MILTON v. THE STATE
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Jarvis Lamont Milton and Richard Stroud, Jr. were indicted for several crimes, including murder, in relation to the shooting death of Frederick Cade. The case was tried before a jury, and Milton was found guilty on all counts. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder charge and five years in prison for possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime. The other charges were either merged into the murder conviction or vacated. Milton filed a motion for a new trial, which was denied by the trial court.
Milton appealed his convictions, arguing that the evidence presented at trial was not sufficient for a rational trier of fact to find him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The Supreme Court of Georgia reviewed the case and the evidence presented at trial. The evidence included testimony from witnesses, including the victim's wife and Milton’s girlfriend, as well as physical evidence such as blood samples and a pendant found at the crime scene. The court also considered the conflicting testimonies given by Milton’s girlfriend during the investigation and at trial.
The Supreme Court of Georgia affirmed the lower court's decision. The court concluded that the evidence, when viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, was constitutionally sufficient to support Milton’s convictions for malice murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The court stated that even if the jury had concluded that Stroud was the shooter, the evidence was sufficient to find Milton guilty as a party to the crime. The court noted that the jury had the opportunity to assess the credibility of the witnesses and resolve any discrepancies in the evidence presented at trial.
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