State of Missouri, Respondent v. Antoine Hill, Appellant.

This slip opinion is subject to revision and may not reflect the final opinion adopted by the Court. Opinion Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District Case Style: State of Missouri, Respondent v. Antoine Hill, Appellant. Case Number: ED74953 Handdown Date: 04/25/2000 Appeal From: Circuit Court of St. Louis County, Hon. Timothy J. Wilson Counsel for Appellant: Nancy L. Vincent Counsel for Respondent: Daniel W. Follett Opinion Summary: Antoine Hill appeals convictions and sentences for voluntary manslaughter and a related armed criminal action. REVERSED AND REMANDED. Division Four Holds: (1) The unpreserved errors are not plain errors. (2) The state concedes the refusal of an involuntary manslaughter instruction was error under State v. Beeler, 12 S.W.3d 294 (Mo. banc 2000). Citation: Opinion Author: Kent E. Karohl, Judge Opinion Vote: REVERSED AND REMANDED. Crandall, Jr., P.J. and Hoff, J., concur. Opinion: The state charged defendant with murder in the first degree and armed criminal action. The jury found defendant guilty of the included offense of voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. Defendant appeals consecutive sentences totaling seventeen years. Defendant testified he was the victim of an unprovoked assault by Kendrick Holmes in the bathroom of the Cut

Above Lounge. Holmes was much larger than defendant and severely intoxicated. Defendant secured a .38 caliber revolver from his pocket and shot Holmes in the left temple. There was an eyewitness. Defendant stepped over the body, left the lounge and went to the parking lot. A security guard stopped defendant and another individual in the parking lot where they were pushing a truck. The security guard summoned the police. The revolver was never found. Defendant also testified he initially told the police he had not shot Holmes. In addition to his oral statement, he gave a signed written statement and a video taped statement. The court permitted the state to show the video for the jury during cross-examination of defendant.Defendant's three unpreserved errors are not plain errors. First, the state's cross-examination regarding defendant's prior convictions was invited by his denial of prior convictions on direct examination. Second, rejecting defendant's proposed question to a medical examiner about the effect of Holmes' intoxication on defendant, to support his theory of self-defense, did not deprive defendant of the defense where the undisputed evidence was Holmes was very intoxicated. Finally, the state's reference to "reasonable doubt" in voir dire was not error, plain or otherwise. The reference exactly tracked MAI-CR 3rd 100.02. These points are denied. Defendant argues the trial court erred in refusing to submit one of two verdict directing instructions which he tendered to submit the included offense of involuntary manslaughter. He contends his statements on the video would support a finding that he recklessly caused the death of Holmes. We do not have the video. However, the prosecutor asked, "in your video taped statement you said you didn't mean for it to happen?" He answered, "Yes, sir." During his live testimony defendant described the assault, which included an oral threat by Holmes, and movement of Holmes' hand which defendant concluded was an attempted robbery with a weapon. Defendant used his gun believing it was necessary to protect himself.Involuntary manslaughter is a lesser-included offense of first degree murder. Section 565.025. A court must instruct on a lesser-included offense only if the evidence established a basis for acquittal of the greater offense and conviction of the lesser-included offense. Section 556.046.2 RSMo 1994; State v. Coleman, 949 S.W.2d 137, 142 (Mo. App. W.D. 1997). A defendant is entitled to a requested instruction which is supported by the evidence and any inferences which logically flow from the evidence. State v. Hopson, 891 S.W.2d 851, 853 (Mo. App. E.D. 1995). The court should submit a requested instruction, "if the evidence arguably shows lack of an essential element of the higher offense which would not only authorize acquittal of the higher, but sustain conviction of the lesser." State v. Israel, 872 S.W.2d 647, 649 (Mo. App. E.D. 1994). In deciding on how to instruct a jury, a trial court must "resolve all doubts regarding the evidence in favor of instructing on the lower offense." State v. Yacub, 976 S.W.2d 452, 453 (Mo. 1998). Upon review, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the defendant. State v. Cole, 377 S.W.2d 306, 307 (Mo. 1964).

We originally rejected defendant's argument and affirmed the conviction and sentence. The Supreme Court ordered a transfer of this case. Thereafter, it decided State v. Beeler, 12 S.W.3d 294 (Mo. banc February 22, 2000) and retransferred this appeal. The State concedes "that Beeler requires the reversal and remand for new trial." Accordingly, we reverse and remand for a new trial. Separate Opinion: None This slip opinion is subject to revision and may not reflect the final opinion adopted by the Court.