Opinion ID: 4556393
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Extreme Emotional Disturbance

Text: Delgado argues that the district court erred by refusing his request to charge the jury with the defense of extreme emotional disturbance. Under New York law, extreme emotional disturbance is a partial affirmative defense to murder in the second degree. See N.Y. Penal Law § 125.25(1)(a)(i). It is available when “[t]he defendant acted under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance for which there was a reasonable explanation or excuse.” Id.; see also People v. White, 79 N.Y.2d 900, 902-04 (1992). It requires evidence that the defendant suffered from “a mental infirmity not rising to the level of insanity at the time of the homicide, typically manifested by a loss of selfcontrol.” People v. Roche, 98 N.Y.2d 70, 75 (2002). Delgado argues that the emotional trauma he suffered from learning that his younger brother was shot supported such a jury instruction. According to Delgado, he “came to the scene of the shooting and learned that his brother was shot by rival gang members. Throughout the day and into the evening, the 24 Defendant was with individuals who demanded retaliation for his brother's shooting.” Appellant’s Br. at 39-40. This, in turn, made him “angry” and he “cried and sought revenge.” Id. Yet Delgado has failed to summon any evidence that lends support for the instruction besides the bare assertion that he was angry and vengeful following the shooting of his brother. See Roche, 98 N.Y.2d at 76 (“In the absence of the requisite proof, an extreme emotional disturbance charge should not be given because it would invite the jury to engage in impermissible speculation concerning defendant's state of mind at the time of the homicide.”). New York law is clear that anger alone does not amount to a mental infirmity or the loss of self-control associated with the defense of extreme emotional disturbance. People v. Walker, 64 N.Y.2d 741, 743 (1984). Accordingly, we conclude that the district court was correct to reject the requested jury charge.