Byrd v. State

Desmond Byrd challenges his conviction and sentence for manslaughter. Appellant raises six issues on appeal, one of which has merit and is discussed herein: Whether the trial court erred in modifying the jury instruction concerning justifiable use of deadly force in self defense or defense of others.1 We find the modified instruction given by the trial court was misleading and confusing; therefore, we reverse and remand for a new trial.

After a football game in August 2000, appellant and three of his friends got into a verbal altercation with another group of boys. The altercation escalated…