Lewelling v. State

This cause comes before the Court on petition for certi-orari heretofore granted. It has been briefed and arg-ued in this Court.

In this opinion, the parties will be referred to in accordance with the status they occupied in the trial court; that is, William Lewelling, defendant, and State of Tennessee as the State.

William Lewelling was convicted for the slaying of his seventeen year old son, Tommy Lewelling, in the family residence. The weapon was a. .32 caliber pistol. The record shows that prior to firing of the pistol, defendant Lewelling had suffered a severe shotgun wound to his left…