Fortini v. Murphy
United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
257 F.3d 39 (1st Cir. 2001)
Relevant factsFree
Robert Fortini shot and killed Caesar Monterio, claiming self-defense and testifying that Monterio lunged at him first; the state trial court excluded evidence that Monterio had assaulted four other people shortly before the shooting, and Fortini was convicted of second-degree murder. Fortini sought federal habeas relief, arguing the exclusion violated due process under Chambers v. Mississippi, and the district court denied the petition.
IssueFree
Whether a state trial court's erroneous admission or exclusion of evidence can be the basis for overturning a conviction on due-process grounds if the evidence is not highly probative and absolutely critical to the defense.