State v. Giminski
Wisconsin Court of Appeals
634 N.W.2d 604, 247 Wis. 2d. 750 (2001)
- Written by Heather Whittemore, JD
Facts
On July 30, 1998, three United States Secret Service agents, including John A. Hirt, went to the residence of John F. Giminski (defendant) and explained that they were there to seize two vehicles. The agents told Giminski’s daughters, Elva and Ava, to remove the family’s items from one of the vehicles but did not mention the other vehicle to the daughters. Soon after, Elva attempted to leave in the other vehicle. The agents drove after Elva and crashed into the vehicle she was driving. Giminski looked out a window and saw Hirt pulling Elva out of the vehicle head first while pointing a gun at her face. Giminski grabbed a gun, ran outside, and aimed it at Hirt. Hirt grabbed Giminski's gun and it fired several times, hitting Giminski and Hirt. Giminski was charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide. At trial, Giminski testified that he did not intend to kill Hirt but that he believed Hirt was going to kill Elva and wanted to defend her. Giminski asked the trial court to instruct the jury on defense of others, arguing that he was justified in using force against Hirt because he reasonably believed that Elva was in danger. The trial court denied Giminski’s request, explaining that it was objectively unreasonable for Giminski to believe that Hirt would have shot Elva. The jury convicted Giminski. Giminski appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Schudson, J.)
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