People v. Elmore
Supreme Court of California
325 P.3d 951 (2014)
Relevant factsFree
Elmore (defendant), with a history of psychosis, stabbed and killed a stranger, Suggs, at a bus stop while exhibiting psychotic symptoms; he pleaded both not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity, triggering a bifurcated trial, and during the guilt phase requested (unsuccessfully) a jury instruction on imperfect self-defense based on his psychotic beliefs. The jury convicted him of first-degree murder, and he appealed the instruction's denial.
IssueFree
Whether the doctrine of unreasonable self-defense is available to mitigate murder to manslaughter if a defendant's belief in the need to defend himself was entirely delusional.