State v. Harris

Citations

• 2025 Ohio 2774

Syllabus

Self-defense; cumulative error; structural error; abuse of discretion; mistrial. The trial court did not err when it did not give the jury an instruction on self-defense because the evidence was not sufficient to support the instruction. Appellant used more force than was necessary to defend himself and violated his duty to retreat. The court also did not err in denying Appellant's motion for a mistrial. Appellant could not show that he was materially prejudiced when the court did not allow repeated showing of the disturbing surveillance video. The court did not commit structural error; the court was not biased against Appellant. The court did not penalize Appellant for going to trial; the court never stated that it would have agreed to a certain sentence had Appellant accepted the State's plea deal. There was no cumulative error.