Louisiana Woman Charged With Murder After Allegedly Killing A Man Who Recently Had Brain Surgery

In torts, there is a doctrine called the “egg shell thin skull rule” where a defendant can be sued for the full damages of a tort even though the victim was especially susceptible to injury.  It is the concept that “you take your victim as you find him.”  Blaine Manalle, 20, is now personally familiar with the criminal counterpart to that rule.  She is facing a second-degree murder charge after allegedly hitting Jeffery Howell in the head.  Howell just had brain surgery and the blow fell on the still healing surgery incision behind his ear.

She was arrested with Cameron Alphonso, 21, (left) and Alden Kindergran, 22, (right).  Howell, 46, went over to the group when they were drinking heavily on a sandbar along the West Pearl River in Louisiana.  They were reportedly acting like pigs and throwing their empty bottles in the river. When Howell objected to the bottles being thrown in the river, they allegedly attacked him around 5:30 p.m.  In a brawl between two groups. Howell was hit in the head along the scar which was still held together by staples.  Alphonso was initially charged with manslaughter, but then upgraded to second-degree murder.  Kindergran was charged with disturbing the peace and released.