Jackson v. StateJackson v. State
Murder while engaged in robbery is the offense for which Tommy Lee Jackson was found guilty at his trial in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County.
Shortly before 2:00 A.M. on the morning of March 26, 1981, the appellant, Tommy Lee Jackson, was seen running out of the men‘s room of the Greyhound Bus Station on Lamar Street in Jackson, Mississippi. He drove away in a 1973 Malibu, white over blue, with heavy damage to the right front fender. William F. Hill was also seen leaving the bus stаtion men‘s room on the morning in question, bleeding considerably, distraught and muttering. In only a very
Contention of the prosecution at trial was that Jackson rоbbed Hill and beat him. The fatal heart attack resulted from the trauma and stress of the beating.
The restroom where the attack was alleged to have taken place was splattered with blood on the floor and door panels, indicating an extensive struggle where several blows would have been inflicted on the victim, Hill. Twо eyewitnesses saw Hill and Jackson struggling in the restroom. Jackson had Hill around the waist аnd it appeared that Jackson had partially pulled Hill‘s billfold out of Hill‘s back pocket. When Hill exited the restroom after Jackson fled, Hill was heard to say “Why me“, and “he got me“. Within a few moments, Hill keeled over on the floor. Jackson hurriedly lеft the scene in a car.
Forensic investigation revealed that the extensivе amounts of blood on the floor of the restroom was type A and could have been Hill‘s but not Jackson‘s. Small amounts of blood were on Jackson‘s face and left hand, presumably from his wrestling match with Hill in the restroom. It was also type A. Cause of death, according to forensic pathologist Dr. Rodrigo Galvez was cardiac arrest resulting from stress compatible with blows to Hill‘s head.
The restroom in question is shown in the record to have limited access. No one can enter unless either thе ticket agent presses a button which releases an electric security lоck or someone inside happens to be coming out. A stairwell leads to the restroom doors after one has entered the secure door from the mаin lobby which consists of two flights of twenty steps.
Jackson claimed to have entered the secure door as a large black man was leaving. He testified that, as hе entered the men‘s room, he saw Hill lying on the floor and blood splattered evеrywhere. As Jackson leaned over Hill to determine his condition, Jackson contends that Hill grabbed him and they struggled. Jackson‘s version was that Hill was trying to rob him, but the jury did not accept his version.
We have examined all assignments of error and find them to be without mеrit. Upon conflicting evidence, the jury accepted the state‘s theory and rejected Jackson‘s. Gangloff v. State, 242 Miss. 168, 134 So.2d 481 (1961). Having carefully studied all the testimony and arguments, we have concluded that the jury verdict was adequately supported by the evidence which established Jackson‘s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. No reversible error was pointed out in the briefs or oral argument. Accordingly, affirmance is required.
AFFIRMED.
PATTERSON, C.J., WALKER, P.J., аnd ROY NOBLE LEE, BOWLING, HAWKINS, DAN M. LEE, PRATHER and ROBERTSON, JJ., concur.