—Upon Verdict of Guilty

If the jury returns a verdict of guilty, the judicial authority, upon motion of the defendant or upon its own motion, shall order the entry of a judgment of acquittal as to any offense specified in the ver- dict, or any lesser included offense, for which the evidence does not reasonably permit a finding of guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If the judicial authority directs an acquittal for the offense speci- fied in the verdict, but not for a lesser included offense, it may either: (1) Modify the verdict accordingly; or (2) Grant the defendant a new trial as to the lesser included offense. (P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 899.)