Pace v. State

Hunt, Justice.

Dexter Nathaniel Pace was found guilty but mentally ill for the murder of his brother, Oscar Pace, in Gwinnett County. He was given a life sentence and appeals. He raises two enumerations of error: (1) that the trial court erred in failing to give his requested charge on voluntary manslaughter and (2) that the trial court shifted the burden of proof to him by charging that the use of a deadly weapon gives rise to an inference of an intent to kill without also charging that inference could be rebutted.

The defendant, who had recently been frustrated by his lack of success in…