Charles v. Commonwealth

CLAYTON, Justice.

Greenville T. Charles was convicted by a jury in Pike Circuit Court of first degree manslaughter (KRS 507.030) and was sentenced to twenty years in prison. The two issues raised by his appeal are whether the trial court erred in qualifying appellant’s right of self-protection in its instructions to the jury, and whether the reference to a prior arrest warrant prejudiced appellant’s substantial rights.

On July 5, 1980, appellant arrived at a house leased by Cletus May on Coon Creek where a poker game was being played. Archie Charles, who is appellant’s brother and one of the…