Opinion ID: 1694840
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Second Degree Battery

Text: La. R.S. 14:33 defines battery as the intentional use of force or violence upon the person of another. La. R.S. 14:34.1 further defines second degree battery as a battery committed without the consent of the victim when the offender intentionally inflicts serious bodily injury. As specified in La. R.S. 14:34.1, serious bodily injury means bodily injury which involves unconsciousness, extreme physical pain or protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ or mental faculty, or a substantial risk of death. In order to prove a second degree battery, the State had to prove that the defendant: (1) committed a battery upon another, (2) without his consent, and (3) intentionally inflicted serious bodily injury. In the instant case, Mr. Hambrick testified that the defendant attacked him from behind the counter and grabbed him by the neck. The choking intensified after Mr. Hambrick verbalized the defendant's name. Dr. Ritter, the emergency room physician, testified that Mr. Hambrick was excited, agitated and in mild distress when he treated him. Mr. Hambrick had a bloody nose, tenderness in the hyoid area below the larynx, and complained of pain at an incision in his lower abdominal area. [7] Dr. Ritter testified that the defendant's act of choking Mr. Hambrick could have resulted in a substantial risk of death. Dr. Ritter also explained that although Mr. Hambrick was able to talk fairly well at the time of his initial treatment, frequent coughing and clearing of one's throat would be manifestations of the impairment of a bodily function or member. At the preliminary examination three months after the defendant's arrest, Mr. Hambrick explained that he was still having throat problems caused by the defendant's attack. As reflected in the stenographer's notation, Mr. Hambrick cleared his throat during his testimony at the preliminary examination and explained that his throat still hurt. Mrs. Hambrick further testified that immediately after the attack, her husband could hardly talk and that he would have to stop and clear his throat several times. She stated that her husband remained in bed for a week after the attack, that he was hoarse, and he had trouble talking. She also stated at trial that Mr. Hambrick's ability to talk was affected for many months after the assault. Viewing these facts in the light most favorable to the prosecution, we find that, based on Dr. Ritter's testimony and the totality of the evidence presented, a jury could reasonably determine that the defendant intended to inflict an injury on Mr. Hambrick which involved the impairment of a bodily function or a substantial risk of death without his consent. Therefore, we affirm the defendant's conviction of second degree battery.