Jones v. Georgia
Annotate this CaseAppellant Jimmy Jones was convicted of murder and firearms offenses in connection with the shooting death of Latoya Singleton. At trial, Appellant asserted a defense of accident, testifying that he went to the victim’s home to check on their infant who had an ear infection. Appellant testified that he remembered he had left a handgun under the mattress in the victim’s bedroom, and went to retrieve it. The victim began crying when she saw Appellant with the gun, and he reassured her that the gun was not loaded. Testifying that he acted to allay the victim’s fears, Appellant held the victim in one arm, and pointed the gun downward on her head, believing she would calm down if she heard the gun click harmlessly when he pulled the trigger. The gun fired. Appellant fled the scene on foot. He later turned himself into police. Appellant contends that the evidence in this case did not support the jury’s verdict, as it was entirely circumstantial and did not exclude the reasonable hypothesis that he acted without criminal intent. The Supreme Court held that the evidence was sufficient for a rational trier of fact to find Appellant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the crimes for which he was convicted. The Court affirmed the lower courts’ decision to deny Appellant his motion for a new trial.
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