Motions for directed verdict are abolished. The court on motion of a defendant or of its own motion shall order the entry of judgment or acquittal of one or more offenses of the information or complaint at any time after the evidence on either side is closed if the court deems the evidence insufficient to warrant a conviction of such offense or offenses.
If a motion for judgment of acquittal is made at the close of all the evidence, the court may reserve decision on the motion, submit the case to the jury, and decide the motion either before the jury has returned a verdict or after it has returned a verdict or has been discharged without having returned a verdict. If the motion is denied before a verdict of guilty is returned or the jury is discharged without rendering a verdict, the motion may be renewed within the jurisdictional term of five (5) days after the verdict is returned or the jury is discharged provided no judgment has been entered.
History —Aug. 31, 2000, No. 270, § 1.