Court Opinion

ID: 9616370
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 04:46:04.040568+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:03:57.628555
License: Public Domain

Beasley, Judge,
concurring specially.
I totally agree with the majority. There are two elements of knowledge required for conviction of this crime. One is that defendant “knowingly assaults” (the words used in Carter v. State, 162 Ga. App. 44, 45 (2) (290 SE2d 143) (1982)) or “knowingly commits . . . aggravated assault” (the words used in the statute and in this case). This relates to defendant’s knowledge that he is committing the act of aggression. The other knowledge which is essential relates to defendant’s knowledge that the victim is a police officer. Bundren v. State, 247 Ga. 180, 181 (2) (274 SE2d 455) (1981). This is implied in the statute but is not set out in express language, creating somewhat of an ambiguity.
The trouble with Carter and with trial courts just reading the statute to the jury is that such instructions do not make clear that the jury must find that defendant knew when he acted that the object of his aggression was a police officer.