State v. Hodges

The trial court in the charge to the jury accurately reviewed the evidence and correctly instructed the jury as to the law governing murder and manslaughter. The court likewise charged as to the right of each defendant to defend his or her self. However, the court failed to charge or refer to any conditions or circumstances under which Burlie Gosnell might fight in defense of her daughter, or L. L. Hodges in defense of his brother’s wife.

The defendants’ evidence, heretofore quoted in the statement of facts, tends to show that Burlie Gosnell entered the fight by reason of the screams of her…