Case ID: ad_57/html/0091-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Hibschbebg, J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Nicholas Epaski, Appellant.
    
      Murder — a defendant is not bound to establish a plea of self-defense to the satisfaction of the jury — the People are not entitled to a verdict of manslaughter if the hilling was justified.
    
    Where a person on trial for murder in the second degree interposes the plea of self-defense, it is error for the court to charge the jury “if you find that the defendant admits the killing, then you are to say whether he has established to your satisfaction that he was justified in killing,” as such a ruling precluded an acquittal unless the defendant succeeded in establishing his justification to the satisfaction of the jury, notwithstanding the fact, that the evidence might be adequate to create a reasonable doubt upon that point, in which case it seems that the defendant would be entitled to an acquittal.
    A charge that “if the knife was thrust into the face of this defendant, if the threat was made, and the defendant believed that his life was in danger, then he had a right to shoot, and the only question for you then would be wnether it is manslaughter in the first degree or acquittal entirely,” is erroneous, its effect being to instruct the jury that they might convict the defendant of manslaughter in the first degree, even if the killing was justifiable.
    The error is not cured by the fact that the definition of justifiable homicide contained in the Penal Code is subsequently read to the jury.
    Appeal by the defendant, Nicholas Epaski, from a judgment of the County Court of Wéstchester county in favor of the plaintiff, rendered on the 1st day of February, 1900, upon the verdict of a jury convicting him of the crime of manslaughter in the first degree.
    
      John Palmieri, for the appellant.
    
      George O. Andrews, 'District Attorney, for the respondent.
   Hibschbebg, J.:

A large number of alleged errors are assigned by the appellant, of which but two will be considered in disposing of the appeal. The ' others mainly relate to rulings upon the admission or rejection of evidence, and may be obviated on another trial.

The indictment charged murder in the second degree.' It was substantially admitted that the defendant shot and killed the' deceased, but the defendant claimed that he was acting in self-defense. In support of the defense evidence was given tending to establish that at the time of the shooting the deceased was engaged in a violent assault upon the defendant with a knife, and from which the defendant might reasonably have apprehended an intent to take his life. The learned trial court charged correctly on the general propositions as to the burden of proof and the necessity of the establishing by the prosecution of every essential element of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and was then requested by defendant’s counsel to charge as follows : Defendant is not required, as a matter of law, to establish beyond a reasonable doubt the defense of justifiable homicide, but, on the contrary, the burden is upon the prosecution to prove that the killing was without justification, and this must be established by evidence beyond a reasonable'doubt.” The court said: I charge you, gentlemen, upon that question, that it is the duty of the people to prove to your satisfaction, beyond a reasonable doubt, every material fact necessary to make out their case, but that in this case if you find that the defendant admits the killing, then you are to say whether he has established to your satis faction that he was justified in killing.” To this the defendant excepted. The charge was clearly erroneous. It precluded an acquittal unless the defendant succeeded in establishing his justification to the satisfaction of the jury, notwithstanding the fact that it might be adequate to create a reasonable doubt upon that point. The error was emphasized by the court in its response to a further request, viz., that “ the defendant at the bar is not required, as a matter of law, to prove his innocence, and before the jury can consider his defense at all they must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the prosecution has established its case against said defendant.” In response to this request the court said : “ I so charge, except as before stated. If you find that the defendant admits the shooting then it is for him to prove to your satisfaction that he was justified in doing the shooting.” To this the defendant excepted, and also excepted generally to that portion of the charge “ wherein it was stated that if the jury find that the deceased was killed by the defendant it is incumbent upon the defendant to show whether the shooting was justifiable or not.”

That the charge was erroneous requires no special discussion. The subject was thoroughly considered in People v. Shanley (49 App. Div. 56), and the true rule stated by Mr. Justice Hatch (at p. 60): “ When the People have made a case which establishes the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt, it may always be said that the defendant is called upon to answer, and in a sense it may be said that he is required to establish his defense. In this sense he bears a burden ; but he is not required to satisfy the jury of anything. If his proof fall short of establishing justification, it may yet be sufficient to establish a defense by creating a reasonable doubt of his guilt, and if it go to this extent he is entitled to an acquittal.”

The second ground of error to be considered is presented by a portion of the main charge in these words : “How, if the knife was thrust into the face of this defendant, if the threat was made, and the defendant believed that his life was in danger, then he had a right to shoot, and the only question for yon then would be whether it is manslaughter in the first degree or acquittal entirely.” The learned district attorney does not attempt to justify this part of the charge, but claims that it was not prejudicial to the defendant inasmuch as the jury afterwards asked to have the law relating to justifiable homicide read to them. The court did, it is true, read to the jury the definition of justifiable homicide as. contained in the Penal Code (§ 205), but the definition contains no statement or suggestion that justifiable homicide requires an acquittal, and the court nowhere qualified the previous statement that if the jury believed the killing was justifiable it would still Ue their duty to determine whether the defendant should be acquitted or convicted of manslaughter in tlie first degree. Nor can it ever be said that a defendant is not prejudiced when the jury, having been told that he must prove to their satisfaction that he has killed his assailant in self-defense, are further. informed that even upon such proof they may convict him of the crime of manslaughter in the first degree. The only way to cure .such an error .or to .destroy its harmful effect would be to explicitly withdraw the erroneous charge, and to substitute the correct rule in its place.

The judgment must be reversed, .

All concurred,, except Sewell, J., taking no part.

Judgment of conviction reversed and new trial ordered.