Kevin Dewayne Lane v. State of Alabama

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Rel: 11/13/2009 Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o formal r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e Reporter of Decisions, Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may be made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r . ALABAMA COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OCTOBER TERM, 2009-2010 CR-08-0573 Kevin Dewayne Lane v. S t a t e o f Alabama Appeal WELCH, from J e f f e r s o n C i r c u i t (CC-07-2680) Court Judge. Kevin Dewayne Lane was i n d i c t e d on J u l y 13, 2007, b y a J e f f e r s o n County g r a n d j u r y f o r t h e murder o f R o n a l d S m i t h , a v i o l a t i o n o f § 13A-6-2, A l a . Code 1975. a j u r y a n d was c o n v i c t e d as c h a r g e d Lane was t r i e d before i n the indictment. On CR-08-0573 O c t o b e r 27, 2008, t h e t r i a l i m p r i s o n m e n t o f 75 c o u r t s e n t e n c e d Lane t o a t e r m o f years. The e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d a t t r i a l t e n d e d t o show t h a t Lane and Ebony S m i t h h a d , o v e r a p e r i o d o f f o u r o r f i v e y e a r s , been involved i n a romantic was father the testified had of relationship. Ebony's t h a t Lane was toddler, C. not the c h i l d ' s s a i d o r done n o t h i n g the c h i l d ' s f a t h e r . Lane b e l i e v e d she with However, t o l e a d Lane t o b e l i e v e t h a t he was E b o n y a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t Lane h a d a t a t t o o Lane's mother f o r a p e r i o d . E b o n y , L a n e , and C. Ebony t e s t i f i e d testified that she and Ronald and t h e y h a d a c h i l d , R., that Lane b u t t h a t r e m a i n e d f r i e n d s and t h a t he h e l p e d h e r w i t h intermittently, Ebony she ended h e r r o m a n t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h Ebony they C. Smith had dated i n November 2006. Lane c o n t i n u e d t o v i s i t Ebony a t h e r a p a r t m e n t e v e n a f t e r was had born; overnight he a key to the apartment, w i t h Ebony one o r two n i g h t s before and p e r week. Lane knew one a n o t h e r f r o m s c h o o l , Ebony Ebony t e s t i f i e d he f a t h e r and t h a t w i t h C.'s name and b i r t h d a t e on h i s b a c k . lived that he R. stayed Smith and said. t h a t she and S m i t h h a d been d a t i n g again S m i t h was k i l l e d and t h a t Lane was aware t h a t t h e y h a d 2 CR-08-0573 been d a t i n g . She t e s t i f i e d t h a t s h e a n d S m i t h h a d a g r e e d t h a t S m i t h w o u l d move i n t o h e r a p a r t m e n t on F e b r u a r y 10, 2007, b u t t h a t he h a d a c t u a l l y moved h i s b e l o n g i n g s i n t o h e r a p a r t m e n t a d a y e a r l i e r -- t h e d a y he was k i l l e d . during t h e weeks b e f o r e t h e s h o o t i n g , he was g o i n g t o k i l l Testimony revealed were about dispute the events facts. bedroom leading and t h a t up t o t h e that shooting she a n d S m i t h i n her apartment when Ebony s a i d she t o l d S m i t h , who a p p a r e n t l y Smith t h a t Lane walked to stay i n the knew s o m e t h i n g about Lane's r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h E b o n y , i g n o r e d E b o n y a n d f o l l o w e d Lane the k i t c h e n . pushed S m i t h t o l d Lane t o l e a v e Lane a g a i n s t Lane She s t a t e d t h a t she h a d n o t a s k e d Lane t o come t o h e r a p a r t m e n t . bedroom. Lane h a d t o l d h e r t h a t Ebony t e s t i f i e d walked i n t o the apartment. the kitchen that, Smith. i n the children's into Ebony t e s t i f i e d a kitchen wall. t h e apartment, into a n d he Ebony acknowledged that S m i t h h a d " j u m p e d r i g h t i n t o [ L a n e ' s ] f a c e " a n d t h a t S m i t h was n o t happy a t t h a t p o i n t . ( R . 2 5 0 . ) A f i g h t e n s u e d , she s a i d , and t h e men f o u g h t i n t h e k i t c h e n , i n t h e l i v i n g room, down a h a l l w a y , and i n t h e bathroom. E b o n y s a i d t h a t s h e saw t h e two men " t u s s l i n g " o v e r a gun a n d t h a t Lane g o t c o n t r o l o f t h e gun 3 CR-08-0573 and f i r e d two s h o t s . She c o u l d n o t t e l l where t h e gun was p o i n t e d when she saw Lane f i r e t h e f i r s t s h o t , a n d s h e r a n o u t of the apartment additional after shots a f t e r two s h o t s were f i r e d . she l e f t She h e a r d two the apartment. E b o n y t e s t i f i e d t h a t when she l e f t h e r a p a r t m e n t she went i n s i d e a neighbor's apartment. of t h e door to that She l o o k e d o u t o f t h e p e e p h o l e apartment a n d saw Lane b a n i s t e r n e a r t h e s t a i r s ; he was, she s a i d , leaning over a "messing around w i t h t h e g u n . " ( R . 2 1 2 . ) E b o n y s a i d she saw Lane r e e n t e r h e r a p a r t m e n t , t h e n e x i t , c a r r y i n g C. Ebony l e f t the neighbor's a p a r t m e n t a n d she saw S m i t h l y i n g a t t h e t o p o f t h e s t a i r w a y . When o f f i c e r s a r r i v e d body on t h e o u t s i d e appeared that there a t t h e a p a r t m e n t , t h e y saw S m i t h ' s stairway. Officers had been a f i g h t t e s t i f i e d that i t i n the apartment; the d r y w a l l h a d p u n c h marks o r h o l e s i n i t , a n d b l o o d a n d b u l l e t h o l e s were s e e n Lane was apartment. his inside. apprehended after he d r o v e away f r o m Ebony's H i s r i g h t e y e was s w o l l e n , a n d he h a d i n j u r i e s on f a c e ; he a p p e a r e d t o have b e e n i n a f i g h t , a c c o r d i n g t o a police o f f i c e r who q u e s t i o n e d L a n e . s h i r t when he was a r r e s t e d . Lane was n o t w e a r i n g a The f i r e a r m u s e d i n t h e s h o o t i n g 4 CR-08-0573 was found beneath driving. One weapon. the d r i v e r ' s live Seven round was seat of the v e h i c l e he was stuck i n the b a r r e l of the l i v e r o u n d s were f o u n d i n t h e p o c k e t o f L a n e ' s pants. Lane gave a s t a t e m e n t t o t h e p o l i c e , and he gave versions Lane of the events initially that asserted extra bullets. occurred that i n Ebony's several apartment. S m i t h h a d h a d t h e gun a n d t h e He a l s o t o l d p o l i c e t h a t a f r i e n d o f h i s f i r e d t h e t h i r d s h o t i n t o S m i t h ' s h e a d w h i l e S m i t h was l y i n g on t h e stairs outside Ebony's apartment. Finally, Lane told p o l i c e t h a t he h a d b r o u g h t t h e gun t o t h e a p a r t m e n t the and t h a t i f S m i t h h a d f o u n d t h e gun, Lane w o u l d have b e e n d e a d instead of Smith. An autopsy wounds. that He s u s t a i n e d damaged extensive another exited gunshot revealed major bleeding close-range Smith's that Smith suffered three a close-range blood vessels and u l t i m a t e l y shot t o the l e f t i n the death. Smith also Smith sustained wound above one o f h i s e a r s . that Smith sustained l e g and shot to the r i g h t t h i g h . body. thigh caused sustained Both b u l l e t s a superficial The a u t o p s y l a c e r a t i o n s to h i s face, 5 gunshot that revealed h i s nose CR-08-0573 was b r o k e n , and t h a t he h a d what a p p e a r e d t o be a b i t e mark on his left arm. Jeffrey that Hill t e s t i f i e d t h a t he knew Ebony he h a d o f t e n h e a r d Ebony refer t o C. and L a n e as L a n e ' s and child. R a s a n j a n s a n e i c e R u d o l p h t e s t i f i e d t h a t she was a c q u a i n t e d w i t h L a n e and E b o n y . 2007, Ebony contact calls, telephoned Lane her four on h e r b e h a l f . times, During and asked some o f t h e her to telephone Ebony t o l d R u d o l p h t h a t she b e l i e v e d she was h a v i n g a miscarriage hospital. the She s t a t e d t h a t on t h e m o r n i n g o f F e b r u a r y 7, and that she wanted Lane to take her to the R u d o l p h s a i d t h a t she t e l e p h o n e d L a n e and p a s s e d on information as Ebony h a d r e q u e s t e d , " A l l r i g h t , " or "Okay." ( R . 350, 3 5 2 . ) and L a n e r e s p o n d e d , Ebony d e n i e d t h a t she a s k e d R u d o l p h t o c o n t a c t L a n e a n d f u r t h e r d e n i e d t h a t she t o l d R u d o l p h t h a t she was h a v i n g a m i s c a r r i a g e the and n e e d e d t o go t o hospital. Lane testified Ebony h a d t o l d that he and Ebony had h i m t h a t C. was h i s c h i l d . dated, and He and Ebony that had l i v e d a t h i s m o t h e r ' s h o u s e b e f o r e C. was b o r n , and Ebony and C. moved i n and thereafter. out of h i s mother's house on occasions L a n e t e s t i f i e d t h a t he and Ebony were i n a d a t i n g 6 CR-08-0573 relationship at the l i v i n g together stayed shot at and time of the shooting i n Ebony's apartment. h i s m o t h e r ' s house on that morning of Rudolph then Ebony had the incident, telephoned but he him, night was to before not and Ebony was pregnant with another the c h i l d a f t e r her grandfather Lane t e s t i f i e d that he the and Ebony had h i s c h i l d ; she him. had apartment w i t h he c h i l d , and her. that t o l d Lane t h a t that he was the also told went t o E b o n y ' s a p a r t m e n t after and saw two she that named uncles. the apartment u s i n g the f o r him, He him had He e n t e r e d copied Ebony. believed L a n e s a i d t h a t Ebony had t h a t R. the t h a t she w a n t e d L a n e t o L a n e t e s t i f i e d , he had him on to told At t h a t time, Rudolph contacted him speak take her. was Smith telephone said, Ebony n e e d e d t o go t o t h e h o s p i t a l and f a t h e r of t h a t c h i l d , too. t h e y were had did Lane that L a n e s t a t e d t h a t he the attempted and b e c a u s e he was Ebony s t a n d i n g living outside key in the c h i l d r e n ' s bedroom, and he w a l k e d i n t o t h e k i t c h e n , L a n e s a i d . Then a t a l l "What's up, Smith, wall, man he d i d not homeboy?" w a l k e d up Lane s a i d . know w a l k e d up (R. 371.) t o him and The man, p u s h e d him t o him said, l a t e r i d e n t i f i e d as against Lane s a i d t h a t S m i t h s a i d , 7 and the "Get out kitchen of my CR-08-0573 baby mother h o u s e ! 374-75.) Le me Why a r e you h e r e ? " (R. Lane t e s t i f i e d t h a t he r e s p o n d e d , "Okay, l e t me go. g e t my leave. Why a r e you h e r e ? baby (R. 375.) and go" b u t t h a t Instead, f a c e more t h a n o n c e . d i d n o t l e t him Lane s a i d , S m i t h h i t h i m i n the Lane s a i d he was f r i g h t e n e d b e c a u s e d i d n o t know t h e man a n d b e c a u s e b e i n g i n h i s baby's Smith mother's he t h e man h a d a c c u s e d h i m o f h o u s e , when Lane t h o u g h t he was the f a t h e r o f b o t h o f Ebony's c h i l d r e n . Lane s a i d t h a t S m i t h a t t a c k e d h i m , s t r u c k h i m , a n d t h a t when he a t t e m p t e d t o l e a v e the apartment, apartment. Lane, Smith dragged him toward S m i t h was s e v e r a l i n c h e s t a l l e r t h e back of the and h e a v i e r than Lane s a i d . Lane a l s o t e s t i f i e d t h a t he h a d r e c e i v e d some t h r e a t e n i n g telephone c a l l s before t h i s i n c i d e n t . called kill h i m on more t h a n one o c c a s i o n h i m , he s a i d . wonder w h e t h e r calls. and had t h r e a t e n e d t o D u r i n g t h e s c u f f l e , Lane s a i d he b e g a n t o S m i t h was t h e man who h a d made t h e t e l e p h o n e Lane s t a t e d t h a t he a n d S m i t h f o u g h t t h r o u g h o u t t h e apartment. when An u n i d e n t i f i e d man h a d Lane S m i t h r i p p e d Lane's tried t o walk away s h i r t o f f and s c r a t c h e d from h i m , he s a i d . Lane A t some p o i n t , S m i t h p l a c e d h i m i n a choke h o l d , Lane s a i d , a n d he b i t 8 CR-08-0573 Smith's arm i n an a t t e m p t c o u l d g e t away. t o make S m i t h release h i m so he Lane t e s t i f i e d t h a t he h a d asthma a n d t h a t he c o u l d b a r e l y b r e a t h e w h i l e S m i t h was a t t a c k i n g h i m . Lane t e s t i f i e d t h a t , a t one p o i n t d u r i n g t h e f i g h t , grabbed the sleeve of the j a c k e t p u l l e d h i s arm o u t o f t h e s l e e v e Lane a gun i n the pocket noise when t h e gun said, and he and Lane to the f l o o r . Lane o f h i s j a c k e t , and S m i t h h e a r d t h e and t h e j a c k e t Smith wearing. a n d t w i s t e d h i s body i n an a t t e m p t t o g e t away, and t h e j a c k e t f e l l had was Smith both fell reached to the f l o o r , f o r the Lane gun. Lane t e s t i f i e d t h a t he g r a b b e d t h e gun and t h a t he t o l d S m i t h that he d i d n o t want t o s h o o t h i m and t h a t he j u s t w a n t e d t o l e a v e the apartment. S m i t h was b e h i n d h i m , Lane s a i d , and h e l d Lane around the w a i s t t o r e s t r a i n him. gun, Lane s a i d , and Lane f e l l Smith attempted t o grab the to the f l o o r . Lane s a i d he was f r i g h t e n e d and he b e l i e v e d t h a t S m i t h w o u l d s h o o t h i m i f he got possession o f t h e gun. to that tell Smith Lane t e s t i f i e d t h a t he he w a n t e d o n l y t o g e t C. continued and l e a v e the apartment. Smith t r i e d his t o choke him a g a i n , body and f i r e d a s h o t a t S m i t h ' s 9 Lane s a i d , so he l e g . He t e s t i f i e d turned that CR-08-0573 Smith continued t o t r y t o c h o k e him Lane a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t he fired but he s a i d t h a t he d i d not any of the Smith said, as against both shots. he the fell ran to the several the the ground. shots to hold apartment. stairs, The Smith gun gun, struck onto Lane s a i d , shot. from h i s know w h e t h e r S m i t h was continued outside r a i l i n g by so he f i r e d a s e c o n d him, Lane pushed and by him then they went o f f when t h e y fell, according t o L a n e , b u t a g a i n Lane s a i d he d i d n o t know w h e t h e r S m i t h was s t r u c k by gun up that shot. Lane s t a t e d t h a t he i n h i s v e h i c l e , then returned his jacket, his shirt, and C., put t o t h e a p a r t m e n t and and he the picked d r o v e away f r o m the scene. On cross-examination, Ebony's apartment bullets to testified reload t h a t he f r i e n d and t h a t he with the had Lane a d m i t t e d t h a t he a loaded magazine weapon of purchased the always c a r r i e d the the gun holes fight. walls of Ebony's apartment. were made when S m i t h t h r e w h i m enough years before against also from a gun. i n the He to extra He kitchen said and that the them d u r i n g the Lane a l s o i d e n t i f i e d p h o t o g r a p h s s h o w i n g h i s 10 gone weapon. loaded Lane i d e n t i f i e d p h o t o g r a p h s o f h o l e s living-room and had swollen CR-08-0573 eye and i n j u r i e s t o h i s face during the f i g h t w i t h and body t h a t he h a d Smith. L a n e ' s s o l e argument on a p p e a l erred when i t refused manslaughter. to had Specifically, argued therefore, that manslaughter, Court's he he So. 3d jury on provocation i n s t r u c t i o n on t h e g r o u n d killed Smith not court's i n James the court Lane a r g u e s t h a t when t h e c o u r t could the t r i a l holding 2009] that i s that the t r i a l charge refused to give h i s requested Lane received i n self-defense also rely ruling v. S t a t e , on and, provocation conflicted with [Ms. CR-06-0396, ( A l a . C r i m . App. that 2009). We this May agree 1, with Lane. Defense counsel presented on manslaughter, repeatedly and requested manslaughter. a w r i t t e n requested during the that the t r i a l t h e r e was no r e a s o n a b l e the Lane k i l l e d jury court charge the j u r y he on S m i t h . The t r i a l sufficient r e c o g n i z e d by l a w and t h a t time f o r the heat of passion on m a n s l a u g h t e r , constitute conference Defense counsel argued t h a t Smith's a s s a u l t of Lane c o n s t i t u t e d l e g a l p r o v o c a t i o n before charge instruction heat finding court d e c l i n e d t o charge that of passion. 11 to cool the a s s a u l t d i d not The court further CR-08-0573 stated: " I t ' s either s e l f defense or n o t g o i n g t o be b o t h . ' s e l f defense, on s e l f defense, provocation t h a t James was s e l f defense.'" T h i s Court t h a t the evidence t h e j u r y , and we 441.) the i t s determination h e l d t h a t the t r i a l presented of o f t h e i s s u e f o r d e c i s i o n by provocation e x c l u s i v e concepts. he court s u f f i c i e n t evidence r e v e r s e d the t r i a l c o u r t ' s judgment. t h a t s e l f - d e f e n s e and mutually (R. was e i t h e r g u i l t y of murder or i n n o c e n t because provocation r e q u i r i n g submission held It's court r e f u s e d to charge m a n s l a u g h t e r b a s e d on acted i n self-defense. e r r e d and other. A l l you've a r g u e d the e n t i r e t r i a l I n James v. S t a t e , t h e t r i a l jury i t ' s the Our We also manslaughter are not d e c i s i o n i n James mandates a r e v e r s a l i n t h i s c a s e ; t h e j u r y s h o u l d have b e e n i n s t r u c t e d on p r o v o c a t i o n First, we manslaughter. note that i t is well established defendant charged w i t h a greater offense the t r i a l when 938 So. a i s e n t i t l e d t o have c o u r t i n s t r u c t t h e j u r y on l e s s e r - i n c l u d e d o f f e n s e s there supports that is a reasonable theory the l e s s e r - i n c l u d e d o f f e n s e . 2d 440 "An charged ( A l a . Crim. App. from the evidence I n W i l l i a m s v. 2005), t h i s Court that State, stated: a c c u s e d has t h e r i g h t t o have t h e jury on '"any material hypothesis which the 12 CR-08-0573 evidence i n h i s favor tends to e s t a b l i s h . " ' Ex p a r t e S t o r k , 475 So. 2d 623, 624 ( A l a . 1 9 8 5 ) . 'In d e t e r m i n i n g w h e t h e r an i n s t r u c t i o n was s u p p o r t e d by t h e e v i d e n c e t h e q u e s t i o n i s n o t w h e t h e r t h e Supreme Court or Court of C r i m i n a l Appeals b e l i e v e s the evidence, but s i m p l y whether such evidence was presented.' Id. '[E]very accused i s e n t i t l e d to have c h a r g e s g i v e n , w h i c h w o u l d n o t be m i s l e a d i n g , w h i c h c o r r e c t l y s t a t e t h e l a w o f h i s c a s e , and w h i c h are s u p p o r t e d by any e v i d e n c e , however weak, i n s u f f i c i e n t , o r d o u b t f u l i n c r e d i b i l i t y . ' Ex p a r t e C h a v e r s , 361 So. 2d 1106, 1107 ( A l a . 1 9 7 8 ) . ' " ' I t i s a b a s i c t e n e t o f A l a b a m a l a w t h a t "a p a r t y i s e n t i t l e d t o have h i s t h e o r y o f t h e c a s e , made by t h e p l e a d i n g s and i s s u e s , p r e s e n t e d t o t h e j u r y by proper i n s t r u c t i o n , ... and t h e [ t r i a l ] court's f a i l u r e to give those i n s t r u c t i o n s i s r e v e r s i b l e error."'"' Ex p a r t e M c G r i f f , 908 So. 2d 1024, 1035 ( A l a . 2 0 0 4 ) , q u o t i n g W i n n e r I n t ' l C o r p . v. Common S e n s e , I n c . , 863 So. 2d 1088, 1091 ( A l a . 2003), q u o t i n g i n t u r n o t h e r c a s e s . 'In o r d e r t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e e v i d e n c e i s s u f f i c i e n t t o n e c e s s i t a t e an i n s t r u c t i o n and t o a l l o w t h e j u r y t o c o n s i d e r t h e d e f e n s e , we must v i e w t h e t e s t i m o n y most f a v o r a b l y to the defendant.' Ex p a r t e P e t t w a y , 594 So. 2d 1196, 1200 ( A l a . 1 9 9 1 ) . " 938 So. 2d a t 444-45. Second, we must c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r the evidence supported a j u r y c h a r g e on p r o v o c a t i o n m a n s l a u g h t e r b a s e d on t h e of this case. "A p e r s o n commits t h e c r i m e o f m a n s l a u g h t e r i f ... [h]e causes the death of another person under c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a t would c o n s t i t u t e murder under S e c t i o n 1 3 A - 6 - 2 ; e x c e p t , t h a t he c a u s e s t h e d e a t h due to a sudden heat of p a s s i o n caused by provocation r e c o g n i z e d by law, and before a 13 facts CR-08-0573 reasonable time f o r the p a s s i o n t o c o o l reason t o r e a s s e r t i t s e l f . " § 1 3 A - 6 - 3 ( a ) ( 2 ) , A l a . Code 1975. that "§ 1 3 A - 6 - 3 ( a ) ( 2 ) where murder the j u r y but also does does T h i s C o u r t has r e c o g n i z e d i s designed t o cover those not believe a defendant not believe j u s t i f i e d by s e l f - d e f e n s e . " 76 and f o r i s guilty the k i l l i n g S h u l t z v. S t a t e , situations was of totally 480 So. 2d 73, ( A l a . C r i m . App. 1 9 8 5 ) . "Alabama c o u r t s h a v e , i n fact, recognized three l e g a l p r o v o c a t i o n s s u f f i c i e n t t o reduce murder t o m a n s l a u g h t e r : (1) when t h e a c c u s e d w i t n e s s e s h i s o r h e r s p o u s e i n t h e a c t o f a d u l t e r y ; (2) when t h e a c c u s e d i s a s s a u l t e d o r f a c e d w i t h an imminent assault on h i m s e l f ; a n d (3) when t h e a c c u s e d w i t n e s s e s an a s s a u l t on a f a m i l y member o r c l o s e relative." Rogers v. S t a t e , 819 So. 2d 643, 662 ( A l a . C r i m . App. 2 0 0 1 ) . E x t e n s i v e t e s t i m o n y was p r e s e n t e d a t t r i a l t h a t Lane and Smith engaged i n a l e n g t h y s c u f f l e throughout the apartment, and S m i t h was t h e a g g r e s s o r . L a n e a n d Ebony t e s t i f i e d that S m i t h was somewhat l a r g e r t h a n L a n e , and i t appears t h a t he h a d t h e e l e m e n t o f s u r p r i s e on h i s s i d e , b e c a u s e L a n e d i d n o t appear t o have e x p e c t e d t h a t a n o t h e r man w o u l d be a t E b o n y ' s apartment. There was Lane s u s t a i n e d o b v i o u s i n j u r i e s d u r i n g t h e f i g h t . some e v i d e n c e indicating 14 that Lane had received CR-08-0573 threatening telephone c a l l s before t h i s incident occurred and t h a t Lane b e l i e v e d d u r i n g t h e f i g h t t h a t Smith might k i l l him. We find i t significant, and a l s o , t h a t L a n e d i d n o t draw t h e gun f i r e upon S m i t h i m m e d i a t e l y upon e n t e r i n g t h e a p a r t m e n t . Rather, the evidence suggests that the two n e a r l y e v e r y room o f t h e a p a r t m e n t b e f o r e , men fought according in t o Lane, S m i t h was r e s t r a i n i n g h i m f r o m b e h i n d and t h e j a c k e t w i t h t h e gun f e l l of t o t h e f l o o r and S m i t h b e g a n t o f i g h t f o r p o s s e s s i o n t h e gun. presented was We here, assaulted recognized do n o t h e s i t a t e t o h o l d i n c l u d i n g the evidence and was that the evidence i n d i c a t i n g that i n fear f o r h i s l i f e , was Lane provocation b y t h e l a w t h a t n e c e s s i t a t e d a j u r y i n s t r u c t i o n on provocation manslaughter. The c r e d i b i l i t y o f t h e e v i d e n c e was a d e c i s i o n f o r the j u r y , with proper i n s t r u c t i o n . The trial c o u r t ' s f a i l u r e t o so i n s t r u c t t h e j u r y c o n s t i t u t e s r e v e r s i b l e error. The t r i a l provocation that that defense. court apparently d e c l i n e d t o c h a r g e t h e j u r y on m a n s l a u g h t e r b a s e d a t l e a s t i n p a r t on i t s b e l i e f theory was inconsistent with We have a l r e a d y h e l d o t h e r w i s e . So. 3d a t ___ ("Self-defense the theory self- James v. S t a t e , and p r o v o c a t i o n 15 of manslaughter are CR-08-0573 not mutually exclusive, and whether p r o v o c a t i o n r e c o g n i z e d by l a w was See a l s o M c D o w e l l v. App. 1998)("It a l s o appears t h a t the evidence self-defense both. or presented in the have charged and on self-defense that entitled verdict erred to on we when trial 469 (Ala. court was argued preclude a Crim. concluded a j u r y c h a r g e on presented conclude the and either but not on that he had jury charge on lesser i t refused As we of the should have r e c o g n i z e d provocation The whether offense. to that in light lesser-included offense Therefore, the jury, evidence jury m a n s l a u g h t e r , and L a n e i s e n t i t l e d t o a new the on the of i n previous manslaughter f o r the that charge 16 jury c r e d i b i l i t y of the a determination determine the 465, McDowell not mutually e x c l u s i v e defenses. of p r o v o c a t i o n 2d the the evidence provocation manslaughter. cases, that did principles, been So. jury."). manslaughter."). have r e v i e w e d foregoing sufficient a q u e s t i o n f o r the supported fact self-defense 'heat-of-passion' We was ' h e a t - o f - p a s s i o n ' manslaughter, However, acted S t a t e , 740 there are not evidence and i t was supported a trial court provocation trial. CR-08-0573 For court the foregoing i s reversed proceedings reasons, t h e judgment o f t h e c i r c u i t and t h e cause consistent with this i s remanded for further opinion. REVERSED AND REMANDED. W i s e , P . J . , a n d Windom a n d K e l l u m , J., concurs i n the r e s u l t . 17 J J . , concur. Main,

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