State v. Brooks

Citations

• 2019 Ohio 4060

Syllabus

Sufficiency of evidence felonious assault. Sufficiency is a test of adequacy. Whether the evidence is legally sufficient to sustain a verdict is a question of law. When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction, an appellate court examines the evidence admitted at trial to determine whether such evidence, if believed, would convince the average mind of the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In the instant case, the state presented evidence that Brooks stabbed F.L. in the back that she turned and saw that it was Brooks and that she attempted to wrestle the knife away, but was stabbed again. The state also presented Brooks's motive for the stabbing: that F.L. identified as transgender. In addition, the state presented testimony from Officer Hinkle that F.L. identified Brooks as the assailant. Further, the state presented evidence that F.L. had to receive medical attention for her injuries. We conclude, the above evidence, if believed, would convince the average mind of Brooks's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.