Smith v. State
Smith v. State
Opinion of the Court
In the course of the charge, the judge, after instructing the jury as to the reasonable doubt, substantially in the language of the statute, gave the following additional instruction: —
66 By the words, 6 beyond a reasonable doubt,’ is not meant beyond a possible doubt, nor beyond an imaginary doubt, nor beyond a doubt which might arise in a supposed case, but such a doubt as naturally presents itself to the mind in view of all the evidence, and as would arise in the minds of men of good judgment and sense. Unless all the material facts proven should establish the conclusion that the defendant is guilty, to the exclusion of a reasonable belief that he is not, the jury should acquit.”
The substance of the first sentence in the extract quoted has been condemned as erroneous (Bray v. The State, 41 Texas, 560), and the last sentence but magnifies the error. The establishment of a conclusion in the minds of the jury
The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.