Bradley v. State
Bradley v. State
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff in error, John H. Bradley, was indicted and tried in the Circuit Court of Holmes County for murder in the first degree, was convicted of and sentenced for murder in the second degree, and by writ of error brings this judgment here for review.
Charges of the Court must be based upon facts in proof, and if not so based upon the facts in proof, it is error to give them, and the court below erred in giving the quoted charge. Irvin v. State, 19 Fla. 872; Washington v. State, 21 Fla. 328; Lewton v. Hower, 35 Fla. 58, 16 South. Rep. 616; Doyle v. State, 39 Fla. 155, 22 South. Rep. 272; West v. State, 55 Fla. 200, 46 South. Rep. 93.
That it was harmful error to the plaintiff in error we think is patent. The evidence in the case seems to us to preponderate towards making out a case of self defense. The questioned charge deprives him of the right to self defense, if he laid in wait for the deceased, or if he followed him up for a difficulty with him, when there is not
In what we have said, we have practically disposed of both assignments of error.
The judgment of the court below in said case must be, and is hereby reversed at the cost of Holmes County.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- John H. Bradley, in Error v. The State of Florida, in Error
- Cited By
- 7 cases
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- Published
- Syllabus
- CRIMINAL LAW — HOMICIDE—CHARGES TO JURY BY THE COURT MUST BE BASED UPON THE FACTS IN PROOF, AND IF PREDICATED UPON FACTS STATED THEREIN, OF WHICH THERE IS NO PROOF, THEY ARE ERRONEOUS. 1'. Charges of the court must be based upon facts in proof, and if not’so based upon the facts in proof it is error to give them. ■2. Where,a charge by the court to the jury is predicated upon facts stated therein, of which facts there is no proof, such charge is error.