Roddy v. State

GARRARD, Presiding Judge,

concurring.

I concur with part I and with Judge Staton’s analysis as to when it is proper to give a lesser offense instruction.1 I also concur in the analysis that the offense of aiming a weapon was not inherently included in the charged offense nor was it sufficiently charged by the language of the information to satisfy the requirements of Blackburn v. State (1973), 260 Ind. 5, 291 N.E.2d 686.

However, my reasons for finding no error in the court’s refusal to instruct on assault or assault with intent to commit a felony differ from those of Judge Staton.

Unlike common law assault the statutory crime of assault requires the attempt to commit a violent injury upon the person of another. IC 35-13-4-7 (repealed). The statute applicable to assault with intent requires the commission of an assault or assault and battery. IC 35-1-54-3 (repealed).

Under the evidence presented at trial Roddy did not commit a battery nor did he actually attempt to commit a violent injury on anyone. Accordingly, pursuant to Hash v. State (1972), 258 Ind. 692, 284 N.E.2d 770, these instructions were properly refused.

. An exception exists establishing voluntary manslaughter as a lesser offense in a charge of first or second degree murder despite the element of “sudden heat.” See Robinson v. State (Ind.App.1974), 309 N.E.2d 833, rev’d on other grounds, 262 Ind. 463, 317 N.E.2d 850; Holloway v. State (1976), Ind.App., 352 N.E.2d 523.