Court Opinion

ID: 4905506
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-03 05:56:09.33798+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:13:06.278798
License: Public Domain

Winkler, J.
The indictment charges the appellant with an assault with intent to commit the offence of rape upon a girl under ten years of age. Though the girl alleged to have been assaulted, and also her mother, appear to have testified at the trial, neither they nor either of them, nor any other witness, testified to the age of the girl upon whom the assault is alleged. The proof did not sustain the descriptive averment in the indictment, and for this reason the judgment must be reversed. From the testimony, as set out in the statement of facts, and from the charge of the court, we conclude that the averment as to the tender age of the assaulted party was not sustained, and that it was abandoned on the trial. This was not permissible under the averments of the indictment.
The charge of the court as to the law of an assault with intent to commit rape upon a female, without regard to age, is deemed appropriate and sufficient in a proper case. But, from the evidence as we find it set out, we are of opinion the court should, in such a case, have submitted to the jury a proper charge on aggravated assault in connection with the charge on the subject of an assault with intent to commit rape, as part of the law of the case.
Because of the defect in the evidence, the judgment will be reversed and a new trial awarded.

jReversed and remanded.