Opinion ID: 1832223
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: ...... did the court err in refusing a manslaughter instruction?

Text: Lanier contends the trial court erred in refusing him a manslaughter instruction. Instruction D-10 was requested and refused by the trial court. The reason or reasons for its refusal is not revealed by the record although we do observe instructions on self-defense were granted. The defendant cites in support of his contention Beck v. Alabama, 447 U.S. 625, 100 S.Ct. 2382, 65 L.Ed.2d 392 (1980), and Hopper v. Evans, 456 U.S. 605, 102 S.Ct. 2049, 72 L.Ed.2d 367 (1982), both of which unequivocally hold that a manslaughter instruction is proper and essential when the evidence warrants. This, of course, accords with this Court's holding in Jackson v. State, 337 So.2d 1242, 1255 (Miss. 1976), where we held that instructions on a lesser included offense, should only be given after the trial court has carefully considered the evidence and is of the opinion that such an instruction is justified by the evidence. See Dase v. State, 356 So.2d 1179 (Miss. 1978); Lee v. State, 130 Miss. 852, 94 So. 889 (1923); and other cases to the same effect which are too numerous to mention. In fact this Court has held in the following cases that the homicide of a law enforcing officer can be manslaughter. See Williams v. State, 122 Miss. 151, 84 So. 8, 14 (1919) (homicide of a deputy sheriff); Jones v. State, 170 Miss. 581, 587, 155 So. 430, 432 (1934) (homicide of city policeman); Coleman v. State, 218 Miss. 246, 67 So.2d 304, 305 (1953) (homicide of a town marshall). More recently in Spencer v. State, 348 So.2d 1030 (Miss. 1977), a prosecution for the capital murder of a police officer under Mississippi Code Annotated, § 97-3-19(2)(a), (Supp. 1976), it was held that manslaughter was an appropriate lesser included offense and that a manslaughter instruction should be granted on retrial to accord with the dictates of Jackson v. State. The state acknowledges the import of Beck v. Alabama , and Hopper v. Evans , but contends the evidence in this case does not warrant such an instruction and therefore there was no error in refusing it. The state then contends, as we understand its brief, Mississippi Code Annotated, § 97-3-19(2)(a), (Supp. 1974), only requires proof of (1) the victim was a peace officer or fireman acting in his official capacity; and (2) the defendant had knowledge that the victim was such officer to establish guilt of capital murder. From this it is argued the only method the defendant could meritoriously claim entitlement to a manslaughter instruction would be the lack of proof on either one or both of the two essential elements named to raise the homicide to capital status. It is then urged that the court should draw an analogy in this case to that which was held in Bell v. Watkins, 692 F.2d 999 (5th Cir.1982), a capital murder case of this state predicated upon the felony-murder doctrine. It was held in Bell that once the underlying felony is proved, there is no lesser included offense such as simple murder. This holding is the result of an analysis of Mississippi Code Annotated, § 97-3-19 (1972), which designates as capital any homicide perpetrated during an enumerated felony. Though admitting Bell to be inapposite the state nevertheless asks this Court to adapt such logic to the slaying of a peace officer or fireman while either is acting in an official capacity. We reject this analogy because § 97-3-19(2)(a) does not set forth an underlying felony as does § 97-3-19(1)(a), (b), (c) (Supp. 1982), and moreover it overlooks this Court's holding in Spencer v. State, 348 So.2d 1030 (Miss. 1977), and Jackson v. State, 337 So.2d 1242 (Miss. 1976), both of which authorize a manslaughter instruction in proper cases if warranted by the evidence. In our opinion the issue is whether there was evidence in the record justifying a manslaughter instruction so that the jury might consider such lesser offense in its deliberation of this capital murder case. In deciding this question it need be noted that Lanier's statement (confession) was introduced by the state and in it Lanier stated, and repeated several times, that Officer Dedeaux fired first. There is no other evidence, as such, in the record since the defendant did not testify at trial. Lanier's statements are corroborated to the extent that three empty cartridge hulls were found in Dedeaux' revolver and a chemical test of the decedent's left hand (Dedeaux was left handed) established that he had fired a handgun within a short time prior to his demise. Although it might be argued, as it was, that Lanier fired first inasmuch as Dedeaux, an experienced officer, would have injured or killed Lanier had he fired first because the two men were within point blank range, no more than four or five feet of each other. This assumption, if pursued, generates another inference which is that Lanier fired first mortally wounding Dedeaux and that the officer's aim, in returning the fire, was faulty because of his wounds. Assuming these inferences to be valid, which we do not, the contradiction arising from the assumed inferences and Lanier's statement introduced into evidence creates, at best, a conflict between inferences and testimony which could only be resolved by a jury under the guidance of proper instructions. Without the inferences the testimony is uncontradicted that Dedeaux fired first and because of this he was entitled to the manslaughter instruction. Finally, in our opinion, the jury's verdict of guilty of capital murder thereby rejecting Lanier's theory of self-defense is not contradictory to his theory of manslaughter. Justifiable homicide, killing another, to protect one's self from death or serious bodily injury under extreme and imminent circumstances does not necessarily exclude manslaughter. A jury might properly find from the evidence in a particular case that the threat of death or serious bodily injury was not imminently pending and thereby reject the theory of self-defense and the acquittal of a defendant. From the same facts a jury reasonably could, we think, if permitted to do so by a manslaughter instruction find a defendant not guilty of capital murder because the fatal shot was in response to a shot first fired by an officer in a tense, sudden confrontation arising without design of either party, thereby reducing the offense to manslaughter with a corresponding reduction in sentence. We are of the opinion the evidence, our decisions, and due process of law entitled Lanier to an instruction on manslaughter. In view of this determination we do not reach other questions presented upon the sentencing phase of the trial. We therefore reverse on the guilt phase and remand for a new trial. REVERSED AND REMANDED FOR A NEW TRIAL. HAWKINS, DAN M. LEE and PRATHER, JJ., concur. BOWLING, J., and ROY NOBLE LEE and WALKER, P.JJ., dissent. ROBERTSON and SULLIVAN, JJ., not participating.