Rayford v. State


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Docket Number: 2009-KA-01160-COA
Court of Appeals: Opinion Link
Opinion Date: 10-19-2010
Opinion Author: Lee, P.J.
Holding: Affirmed.
Additional Case Information: Topic: Murder - Insanity - M’Naghten test
Judge(s) Concurring: King, C.J., Myers, P.J., Irving, Griffis, Barnes, Ishee, Roberts, Carlton and Maxwell, JJ.
Procedural History: Jury Trial
Nature of the Case: CRIMINAL-FELONY
Trial Court: Date of Trial Judgment: 08-11-2005
Appealed from: Harrison County Circuit Court
Judge: Jerry O. Terry, Sr.
Disposition: CONVICTED OF MURDER AND SENTENCED TO LIFE IN THE CUSTODY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
District Attorney: Cono A. Caranna, II
Case Number: B2401-02-922
  Party Name: Attorney Name:   Brief(s) Available:
Appellant: Carl Edward Rayford




 HUNTER NOLAN AIKENS



  
  • Appellant #1 Brief
    		•
    Appellee: State of Mississippi OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL: LADONNA C. HOLLAND  
    Synopsis provided by:

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    Topic: Murder - Insanity - M’Naghten test
    Summary of the Facts: Carl Rayford was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life. He appeals.
    Summary of Opinion Analysis: Rayford argues that the State did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was legally sane at the time he shot the victim. Under the M’Naghten test for determining whether a person was sane at the time of the crime, the accused must be laboring under such defect of reason from disease of the mind as not to know the nature and quality of the act he was doing, or if he did know it, that he did not know that what he was doing was wrong. A psychiatrist testified on behalf of Rayford, and a psychiatrist testified for the State. In addition to the testimony of the State’s psychiatrist, there was evidence that: Rayford was upset with his co-workers; Rayford had trouble sleeping prior to the murder because of his relationship with his co-workers; and Rayford acted purposefully immediately after shooting the victim. The jury did not find that the evidence supported a finding of insanity, and there is substantial evidence to support the jury’s verdict.


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