S.E. 2d
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Supreme Court
Willie Lee Douglas, Petitioner,
v.
State of South Carolina, Respondent.
ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI
Appeal From Florence County
Ralph King Anderson, Trial Judge
Marc H. Westbrook, Post-Conviction Judge
Opinion No. 24828
Submitted December 17, 1997 - Filed August 10, 1998
AFFIRMED
Chief Attorney Daniel T. Stacey and Assistant
Appellate Defender Lisa T. Gregory, of South
Carolina Office of Appellate Defense, of Columbia,
for petitioner.
Attorney General Charles Molony Condon, Deputy
Attorney General John W. McIntosh, and Assistant
Deputy Attorney General Teresa A. Knox, all of
Columbia, for respondent.
TOAL, A.J.: Willie Lee Douglas and co-defendant Maurice
Pickens were involved in a shooting incident outside a Waffle House in
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DOUGLAS v. STATE
Florence, South Carolina. Four people were shot; two died. Douglas and
Pickens were indicted for the shooting. In this post-conviction relief action,
we granted a writ of certiorari to review petitioner's direct appeal issues
pursuant to White v. State, 263 S.C. 110, 208 S.E.2d 35 (1974). We affirm.
FACTUAL/PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Early in the morning on February 13, 1994, a crowd gathered in an
area next to a Waffle House in Florence; Douglas and Pickens were among
those in the crowd. An argument erupted between the defendants and others
in the crowd. There was testimony that a group of people rushed the
defendants, and in self-defense, Douglas and Pickens began shooting.
Douglas and Pickens were tried together for the shooting. They were
convicted of two counts of voluntary manslaughter and possession of a
firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. Both Douglas and
Pickens appealed. Douglas filed an untimely notice of intent to appeal which
we dismissed on January 25, 1994 for lack of jurisdiction. Pickens made a
timely appeal which we addressed in State v. Pickens, 320 S.C. 528, 466
S.E.2d 364 (1996). We reversed Pickens's conviction and remanded for a new
trial.
Meanwhile, on May 19, 1995, Douglas filed an application for post-
conviction relief ("PCR"). In its order dated March 21, 1996, the PCR court
found that Douglas did not knowingly and intelligently waive his right to a
direct appeal and was entitled to White v. State 1 review. As a result,
Douglas petitioned for a writ of certiorari, which we granted to consider the
following issues:
1. Did the trial court err in refusing to give a curative instruction after
the solicitor commented on the defendants' failure to call witnesses?
2. Did the trial court err in refusing a request to charge that Douglas
was not limited to the degree or quantity of attacking opposing forces?
3. Did the trial court err in denying a request to charge defense of
others?
4. Did the trial court err in refusing a request to instruct the jury on
involuntary manslaughter?
1 263 S.C. 110, 208 S.E.2d 35 (1974).
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DOUGLAS v. STATE
LAW/ANALYSIS
A. COMMENT ON FAILURE TO CALL WITNESSES
Douglas argues that the trial court erred in refusing to give a curative
instruction after the solicitor referred to Douglas's failure to call witnesses.
We disagree.
In closing arguments, the solicitor stated, "One thing they short me on
is I didn't put these officers up. Well, I tell you one thing, they can call
witnesses just like I can. And [Douglas] did call witnesses." Douglas
objected, and Pickens joined in the motion. Inasmuch as Pickens had elected
not to testify or call any witnesses, the trial judge ruled that he was entitled
to protection under Doyle v. Ohio, 426 U.S. 610, 96 S. Ct. 2240, 49 L. Ed. 2d
91 (1976).2 However, the trial judge refused to give a curative instruction.
Douglas argues this was reversible error.
Although Douglas did not testify in his own defense, he did call several
witnesses in his behalf. Douglas contends the solicitor's statement was an
attempt to draw an adverse inference from Douglas's failure to call a
particular witness. At the outset, it should be noted that it is a real stretch
to interpret the solicitor's remarks as a negative comment of any kind
regarding Douglas. Nevertheless, the jury should ordinarily be instructed not
to draw inferences from the neglect of a defendant to call witnesses. See 29
Am. Jur. 2d Evidence 247 (1994). Moreover, pursuant to State v. Posey,
269 S.C. 500, 238 S.E.2d 176 (1977), it is never permissible for the prosecutor
to suggest to the jury that it draw an adverse inference when the defendant
fails to present any evidence at trial, since the defendant may let the case go
to the jury on the basis that the prosecution did not meet its burden of proof.
However, where, as here, the defendant presents evidence at trial, and
"there are witnesses, seemingly accessible to the accused, or under his
control, who are or should be cognizant of material and relevant facts and
competent to testify thereto, and whose testimony would presumably aid him
or substantiate his story if it were true, it is not improper for the prosecuting
attorney to comment upon [defendant's] failure to produce them." State v.
Shackleford, 228 S.C. 9, 11, 88 S.E.2d 778, 779 (1955). In State v. Bamberg,
270 S.C. 77, 240 S.E.2d 639 (1977), the solicitor argued to the jury that it
should draw an adverse inference from the defendants' failure to call certain
2 Pursuant to Doyle, the State cannot comment on an accused's right
to remain silent.
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DOUGLAS v. STATE
witnesses. The defendant argued that the trial court erred in allowing the
solicitor to make the argument. We disagreed, noting that the rule in Posey
applied only in cases where a defendant failed to present any evidence at all.
In Bamberg, the defendants had produced other witnesses in their behalf.
As such, we found the solicitor's argument was proper.
In this case, Douglas also produced other witnesses in his behalf.
Additionally, the trial court extensively charged the jury that the State had
the burden of proof and the defendants had no duty to prove their innocence.
Therefore, we find the trial court's failure to give a curative instruction was
not error.3
B. DEGREE OF FORCE IN SELF-DEFENSE
Douglas argues that the trial court erred in refusing to charge that
Douglas was not limited to the degree or quantity of attacking opposing
forces. We disagree,
Douglas's requested charge provided:
I charge you that the defendant, if without fault, has the right to
use such necessary force as required for his complete protection
from loss of life or serious bodily harm and cannot be limited to
the degree or quantity of attacking opposing force. State v.
Campbell, 111 S.C. 112, 113, 96 S.E. 543, 544 (1918).
In Campbell, the defendant shot and killed a man who came at him
with a bottle. The defendant claimed self-defense. The trial court charged
the jury that under self-defense the defendant was limited to using as much
force as was used against him. We found the trial court had erred in giving
the charge, stating: "The defendant was not limited to use the same force and
no more than that with which he was threatened. The defendant, if without
fault, had the right to use as much force as required for his complete
protection from loss of life or serious bodily harm, and could not be limited
to the degree or quantity of attacking opposing force." State v. Campbell, 111
S.C. at 113, 96 S.E. at 544.
3 In State v. Pickens, 320 S.C. 528, 466 S.E.2d 364, we found that the
trial court's failure to give a curative instruction was reversible error.
However, the instant case is distinguishable from Pickens because Douglas
did present evidence at trial, while Pickens did not.
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DOUGLAS v. STATE
In this case, after instructing the jury on the elements of self-defense,
the trial court gave the following jury charge:
[I]f the defendant was justified in using force and firing the first
shot, he is justified in continuing to shoot until it appears that
any danger to his life and body has ceased.
* * * *
The law in this state is that the defendant does not have to wait
until the deceased gets the drop on him or the deceased begins
to shoot him. He has the right to act upon the law of self-
preservation and prevent this.
We find that the trial court's charge was consistent with the dictates
of Campbell. Therefore, the trial court's refusal to give Douglas's requested
charge was not error. See State v. Hicks, 305 S.C. 277, 407 S.E.2d 907
(1991)(although charges requested by a party may be a correct statement of
law, a judge does not err by refusing to deliver the charges verbatim).
C. DEFENSE OF OTHERS
Douglas argues that the trial court erred in denying a request to charge
"defense of others." We disagree.
Under the theory of defense of others, one is not guilty of taking the
life of an assailant who assaults a friend, relative, or bystander if that friend
relative, or bystander would likewise have the right to take the life of the
assailant in self-defense. State v. Long, _ S.C. _, 480 S.E.2d 62 (1997).
The law to be charged is determined from the evidence presented at trial.
State v. Gourdine, 322 S.C. 396, 472 S.E.2d 241 (1996). Consequently, in
order for the trial court to give a defense of others charge, there must be
some evidence adduced at trial that the defendant was indeed lawfully
defending others. In this case, the evidence was insufficient to warrant such
a charge.
Douglas further argues that since the jury was charged with "the hand
of one is the hand of all" theory, it should have also been charged with
defense of others. Douglas reasons that it would not be fair for the State to
have the benefit of a charge on concerted action, without the defendant also
having the benefit of the reciprocal charge on defense of others. We disagree.
Evidence that supports a charge on concerted action does not automatically
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DOUGLAS v. STATE
warrant a defense of others charge. There must be some other evidence to
support the defense of others theory. See Bozeman v. State, 307 S.C. 172,
414 S.E.2d 144 (1992)(finding the record supported a self-defense charge
rather than a defense of others charge). Thus, in this case, the trial court
did not err in refusing to give the requested charge.
D. INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER
Douglas argues that the trial court erred in refusing to instruct the
jury on involuntary manslaughter. We disagree.
Involuntary manslaughter is (1) the unintentional killing of another
without malice, but while engaged in an unlawful activity not naturally
tending to cause death or great bodily harm; or (2) the unintentional killing
of another without malice, while engaged in a lawful activity with reckless
disregard for the safety of others. Bozeman v. State, 307 S.C. 172, 414
S.E.2d 144. Douglas argues that an involuntary manslaughter charge should
have been given because he acted lawfully,. but recklessly, in defending
himself.
Douglas admits he intentionally shot the gun into the crowd in self-
defense. In State v. McLaughlin, 208 S.C. 462, 38 S.E.2d 492 (1946), the
defendant also argued that he intentionally shot a gun while defending
himself from an attack. We found that an involuntary manslaughter charge
was warranted since there "was sufficient evidence to go to the jury as to
whether or not [defendant] was negligent in firing as he did at random in the
darkness knowing that others were about." State v. McLaughlin, 208 S.C.
at 466, 38 S.E.2d at 493. However, in Pickens, we overruled McLaughlin as
to the evidence needed to warrant an involuntary manslaughter charge.
Pickens, 320 S.C. at 531 n.3, 466 S.E.2d at 366 n.3. In Pickens, we relied
upon two modern South Carolina cases discussing this issue: State v. Smith,
315 S.C. 547, 446 S.E.2d 446 (1994)(holding that a defendant who acted
intentionally in wielding a knife in self-defense was not entitled to an
involuntary manslaughter charge) and State v. Morris, 307 S.C. 480, 415
S.E.2d 819 (Ct. App. 1991)(finding an involuntary manslaughter charge not
warranted because evidence showed an intentional shooting). We reasoned
that involuntary manslaughter is at its core an unintentional killing. Thus,
where a defendant intentionally arms himself and shoots into a crowd, as
Douglas did here, he is not entitled to an involuntary manslaughter charge.4
4 A claim of imperfect self-defense would also be unavailing because it
has no application to involuntary manslaughter. See William Shepard
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DOUGLAS v. STATE
Accord Lamon v. State, 390 S.E.2d 582 (Ga. 1990); People v. DeMumbree, 424
N.E.2d 73 (Ill. 1981); State v. Moore, 331 S.E.2d 251 (N.C. Ct. App. 1985).
Thus, pursuant to Pickens, the evidence in this case would not support
a charge of involuntary manslaughter. The record firmly establishes that
Douglas armed himself with a gun and intentionally fired it into the crowd.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the trial court is AFFIRMED on all issues.
FINNEY, C.J., MOORE, WALLER and BURNETT, JJ., concur.
McAninch, The Criminal Law of South Carolina 163 (1996).
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