State v. Smith

David Dwight Smith shot and killed Robert Finley in a failed drug deal. The trial court charged the jury on the law of murder and self-defense, but refused to charge voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, or accident. The jury convicted Smith of murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. 1 The court of appeals held Smith was entitled to a voluntary manslaughter charge and reversed his convictions. The court of appeals declined to address whether Smith was entitled to an involuntary manslaughter or accident charge. We granted the State’s petition…