Hester v. State

Evidence that the defendant was a longtime alcoholic, did not have a major mental illness, understood the nature and object of the legal proceedings and could assist her attorney at trial, authorized the special jury to find the defendant competent to stand trial.

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On the evening of August 7, 2003, Appellant Edna Irene Hester threw a glass-jug lamp which struck both her boyfriend, Eddie Phillips, and her sister, Donna Parris. Appellant had been fighting with Ms. Parris and, while throwing the lamp, cursed Mr. Phillips. Ms. Parris suffered a severe scalp laceration, which caused massive blood loss resulting in her death hours later. Mr. Phillips was also struck in the head, losing consciousness and requiring seven stitches. Appellant was charged with alternative counts of malice murder and felony murder, and two counts of aggravated assault. She filed demurrers to the indictment, which the trial court overruled. Thereafter, a jury found against a special plea of incompetence to stand trial. Appellant was tried before a jury and found guilty of felony murder and both counts of aggravated assault. The trial court entered judgments of conviction for felony murder and one count of aggravated assault, merged the other aggravated assault count into the felony murder, and sentenced Appellant to life imprisonment for the murder and to a concurrent term of years for aggravated assault. A motion for new trial was denied, and Appellant appeals.

1. When construed most strongly in support of the verdicts, the evidence was sufficient to enable a rational trier of fact to find Appellant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the crimes for which she was convicted. Jackson v. Virginia , 443 U.307 99 SC 2781, 61 LE2d 560 1979.

Hester v. State

Evidence that the defendant was a longtime alcoholic, did not have a major mental illness, understood the nature and object of the legal proceedings and could assist her attorney at trial, authorized the special jury to find the defendant competent to stand trial.

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