People v. Ambro
Illinois Appellate Court
505 N.E.2d 381 (1987)
- Written by Craig Conway, LLM
Facts
George Ambro (defendant) and his wife, Ruth Ambro, were in constant marital discord for many months. During a group marital-counseling session, Ruth told George that she no longer loved him and wanted a divorce. Ruth hired an attorney to start the process of marriage dissolution. One evening, after the Ambros put their two children to bed, Ruth and George argued while they were cleaning the kitchen. George was drying knives when Ruth yelled at him and said that the children were not his, that she was going to take the kids away from him, and that he would never see them again. Ruth also called George an alcoholic and said that she had been having an affair with another man. Ruth goaded George to kill her. George stabbed Ruth in the heart, killing her. George was charged with Ruth’s murder. At trial, the evidence showed that George told investigators that he had no recollection of stabbing Ruth. George asked the trial court to instruct the jury on the lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter based on Ruth’s provocation. The trial court denied George’s request. George was convicted of murder, and he appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Nash, J.)
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