State v. Patrick M. Zurkowski, No. 2009AP929-CR, District III, 6/22/10 court of appeals decision (3-judge, not recommended for publication); for Zurkowski: Michael J. Fairchild; BiC; Resp. 1st-Degree Intentional Homicide – Sufficient Evidence, Intent ¶13 That Zurkowski killed June through a combination of repeated blows and cutting her tongue with a ceramic object he crammed in her… Read more
5. Defense of self
court of appeals decision (1-judge; not for publication); for Heindl: Lisa A. McDougal; BiC; Resp.; Reply Jury Instructions – Self-Defense Trial for battery, which the State theorized occurred when Heindl put Lien in a headlock from behind. Heindl himself suffered scratches and swelling about an eye, but was seriously drunk and had difficulty giving a… Read more
court of appeals decision (3-judge; not recommended for publication); for Lonski: Basil M. Loeb; BiC; Resp. Self-Defense Lonski’s claim of self-defense (that she was protecting herself from “unlawful” use of force by a uniformed officer) was rejected as not credible by the trial court in a bench trial, and that credibility determination wasn’t clearly erroneous… Read more
State v. Jason L. McClaren, 2009 WI 60, reversing 2008 WI App 118 For McClaren: Michael C. Witt Issue/Holding: ¶21 It is well established that a defendant seeking to support a self-defense claim may attempt to “prov[e] prior specific instances of violence within [the defendant’s] knowledge at the time of the incident.” State v. Wenger… Read more
State v. Jason L. McClaren, 2009 WI 60, reversing 2008 WI App 118 For McClaren: Michael C. Witt Issue/Holding: ¶21 It is well established that a defendant seeking to support a self-defense claim may attempt to “prov[e] prior specific instances of violence within [the defendant’s] knowledge at the time of the incident.” State v. Wenger, 225 Wis. 2d… Read more
State v. Jason L. McClaren, 2009 WI 60, reversing 2008 WI App 118 For McClaren: Michael C. Witt Issue/Holding: A trial court has inherent and statutory authority (§ 906.11) to order that a defendant provide a pretrial summary of the specific “McMorris” evidence (violent acts of the alleged victim the defendant knew about, as relevant… Read more
Root v. Saul, 2006 WI App 106 For Root: Thomas E. Hayes Issue/Holding: Either slapping or punching someone in the face “is certainly conduct that can provoke others to attack”; and, because Saul indisputably slapped or punched Root in the face the jury could have found Saul the initial aggressor, the jury should have been… Read more
State v. Debra Ann Head, 2002 WI 99, reversing, 2000 WI App 275 (See summaries at Defenses — Defense of Self, and scroll down)… Read more
