Griffin v. State

Hunstein, Justice.

Merf Griffin went to Cheryl Lee’s place of employment and shot her in the chest. Upon her arrival at DeKalb Medical Center, a police officer asked Lee if Griffin shot her, and Lee nodded yes; she later died. At trial, Griffin raised the defenses of accident and insanity, claiming the gun went off after he lost control of himself and pulled it out of his pocket. Griffin was convicted of malice murder and felony murder and sentenced to life in prison.

1. Griffin contends the trial court erred in failing to charge the jury that the State had the burden of proving beyond a…