Court Opinion

ID: 9602153
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 01:52:13.420771+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:02:01.191890
License: Public Domain

Deen, Judge,
dissenting.
The majority opinion holds that since the evidence demands a finding no justification on the part of the defendants could exist the court’s charge on justification was "a gratuity” and any errors therein are irrelevant. I disagree on both grounds.
Regardless of the testimony on the trial, the facts known to the defendants at the time of the shooting were, according to the evidence, only that they had been called by the sisters to spend the night with them because a *264group of men were around the house, Davis had forced his way in once, and they were afraid of another attempt. The sisters were aged 17 and 23 and lived alone. The house was apparently closely adjacent to a playground. When the Whigham brothers arrived, after talking to the sisters, they went up to Davis, who was on the basketball court. The defendants’ version of what occurred (which is what must be considered in determining whether there is any evidence to support a charge on justification) was that Thomas Whigham asked Davis why he had tried to break into his sisters’ house; Davis swung at him; one of the sisters screamed to John Henry Whigham to break it up; John Henry joined the melee; Davis swung at him; John Henry had a pistol which fired once (whether by accident or design) and wounded Davis.
"A charge is proper if there is any evidence authorizing it.” Joyce v. City of Dalton, 73 Ga. App. 209 (2) (36 SE2d 104).
There was some evidence to show that the Whigham brothers went to remonstrate with Davis to deter him from returning to the sisters’ house; that Davis attacked Thomas and John Henry went to his defense; that John Henry drew his pistol but it was inadvertently fired during the melee. The court failed to charge that under Code Ann. § 26-902 (a) a defense of justification exists where one reasonably believes force is necessary to defend oneself or a third person against the imminent use of unlawful force. The instructions as given on the defense of justification left out the applicability of such defense under such circumstances as one brother going to the aid of the other. This was involved under some of the evidence.
The instructions also omitted to instruct the jury that if they found in favor of the defense of justification they should acquit. This is reversible error. Witt v. State, 231 Ga. 4 (200 SE2d 112).
There being some evidence to support justification in defense of another, justification as a defense was properly included in the instructions; it was inadequately given, and its effect was not stated. I therefore would reverse.
I am authorized to state that Judges Pannell and *265Evans concur in this dissent.