Court Opinion

ID: 9575972
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:19:04.810341+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:52:28.767622
License: Public Domain

*472Deen, Presiding Judge,
dissenting.
The convictions obtained in the trial court should be affirmed for two reasons:
1. “In a manner so as to endanger human life,” Code Ann. § 26-1501 (a), in my opinion, includes all “human life” including that of the appellant. If the legislature had intended exclusion, restriction or limitation as applicable only to “some humans,” they clearly would have chosen the words “other human lives.” Appellant’s argument that since suicide and attempted suicide are not illegal he cannot be convicted of an offense which tends only to endanger his own life has no merit. The same arguments could be made as to euthanasia, infanticide and abortion, although the latter is illegal under certain conditions. This state affirmatively has expressed an overriding and compelling interest, if not a public policy, in the preservation of all human life. “The Court finds that the State has an interest in the life of this unborn, living human being” (Emphasis supplied.) Jefferson v. Griffin &c. Hosp. Authority, 247. Ga. 86, 89 (274 SE2d 457) (1981). Compare also “The ruling of the majority in this case extends that ruling to allow the child to maintain a suit for damages to the cell from which it came, even though the cell had been conceived ten seconds. ” (Emphasis supplied.) Hornbuckle v. Plantation Pipe Line Co., 212 Ga. 504, 505 (93 SE2d 727) (1956). I would affirm the trial court’s ruling on the motions as his interpretation in this regard is correct.
2. The sales manager, agent and truck driver of one of the “route trucks” of his company was in charge of the truck and punctured tire. His knowledge and experience was demonstrated by his testimony. He knew the tire was a “big one” 10 x 20 radial truck tire, that it was a sidewall puncture not in the tread and that it was replaced, not repaired, which all indicated knowledge and experience providing an opportunity for forming a correct opinion that it had a value greater than $100.00. This is coupled with the fact that automobiles and tires are mostly everyday objects that enable jurors to use their own knowledge and draw from their own experiences in estimating market value. Yarber v. State, 144 Ga. App. 781 (242 SE2d 372) (1978).
I respectfully dissent and would affirm.