Graves v. United States

NEWMAN, Associate Judge:

Edmond Graves was convicted of second-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon. On appeal he alleges that the trial court committed reversible error by refusing to instruct the jury on the law concerning defense of others, despite his request for this instruction. We agree and reverse the conviction of second-degree murder. We affirm the conviction of carrying a dangerous weapon.

I

On the evening of October 1, 1983, an altercation between Edmond Graves and Willie Witherspoon occurred resulting in Witherspoon’s death by a single stab wound in the chest.…