Chapman v. State

MILLER, Presiding Judge.

The defendant, Charles Chapman, appeals his conviction in a jury trial for bat tery, a Class C felony under IND.CODE 35-42-2-1(8) (1982). Defendant admitted to cutting the victim, Preston "Pete" Pearson, with a knife, but claimed Pearson was the aggressor and the cutting was an act of self-defense. The only issue raised on this appeal is whether the trial court erred in excluding evidence offered by defendant of prior specific acts of violence committed by Pearson. In his offers of proof, defense counsel insisted the excluded evidence was offered solely for the purpose…