Jones v. State

Powell, J.

Under no rational view of the evidence was the law of voluntary manslaughter involved; the submission of instructions thereon was error, and the verdict finding the defendant guilty of that offense was contrary to law. Brantley v. State, 5 Ga. App. 458 (63 S. E. 519).

2. Under the facts of the case, it was erroneous to instruct the jury that “provocation by words, threats, menaces, or contemptuous gestures shall in no case be sufficient to free the person killing from the guilt and crime of murder.” Holland v. State, 3 Ga. App. 466 (60 S. E. 205) ; Cumming v. State, 99 Ga. 662 (27 S. E. 177); Johnson v. State, 105 Ga. 665 (31 S. E. 399) ; Clay v. State, 124 Ga. 795 (53 S. E. 179).

3. In all cases where the term of punishment in the penitentiary is discretionary, the jury may in their verdict make a recommendation as to the extent of the punishment, though the judge is not bound to respect the recommendation; and it is not error for the judge so to instruct the jury. Penal Code, § 1037; Sterling v. State, 89 Ga. 807 (15 S. E. 743). Judgment reversed.