People v. Garcia

Opinion by

Judge SMITH.

Defendant, Lawrence C. Garcia, appeals the judgment of conviction entered on a jury verdict finding him guilty of second degree murder and a crime of violence. We reverse and remand for a new trial.

The evidence established that the victim was stabbed in the chest with a kitchen knife on the first floor of her home, and that, although she was able to walk upstairs, she died soon thereafter from loss of blood. Testimony from other witnesses indicated that defendant and the victim had been arguing before the stabbing occurred.

The defendant, in a videotaped interview, stated…