Opinion ID: 788211
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Petitioner's trial testimony

Text: 66 At trial, defendant argued, among other things, that he killed his wife in unreasonable self-defense. California recognizes the doctrine of imperfect (or unreasonable) self-defense. If a defendant killed a human being because the defendant honestly, yet unreasonably, feared the imminent infliction of death or great bodily injury, the defendant is guilty, not of murder, but of voluntary manslaughter. Imperfect self-defense is not an affirmative defense; it negates an element of murder—malice aforethought. People v. Barton, 12 Cal.4th 186, 199-201, 47 Cal. Rptr.2d 569, 576-78, 906 P.2d 531, 538-40 (1995). 67 Petitioner took the stand at his trial and tried to explain why he feared his wife: 68 Defense Counsel: After the time that you found [the guns] to be missing, did Mary ever threaten to shoot you? 69 Petitioner: Yes, sir. 70 Defense Counsel: On how many occasions? 71 Petitioner: At least half a dozen. 72 Defense Counsel: And what would she say? 73 Prosecutor: Objection. Hearsay. 74 The Court: Sustained. 75 Defense Counsel: Did she threaten you within a week of her death? 76 Petitioner: Yes, she did. 77 Prosecutor: Objection. Hearsay. 78 The Court: Sustained. 79 Prosecutor: Move to strike. 80 The Court: Motion granted. 81