Turner v. State

1954 OK CR 14, 268 P.2d 301, 1954 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 240

Opinions

JONES, Judge.

The defendant Alex Turner was charged by an information filed in the District Court of Carter County with the crime of murder; was tried, convicted of manslaughter in the first degree and, pursuant to the verdict of the jury, was sentenced to serve six years in the penitentiary, and has appealed.

No brief has been filed on behalf of the accused and no appearance was made for him at the time the case was assigned for oral argument. In such a situation, this court examines the record for fundamental error and if none appears, the judgment is affirmed.

Wé have carefully examined the record. The accused shot and killed Ernest Powell on July 10, 1949, at a barbecue pit and dancing hall operated by Powell. The shooting was the outgrowth of a controversy between the deceased and one Orlandus Curry over a broken window pane which had occurred in a scuffle between 'Curry and another man. An argument arose between the deceased' and Curry after the deceased had taken Curry’s wdtch to hold until Curry paid for the broken window pane. The-defendant, who was Curry’s friend, took up the argument. One altercation led to another and it finally ended when Turner and Powell pulled their pistols and the defendant shot Powell in the stomach and Powell shot the defendant in the leg. Powell died and defendant lived.

The instructions substantially stated 'the' law of the- case and we have found no fun-dámeiital error. The issues presented a question of fact for the determination of the jury.

The judgment and sentence of the District Court of Carter County is affirmed.

POWELL, P. J., and BRETT, J., concur.