P. v. Wilson
Using a butcher knife, defendant Bertran Wilson eviscerated his roommate Steven Traylor. The People prosecuted defendant for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon or by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury. The People further alleged that defendant had personally used a deadly weapon and inflicted great bodily injury. At trial, the key issue was whether defendant acted in self defense. Both men testified to their respective versions of the events; both were impeached by inconsistent statements and contradictory evidence.
Court cannot say that this error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. The parties framed self-defense as the key issue. The record contains evidence from which a properly instructed jury could entertain a reasonable doubt about whether defendant acted in self-defense. Court therefore conclude that the trial courts error in answering the jurys inquiry with an incomplete and misleading statement about the burden of proof was prejudicial. Accordingly, Court reverse the judgment.
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