Potter v. United States

Following a jury trial, appellant was convicted of simple assault, D.C.Code § 22-504 (1981); possession of a prohibited weapon (brick), D.C.Code § 22-3214(b) (1981); and possession of marijuana, D.C.Code § 33-541(d) (1985 Supp.). On appeal, he contends that the trial court erred by failing to instruct the jury that the defense of self-defense applied to the charge of possession of a prohibited weapon, and by refusing to respond to a jury note asking whether the self-defense instruction applied to that charge. We agree with the appellant that the court erred in failing to respond to the jury’s…