Opinion ID: 1888073
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether the trial court erred in failing to reduce the charge in the indictment to manslaughter after the close of the state's case and after the close of all proof in the case

Text: ¶ 8. Roger suggests that the facts in this case clearly indicate self-defense, and that only a manslaughter instruction should have been given. He suggests the manslaughter conviction was only a compromise verdict and that without the murder instruction, there might have been no conviction at all. While this argument is tempting under the facts of this case, we have previously found such a decision to be a jury issue: A person may form an intent to kill from a sudden passion induced by insult, provocation or injury from another. In that moment of passion, while still enraged, if he slays the other person, the homicide may be manslaughter, even though it is not in necessary self-defense, depending upon the insult, provocation or injury causing the anger. Ordinarily, whether such a slaying is indeed murder or manslaughter is a question for the jury. Kinkead v. State, 190 So.2d 838 (Miss.1966); Anderson v. State, 199 Miss. 885, 25 So.2d 474 (1946). Windham v. State, 520 So.2d 123, 127 (Miss.1987). ¶ 9. Sufficient factual disputes existed in this case to require jury resolution of whether the killing was murder, manslaughter or justifiable homicide. Roger admitted he never saw Eky with a gun on the day of the incident, and he admitted he was not looking for a weapon. Witnesses testified that Eky had nothing in his hands when he was shot. In addition, Eky had apparently threatened Roger and he left promising to return. Rather than fleeing, Roger retrieved his gun, loaded it, and returned to face Eky. Evidently Roger had decided to end Eky's life of crime upon his return since he testified, Well, I was going to wait and try to, like, catch him reaching for his (gun)and try to get him before he got to me. Reginald Webster even testified that Roger held a gun over Eky after he shot him as Eky struggled to get up. These factual issues required jury resolution, and the giving of both the murder and manslaughter instructions was proper.