Wallace v. State
Wallace v. State
Opinion of the Court
This appeal is the second appearance of this case. In the earlier appeal, this Court reversed Jermeal Wallace’s conviction for malice murder because of unconstitutional burden-shifting jury charges on intent and malice.
The evidence and proceedings in this case are set out fully in the prior appeal. Wallace was convicted of malice murder and two counts of felony murder for the death of the single victim. After this Court’s reversal of the malice murder conviction, the trial court sentenced Wallace to concurrent sentences on both felony murder counts. However, sentencing on only one count was proper,
The underlying felony on one count was possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As detailed in Wallace I, the charge on intent was unconstitutional in that it told the jury that the law presumes the intent to kill from the use of a deadly weapon. However, unlike malice murder, neither felony murder nor possession of a firearm by a convicted felon requires proof of an intent to kill.
Judgment affirmed in part and vacated in part.
Wallace v. State, 275 Ga. 879 (572 SE2d 579) (2002).
Malcolm v. State, 263 Ga. 369, 371-372 (434 SE2d 479) (1993).
Smith v. State, 244 Ga. 814, 821-822 (262 SE2d 116) (1979).
Because only one sentence on felony murder was proper, we need not decide whether the erroneous charge affected the remaining felony murder count, which was based in part upon aggravated assault with intent to murder, rape, or rob.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- WALLACE v. State
- Status
- Published