Opinion ID: 1090858
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether the trial court committed reversible error by refusing to grant a manslaughter instruction based upon the evidence.

Text: ¶ 8. Davis argues that the trial court erred in denying a manslaughter instruction because the killing occurred in the heat of passion in that Arnold's sexual advances toward Nicki supposedly enraged both Davis and Clifton. The requested manslaughter instruction, D-8, provided, in pertinent part: If you find from the evidence in this case beyond a reasonable doubt that JOSH DAVIS and no other person on or about July 30, 2001 [actually 2000] in YAZOO County acting in the heat of passion or with culpable negligence effect the death of William Arnold, then you shall find the defendant guilty of manslaughter. (emphasis in original). ¶ 9. A defendant is entitled to have jury instructions given presenting his theory of the case, but a proposed instruction can be refused if it incorrectly states the law, is fairly covered elsewhere in other instructions, or is without foundation in the evidence. Poole v. State, 826 So.2d 1222, 1230 (Miss.2002); Jones v. State, 797 So.2d 922, 927 (Miss.2001); Adams v. State, 772 So.2d 1010, 1016 (Miss.2000); Higgins v. State, 725 So.2d 220, 223 (Miss.1998). ¶ 10. In the instant case, there was no factual basis for a manslaughter instruction. The State is correct that any initial passions had cooled and that deliberation and malice had set in. After the youths had returned from the camp, Nicki and McNeer, the person who confronted Arnold about his advances toward Nicki, each went to sleep. Mike and Clifton did not arrive at the house until approximately 30 to 45 minutes later, and the drive back to the camp took about an additional 15 to 20 minutes. Furthermore, Arnold was killed while he was asleep. Davis was also not related by blood to Nicki and Clifton. Given the amount of time that transpired, any heat of passion, assuming such was even present to begin with, cooled into deliberation and malice. This assignment of error is without merit.