State v. Gotschall

ZIMMERMAN, Justice:

Defendant Stanley E. Gotschall appeals ■his jury conviction of second degree murder, a first degree felony, in violation of section 76-5-203 of the Code. Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-203 (Supp.1989). Gotschall raises four claims of trial court error: (i) refusal, to dismiss a prospective juror for cause, thereby forcing defense counsel to use a peremptory challenge; (ii) allowance of testimony concerning Gotschall’s prior bad acts; (iii) admission of prosecution character evidence before Gotschall put on evidence to support his claim of self-defense; and (iv) refusal to instruct…