Defendant Nicole Boynton was convicted of felony murder, predicated on the underlying felony of aggravated assault, in connection with the stabbing death of her boyfriend, Ronnie Moss.*
Boynton and Moss lived together with their nine-month-old baby. On the day in question, the couple quarreled and their quarreling escalated into a fight. The fight was interrupted when several young girls, who heard the commotion, knocked on the door. Moss answered, assured the girls that everything was all right, and closed the door. In the meantime, Boynton went into the kitchen, grabbed a steak knife and confronted Moss, holding the knife overhead. Moss
Boynton called 911 and an ambulance rushed to the scene. But it was too late to save Moss.
An autopsy revealed a number of superficial knife wounds to Moss’ chest, as well as a single deep penetrating wound to the heart. Moss died as a result of that single wound.
1. The evidence was sufficient to enable any rational trier of fact to find Boynton guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of felony murder and aggravated assault. Jackson v. Virginia,
2. In its original charge, the trial court instructed the jury on the law of felony murder, aggravated assault, justification and accident. In the midst of deliberations, the jury sought further guidance on the law of felony murder. Thereupon, the trial court recharged the jury on felony murder and justification. Noting that Boynton’s actions appeared to be intentional, the trial court declined to recharge the jury on accident. Boynton asserts the trial court’s failure to recharge on accident was harmful error. We disagree.
When a jury requests additional instructions on a point of law, the trial court in its discretion can recharge in full or limit its recharge to the scope of the jury’s request. Duffie v. State,
The trial court did not abuse its discretion by refusing to recharge on accident inasmuch as the jury did not seek a recharge on that point of law. Simply put, the recharge addressed, and was adjusted to, the jury’s recharge request. Hobson v. State, supra.
3. “Unless clearly erroneous, a trial court’s findings as to factual determinations and credibility relating to the admissibility of a defendant’s statement at a Jackson v. Denno hearing will be upheld on appeal. [Cit.]” Grier v. State,
Judgment affirmed.
Notes
Moss was killed on September 30, 1999, and Boynton was indicted on December 20, 2001, on charges of malice murder, felony murder predicated on aggravated assault, as well as a separate incident of aggravated assault upon Moss. The trial concluded on November 15, 2002, and the jury returned its verdict finding Boynton guilty of felony murder and aggravated assault. Boynton was sentenced to life in prison for felony murder and a concurrent five-year term for aggravated assault. Boynton’s timely filed motion for new trial was denied on April 15, 2003, and Boynton filed a notice of appeal on April 24, 2003. The case was docketed in this Court on May 7, 2003, and submitted for decision on briefs on June 30, 2003.