Walter A. Guthrie, 117801 v. Warden, Maryland Penitentiary

WINTER, Chief Judge:

Walter H. Guthrie, who was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, appeals from the district court’s order denying him a writ of habeas corpus. He attacks the validity of his conviction on the grounds that the jury was unconstitutionally instructed with respect to the elements of the offense and his defenses of intoxication, heat of passion, and self-defense.

Because we think that, read in context, the charge to the jury with respect to the defense of self-defense was constitutionally inadequate, we reverse the order of the district court and…