State v. Jarvi

Defendant was charged with the crime of first degree murder, entered a plea of not guilty and was found guilty of manslaughter by the court without a jury. He appealed.

The evening of December 2, 1967, the defendant shot and killed one Otto Albert Aho at the defendant’s residence. Aho was killed almost instantly with a bullet fired from a bolt action 30.06 rifle fired at a distance of four to six feet from the victim.

Defendant claims he shot Aho in self-defense, to keep from being knifed. It is the state’s position that the shot was fired in anger while Aho was seated peaceably on a chair in…