People v. Jaspar

Opinion

VARTABEDIAN, J.

Defendant Natalie Lynn Jaspar shot her boyfriend, Thomas Hines, in the back of the head, causing his death. An expert witness testified for the defense on the subject of battered woman syndrome (BWS). Defendant was convicted of second degree murder. On appeal, she contends the instruction given to the jury on BWS allowed the jury to consider syndrome evidence on the question of self-defense but precluded the jury from considering the syndrome on the question of unreasonable self-defense. In addition, she raises claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, instruction…