Opinion ID: 1499368
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Application of Defense of Self-Defense to Homicide in the 4th or 5th Degree

Text: Although the State charged defendant with homicide in the 2nd degree, the presiding justice also instructed the jury in regard to homicide in the 4th degree (recklessness) [5] and homicide in the 5th degree (criminal negligence). [6] In giving these instructions, the presiding justice told the jury that the defense of self-defense is not available with respect to a charge of 4th or 5th degree homicide. Defendant claims that this instruction constituted material and reversible error. We do not agree. We do recognize that the presiding justice's instruction did fall short of being a full exposition of the legal rules applicable to evidence tending to prove a defendant was at the time of the alleged criminal offense acting to defend himself. By definition, either fourth or fifth degree homicide assumes that the defendant's killing of the victim was unintentional. The law of self-defense, taken in the ordinary sense, may be raised as a defense to a homicide only where the defendant intentionally kills his assailant. Curry v. State, 148 Ga. 559, 563, 97 S.E. 529, 530 (1918). Thus, it is often said, as stated by the presiding justice in his jury charge, that the defense of self-defense is not applicable against charges of unintentional homicide. See State v. Hale, 371 S.W.2d 249 (Mo.1963); State v. Leos, 7 Or.App. 211, 490 P.2d 521 (1971); Valentine v. Commonwealth, 187 Va. 946, 48 S.E.2d 264 (1948). See generally 40 C.J.S. Homicide § 112. On the facts of the case at bar, if the jury found that Sprague had disengaged from the fight during the brief lull and thereafter Cline was the aggressor and threatened Sprague with death or grievous bodily harm, then Sprague could raise the law of self-defense as a justification for an intentional killing of Cline. [7] Indeed, Sprague so argued, and the presiding justice properly instructed the jury in regard to the law of self-defense as it applies to the crime of homicide in the 2nd degree, which is the crime of killing intentionally or with knowledge that death will almost certainly result. See n. 1 above. Similarly, if Cline was the aggressor, and Sprague, even though not intending to kill Cline, accidentally administered the fatal wound while attempting to defend himself, it cannot be said that his conduct was unlawful. However, defendant could not appeal to the law of self-defense as a justification for the homicide. Instead, defendant could invoke the right of self-defense in arguing that his act which accidentally resulted in the killing of Cline was not itself unlawful. The distinction between an intentional killing in self-defense and an accidental killing while exercising one's right of self-defense was explained by the Georgia Supreme Court as follows: [I]f it be true that the defendant was endeavoring to prevent the deceased from slaying him, or committing upon him a serious personal injury amounting to a felony, he would have the right even to kill the deceased intentionally in order to prevent it. Having the right under such circumstances to kill his assailant, if necessary for his own protection, if in asserting his right of self-defense he attempted to wrest the pistol from his adversary or to turn it aside, in doing which it was accidentally discharged, certainly the defendant could not be charged with any degree of care with respect to the manner in which he handled the pistol. Furthermore, if there was no intent to kill, the law of killing in self-defense, in the ordinary sense in which that is understood, does not enter into the case, since that only applies where the accused intentionally kills his assailant to protect his own life, or to prevent the commission upon him of a serious injury amounting to a felony. On the other hand, the right he would have under such circumstances intentionally to kill his assailant justifies whatever he may do in exercising his right of self-defense ; and in the exercise of that right there can be no question of evil design, or intention, or culpable neglect, which could operate to make the accused guilty of a crime. (Emphasis added) Curry v. State, supra, 148 Ga. at 562-63, 97 S.E. at 530. Thus, if the circumstances exist which would justify using deadly force in self-defense, see 17-A M.R.S.A. § 108(2), negligence or recklessness in taking lesser action in self-defense cannot be the foundation for criminal liability for conduct resulting in the death of the assailant. [8] On the other hand, the recklessness or criminal negligence from which criminal liability for a homicide results may lie in the unreasonableness of the defendant's belief that the requisite circumstances exist to justify his use of deadly force. Under 17-A M.R.S.A. § 108(2) a person is justified in using deadly force upon another person only (1) when he reasonably believes it necessary and (2) when he reasonably believes such other person is . . . [a]bout to use unlawful, deadly force against himself or a 3rd person. (Emphasis added) Section 101 of the Criminal Code, in laying down the general rules applicable to the defense of self-defense, declares: If a defense provided under this chapter is precluded solely because the requirement that the actor's belief be reasonable has not been met, he may be convicted only of a crime for which recklessness or criminal negligence suffices, depending on whether his holding the belief was reckless or criminally negligent. We do not mean to say that the trial justice will need to give in his charge to the jury a full exposition of the foregoing law regarding self-defense in every case where the defendant argues that defense. Whether part or all of such exposition should be given in a particular case will depend on whether and how the issue is generated by the evidence. Cf. State v. Thompson, Me., 370 A.2d 650, 654 (1977). In many cases, charging on the legally refined distinction between the defense of self-defense and the right of self-defense may only serve to confuse the jury. In the case at bar, although the presiding justice's instruction was oversimplistic in ruling out self-defense as having any applicability to homicide in the 4th or 5th degree, no reversible error resulted. The jury found defendant Sprague guilty of intentional homicide in the 2nd degree, not unintentional homicide in the 4th or 5th degree. The presiding justice's instruction regarding the law of self-defense as applied to homicide in the 2nd degree was complete and correct. On that instruction, the jury's verdict of guilty, supported by adequate evidence of record, is a conclusive finding of fact that Sprague administered the fatal wound intentionally or knowing that death would almost certainly result and that he did not act in self-defense. Accordingly, the entry must be: Appeal denied. Judgment affirmed. POMEROY and WERNICK, JJ., did not sit.