State v. Tucker, 21067
Decision Date | 22 October 1979 |
Docket Number | No. 21067,21067 |
Citation | 273 S.C. 736,259 S.E.2d 414 |
Court | South Carolina Supreme Court |
Parties | The STATE, Respondent, v. Lonnie Lee TUCKER, Appellant. |
Andrew L. Abrams, Greenville, for appellant.
Atty. Gen. Daniel R. McLeod, Asst. Atty. Gen. Brian P. Gibbes and Staff Atty. Lindy Pike Funkhouser, Columbia, and Sol. William W. Wilkins, Jr., Greenville, for respondent.
The defendant-appellant, Lonnie Lee Tucker, was convicted by a jury of violating § 56-5-2910, Code of Laws of South Carolina (1976), which reads as follows:
He has appealed the conviction, submitting two questions for consideration to this court as a basis for acquittal, as a matter of law, or, in the alternative, for a new trial because of alleged erroneous charge by the trial judge.
The defendant's vehicle was being driven by him south along Highway No. 276, a four-lane road, in the direction of Travelers Rest. Garland Easley Fortner was proceeding in the opposite direction on his motorcycle. Both were traveling in the inside lanes. As the vehicles approached, the defendant's automobile "fishtailed" across the center line 3 to the place where defendant's automobile came to rest.
Witness Dodd, for the State, testified that at a point about two miles from the collision defendant's automobile was being driven ". . . real fast and weaving in and out of traffic." Witness Chapman, for the State, testified relative to defendant's automobile, that at a point about nine-tenths of a mile from the scene of the collision: "He came over and right when he did he kicked into the motor and the car spun sideways in the curve and come towards us and it scared my wife and I'd say the car was going fast, I couldn't say how fast."
Evidence of the defendant's driving conduct before reaching the scene of the collision was properly admitted to show his state of mind. The facts and issues here are strikingly similar to those in State v. Cavers, 236 S.C. 305, 114 S.E.2d 401 (1960). Also see 46 A.L.R.2d 9.
It was stipulated that Fortner died as a result of the collision. The defendant contended that his steering apparatus locked, causing his automobile to "fishtail." There was testimony from mechanics that the steering apparatus was examined after the collision and found to be in good working order.
The first question submitted to this court by counsel for the defendant is as follows:
Did the trial court err in refusing to instruct the jury in any manner as to the definition and effect of proximate cause and intervening cause and accident, despite the request by the defendant's counsel for these appropriate instructions?
In determining whether there was error in the judge's charge, this court will, of course, consider the charge as a whole and will consider the charge in the light of the evidence and the issues as they were developed in the trial of the case. Argument of counsel for ...
To continue reading
Request your trial-
State v. Pittman
...or ordinary care or a conscious indifference to the rights and safety of others or a reckless disregard thereof." State v. Tucker, 273 S.C. 736, 739, 259 S.E.2d 414, 415 (1979). Appellant argues that he was entitled to an involuntary manslaughter charge because the killing of his grandparen......
-
State v. Rowell
...or ordinary care or a conscious indifference to the rights and safety of others or a reckless disregard thereof." State v. Tucker, 273 S.C. 736, 739, 259 S.E.2d 414, 415 (1979). The Model Penal Code includes definitions of the various kinds of culpability. It defines "recklessly" as A perso......
-
State v. Hyman, 21524
...charge for error, we consider the charge as a whole in light of the evidence and issues as presented during the trial. State v. Tucker, 273 S.C. 736, 259 S.E.2d 414 (1979). The law to be charged must be determined from the evidence presented. State v. Jones, 273 S.C. 723, 259 S.E.2d 120 App......
-
McKnight v. State, 26484.
...or ordinary care or a conscious indifference to the rights and safety of others or a reckless disregard thereof." State v. Tucker, 273 S.C. 736, 739, 259 S.E.2d 414, 415 (1979). Accordingly, the specification of the mens rea in the HCA statute in conjunction with the general charge on crimi......