Opinion

Walton v. State

  • 744 P.2d 977
  • 1987 OK CR 227
  • 1987 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 511
Court
Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma
Filed
Oct 22, 1987
Status
Published
Author
Parks
On the bench
Brett, Bussey, Parks
Cited by
21 cases
Authority
More cited than 6.8%

The opinion

PARKS, Judge, specially

concurring:

I write separately to address the decision of this Court to overrule Morgan v. State, 536 P.2d 952, 959 (Okla.Crim.App.1975). While Morgan, supra, sets forth a well-reasoned rule, the better approach is the one which is adopted by the majority, as it allows for a case-by-case analysis. Under this new rule, the trial court must closely scrutinize each individual case to determine whether the facts warrant instructions on both self-defense and heat of passion.

After close examination of the circumstances presented by the appellant, it is clear that an instruction on first-degree manslaughter committed in the heat of passion was not appropriate. Therefore, I agree that the appellant was not entitled to an instruction regarding the heat of passion.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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