Suprenant v. State

Jack Suprenant (defendant) argued with his partner, Kerry Bruckman, for days over a suspected affair; when Bruckman announced the relationship was over and began packing to leave with Suprenant's children, Suprenant became enraged and began stabbing her. Their children's screaming interrupted the attack, and Suprenant chased them back to bed before returning to continue stabbing Bruckman until she died; the trial court refused to instruct the jury on voluntary manslaughter, finding Bruckman's statement insufficient sudden-heat provocation, and a jury convicted Suprenant of murder, prompting his appeal.