State v. Person
Connecticut Supreme Court
673 A.2d 463 (1996)
- Written by Kaitlin Pomeroy-Murphy, JD
Facts
Michael Person (defendant) and Leshea Pouncey were in a relationship and engaged to be married. Pouncey ended their engagement and not long afterward began a relationship with another man named Donald Moody. Person forcefully entered Pouncey’s apartment to collect his belongings and was in the bedroom when she returned home. Pouncey approached Person with a can of Mace and two knives. A struggle ensued, during which Person fatally stabbed Pouncey. Person fled and later surrendered himself to the police. During trial, Person testified to feeling “somewhat” upset by Pouncey’s relationship with Moody. On cross-examination, however, he stated that he was “not really” upset. Person’s attorney requested that the jury be instructed on the defense of extreme emotional disturbance. The court denied this request because of Person’s contradictory testimony and because he provided insufficient evidence to support the defense. Person was convicted of Pouncey’s murder. He appealed, and the appeals court affirmed. Person then appealed to the state supreme court.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Berdon, J.)
Dissent (Callahan, J.)
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