Court Opinion

ID: 9824631
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 11:01:44.756588+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:39:55.000182
License: Public Domain

ON REHEARING.
In the application for rehearing in this case it is contended that the decision therein contains a misstatement of facts, and also that .the refusal of the trial court to admit testimony showing the illict relations between the deceased and the defendant’s daughter some time prior to the killing was reversible error. It is not contended that this testimony was admissible for the purpose of reducing the crime from murder to manslaughter, as it was too far removed from the time of the killing to serve to engender such passion as would rebut malice. After a careful consideration of the matters thus brought to our attention, we are of the opinion that the criticism of the court’s statement of facts is not well taken. While the quotation complained of is not in the exact words as testified to by the defendant, it is so nearly the same that it would in no wise change the application of law, and we do not consider that it calls for a correction. We are of the opinion that the testimony as to illicit relations between the deceased and the daughter of the defendant was not admissible for the purpose of showing a motive for the deceased to be the aggressor at the time of the killing, for the undisputed testimony in this case, under the rule laid down in McWilliams v. State, 178 Ala. 68, 60 South. 101, clearly shows that the defendant by his own actions and words was not free from fault in bringing on the difficulty; and this being true, he could not invoke the doctrine of self-defense. The defendant testified that when he started to the place of killing he knew that the deceased had made threats against him; that he had been told this by Mr. Quick, Mr. Daughtry, and Mr. Quattlebaum. Their testimony was to the effect that deceased stated that he would kill the defendant, if he approached him about the matter, or at least this was a rea*634sonable inference from his statement. The defendant testified that in view of these threats, he armed himself with a shotgun before he went to the scene of the killing. He further testified that he was advised by his daughter that she was expecting the deceased to meet her at that place, and that she had sent for him for the purpose of breaking off with him. He also admitted that he heard his daughter send for the deceased. He further testified that his daughter endeavored to persuade him to leave the scene where the difficulty took place, and thereby avoid meeting the deceased; but instead of doing so and going with her as requested, he sat down on the ground with his gun in his hand and in readiness. It thus appears that the defendant deliberately and intentionally waited for the deceased without any excuse (inasmuch as his daughter desired to leave the place with him), for the purpose of approaching the deceased on the very subject which he anticipated he would need his gun to defend himself from an attack by the deceased when he approached him on this subject.
(14) There is no merit in the argument to the effect that the trial court invaded the province of the jury and determined that the defendant could not set up self-defense under the facts. This is a question for the court to determine when evidence of this character is sought to be admitted. These views are in line with those expressed by the Supreme Court in McWilliams’ Case, supra, and necessarily must govern in the instant case.
After a careful examination of the application for a rehearing and of the well-prepared briefs of the able counsel, we are of the opinion that no question has been raised which has not been fully considered and discussed in the opinion, the conclusions whereof we deem to be sound, and for these reasons, and under the authority of McWilliams v. State, 178 Ala. 68, 60 South. 101, Scroggins v. State, 120 Ala. 369, 25 South. 180, and Brewer v. State, 160 Ala. 66, 49 South. 336, the application for rehearing is denied.
Application denied.