Sears v. State
Annotate this CaseDefendant was convicted of felony murder in connection with the death of a 16-month-girl. On appeal, he argued that the evidence was insufficient to show that he acted with the requisite mens rea and that the trial court erred by declining to instruct the jury on his proposed accident offense. The court held that the evidence presented at trial was sufficient to authorize a rational jury to find beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant acted with malice and was guilty of the crime for which he was convicted. The court also held that the jury was properly and fully instructed that the State had the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant acted with the requisite malicious intent to commit each of the crimes charged and the evidence that defendant acted with malicious intent was overwhelming.
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