State v. Frederiksen

George F. Frederiksen appeals his jury conviction of second degree assault while armed with a deadly weapon and a firearm. He claims that the trial court erred in disallowing voir dire questions regarding veniremen's attitude toward self-defense, that the State did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt the absence of self-defense, and that the jury instructions improperly placed upon the defendant the burden of proving self-defense.

On the evening of October 9, 1983, Wayne Nelson and three friends were in Seattle's China Chef Restaurant lounge. Frederiksen sat alone at a separate table but on…