Freeman v. State

Webb, Judge.

Eddie Freeman was tried and convicted in Fulton Superior Court for the offenses of voluntary manslaughter and misdemeanor (pistol). The jury fixed punishment at 20 years. Freeman and his wife had recently separated; he came in one night with his pistol; he and his wife had an argument; and she was shot. Freeman contended that the shooting was an accident, the result of a struggle over the gun between his wife and himself. At the conclusion of the evidence, the trial judge charged the jury on murder, voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, and accidental homicide.

On direct appeal…