State v. Hendrix
A Supreme Court case where the defendant Homer O. Hendrix was convicted and found guilty of voluntary manslaughter. Hendrix was sentenced to a term of 15 years in prison. The events leading up to the Supreme Court’s ruling takes place take place 3 years earlier. Labor Day, September 1, 1975, Hendrix and another member of the community Norman D. Cherry got into a confrontation on Hendrix’s property. Hendrix and his family were at an outing on the shore Lake Murray which was located on Hendrix’s property. It was well documented that there was a history of bad blood between the appellant and victim. Hendrix shot Cherry four times with a shotgun. The ill feeling caused tension between the two that culminated in the victim Mr. Cherry's shooting death. Hendrix was indicted for murder and convicted of the lesser included offense of voluntary manslaughter. At his trial, Hendrix’s relied on the defense of self-defense but did not testify on his own behalf. Hendrix contends the lower court erred in denying his motion for a directed verdict on the ground of self-defense.
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If there is any evidence, either direct or circumstantial, which reasonably tends to prove the guilt of the accused or from which guilt may be fairly and logically deduced, it is the lower court's duty to submit the case to the jury. Thus, in the present case, unless it can be said as a matter of law that self-defense was established, it was not erroring to submit the case to the jury. (JUSTIA US LAW,