Portis v. State

BOWEN, Judge.

The defendant was indicted for the murder of John Henry Coates. A jury found him guilty of manslaughter. Alabama Code 1975, Section 13A-6-3 (Amended 1977). Sentence was five years’ imprisonment.

The only issue in this case is whether Mr. Coates’ death was caused by the gunshot wound inflicted upon him by the defendant.

On the 28th of January, 1981, the defendant shot Coates in the abdomen with a .32 caliber pistol. Coates died on March 7th.

This case would have to be reversed except for the testimony of Dr. Leroy Red-dick, the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy on Mr.…