State v. Meeks
Annotate this CaseAfter a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of second-degree intentional murder for fatally shooting her former partner, Wesley Smith. Prior to trial, Defendant received an evaluation by an expert on battered woman syndrome. The district court refused to allow the report or testimony into evidence and also ruled that evidence of specific instances of Smith’s prior acts of violence were inadmissible. Defendant appealed, arguing that the district court violated her right to a fair trial by refusing her request to establish a claim of self-defense based on the battered woman syndrome. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that because Defendant did not assert a claim of self-defense or give any indication to the trial court that she was attempting to assert a claim of self-defense at trial, she had no claim on appeal that she was denied the right to present evidence on the theory of self-defense.
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