People v. Goree

A jury convicted defendant, Nathaniel Goree, of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (felony-firearm) in violation of MCL 750.227b, but acquitted him of any underlying assault charge. The jury reached its verdict after the trial court erroneously reinstructed it that a felony-firearm offense cannot be justified by self-defense. A defendant’s commission of a violent crime may be excused when the defendant acts to protect himself or others, as may a firearm-possession charge. We therefore vacate defendant’s felony-firearm conviction and sentence, and remand for a new trial…