard testimony from Dwana Broughton, a crime-scene analyst with the
Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Broughton had taken various photographs of the scene
and had collected a hammer and wallet that was on top of the body. She also had collected
eighteen swabs of what had appeared to be blood from throughout the residence. She had
submitted all evidence except the wallet to the crime lab for further analysis.
¶11. William Jones testified as an expert in the field of forensic science, specializing in
DNA analysis and bioscience and statistical analysis. Jones had analyzed the evidence from
the scene to determine if it had contained any blood from Thomas or Harris. Jones testified
that the hammer had tested negative for human blood, but that extreme temperatures and soot
from the fire could have affected the test result. Jones also testified that he had compared
samples of Thomas’s and Harris’s DNA with samples from the swabs and had found a match
5
Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 467-68, 471, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694(1966).
5
for Thomas on swabs from two locations: the east living-room wall, and a kitchen door. He
also had found a match between Harris’s blood sample and swabs from the bedroom chair,
south living-room wall, east living-room wall, bedroom door frame, bedroom door, north
bedroom wall, kitchen chair, and two kitchen doors. Jones also had tested the two shirts and
had found Harris’s blood on one and a mixture of Harris’s and Thomas’s blood on the
second.
DISCUSSION
I. Whether the trial court erred in admitting Thomas’s statements.
¶12. Prior to trial, Thomas moved to suppress his statements taken March 2 and 3, 2007.
The trial court held a hearing on the motion to suppress, and heard testimony from all officers
who had witnessed each statement, as well as Thomas.
Suppression Hearing Testimony Relating to March 2, 2007, Statement
¶13. At the motion-to-suppress hearing, Gibbs testified that Thomas had turned himself
in and had been arrested for two contempt-of-court warrants. After Thomas was placed in
Gibbs’s custody, Gibbs had brought Thomas to his office and had begun to ask Thomas the
identifying questions located at the top of the Miranda form, including questions concerning
name, address, phone number, highest level of education completed, last school attended,
ability to read or write, and whether the defendant understands what an attorney is.
6
¶14. As Gibbs was asking Thomas these preliminary questions, Thomas had interrupted
Gibbs and stated that he “may need” to talk to a lawyer.6 After Thomas had made this
statement, Sergeant Michael Merchant had entered the room, and Merchant, Gibbs, and
Thomas had moved to a bigger office. Gibbs stated that Lieutenant Xavier Redmond also
had entered the bigger office.
¶15. Gibbs stated that he had known Thomas since Thomas was a juvenile and that he had
began discussing Thomas’s past run-ins with the law. Gibbs denied that he had asked
Thomas any questions about the homicide or arson investigation, but he admitted that he had
told Thomas “it would be a lot easier on everybody if he [Thomas] would just go ahead on
and cooperate.” Gibbs stated that he had smelled alcohol on Thomas, but that Thomas had
appeared to fully understand their conversation. Gibbs also testified that Thomas had “pretty
severe cuts, lacerations, a bite mark on his face, and he was . . . in a lot of pain.”
¶16. Prior to being Mirandized, and during the course of their conversation, Thomas had
abruptly stated, “I’m going to go on and tell you, I killed that punk bitch.” Gibbs then read
Thomas his Miranda warnings, and Thomas indicated he understood and signed the waiver
form. After Thomas had waived his rights, he gave a statement of the events leading to
Harris’s death and admitted that he had stabbed Harris in the head approximately four or five
times.
6
On cross-examination, Gibbs admitted that, at the preliminary hearing, he had
testified that Thomas wanted to speak to an attorney. Gibbs stated that he was not asked at
the preliminary hearing to relay Thomas’s exact words.
7
¶17. Gibbs stated that he did not record this statement, because Thomas was “in an extreme
amount of pain” and wanted medical treatment. Thomas told Gibbs that he would give a
second statement after he received medical attention. However, Gibbs denied that he had
promised Thomas medical attention in exchange for any statement. After providing the first
statement, Thomas was transported to the hospital, where he received medical treatment.
¶18. Merchant, Gibson, and Redmond also testified at the suppression hearing. Each
officer testified that Thomas had not appeared to be intoxicated. Merchant and Redmond
also testified that they did not recall anyone asking Thomas about the homicide or arson
before Thomas admitted to killing Harris. Redmond and Gibson testified that neither officer
had heard anyone promise Thomas anything in exchange for a statement.
¶19. Thomas testified that, because he had heard the police were looking for him, he had
turned himself in to the police department. Thomas stated that Gibbs, Elzy, and Redmond
had taken him into a room where Gibbs had told Thomas that he wanted to talk about Louis
Harris. Thomas testified that at that point, he had told Gibbs he wanted to “take the Fifth”
until he could meet with an attorney. According to Thomas, Redmond stated “the truth will
set you free.” Thomas also testified that Gibbs had opened a law book and had read him the
maximum and minimum sentences for murder and had told him to cooperate. Thomas stated
that he had admitted to killing Harris because he was in pain from his wounds and the
officers had told him they would make it easy for him. However, Thomas admitted that no
one promised him anything in exchange for his confession.
8
Suppression Hearing Testimony Relating to March 3, 2007, Statement
¶20. At the motion-to-suppress hearing, Gibbs testified that he had gone to the station on
Saturday, March 3, 2007, and had instructed Elzy to get Thomas from his cell for a
statement. Gibbs testified that Thomas had been upset about conditions at the jail, and it had
taken approximately ninety minutes for Thomas to calm down. After Thomas had calmed
down, he had told Gibbs that he would give a statement. Gibbs had then read Thomas his
Miranda rights, and Thomas had signed a waiver form. Thomas had then given a statement,
which was recorded and witnessed by Gibbs and Elzy. Thomas again admitted to killing
Harris and recounted the events surrounding Harris’s death, but he denied the arson. After
Gibbs had obtained this second statement, he charged Thomas with murder and arson. Elzy
testified at the suppression hearing, and his testimony corroborated Gibbs’s testimony.
¶21. Thomas testified that he did not request to see Gibbs on Saturday, March 3, 2007.
Thomas stated that Elzy had brought him to Gibbs’s office, and Gibbs had instructed him to
sign some papers and to talk about what had happened.
Analysis
¶22. Thomas argues that the trial court erred in allowing into evidence his March 2 and
March 3 statements, claiming that he affirmatively had asserted his right to remain silent and
his right to counsel on March 2, 2007. Thomas argues he was intoxicated and in need of
medical attention when he provided the first statement. Thomas further argues that the police
impermissibly initiated the second interrogation, which resulted in his second statement. He
9
expressly denies any error regarding the admission into evidence of his subsequent
statements to Investigators Jackson and Elzy.
¶23. Findings by a trial court that a confession is voluntary and admissible are findings of
fact, and “[t]his Court will reverse a trial court’s denial of a motion to suppress only if the
ruling is in manifest error or contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence.” 7 In this
case, the trial court issued a detailed order denying Thomas’s motion to suppress. The trial
court specifically found that Thomas was not a credible witness. The trial court found that
Thomas had made an ambiguous and equivocal request for an attorney, and that Thomas
voluntarily had admitted to the murder prior to any questioning about the murder and arson.
The trial court also found that the police had read Thomas his Miranda rights and Thomas
had signed a waiver prior to any questions concerning the investigation. The trial court also
found that Thomas clearly had waived his Miranda rights before providing a second
statement on March 3, 2007.
¶24. In Miranda v. Arizona,8 the United States Supreme Court held that, under the Fifth
Amendment, a person subjected to custodial interrogation must first be informed of his right
to remain silent and right to counsel. “If the individual indicates in any manner, at any time
prior to or during questioning, that he wishes to remain silent, the interrogation must cease.” 9
7
Barnes v. State, 30 So. 3d 313, 316 (Miss. 2010).
8
Miranda, 384 U.S. at 467-68, 471.
9
Id. at 473-74.
10
Likewise, “[i]f the individual states he wants an attorney, the interrogation must cease until
an attorney is present.” 10 Furthermore, a defendant’s request for counsel must be clear and
unambiguous in order for an officer to stop questioning the suspect.11 If a custodial statement
is given outside the presence of an attorney, “a heavy burden rests on the government to
demonstrate that the defendant knowingly and intelligently waived his privilege against self-
incrimination and his right to retained or appointed counsel.” 12 Additionally, “the
voluntariness of a waiver, or of a confession, is a factual inquiry that must be determined by
the trial judge from the totality of the circumstances.” 13 We have found “that a defendant
may waive his Sixth Amendment right to counsel when he waives his Miranda rights.” 14
¶25. As noted by this Court in Culp v. State, Miranda warnings must be given prior to
custodial interrogation.15 “To be subject to ‘custodial interrogation’ one must be both in
10
Id. at 474.
11
Davis v. U.S., 512 U.S. 452, 458, 114 S. Ct. 2350, 129 L. Ed. 2d 362 (1994).
12
Miranda, 384 U.S. at 475.
13
O’Halloran v. State, 731 So. 2d 565, 570 (Miss. 1999).
14
Mettetal v. State, 602 So. 2d 864 (Miss. 1992). We note that while Thomas argues
a Sixth-Amendment violation, his argument properly falls within the procedural safeguards
of Miranda. We recognize that Thomas was in custody on unrelated charges, but his Sixth-
Amendment right to counsel is offense-specific and had not attached in this case at the time
he made his first statement regarding Harris’s murder. See generally Balfour v. State, 598
So. 2d 731, 740 (Miss. 1992).
15
Culp v. State, 933 So. 2d 264, 273 (Miss. 2005).
11
custody and undergoing interrogation.” 16 In Rhode Island v. Innis, the Supreme Court
defined “interrogation” to mean “not only express questioning, but also any words or actions
on the part of the police (other than those normally attendant to arrest and custody) that the
police should know are reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response from the
suspect.” 17 As noted by the Court in Innis, the “Miranda safeguards” are to protect against
“coercive police practices.” 18
¶26. It is undisputed that on March 2, 2007, Thomas admitted to killing Harris before the
police had administered his Miranda warnings. Additionally, Thomas asserts that he had
invoked his right to silence and his right to counsel prior to being Mirandized. However, the
trial court made a factual finding that Thomas was not a credible witness and discounted his
version of events. No officer testified that Thomas had invoked his right to silence or right
to an attorney. Investigator Gibbs testified that Thomas had stated that he “may” need an
attorney. We find that the trial court, as the trier fact, was not in manifest error in believing
the officers rather than Thomas, and in finding that Thomas did not make an unequivocal
request for an attorney under Davis v. U.S. Therefore, we affirm the trial court’s finding that
Thomas did not assert his right to silence or counsel on March 2, 2007. Consequently, we
16
Id.17
Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291, 301, 100 S. Ct. 1682, 64 L. Ed. 2d 297 (1980).
18
Id.12
find no violation of Thomas’s right to counsel or silence when the police took Thomas from
his cell on Saturday before he gave his second statement.
¶27. Because Thomas’s first statement19 was made while in custody on unrelated charges
and prior to being given his Miranda warnings, we must examine whether the police should
have known that their words and actions likely would produce an incriminating response.20
Thomas argues that he confessed because he wanted medical attention, and Investigator
Gibbs told him it would be easier if he would cooperate. In Willie v. State, we considered
a similar statement to the one at issue here.21 In Willie, the sheriff Mirandized the defendant
and then told him that “it would be best or better for [the defendant] to tell the truth[.]” 22 On
appeal, the Court considered whether the sheriff’s statement was an exhortation to tell the
truth or an inducement.23 The Court looked at the “specific circumstances surrounding the
confession[,]” and concluded that defendant was not induced to confess. Id. In reaching its
decision, the Court noted that the defendant was an adult who was familiar with the justice
system; that any trust in the interrogation officers “emanated from past dealings . . . not a
19
“I’m going to go on and tell you, I killed that punk bitch.”
20
Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291, 301, 100 S. Ct. 1682, 64 L. Ed. 2d 297 (1980).
21
Willie v State, 585 So. 2d 660, 668 (Miss. 1991), overruled on other grounds by
King v. State, 784 So. 2d 884 (Miss. 2001).
22
Id.23
Id.13
friendship or personal relationship”; and that the officers had not made any promises to the
defendant.24
¶28. While the defendant in Willie had been Mirandized prior to confessing, we find that
our analysis of the “specific circumstances surrounding the confession[,]” in the instant case
is like that in Willie.25 Notably, the record shows that Thomas is an adult male with a
criminal record and who clearly was familiar with the justice system at the time of his arrest.
The record shows that Thomas was familiar with Investigators Gibbs and Redmond through
past dealings with the police, and not through any “friendship or personal relationship.” Id.Thomas also testified that no officer had promised him anything in exchange for his
confession. We also find it relevant that Thomas voluntarily had turned himself in to the
police.
¶29. However, this Court must also take into account the fact that Thomas smelled of
alcohol and suffered from various injuries. This Court has ruled that the “‘admissibility of
a confession depends upon the degree of intoxication.’” 26 Further, this Court has excluded
24
Id.; see also Ruffin v. State, 992 So. 2d 1165, 1172 (Miss. 2008) (“Whether an
interrogator’s statement is a mere exhortation or an inducement generally depends on the
circumstances surrounding the confession, such as the defendant’s youth, good reputation,
lack of familiarity with the criminal justice system, and relationship with or trust in the
interrogating officer(s).”).
25
Willie, 585 So. 2d at 668.
26
O’Halloran v. State, 731 So. 2d 565, 571 (Miss. 1999) (quoting Johnson v. State,
511 So. 2d 1360, 1365 (Miss. 1987)).
14
a confession only when a defendant was so intoxicated that he was in a state of mania.27
While Gibbs testified that Thomas had smelled of alcohol, he also stated that Thomas had
not been intoxicated. The other officers also testified that Thomas had not appeared
intoxicated. While Thomas was injured, he had incurred these injuries the day before, when
fighting with Harris. Thomas could have sought medical attention before turning himself in.
Under the “specific circumstances surrounding the confession[,]” we do not find that the
police induced Thomas’s confession.28 Therefore, we find that the March 2, 2007, statement
was voluntary, and “[v]olunteered statements of any kind are not barred by the Fifth
Amendment[.]” 29
¶30. Immediately after Thomas confessed 30 on March 2, 2007, Investigator Gibbs gave
Thomas his Miranda warnings, and Thomas signed a waiver before providing a detailed
statement and confession. Furthermore, Investigator Gibbs again gave Thomas his Miranda
warnings and Thomas signed a second waiver prior to his March 3, 2007, statement. We find
the trial court did not commit manifest error in finding Thomas voluntarily had waived his
Miranda rights, nor was the trial court’s finding against the weight of the evidence. We
27
Id. (citing State v. Williams, 208 So. 2d 172 (Miss. 1968)).
28
Willie, 585 So. 2d at 668.
29
Miranda, 384 U.S. at 478, 471.
30
We again are referring to Thomas’s statement: “I’m going to go on and tell you, I
killed that punk bitch.”
15
uphold the trial court’s ruling that both statements were admissible and that there was no
violation of the Fifth Amendment.
II. Whether the trial court erred in denying Thomas’s motion for a directed
verdict on the murder charge.
¶31. A motion for directed verdict challenges the sufficiency of the evidence, and “the
critical inquiry is whether 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[.]’” 31 In judging the sufficiency of the evidence, “the trial judge is
required to accept as true all evidence that is favorable to the State, including reasonable
inferences that may be drawn therefrom, and to disregard evidence favorable to the
defendant.” 32
¶32. Thomas argues that the trial court should have granted his motion for directed verdict
under Weathersby v. State.33 In support of his argument, Thomas asserts that he was the only
witness to the crime, and that he “consistently” had stated that he killed Harris in self-
defense. The State, however, argues that the Weathersby Rule does not apply and points to
Thomas’s conflicting statements.
¶33. In Weathersby v. State, this Court ruled that:
31
Jones v. State, 904 So. 2d 149, 153 (Miss. 2005) (quoting Carr v. State, 208 So. 2d
886, 889 (Miss. 1968)).
32
Clemons v. State, 460 So. 2d 835, 839 (Miss. 1984).
33
Weathersby v. State, 165 Miss. 207, 147 So. 481 (1933).
16
[W]here the defendant or the defendant’s witnesses are the only eyewitnesses
to the homicide, their version, if reasonable, must be accepted as true, unless
substantially contradicted in material particulars by a credible witness or
witnesses for the state, or by the physical facts or by the facts of common
knowledge.34
“A defendant who [meets] the Weathersby Rule [is] entitled to a directed verdict of
acquittal.” 35 However, the Weathersby Rule is inapplicable where the defendant provides
“conflicting versions of how the killing took place, or initially denies the act.” 36
¶34. In this case, Thomas provided conflicting statements of how the killing took place.
Thomas initially confessed that he had stabbed Harris during a fight. Thomas later provided
a statement in which he denied killing Harris but stated that he had witnessed another person
murder Harris. Therefore, the Weathersby Rule is inapplicable to this case.
34
Id. at 482.
35
Blanks v. State, 547 So. 2d 29, 33 (Miss. 1989).
36
Id.17
¶35. Additionally, the State presented evidence of each element of the murder 37 charge.
The jury had before it two confessions in which Thomas admitted that he had confronted
Harris about a $65 debt and then had killed Harris by stabbing him in the head. Dr. Hayne
testified that Harris had multiple puncture wounds in the head and neck and had died from
massive blood loss. Jones testified that both Thomas’s and the decedent’s blood were on
parts of the house and clothing located at the scene. Harris’s neighbor testified that she had
heard fighting coming from the home, which explained the home’s disarray. We find the
trial court did not err in denying the directed verdict, as the State proved beyond a reasonable
doubt that Thomas murdered Harris.
37
Thomas was indicted for murder under Mississippi Code Section 97-3-19(1). The
jury was instructed under subsections (a) and (b) of Section 97-3-19(1), which provides that:
(1) The killing of a human being without authority of law by any means or in
any manner shall be murder in the following cases: (a) When done with
deliberate design to effect the death of the person killed, or of any human
being; (b) When done in the commission of an act eminently dangerous to
others and evincing a depraved heart, regardless of human life, although
without any premeditated design to effect the death of any particular
individual[.]
Miss. Code Ann. § 97-3-19(1)(a)-(b) (Rev. 2006).
18
III. Whether the trial court erred in denying Thomas’s motion for directed
verdict of the arson charge.
¶36. Thomas argues there is no evidence that he is guilty of the arson 38 charge, and as such,
the trial court erred in denying his motion for directed verdict. Conversely, the State argues
that there was sufficient evidence that Thomas was present in the home near the time the fires
started, and there was evidence that the fires were the result of arson.
¶37. The State’s case was based on circumstantial evidence. In circumstantial-evidence
cases, “the state is required to ‘prove the accused’s guilt not only beyond a reasonable doubt,
but to the exclusion of every other hypothesis consistent with innocence.’” 39 However, “a
circumstantial evidence conviction will not be disturbed [on appeal] unless it is opposed ‘by
a decided preponderance of the evidence.’” 40 While Thomas did not confess to the arson, he
admitted that he had been living with Harris at 619 Silver Street and that he had killed Harris.
Ursula Fowler, Harris’s neighbor, testified that she had heard fighting at the home and within
ten or twenty minutes, the home had been on fire. Therefore, the testimony of Harris’s
neighbor, along with Thomas’s confession, place him at the scene during the time the fire
38
Thomas was indicted under Mississippi Code Section 97-17-1, which provides that:
“Any person who willfully and maliciously sets fire to or burns or causes to be burned or
who aids, counsels or procures the burning of any dwelling house, whether occupied,
unoccupied or vacant . . . shall be guilty of arson in the first degree[.]” Miss. Code Ann. 97-
17-1(1) (Rev. 2006).
39
Leflore v. State, 535 So. 2d 68, 70 (Miss. 1988) (quoting Guilbeau v. State, 502 So.
2d 639, 641 (Miss. 1987)).
40
Stokes v. State, 518 So. 2d 1224, 1227 (Miss. 1988) (quoting Kitchens v. State, 300
So. 2d 922 (Miss. 1974)).
19
began and with a motive for setting the fire. Furthermore, various witnesses testified that
debris had been piled on top of the body, and Broughton testified that a hammer had been
placed on the body. Last, it was undisputed that the fire was the result of six separate fires
that were intentionally set. Therefore, we affirm the trial court’s denial of a directed verdict,
since sufficient evidence (which is unopposed by a preponderance of the evidence) supports
the arson conviction.
CONCLUSION
¶38. We find that the trial court did not commit manifest error in admitting Thomas’s
statements from March 2, 2007, and March 3, 2007. We also find that sufficient evidence
supports Thomas’s convictions of murder and first-degree arson. We affirm Thomas’s
conviction and sentence of one count of murder and one count of first-degree arson.
¶39. COUNT I: CONVICTION OF MURDER AND SENTENCE OF LIFE
IMPRISONMENT, AS AN HABITUAL OFFENDER, IN THE CUSTODY OF THE
MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY
OF PAROLE OR PROBATION, AFFIRMED. COUNT II: CONVICTION OF FIRST
DEGREE ARSON AND SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT, AS AN
HABITUAL OFFENDER, IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE
OR PROBATION, AFFIRMED.
WALLER, C.J., CARLSON AND GRAVES, P.JJ., DICKINSON, RANDOLPH,
KITCHENS, CHANDLER AND PIERCE, JJ., CONCUR.
20