A prospective jury in a Dallas District Court were surprised by the definition of voluntary manslaughter that they were given, immediately prior to their being selected for a murder trial.
Voluntary Manslaughter is an intentional killing that occurs while the defendant is under the immediate influence of sudden passion, arising from an adequate cause, such as when a spouse’s mate is found in a ‘compromising position‘.
One of the jury candidates raised her hand and said, “You see, I have a problem with that passion business”.
The rest of the prospective jury candidates fell silent, waiting to hear what the woman had to say.
“During my first marriage”, the woman continued, “I came home and found my husband in bed with my neighbor. All I did was divorce him. I had no idea that I could have shot him”.
For some reason, she wasn’t selected for the jury.
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