Meadows v. State

Robert H. Dudley, Justice.

The principal issue in this case is whether an unborn viable fetus is a “person” as that term is used in the manslaughter statute. There is little dispute about the facts. The appellant, while intoxicated, drove his car in a reckless manner, veered across the center line of the highway and struck an oncoming car being driven by Randy Waldrip. As a result, Randy Waldrip was killed and an unborn viable fetus, carried by Vanessa Weicht, a passenger in appellant’s car, was also killed. The appellant was charged with, and convicted of, two counts of manslaughter; one for…