Court Opinion

ID: 9769900
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 15:07:29.053804+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:31:08.844888
License: Public Domain

JONES, Justice,
dissenting.
In my view, Clarsie Jane Ratliff had a fair trial. Under all of the evidence I am of the opinion that the trial court properly instructed the jury. There is not a shred of evidence that Clarsie acted under extreme emotional disturbance.' She calmly and deliberately committed the crime with which she was charged.
I am of the opinion that the trial court showed a great deal of compassion and understanding. Had the public defender not requested a trial and had not the psychiatrist who attended the trial certified that Clarsie was competent to stand trial, perhaps she would not have had a trial. Her counsel and her psychiatrist were so confident that the jury would not convict because of the insanity defense they pressed for a trial, got one, and the jury did what they were supposed to do. The jury gave Clarsie the minimum sentence on murder. It is an exercise in futility to send this case back for another trial with directions that the trial court instruct the jury on first-degree manslaughter.
There is no doubt that Clarsie was suffering from a mental disease. She was classified by a psychiatrist as a schizophrenic paranoid. A psychiatrist testified that she might commit a similar offense again and again. If an iota of evidence existed that Clarsie was acting under extreme emotional disturbance I would join the majority in saying that she was entitled to an instruction on first-degree manslaughter. I do not believe it is the function of this or any appellate court to embark on a crusade to find errors where none exist.
I do not believe the trial court committed prejudicial error in failing to give a first-degree manslaughter instruction in this case. I therefore would affirm the judgment.
For the reasons stated I respectfully dissent.
I am authorized to say that STEPHENSON and STERNBERG, JJ., join in this dissent.