People v. Stewart

A jury found defendant, Samuel L. Stewart, guilty of the murder of Anna Thomas, and the trial court sentenced him to a term of 25 years. On appeal defendant contends that the trial court erred in failing to ask certain voir dire questions, and in failing to instruct the jury regarding voluntary manslaughter and defendant’s justified use of force. Defendant also contends that he was denied a fair trial because of improper comments by the prosecutor during closing argument.

On March 30, 1982, defendant stabbed the deceased to death in the hallway of the apartment building where he had previously…