Court Opinion

ID: 9796781
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 04:04:51.05015+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:51:37.260577
License: Public Domain

Rosen, J.,
concurring: I concur with the result reached by the majority. I write separately to express my disagreement pertaining to the sweeping declaration found by the majority that bars a self-defense claim by a defendant charged with a forcible felony. I agree with the dissent’s analysis and position identified as concern #1 pertaining to the application of K.S.A. 21-3214(1) as interpreted by State v. Bell, 276 Kan. 785, 80 P.3d 367 (2003), and the majority.
However, I agree with the majority that under the facts of this case a self defense instruction was not warranted. When Kirkpatrick returned to Powers’ apartment armed with a loaded handgun and his 75- to 80-pound pit bull, pulling his gun from his waistband, he was an aggressor engaged in a number of forcible felonies, including aggravated assault. Kirkpatrick, being the initial aggressor should not have received a self-defense instruction from the trial court, thus precluding consideration of any lesser included instructions that relied on the improper inclusion of the self-defense instruction given in this case.