Graham v. State
Graham v. State
Opinion
¶ 1. Appellant Felix Graham was indicted by a Bolivar County grand jury for aggravated assault and possession of a deadly weapon by a convicted felon. Following a trial, the jury found Graham guilty of the crimes charged. At the sentencing, the trial court held a hearing pursuant to section
¶ 3. After his cousin dropped him off, Danny found his girlfriend, Janet Norris, and began talking with her. As Norris was leaving, Danny noticed Felix Graham appear from behind one of the nearby buildings. According to Danny, Graham had a gun and began firing in his direction. Danny attempted to run from Graham; however, the chase ended when a beige vehicle pulled up, stopping Danny in the middle of the intersection. Graham grabbed onto Danny and shot him twice through the top of his head. As a result, Danny was paralyzed on his left side and lost all hearing in his right ear.
¶ 4. Two other witnesses testified that Graham was responsible for the shooting. Gary Hodges, Danny's brother, saw Graham come from behind the bar and begin shooting. Hodges, fearing that the bullets were intended for him, fled the scene in his car. When he returned he saw Lenkendrik Johnson, Danny's other brother, pulling Danny from the middle of the intersection. Lenkendrik testified that he pulled up to the intersection right after the shooting. Lenkendrik observed his brother's body lying in the middle of the road and Graham walking away. Lenkendrik stated that Graham was holding a gun.
¶ 5. Graham denied that he shot Danny. He testified that he was at his cousin's house at the time of the shooting. Likewise, Graham denied that he possessed a firearm that night. Graham notes that the gun used in the shooting was never recovered and there was no physical evidence linking him to either crime.
¶ 7. Graham also argues that the verdict was against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, noting that no physical evidence was offered against him and two alibi witnesses testified that he was not present at the time of the shooting. An assertion that the verdict was against the overwhelming weight of the evidence is challenged in a motion for a new trial. A motion for a new trial is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court. Neal v. State,
¶ 8. Under this rigorous standard of review, we find no error. Three witnesses testified that Graham was responsible for the shooting. According to Danny, Graham emerged from behind a nearby building with a gun in his hand. Danny testified that he immediately began running away from Graham; however, Graham caught Danny and shot him twice in the head. Likewise, Gary Hodges testified that he noticed Graham come from behind the building shooting a gun. When Hodges returned to the scene, Danny was slumped over in the middle of the street with gunshot wounds to his head. Finally, Lenkendrik Johnson stated that when he pulled up to the scene of the shooting he observed Graham walking away from Danny who was lying in the middle of the street. Lenkendrik Johnson asserted that Graham was carrying a gun in his hand.
¶ 9. Contrary to Graham's argument, the absence of physical evidence does not negate a conviction where there is testimonial evidence. See Williams v. State,
¶ 10. THE JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF BOLIVAR COUNTY OFCONVICTION OF COUNT I AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND SENTENCE OF LIFEIMPRISONMENT WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE TO RUN CONSECUTIVELY TOANY AND ALL SENTENCES PREVIOUSLY IMPOSED; AND COUNT II POSSESSION OF AFIREARM BY A FELON AND SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT TO RUN CONCURRENTLYTO SENTENCE IN COUNT I, ALL IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENTOF CORRECTIONS IS AFFIRMED. ALL COSTS OF THIS APPEAL ARE ASSESSED TOBOLIVAR COUNTY.
McMILLIN, C.J., KING AND SOUTHWICK, P. JJ., BRIDGES, THOMAS, LEE,IRVING, MYERS AND BRANTLEY, JJ., CONCUR.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Felix Graham v. State of Mississippi
- Cited By
- 25 cases
- Status
- Published