Shackelford v. State

Banke, Presiding Judge.

The appellant was indicted for murder and found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Tommy Fowler. On appeal, he contends that the jury’s verdict was unauthorized because “[t]he only evidence showed an apparent necessity to shoot to save his own life.” He further contends that the trial court erred in charging on voluntary manslaughter and in failing to charge on involuntary manslaughter.

The appellant admitted shooting Fowler but maintained that he had done so because Fowler was hitting him about the face and head with a shotgun. His testimony was…