State v Mann

In class we had our first Mock Trial. I have to say because I never got the opportunity to do something like that in high school it was pretty cool to watch but made me also very nervous to have to stand up in a few weeks and do it for myself. The case that was looked at today was State v. Man, a basic summary of it was Mr.Man was being charged with assault and a $10 fine because a slave he was renting ,Liddia, was trying to run away and he shot her for it. The State wants their money and Mr.Man wants to let do from all charges. I have to say I am siding with Mr.Man on this case because she was a slave. Yes, she might not have been his own personal slave but she was in the hands and care of Mr.Man. It is like when I was growing up and I was misbehaving at a friends house that parent had full and total right to punish me, whether it was a spanking or a time out. That parent was in charge of me like Mann was with Liddia. Then you have to look at the side of it was completely illegal for her to run away. Even if she was to have made it all the way to a Northern State she could still be captured, punished, and brought back to Mr.Mann's property. There is a set back on Mr.Mann's end That is he was renting Liddia from Mrs. Jones a friend of his. Which mean that Liddia is now considered damaged which is damage to her property. If you ask me all of this is kind of a huge sucker punch. Back then rules/laws were so messed up, owning a slave was all cool but the minute you hurt one all hell breaks loose. So what is the real answer her? It is ok to own someone and have them do hard manual labor where they hurt themselves but it is not ok to flat out hurt them?