Bell v. State

Telephone records, security videotape, and the deposit of money into the defendant's account two days after the armed robbery corroborated the testimony of the defendant's co-conspirator.

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Deldrick Bell contends the evidence produced at trial was insufficient to support his conviction of armed robbery. We disagree and affirm. On appeal from a criminal conviction, the evidence must be construed in the light most favorable to the verdict, and the appellant no longer enjoys a presumption of innocence. An appellate court determines only the legal sufficiency of the evidence adduced below and does not weigh the evidence or assess the credibility of the witnesses. Brown v. State, 265 Ga. App. 613 594 SE2d 770 2004. To sustain a conviction, the evidence must be sufficient to enable a rational trier of fact to find the appellant guilty of the crimes charged beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia , 443 U. S. 307 99 SC 2781, 61 LE2d 560 1979.

The evidence produced at trial shows Bell was employed by a national auto parts store, and he worked at the Lilburn location in Gwinnett County. Bell’s relative by marriage, Christopher Pritchett, who was also a college friend, and who lives in Birmingham, Alabama, testified that on the evening of January 25, 2008, Bell called to say he was the closing manager of the store and to ask Pritchett to bring some people over to Lilburn to rob the store. Bell agreed, and he arranged for Nigel Summers and Alford Dawkins to go on the expedition; the three young men left that night. During the trip, Bell gave Pritchett directions over the phone and explained that the robbers should get the cash register and the drop box. When they arrived, Pritchett called Bell, told him they were outside, and hung up. Shortly thereafter, Bell called back and told the robbers to “go on and go in.” Summers and Dawkins went in the store dressed in black, wearing skull caps, and carrying guns.

Bell v. State

Telephone records, security videotape, and the deposit of money into the defendant's account two days after the armed robbery corroborated the testimony of the defendant's co-conspirator.

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