State v. Mattison

Lewis, Chief Justice:

Appellant was convicted of the murder of his estranged wife and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He appeals, contending that he is entitled to a new trial because, allegedly, the trial judge erred (1) in the charge of the law of implied malice, (2) in excluding certain testimony concerning “voodoo”, “roots”, or witchcraft, (3) in failing to charge the law of involuntary manslaughter, and (4) in instructing as to the permissible verdicts. These questions will be discussed in the order stated.

Appellant first argues that the charge on implied malice created an…