State v. Warren

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

POLLOCK, J.

The primary issue on this appeal is whether a trial court must charge that if a defendant establishes that his voluntary intoxi cation negated the mental elements of purpose and knowledge, which are elements of the crime of murder, the jury may still find the defendant guilty of manslaughter or aggravated manslaughter.

Defendant, John Warren, was indicted for murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a; unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b; and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a. At trial, the court instructed the…