People v. Pettis

Defendant was convicted of involuntary manslaughter following a jury trial upon charges of murder, voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter. He appeals the conviction and the sentence of 3 to 7 years.

It is urged as reversible error that the court improperly instructed the jury as to the definition of involuntary manslaughter, that the court refused to instruct upon defendant’s theory that the killing was accidental, that defendant was not proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and that there was an abuse of discretion in denying probation.

The decedent, Jesse Pettis, was an older…