Rodriguez v. State
Rodriguez v. State
Opinion of the Court
This is an appeal from a judgment of conviction for an assault with intent to murder, the punishment being affixed at four years’ imprisonment in the penitentiary.
Concisely stated, the facts in evidence are substantially
It is needless, perhaps, to remark that the statement of the circumstances as detailed by Rendon and Catarina Gomez in their testimony differs quite materially in many particulars from the above, but it is to be remembered that
Upon this state of facts two issues were clearly raised by the defence: first, had death ensued, would the homicide have amounted to a higher grade of crime than manslaughter? and second, self-defence. “ Manslaughter is voluntary homicide committed under the immediate influence of sudden passion arising from an adequate cause, but neither justified nor excused by law.” Penal Code, art. 593. “ The following are deemed adequate causes : First, An assault and battery by the deceased, causing pain or bloodshed. Second, A serious personal conflict in which great injury is inflicted by the person killed, by means of weapons or other instruments of violence, or by means of great superiority of personal strength, although the person guilty of the homicide were the aggressor, provided such aggression was not made with intent to bring on a conflict and for the purpose of killing.” Penal Code, art. 597.
This issue was not presented and submitted in the general charge, nor by the special instruction given the jury at the instance of the defendant. It was part of the law applicable to the case as made by the evidence, and, had it been submitted and the jury have taken that view of the case, they could not have found defendant guilty of a higher offence than aggravated assault.
Upon self-defence the court charged the jury as follows : ‘ If the jury believe from the evidence that said Rendon attacked the defendant with a stick with which he could have killed the defendant, as he used it, or have inflicted upon him great personal injury, and the life of defendant was endangered thereby, or that he was in danger of great bodily harm by reason of said attach, then the defendant
The defect apparent in this instruction is that it bases the right of self-defence upon the fact that the life of defendant was actually endangered, or that he was in actual danger of serious bodily injury. To justify self-defence, the law does not require the presence and existence of real, actual danger. If it is such as creates reasonable apprehension, or produces reasonable expectation or fear of death, or of some serious bodily injury, in the mind of the party affected by it, it is sufficient. Penal Code, art. 574; May v. The State, 6 Texas Ct. App. 191; Marnoch v. The State, 7 Texas Ct. App. 269.
The ninth paragraph of the charge is also erroneous. It. is as follows : “ If, from the evidence, you find the defendant guilty of an aggravated assault, you will assess his punishment by fine not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not less than one month nor more than two years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.”
The punishment denounced for aggravated assault, by our Code, is, “ by fine of not less than twenty-five nor more than one thousand dollars,” and imprisonment as stated by the court. Penal Code, art. 498.
There are other errors of minor importance in the record, which it is unnecessary that we should discuss, as they are not likely to arise upon another trial.
Because the charge of the court did not submit the law applicable to the case, the judgment is reversed and cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.