Court Opinion

ID: 9585773
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:03:43.602579+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:24:14.673044
License: Public Domain

Banke, Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent.
The crux of this case is that the defendant Conley requested a charge on voluntary manslaughter, was convicted therefor, and now complains that the evidence did not authorize the conviction. While recognizing the rule that it is ordinarily error for a trial judge to give in charge to the jury a principle of law that has no *746application to the issues, we must also give effect to the principle that where a movant has requested the trial court to give a certain charge, and it is given, he cannot later complain that the charge was harmful to him. Coleman v. State, 141 Ga. 737 (4) (82 SE 227); Meyers v. State, 169 Ga. 468, 479 (151 SE 34); Smith v. State, 202 Ga. 851, 865 (45 SE2d 267); Jackson v. State, 234 Ga. 549, 553 (216 SE2d 834); Tamplin v. State, 235 Ga. 20, 25 (218 SE2d 779). It has been held that where a particular charge is requested, reversible error cannot flow from its use even though the requested charge may have the effect of waiving basic constitutional guarantees. Patterson v. State, 233 Ga. 724 (7), 731 (213 SE2d 612) (1975). "Since the defendant himself requested that the lowest grade, involuntary manslaughter, be charged, he cannot now complain that this was not an included crime under the evidence in the case.” Gale v. State, 138 Ga. App. 261, 266 (226 SE2d 264) (1976).
The courts early recognized the need for this principle of law and have steadfastly adhered to its application. To do otherwise would permit an ingenious attorney to persuade the trial judge to give a charge on a lesser included offense for which there was no evidence and then obtain a conviction on that offense by tacitly admitting to it before the jury while arguing vehemently against the superior offense charged. The defendant could then obtain a reversal of the conviction on the lesser charge due to lack of evidence. To permit such a situation would be inconsonant with justice and should not be permitted.
I would affirm the conviction.
I am authorized to state that Presiding Judge Deen and Judge McMurray join in this dissent.