Mitchell v. State

Two issues are presented:

1. Were the court’s instructions to the jury on manslaughter and self-defense confusing and prejudicial?

2. Is the evidence of self-defense so conclusive the court should have ordered judgment for the defendant notwithstanding the jury verdict?

The information charged the defendant with second-degree murder in the slaying of Donald Skenandore. Verdicts of guilty of second-degree murder, guilty of manslaughter and not guilty were submitted to the jury. It returned the verdict of guilty of manslaughter. As to both second-degree murder and manslaughter, it was the…