State v. Simon
Kansas Supreme Court
646 P.2d 1119 (1982)
- Written by Samantha Arena, JD
Facts
Anthony Simon (defendant) lived next door to Steffen Wong. Simon feared Wong and assumed Wong was a martial-arts expert based on Wong’s ethnicity. The two men did not get along, and Simon eventually fired shots at Wong and two other neighbors, Rickey and Brenda Douglas. When police officers arrived, Simon fired at the officers as well. Simon was charged with two counts of aggravated assault for shooting at Wong and Rickey. At trial, Simon testified that he was afraid of Wong and that Wong had advanced toward him, cursing, just before the incident. A psychologist testified that Simon was a psychological invalid who had a mental condition that caused him to believe he was under attack due to a distorted view of reality. The trial court instructed the jury that a person was justified in the use of force to defend himself against an aggressor’s imminent use of unlawful force to the extent that such defense appeared reasonable to the person under the circumstances. Simon argued that he believed Wong presented an immediate threat and that shooting Wong was a reasonable thing to do to protect himself. Simon was found not guilty on both counts. The state appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (McFarland, J.)
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