People v. . Minifie

Opinion

CHIN, J.

A defendant charged with assaultive crimes who claims self-defense may present evidence that the alleged victim had previously threatened him. Here, we decide the admissibility of threats against the defendant, not by the victim, but by third parties. We conclude that evidence of third party threats is admissible to support a claim of self-defense if there is also evidence from which the jury may find that the defendant reasonably associated the victim with those threats.

In this case, the trial court excluded substantial evidence of third party threats. The Court of Appeal held…