People v. Snyder

OPINION OF THE COURT

John J. Connell, J.

The above-named defendant was indicted by the Erie County Grand Jury on charges of murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree involving an alleged incident on August 16, 1983, in which William Fugate was shot to death by the defendant.

In the case at bar, the defense, both in the voir dire and opening statement to the jury, had raised the defense of justification claiming that the defendant shot and killed William Fugate in self-defense. Mention was also made by defense counsel in his opening statement of the…