5. Defense of self

State v. Phillip Kareen Green, 2015AP1126-CR, 4/26/16, District 1 (not recommended for publication); case activity (including briefs) Green argues that the evidence was insufficient to convict him of first degree reckless homicide because it didn’t prove he acted with utter disregard for human life. He also argues for a new trial in the interest of… Read more

State v. Charles L. Chew, 2014 WI App 116; case activity In its first decision addressing Wisconsin’s recently adopted “castle doctrine,” § 939.48(1m), the court of appeals holds Chew wasn’t entitled to a self-defense jury instruction under the statute because the men Chew shot at were not “in” his “dwelling.” Chew’s ex-girlfriend, accompanied by her new boyfriend Lee and his… Read more

State v. Langston C. Austin, 2013 WI App 96; case activity In this important case the court of appeals holds that the pattern jury instruction for self-defense in cases involving reckless or negligent crimes does not properly apprise the jury that the state has the burden to prove the defendant did not act in self-defense… Read more

State v. Romey J. Hodges, 2012AP1330, District 1, 3/26/13; court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); case activity The circuit court properly denied Hodges’s § 974.06 motion alleging that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate, and properly advise  Hodges regarding, a self defense claim. Based on the record Hodges has not shown… Read more

Review of unpublished court of appeals decision; case activity Issues (composed by On Point) 1. Whether the jury instructions on self defense as it pertained to second degree reckless homicide fairly and adequately explained the defense to the jury. 2. Whether trial court erroneously excluded evidence of the victim’s reputation for violence. Petitions for review aren’t… Read more

State v. Morris L. Harris, 2009AP2833-CR,  District 1, 10/13/10 court of appeals decision (3-judge, not recommended for publication); for Harris: Gary Grass; BiC; Resp.; Reply Lesser-Included Instruction – Battery Harris not entitled to instruction on simple battery as lesser included of substantial battery; the medical evidence established without contradiction that the victim suffered a fractured rib, therefore no… Read more

State v. Richard Martin Kubat, 2010AP509-CR, District 3, 9/21/10 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Kubat: Marc Grant Kurzman; BiC; Resp. Battery – Self-Defense – Sufficiency of Evidence A verbal confrontation between truckers at a truck stop eventuated in Belcher disabling Kubat’s truck and inviting Kubat to get his punk ass out… Read more