Coleman v. State

5 Citing cases

  1. Dolvin v. State

    391 So. 2d 666 (Ala. Crim. App. 1979)   Cited 48 times
    Holding that murder is an indivisible offense and therefore only one state can properly have jurisdiction

    The finding of a dead body or skeleton the appearance of which shows acts of violence, as where the injuries were apparently sufficient to cause death and the surrounding circumstances exclude inferences of accident or suicide, may be sufficient, under the particular circumstances to prove the corpus delicti. Coleman v. State, 57 Ala. App. 392, 328 So.2d 642 (1976); 41 C.J.S. Homicide § 312 (1944). The State is not required to prove guilt beyond all doubt but only beyond a reasonable doubt.

  2. Henley v. State

    361 So. 2d 1148 (Ala. Crim. App. 1978)   Cited 29 times

    Neither constitutionally permissible proof of defendant's voluntary confession nor proof of the corpus delicti, standing alone, is sufficient to sustain a conviction, but the evidence is sufficient if it contains proof of such a confession and proof of the corpus delicti by evidence not furnished by defendant. Mose v. State, 36 Ala. 211 (1860); White v. State, 49 Ala. 344 (1873); Hicks v. State, 247 Ala. 439, 25 So.2d 139 (1946); Gaddis v. State, 39 Ala. App. 630, 106 So.2d 268 (1958); Arnold v. State, 57 Ala. App. 172, 326 So.2d 700 (1976); Tanner v. State, 57 Ala. App. 254, 327 So.2d 749 (1976); Coleman v. State, 57 Ala. App. 392, 328 So.2d 642 (1976). Defendant took the stand on the trial and denied guilt and repudiated the confession he had made.

  3. Waters v. State

    360 So. 2d 358 (Ala. Crim. App. 1978)   Cited 30 times
    In Waters, supra, the defendant was found in possession of a phonograph some 16 months after it had been reported stolen in a burglary.

    Where there are uncorroborated facts and circumstances which tend to show the corpus delicti, a voluntary confession may be introduced to satisfy the jury beyond a reasonable doubt as to the existence of the corpus delicti. Bridges v. State, 284 Ala. 412, 225 So.2d 821 (1969); Coleman v. State, 57 Ala. App. 392, 328 So.2d 642 (1976). We point out further that appellant's argument is not well taken in that he made no objection on this ground to admitting the confession.

  4. Thompson v. State

    358 So. 2d 1069 (Ala. Crim. App. 1978)   Cited 1 times

    ". . . `inconclusive facts and circumstances tending prima facie to show the corpus delicti may be aided by the admissions or confession of the accused so as to satisfy the jury beyond a reasonable doubt, and so to support a conviction, although such facts and circumstances, standing alone, would not thus satisfy the jury of the existence of the corpus delicti. . . .'" (Citations omitted.) See also: Coleman v. State, 57 Ala. App. 392, 328 So.2d 642 (1976); Gaddis, supra. Proof presented at trial showed that the victim was a five-year-old girl who suffered an injury to her vagina.

  5. Gibson v. State

    347 So. 2d 576 (Ala. Crim. App. 1977)   Cited 48 times

    The proof of the corpus delicti aided by the confession of the appellant was sufficient to satisfy the jury beyond a reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the accused. Coleman v. State, 57 Ala. App. 392, 328 So.2d 642 (1976). II