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37 La. Ann. 896

State v. Jackson

Supreme Court of Louisiana

Decided December 15, 1885

Supreme Court of Louisiana · decided 1885-12-15

<p>Evidence of violent and dangerous character of deceased, in a murder case, is inadmissible unless supported by the foundation of proof of assault or hostile demonstration at the time of the killing.</p> <p>Where the,'judge states as his reason for excluding such evidence that the proof did not establish such foundation, we cannot reverse his ruling.</p>

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently April 1928

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1885-12-15

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¶1The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Fenner, J.

¶2The only error claimed appears on a bill of exception taken to the ruling of the court excluding-evidence as to the dangerous character of the deceased. The bill contains averments going to show a hostile demonstration or assault by the deceased, which might have supported the introduction of the evidence; but the State objected “on the ground that no assault had been established and that two witnesses for the State had previously sworn that deceased was walking quietly along, no pistol being drawn or demonstration made, and that defendant’s witness did not state accused went towards him drawing a pistol.”

¶3The judge having before him the two statements of accused and of counsel for the State, gives as his reason for excluding the evidence, “that, an assault was not sufficiently shown.”

¶4It is elementary that evidence of dangerous character of the deceased is inadmissible, unless the foundation has been laid by proof of some assault or hostile demonstration on the immediate occasion of the killing. State vs. Jackson, 33 Ann. 1087; State vs. Claude, 35 Ann. 71.

¶5The judge must determine whether such foundation has been laid, and when liis statement shows that the proof did not sustain it, we are bound to accept it. State vs. Ford, 37 Ann. 443 ; State vs. Janvier, 37 Ann., not yet published.

¶6Under this view we cannot, reverse the ruling.

¶7Judgment affirmed.

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