Williams v. State

OPINION

FONES, Justice.

The question addressed in this opinion is whether a defendant who has laid a proper foundation by pleading and evidence *504presenting the issue of self defense may adduce proof of specific acts of violence committed by the victim1 against third parties, knowledge of which has been communicated to defendant prior to the homicide, for the purpose of showing defendant’s state of apprehension.

Defendant was convicted of the second degree murder of one Morris Webb and sentenced to fifty years incarceration. Defendant admitted that he killed Webb, but alleged that he did so in…