Sign In
Events
Newsletters
Search

Close

Close Search

Cancel

SEARCH
MY LAW.COMNEW

Mayes v. State

Evidence that the defendant shot and killed the victim after he interceded in an argument between the defendant's companion and an eyewitness supported his malice murder conviction.

X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

Christopher Bernard Mayes was convicted of malice murder and possession of a firearm during commission of a crime.1 Two witnesses testified that when they and Christopher Jester, the victim, arrived at a restaurant, Mayes and a companion were standing in the parking lot. Mayes’s companion began an argument with one of the witnesses. When Jester interposed, seeking to end the argument, Mayes produced a pistol and shot Jester once in the chest. Mayes and the other man fled, but one of them fired another shot which hit the van in which Jester had arrived. Police officers responding to a 911 call apprehended both men. A pistol recovered nearby was determined to be the weapon from which the fatal shot was fired. Mayes did not testify at trial, but claimed in a statement to police that the one shot he fired did not hit Jester. Other defense evidence indicated that Mayes’s companion took the weapon from him and fired it, and had bloodstains on his shirt.

Mayes’s only enumerations of error are that the evidence was insufficient to authorize his convictions and that the trial court erred in denying his motion for directed verdict. The appellate standard for both those issues is the “sufficiency of the evidence” test of Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 99 SC 2781, 61 LE2d 560 1979, i.e., whether the evidence adduced at trial was sufficient to authorize a rational trier of fact to find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Moore v. State, 273 Ga. 11 1 537 SE2d 334 2000. The testimony of two eyewitnesses that Mayes used a firearm to shoot the victim to death was sufficient to meet that standard. DeLoach v. State, 272 Ga. 890 1 536 SE2d 153 2000.

Trending Stories

 
Reprints & Licensing
Mentioned in a Law.com story?

License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand.

LEARN MORE

More From ALM

Premium Subscription
With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas.
View Now
Team Accounts
Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team.
View Now
Bundle Subscriptions
Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same.
View Now
Go to CLE Center
New York Legal Awards 2024
September 05, 2024
New York, NY

The New York Law Journal honors attorneys and judges who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession in New York.


Learn More
African Legal Awards 2024
September 06, 2024
Johannesburg

The African Legal Awards recognise exceptional achievement within Africa s legal community during a period of rapid change.


Learn More
Consulting Best Firms to Work For 2024
September 12, 2024
New York, NY

Consulting Magazine identifies the best firms to work for in the consulting profession.


Learn More
Go to Events Go to Webcasts
Marketing Coordinator / Business Development

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY Pulsar Title Insurance Company Inc., a commercial and residential title insurance underwriter based in the Bato...


Apply Now ›
Juvenile Dependency Attorney II/III/IV

RECRUITMENT BONUS Newly hired employees from this recruitment may be eligible to receive bonus payments up to $3,000!* FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE: ...


Apply Now ›
Litigation Counsel - Multiple Offices

Morristown, NJ; New York, NY Description: Fox Rothschild has an opening in multiple offices for a Counsel in our Litigation Department. The ...


Apply Now ›
Go to Lawjobs
Lawyers of Distinction
06/27/2024
The American Lawyer

Professional Announcement


View Announcement ›
SMGQ Law
06/21/2024
Daily Business Review

Full Page Announcement


View Announcement ›
Go to Professional Announcements