Translate
Text Highlighter

Bookmark

PDF

Share

Report a problem
AMICUS AI
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Docket Number
Attorney(S)
Judges
Are you a practicing lawyer?
Enhance your digital presence and reach by creating a Casemine profile.
Upload pleading to use the new AI search
Cites
Cited by
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Docket Number
Attorney(S)
Judges

BOSWELL v. THE STATE.

HALL, Justice.

This is an out-of-time appeal from a 1973 murder conviction and life sentence.

Boswell contends that the following charges given at his trial were burden-shifting under Mullaney v. Wilbur, 421 U.S. 684 (1975) and State v. Moore, 237 Ga. 269 ( 227 S.E.2d 241) (1975):

"The burden is on the defendant to establish by this [sic] preponderance of the evidence, not beyond a reasonable doubt, but by a preponderance of the evidence, that at the time of the alleged offense, he was mentally irresponsible under tests that have been recognized by the law of Georgia."

"While the burden of the proof is on the defendant to establish his defense of insanity by the preponderance of the evidence as I have defined, you should, if you have a reasonable doubt as to his sanity at the time of the alleged murder charged against him was [sic] committed, you are to give him the benefit of the doubt and acquit him on those grounds."

These charges are proper under Patterson v. New York, 432 U.S. 197 (1977); Grace v. Hopper, 566 F.2d 507 (5th Cir.) cert. den. 99 S.C. 139 (1978); Pierce v. State, 243 Ga. 454 (1979); Durham v. State, 239 Ga. 697, 698 ( 238 S.E.2d 334) (1977).

The final enumeration of error is deemed abandoned under Rule 18 (c) (2) of this court.

Judgment affirmed. All the Justices concur.

HALL, Justice.

SUBMITTED MAY 15, 1979 — DECIDED MAY 31, 1979.
Use AI to get other relevant cases.

Comments

BOSWELL v. STATE
(May 31, 1979)