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Griffin v. State

The mentally ill defendant made his statement knowingly and voluntarily.

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Eugene Griffin was found guilty but mentally ill of malice murder in the stabbing death of Mary Thomas. He appeals from the denial of his motion for new trial,1 challenging the admission of his custodial statement. Finding no error, we affirm. 1. The evidence adduced at trial authorized the jury to find that appellant stabbed and killed Thomas, his live-in girlfriend, because he believed she had engaged in sexual relations three times in one day with unidentified “Mexicans.” After the stabbing, appellant went to his neighbor’s home, knife in hand, and claimed he “got” a “Mexican,” but said nothing about the victim. The neighbor then checked on the victim and found her dead. Earlier that day, appellant, who had serious mental illnesses for which he was taking prescription medicine, was observed searching under his car and in nearby woods for persons he called “Mexicans” in such an irrational manner that the neighbor asked Thomas whether she wanted health care services contacted on appellant’s behalf; Thomas declined the offer. There was no evidence indicating the presence of any Mexicans or other Hispanic persons in or around appellant’s home that day. Appellant gave an audiotaped statement to police in which he admitted to stabbing Thomas.

The evidence was sufficient to enable a rational trier of fact to find appellant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the charged crimes. Jackson v. Virginia , 443 U.S. 307 99 SC 2781, 61 LE2d 560 1979.

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