State v. Blackwell
North Carolina Court of Appeals
592 S.E.2d 701 (2004)

- Written by Rich Walter, JD
Facts
George Blackwell (defendant) was tried and convicted for the voluntary manslaughter of David Baker. Blackwell had contended that he killed Baker in self-defense. However, the state’s evidence established that after breaking off an earlier quarrel with Baker, who was unarmed, Blackwell went home to retrieve his shotgun and then returned to the scene, where Blackwell renewed the quarrel and fatally shot Baker. On appeal to the North Carolina Court of Appeals, Blackwell argued that the state had failed to carry its burden of disproving Blackwell’s self-defense theory.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Hunter, J.)
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