Clayton v. State

RANDOLPH, Justice,

for the Court:

¶ 1. This case is before this Court on direct appeal of the Jones County Circuit Court’s conviction of Quincy Clayton for the murder of his wife, Alice. We find error in depriving Clayton submission of an alternative theory of defense, when his requested jury instruction on heat-of-passion excusable homicide was refused. Accordingly, we reverse and remand this case to the Jones County Circuit Court for a new trial.

FACTS

¶2. Clayton and Alice lived with their daughter, Valerie, and Alice’s sister, Mary Wash. On Sunday morning, June 21, 2009 (Father’s Day), all…