Reeves, Gary Patrick

OPINION

A jury convicted appellant of murder 1 for killing his friend, Jeromie Jackson. At trial, appellant admitted that he stabbed Jeromie, but claimed he did so in self defense. The trial judge instructed the jury on the issue of self defense, 2 but, over appellant’s objection, he also instructed the jury on provocation as a qualification on the self-defense issue. 3 The jury rejected appellant’s self-defense claim, found him guilty of murder, and sentenced him to eighteen years’ imprisonment.

On appeal, appellant raised one claim: The trial judge erred by including the provocation…