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Billups v. State

Supreme Court of Georgia
May 5, 1976
236 Ga. 922 (Ga. 1976)

Opinion

31035.

SUBMITTED APRIL 16, 1976.

DECIDED MAY 5, 1976. REHEARING DENIED JUNE 8, 1976.

Armed robbery. Fulton Superior Court. Before Judge McKenzie.

Marjorie King, Paul McGee, for appellant.

Arthur K. Bolton, Attorney General, Susan Boleyn, Lewis R. Slaton, District Attorney, Donald J. Stein, Assistant District Attorney, for appellee.


Wymon Billups was convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to serve 20 years. He was also convicted of aggravated assault and sentenced to serve 10 years consecutively. He appeals to this court. Held:

1. The appellant contends that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury properly as to the defense of alibi.

The record shows that the trial court properly charged on the defense of alibi. However, it did not charge on the definition of alibi in the exact words of Code § 38-122. There is no merit in this contention of the appellant. Any fuller instruction desired on the defense of alibi should have been requested in writing. Thomas v. State, 18 Ga. App. 101 (4) ( 88 S.E. 917) (1916); McDonald v. State, 21 Ga. App. 125 (4) ( 94 S.E. 262) (1917).

2. The appellant contends that the trial court erred in charging the jury, "... the defendant, Gail, as well as the defendant Wymon, each contend that they weren't present at the time and place the alleged crimes were committed..." (Emphasis supplied.) It is asserted that the trial court stated the contention of the appellant incorrectly because the appellant made no contention as to the issue of the presence of the co-defendant at the time of the offense.

There is no merit in this contention. Throughout the charge the trial court used the term "each" and indicated that their contentions were separate. The statement made in the complained of charge is, "A mere verbal inaccuracy in a charge, which results from a palpable `slip of the tongue,' and clearly could not have misled or confused the jury." Siegel v. State, 206 Ga. 252 (2) ( 56 S.E.2d 512) (1949).

Judgment affirmed. All the Justices concur.

SUBMITTED APRIL 16, 1976 — DECIDED MAY 5, 1976 — REHEARING DENIED JUNE 8, 1976.


Summaries of

Billups v. State

Supreme Court of Georgia
May 5, 1976
236 Ga. 922 (Ga. 1976)
Case details for

Billups v. State

Case Details

Full title:BILLUPS v. THE STATE

Court:Supreme Court of Georgia

Date published: May 5, 1976

Citations

236 Ga. 922 (Ga. 1976)
225 S.E.2d 887

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Pitts v. State

" Siegel v. State, 206 Ga. 252, 253 ( 56 S.E.2d 512). See Billups v. State, 236 Ga. 922 ( 225 S.E.2d 887).…

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If the charge given was incomplete or ambiguous he should have requested a fuller instruction. Billups v.…