Opinion ID: 1757749
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: the trial court erred in rejecing the defendant's offered istruction concerning affirmtive defenses.

Text: This point is closely related to the preceding point. We do not view justification as an affirmative defense. Since the court treated justification as an affirmative defense, we believe this error will not occur on retrial. Justification not being an affirmative defense, the state had the burden of negating this defense once it was put in issue. If appellant created the situation necessitating his conduct then he is not entitled to rely upon the defense of justification. Unless appellant was justified in the action he took, which is a matter for the jury to decide, the issue is automatically overcome. The evidence in this case certainly was sufficient to justify the jury reaching the verdict rendered in this case. The instruction given by the court requiring the state to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt was adequate to take care of the issue of justification. It is true that the appellant was not required to prove an affirmative defense beyond a reasonable doubt and that such defense is made by a preponderance of the evidence. Mere failure of the appellant to prove an affirmative defense does not relieve him of liability but may reduce the seriousness of the offense. For the failure to give the instructions requiring the state to prove each element of each offense beyond a reasonable doubt, the case is reversed and remanded for a new trial. The other points argued have been discussed for the purpose of furnishing guidance at the new trial and are not likely to occur again. Reversed and remanded. We agree. HARRIS, C. J., FOGLEMAN and HOLT, JJ. GEORGE ROSE SMITH and BYRD, JJ., concur in the result.