Sanchez v. Government of the Virgin Islands

OPINION

Jose Ivan Sanchez ["Sanchez" or "appellant"] appeals his conviction of involuntary manslaughter. Appellant contends that the Territorial Court erred in (1) failing to dismiss his case because the Government had not met its burden of showing the absence of self-defense, (2) improperly instructing the jury on the use of self-defense, and (3) failing to instruct the jury on the burden of proof as it pertains to self-defense.

FACTS

On or about May 6, 1994 at about 12:00 A.M., Sanchez and Christopher John ["John"] got into a brawl at a bar in Frederiksted, St. Croix. Both were asked to leave…