Coleman v. State
| Docket Number: | 2003-KA-01357-COA | |
| Court of Appeals: |
Opinion Link Opinion Date: 06-29-2004 Opinion Author: Thomas, J. Holding: Affirmed |
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| Additional Case Information: |
Topic: Deliberate design murder - Sufficiency of evidence Judge(s) Concurring: King, C.J., Bridges and Southwick, P.JJ., Lee, Irving, Myers, Chandler and Griffis, JJ. Procedural History: Jury Trial Nature of the Case: CRIMINAL - FELONY |
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| Trial Court: |
Date of Trial Judgment: 05-20-2003 Appealed from: Bolivar County Circuit Court Judge: Kenneth L. Thomas Disposition: MURDER: SENTENCED TO LIFE IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, THE SENTENCE IMPOSED IN THIS CAUSE SHALL RUN CONSECUTIVE TO ANY AND ALL SENTENCES PREVIOUSLY IMPOSED. District Attorney: Laurence Y. Mellen Case Number: 2003-017-CR2 |
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| Party Name: | Attorney Name: | |||
| Appellant: | Pheliphae Coleman |
RAYMOND L. WONG |
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| Appellee: | State of Mississippi | OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY: W. GLENN WATTS |
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Synopsis provided by:  If you are interested in subscribing to the weekly synopses of all Mississippi Supreme Court and Court of Appeals hand downs please contact Tammy Upton in the MLI Press office. |
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| Topic: | Deliberate design murder - Sufficiency of evidence |
| Summary of the Facts: | Pheliphae Coleman was convicted of deliberate design murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. He appeals. |
| Summary of Opinion Analysis: | Coleman argues that the evidence is insufficient. No direct evidence linked Coleman to the murder, and Coleman contended that he merely happened upon his girlfriend after she had been fatally shot by herself or some unknown person. The test to be applied in considering the sufficiency of the proof based on circumstantial evidence is whether a rational fact finder might reasonably conclude that the evidence excludes every reasonable hypothesis inconsistent with guilt of the crime charged. Dr. Steven Hayne performed an autopsy, and his testimony rebutted the contention of suicide. The testimony of two witnesses that Coleman's pants pocket showed the outline of a handgun on the evening of the shooting, his suspicious behavior in removing a shell casing, and his refusal to answer the question of a bystander as to who shot the victim, as well as his leaving the scene upon the appearance of law enforcement, created an inference of Coleman's guilt. This evidence was sufficient to support the verdict. |
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