George Dunckhurst v. George Deeds the Attorney General of the State of Nevada

TANG, Circuit Judge:

Dunckhurst, a Nevada state prisoner, appeals the district court’s denial of his petition for writ of habeas corpus, brought pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (1982). Dunckhurst was convicted in state court of first degree murder and sentenced to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment. He contends that the trial court erred by (1) denying his requested jury instructions explicitly stating the State’s burden of proof to show the admitted homicide was not committed in the heat of passion, and (2) giving instructions which precluded jury consideration of voluntary manslaughter…