People v. Dower

This appeal arises from a jury verdict finding defendant, Frank Dower, guilty of murder. Defendant was sentenced to 40 years’ imprisonment. Defendant contends that (1) the voluntary manslaughter instruction erroneously stated the burden of proof on the issue of whether he acted under a reasonable belief in self-defense; (2) improper comments made by the prosecution in closing and rebuttal arguments deprived him of a fair trial; (3) his conviction should be reversed because the trial court refused to instruct the jury on a lesser included offense; (4) his guilt was not proved beyond a…