People v. Edwards

Citations

• 41 Cal. 640
• 1871 Cal. LEXIS 150

Syllabus

<p>Challenge oe Juror eor Implied Bias.—The unqualified expression of an opinion as to the guilt or innocence of a prisoner on trial is ground of challenge of a juror for implied bias.</p> <p>Answer to Challenge.—It is no answer to such challenge to say that in the mind or thought of the party challenged the opinion was qualified, though in its form of expression it was unqualified. The admitted fact being that he had unqualifiedly expressed his opinion upon the question of the guilt or innocence of the prisoner, he was thereby, in judgment of law, incompetent to serve as a juror.</p> <p>Evidence oe Character oe Prisoner.—In a criminal case proof of bad character of the deceased is admissible, only when it tends in some way in connection with the immediate circumstances under which the killing was done, to show that the prisoner had sufficient grounds, as a reasonable man, to fear that he was himself about to receive at the hands of the deceased some great bodily harm, and that he acted under the influence of fear in killing the deceased.</p>