Woodward v. the State, 342 Ga. App. 499

Defendant Dontavious Woodward (17) lived with parents and siblings; on March 28, 2010 fires and smoke were observed originating in his bedroom late at night.
Family members saw Woodward using a grill lighter and an aerosol can as a makeshift torch to set walls, bed, couch, and blinds on fire; he laughed and threatened family members while shooting flames toward them.
After others evacuated, Woodward exited the house armed with lighter and spray can and was alleged to have intended to set a car on fire.
A confrontation with his step-father ensued: step-father picked up and then dropped a dumbbell; Woodward struck him with a spray can and then ran at him with two knives, stabbing him multiple times.
Woodward was subdued; step-father required hospital treatment. Woodward was convicted by a jury of first-degree arson and aggravated assault (family violence) and appealed arguing insufficiency of evidence (self-defense for assault; accident for arson).

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Sufficiency of evidence for aggravated assault / self-defense	State: Evidence shows Woodward was the aggressor, used knives as deadly weapons, and stabbed step-father after step-father had dropped the dumbbell.	Woodward: He acted in self-defense because step-father chased/charged him with a dumbbell; he used force to protect himself.	Court: Affirmed. Conflicting testimony resolved by jury; competent evidence supports that Woodward was the aggressor and not entitled to justification.
Sufficiency of evidence for first-degree arson / accident vs. intentional	State: Woodward knowingly used a makeshift flame-thrower to start multiple fires inside the occupied home; damage and fire patterns consistent with deliberate blowing-torch type ignition; foreseeable risk to human life.	Woodward: Initial ignition was accidental — curiosity experiment with lighter and aerosol produced an unintended fire.	Court: Affirmed. Even if initial spark uncertain, evidence showed he intentionally set additional fires and knowingly damaged the dwelling with risk to life.

Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 (standard for reviewing sufficiency of the evidence)
Noble v. State, 282 Ga. App. 311 (Georgia standard when justification defense raised)
Waller v. State, 267 Ga. App. 608 (appellate deference to jury credibility findings)
Hazelwood v. State, 265 Ga. App. 709 (upholding stabbing conviction where jury credited victim over defendant)
Frost v. State, 200 Ga. App. 267 (presumption that fires are accidental and State’s burden to prove incendiary origin)