McGinnis v. Commonwealth

*520LEIBSON, Justice.

In these separate appeals, both from Jefferson Circuit Court, each appellant has been convicted of wanton murder. In each case the appellant testified at the trial, admitting that he shot the victim, and attempting to justify the killing on grounds it was an act of self-protection. KRS Chapter 507 provides four different criminal homicide offenses. In each of the present cases the trial court instructed the jury, separately and alternately, on five different possible offenses: intentional murder, wanton murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, or…