Hatton v. Commonwealth

OSBORNE, Judge.

A. R. Hatton was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 21 years in prison. He appeals. Hatton shot and killed Joe Campbell, a Wolfe County High School teacher, in front of a restaurant belonging to Campbell’s parents. The incident occurred after a basketball game, when the restaurant was crowded with students. Joe Campbell was helping his mother in the restaurant when several cherry bombs were thrown against the window. He went outside and ordered Harold Stamper, the man throwing the cherry bombs, to quit. A fist fight ensued.

Appellant, who had been planning to…