Commonwealth v. Troila
Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
571 N.E.2d 391 (1991)
Relevant factsFree
Matthew Troila (defendant) stabbed and killed a man who had made a pass at him; he was convicted of first-degree murder and appealed, arguing the trial court erred by not instructing the jury on voluntary manslaughter, since the victim's homosexual overture might have constituted sufficient provocation to reduce the charge.
IssueFree
Whether a sexual overture constitutes sufficient provocation to warrant the reduction of a murder charge to voluntary manslaughter.