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92 Miss. 826

Burnett v. State

Mississippi Supreme Court

Decided March 15, 1908

Mississippi Supreme Court · decided 1908-03-15

From tbe circuit court of Franklin county. Hon. MoySb H. Wilkinson, Judge. Burnett, appellant, a negro, was indicted and tried for the-murder of one Robert Turner, was convicted and sentenced to* tbe penitentiary for life and appealed to tbe supreme court. Tbe killing occurred at a negro wedding where a large crowd of colored people bad congregated. A difficulty arose between two of tbe guests, and several shots were interchanged.

Decided 1908-03-15

Oalhoon, J\,

¶1delivered the opinion of the court.

¶2It was error to refuse instructions Nos. 1 and 2 asked by the defense. Every person charged with murder is entitled to have the jury pass on whether the killing was done willfully, féloni*828ously, and of his malice aforethought. On certain facts, the law sometimes presumes malice, but these facts must exist to supply the presumption, and the jury alone can determine the existence of these facts. The state may explain these, if it chooses, in counter charges, but the accused is none the less entitled to the ■instruction that malice aforethought must exist.

¶3Reversed and remanded.

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