People v. Watkins
Supreme Court of Colorado
586 P.2d 43 (1978)
Relevant factsFree
Henry Watkins (defendant), at a bar with his brother, shot Walter McDonald and David Buckner, killing McDonald, and testified he believed the two men were threatening his and his brother's lives. The trial court refused his request for a criminally negligent homicide instruction and gave the jury only first- and second-degree murder options, resulting in convictions for second-degree murder and first-degree assault.
IssueFree
Whether a defendant is entitled to a jury instruction on criminally negligent homicide where he presented evidence that he acted from a genuine, even if unreasonable, belief that his life was in danger.