Court Opinion

ID: 5002065
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-10-01 01:28:01.969075+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:17:08.427155
License: Public Domain

LATTIMORE, J.
Conviction for murder; punishment, seven years in the penitentiary.
In this case the indictment failed to allege that the killing was upon malice aforethought. In such condition of the record,- the trial court was in error in submitting to the jury the question of awarding to the accused a penalty greater than five years. When the indictment does not allege a killing upon malice aforethought, it is an error for the court to submit to the jury a greater penalty than that allowed as punishment for a killing without malice. If the state desires to secure a conviction with a penalty greater than five years, the indictment must allege and the facts show that the killing was with malice aforethought.
The judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded.