People v. Lockett

The defendant, George Lockett, was indicted for the offense of murder, tried by a jury, found guilty of voluntary manslaughter, and was sentenced to serve a term of from 7 to 17 years in the penitentiary.

The defendant contends on appeal that his conviction was brought about by the refusal of the trial court to give a defense instruction on the subject of self-defense. In the alternative, he contends that the sentence imposed by the trial judge is too severe and requests this court to reduce it.

Alonzo Woods, age 18, was shot twice — once in the arm and once in the heart — on the evening of…