Opinion ID: 1236973
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Coercion Charge

Text: Owens next asserts error in the trial judge's charge to the jury on coercion. The charge was as follows: If two or more persons combine to commit an unlawful act, and in the unlawful execution of the criminal act a homicide is committed by one of the actors, as a probable and natural consequence of the act, done in the pursuan[ce] of a common design, all present, participating in the unlawful undertaking, are as guilty as the one who committed the fatal act. Now Mr. Foreman, I also charge you that to excuse any criminal act, the degree of coercion must be present, imminent, and of such nature as to induce well grounded apprehension of death or serious bodily harm, if the act is not done. I further charge you that coercion is not a defense unless fear of injury is reasonable. This instruction was an accurate statement of the law of coercion. See State v. Robinson , 294 S.C. 120, 363 S.E. (2d) 104 (1987). We find no error.