Video: Appeals Court Says No to New Trial

WEST POINT, Miss. (WCBI) -The Mississippi Court of Appeals rejects a Clay County man’s request for a new trial.

Tavaris Collins was convicted of the New Year’s Day 2012 murder of 16 year old Devin Mitchell of Starkville.

The shooting happened outside a West Point apartment.

In his appeal, Collins argued the conviction of first degree murder was incorrect because the state did not prove he meant to specifically kill Mitchell.

Collins stats only that he fired a gun in Mitchell’s direction, which would make the crime second degree murder at best.

Collins also argued his lawyer should have not let testimony of prior criminal acts to be admitted as evidence.

The court rejected the claims and ordered his conviction and life sentence to stand.