What is the test for overturning a murder conviction?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Rowley, E063254 (Cal. App. 2016):

Rowley argues his first degree murder conviction should be reversed because there is insufficient evidence he shot Stordahl after the requisite premeditation and deliberation. When reviewing a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, our inquiry "is whether, on review of the entire record in the light most favorable to the judgment, any rational trier of fact could have found the elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt." (People v. Young (2005) 34 Cal.4th 1149, 1180 (Young).) "In deciding the sufficiency of the evidence, a reviewing court resolves neither credibility issues nor evidentiary conflicts. [Citation.] Resolution of conflicts and inconsistencies in the testimony is the exclusive province of the trier of fact. [Citation.] Moreover, unless the testimony is physically impossible or inherently improbable, testimony of a single witness is sufficient to support a conviction. [Citation.]." (Id. at p. 1181.)

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