Bonman v. State

4 Citing cases

  1. Snipes v. State

    309 Ga. 785 (Ga. 2020)   Cited 17 times
    Holding that the appellant had not shown how testimony that she " ‘wasn't working or nothing’ " was "evidence of her bad character or otherwise prejudicial"

    Accordingly, pretermitting whether Snipes affirmatively waived this issue and whether the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on involuntary manslaughter, we conclude that Snipes has not shown plain error. See Bonman v. State , 298 Ga. 839, 840-41 (2), 785 S.E.2d 288 (2016) (trial court's refusal to charge involuntary manslaughter as a lesser included offense was harmless error where the jury, by finding the defendant guilty of malice murder, necessarily found that he intended to kill the victim); Rogers v. State , 289 Ga. 675, 678 (2), 715 S.E.2d 68 (2011) (by finding the defendant guilty of malice murder, the jury made an additional, specific finding that he intended the victim's killing and it is highly probable that the trial court's refusal to give a charge on involuntary manslaughter did not contribute to the verdict). OCGA § 16-5-3 (a) provides that "[a] person commits the offense of involuntary manslaughter in the commission of an unlawful act when he causes the death of another human being without any intention to do so by the commission of an unlawful act other than a felony."

  2. Mann v. State

    307 Ga. 696 (Ga. 2020)   Cited 10 times
    Holding that any error in failing to give requested accident instruction was harmless, although defendant indicated he intended to throw the seven-year old victim on a bed rather than on the ground, because evidence — including that the victim’s "devastating injuries, including bruising to his genitals, bruising to his body, retinal hemorrhaging in both eyes, bleeding and swelling in the brain, and ultimately brain death" resulted from the defendant’s "intentional acts of beating, squeezing, and throwing" the victim — overwhelmingly supported the jury’s finding that the defendant acted with malice

    Indeed, the jury found as much because it returned a verdict of guilty on the charge of malice murder. See Bonman v. State , 298 Ga. 839, 840-841 (2), 785 S.E.2d 288 (2016) (holding that trial court’s refusal to charge involuntary manslaughter as a lesser included offense was harmless error where the jury, by finding appellant guilty of malice murder, necessarily found that he intended to kill the victim). Accordingly, it is highly probable that any error in refusing Mann’s requested charge on involuntary manslaughter did not contribute to the jury’s verdict.

  3. Reddick v. State

    301 Ga. 90 (Ga. 2017)   Cited 1 times

    [Cits.]” Bonman v. State, 298 Ga. 839, 841 (2) (785 SE2d 288) (2016) (refusal to give involuntary manslaughter charge, even if error, was harmless; appellant’s contention that he shot into air inconsistent with other evidence and witness testimony); compare Manzano v. State, 282 Ga. 557, 558-559 (2) (651 SE2d 661) (2007) (involuntary manslaughter charge required based on evidence that appellant and victim were engaged in horseplay with pistol both believed to be unloaded). G. Richard Stepp, for appellant.

  4. Reddick v. State

    301 Ga. 90 (Ga. 2017)   Cited 8 times
    Addressing the trial court's alleged error in refusing to give a requested charge on involuntary manslaughter in a murder case

    [Cits.]” Bonman v. State, 298 Ga. 839 , 841 (2) (785 SE2d 288 ) (2016) (refusal to give involuntary manslaughter charge, even if error, was harmless; appellant’s contention that he shot into air inconsistent with other evidence and witness testimony); compare Manzano v. State, 282 Ga. 557 , 558-559 (2) (651 SE2d 661 ) (2007) (involuntary manslaughter charge required based on evidence that appellant and victim were engaged in horseplay with pistol both believed to be unloaded). G. Richard Stepp, for appellant.