Billy Brantley v. State of Indiana

Massa, Justice.

This case presents the unusual and rare circumstance where a defendant is charged with voluntary manslaughter without also being charged with murder. At trial, the State conceded the existence of sudden heat to support the standalone charge and *569 a jury found Billy Brantley guilty. Brantley appealed arguing the State was required to prove sudden heat and the State's concession rendered his self-defense defense illusory. Although the trial court instructed the jury that the State conceded the existence of sudden heat, we find there was evidence that Brantley acted in either…