People v. Becoats

OPINION OF THE COURT

Smith, J.

Defendants, Corey Becoats and Jason Wright, appeal their convictions for manslaughter and robbery. We reject most of their arguments, but conclude that Wright is entitled to a new trial because of an error in excluding evidence he tried to present in his defense.

I

The People sought to prove that defendants, acting with a third man, Sherrod Carter (who had not been apprehended at the time of the trial), beat Hayden Spears to death, and forcibly stole property from him. Two witnesses described an incident in which the three attackers first argued with Spears in the…