State v. Whitaker
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The Supreme Court vacated the judgment of the circuit court finding Defendant guilty of voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action, holding that the circuit court erred in refusing to give a self-defense instruction as requested by Defendant.
Defendant was charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and burglary. The jury found Defendant not guilty of burglary but guilty of armed criminal action and the lesser-included crime of voluntary manslaughter. The Supreme Court vacated Defendant's conviction, holding (1) there was substantial evidence to support giving Defendant's proffered self-defense instruction; and (2) the failure to submit this instruction prejudiced Defendant.
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