Walton v. State
Walton v. State
Opinion of the Court
1. On the trial of a defendant indicted for murder, where the homicide is proved, the presumption is that the killing was murder. If there be circumstances of justification or mitigation, the burden of proving them is on the defendant, unless they appear from the evidence offered by the State. Fitzpatrick v. State, 149 Ga. 75 (3) (99 S. E. 128); Mann v. State, 124 Ga. 760 (53 S. E. 324, 4 L. R. A. (N. S.) 934).
2. If one intentionally shoots another with a pistol, and the person shot dies from the wound, this presents no theory of involuntary manslaughter. Norton v. State, 137 Ga. 842 (4) (74 S. E. 759).
3. Under the evidence, the homicide was either murder or accidental homicide within the meaning of the Code, § 26-404. The law of involuntary manslaughter as defined in §§ 26-1006, 26-1009, was not involved. Hill v. State, 41 Ga. 484, 505-506. The court having charged the jury “that a person shall not be found guilty of any crime or misdemeanor committed by misfortune or accident, and where it satisfactorily appears there was no evil design, or intention, or culpable neglect,” it was not error to omit to charge the law as relates to involuntary manslaughter.
4. The court instructed the jury: “The court charges you, gentlemen, the meaning of. justifiable homicide. Justifiable homicide is the killing of a human being by commandment of the law, in the execution of public justice, by permission of the law in the advancement of public justice, in self-defense, or in defense of habitation, property, or person against one who manifestly intends or endeavors by violence or surprise, to commit a felony on either, or against any persons who' manifestly intend and endeavor in a riotous or tumultuous manner to enter the habitation of another, for .the purpose of assaulting or offering personal
5. On application of the rulings stated above to the pleadings and the evidence, the jury was authorized to return the verdict declaring the defendant guilty, with a recommendation; and there was no error in refusing a new trial. Judgment affirmed.
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