Lawson v. State

Columbus Lawson was indicted and convicted for the murder of Lloyd Reese. Sentence was twenty-five years' imprisonment. Five issues are raised on appeal.

I

The trial court did not err in refusing to charge the jury on criminally negligent homicide because there was no evidence of legal negligence in the defendant's conduct.

The State's evidence revealed that the defendant, the deceased, and Terry Batton were among a number of laborers waiting for jobs at a labor union hall on the morning of May 4, 1983. According to Batton, the defendant attempted to break in line in front of him. Words passed…