United States v. De Groot
United States v. De Groot
Opinion of the Court
The court has fully considered the various assignments of error cited by defendant’s attorneys as a basis for a new trial, and finds
As to the first. The comment made by the court upon the testimony of the witness, Josephine De Groot, was fully covered by the court’s instruction to the jury at the time and in its final instructions (instruction No. 12).
Third. Defendant complains that instruction No. 3, in which the height and weight of the deceased were pointed out to the jury, is erroneous because it does not give for comparison the height, weight, physical and mental condition of the defendant, for the purpose of comparison.
The instruction does give the height, weight, and size of the deceased as shown by the testimony, but there was no testimony adduced as to the height, weight, etc., of the defendant. However, since the defendant was present in the courtroom and in full view of the jury throughout the several days covered by the trial, there could have been no doubt or misapprehension in the minds of the jury as to the relative size of himself and the deceased, and the objection is wholly without merit.
Fourth. Defendant claims error in giving instruction No. 4, for the alleged reason that said instruction does not correctly state the law of self-defense and was not justified by the evidence.'
I have carefully gone over this instruction, and, when reád and considered in connection with the other instructions, I think it fully and fairly states the law, and was a proper application of the law to the evidence in this case.
Fifth and sixth. Defendant assigns error in the court’s refusal to give defendant’s requested instructions numbered 12 and 14. Those parts of the above instructions which are applicable and not clearly erroneous are fully
It follows that defendant’s motion for new trial must be denied, and it is so ordered.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES v. DE GROOT
- Status
- Published