Court Opinion

ID: 9848279
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 04:15:49.666776+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:18:10.954034
License: Public Domain

*184Bell, Chief Judge,
dissenting. Three of my colleagues and I are firmly convinced that the majority will cause a man to be incarcerated who is technically innocent of the crime for which he was indicted and convicted.
There are two essential elements involved in the crime charged against this defendant. They are (1) the defendant did without authority enter the building of the Emory University Clinic and (2) he did so with intent to commit theft. While there is a sufficient showing of an intent to commit theft, there is not a shred of evidence which would authorize a finding that he entered the building without authority. While there was some evidence the defendant had no authority to be in the room where he was found attempting to rifle the contents of the purse, it must be kept in mind that he was not indicted for burglary by the wrongful entry into a room within a building, a separate type of burglary independent of and not included within the indictment as written. See Code Ann. § 26-1601. The testimony is undisputed and demands a finding of the fact that the Emory University Clinic building is open to the public during daylight hours. The evidence being totally deficient as to the essential element of a wrongful entry into the building, a verdict of acquittal as to burglary was demanded.
The judgment should be reversed with direction to render a verdict of acquittal.
I am authorized to state that Judges Quillian, Clark and Stolz, concur in this dissent.