Beckett v. People

The defendant John Beckett Jr. petitioned for certiorari review of the court of appeals decision in People v. Beckett, 782 P.2d 812 (Colo.App.1989). After a jury trial, the defendant was convicted of felony menacing with a deadly weapon, § 18-3-206, 8B C.R.S. (1986), and prohibited use of weapons, § 18-12-106(1)(d), 8B C.R.S. (1986). In Beckett, the court of appeals held that the trial court did not err in refusing the defendant’s “apparent necessity” self-defense jury instruction. We granted certiorari to consider the court of appeals decision, and we now affirm.1

I

In May 1987, the defendant…