Coulter v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

9 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 9 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “In Jackson v. State, 337 So.2d 1242 (Miss. 1976) the Court said: It is contended that the corpus delicti was not sufficiently proven prior to the admission of the confession. The corpus delicti in a homicide case consists of (1) the death of a human being, and (2) a criminal agency causing the death. The testimony showed that the body of the deceased was found at an unusual place under most unusual circumstances, bruised and swollen with indications of a rape attack. In our opinion, this was sufficient to establish criminal agency. This Court said in Buford v. State, 219 Miss. 683 , 69 So.2d 826 (1954), as follows: Where there has been a confession by the accused, much slighter evidence is required to establish the corpus delicti than would be necessary where the state must make out its entire case unaided by such confession. [Citations omitted]. The corpus delicti need not be established beyond a reasonable doubt but to a probability, and proof coupled with a confession may be considered as establishing the corpus delicti beyond a reasonable doubt. [Citations omitted]. Where there has been a confession by the accused, any corroborative evidence will be held sufficient which satisfies the mind that there is a real and not an imaginary crime to which the accused had confessed... . In a homicide case, the corpus delicti consists of the fact of death and the fact of the cause of death, and both such elements may be proved by circumstances... . Although the corpus delicti cannot ”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 524 So. 2d 957 - May v. State

2. “The standard of review for denial of a request for peremptory instruction is the same as for denial of a motion for directed verdict. The trial court must consider all the evidence in the light most favorable to the state. If the facts and reasonable inferences will support a verdict of guilty, then the directed verdict and peremptory instruction must be denied. Weeks v. State, 493 So.2d 1280, 1282 (Miss. 1986); Winston v. State, 479 So.2d 1093, 1095 (Miss. 1985); May v. State, 460 So.2d 778, 780 (Miss. 1984).”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 518 So. 2d 653 - Singleton v. State

3. “The court shall permit the jury, upon retiring for deliberation, to take to the jury room a copy of the instructions and exhibits and writings which have been received in evidence, except depositions.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 569 So. 2d 678 - Pettit v. State