Billy Russell v. State of Indiana

OPINION

BARNES, Judge.

Case Summary

Billy Russell appeals his convictions and sentence for murder and Class B felony possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon (“SVF”). We affirm.

Issues

The issues before us are:

I. whether the trial court properly refused to completely bifurcate trial of the SVF charge from the murder charge;

II. whether the trial court erred by failing to instruct the jury on voluntary manslaughter as a lesser included offense of murder;

III. whether the trial court properly refused to give Russell’s tendered instruction on self-defense and the perspective of the defendant;

I…