California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Molina, G054696 (Cal. App. 2018):
The standard of review for assessing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction is "highly deferential." (People v. Lochtefeld (2000) 77 Cal.App.4th 533, 538.) Our task is to review the record in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine whether it discloses substantial evidence of the defendant's guilt. (People v. Alexander (2010) 49 Cal.4th 846, 917.) In so doing, "'[w]e presume in
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support of the judgment the existence of every fact the trier could reasonably deduce from the evidence. [Citation.]'" (Ibid.) "'The same standard of review applies to cases in which the prosecution relies primarily on circumstantial evidence . . . . [Citation.] "[I]f the circumstances reasonably justify the jury's findings, the judgment may not be reversed simply because the circumstances might also reasonably be reconciled with a contrary finding." [Citation.]'" (People v. Whisenhunt (2008) 44 Cal.4th 174, 200.)
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