State v. Reyes-Figueroa

Citations

• 158 N.E.3d 939
• 2020 Ohio 4460

Syllabus

Aggravated murder prior calculation and design self-defense jury instruction reasonable force jury nullification effective assistance of counsel. - Trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to instruct the jury on self-defense because the defendant did not produce evidence that tends to show that the use of deadly force was reasonable force. Trial counsel was not ineffective in asking for jury nullification because it was a matter of trial strategy when his self-defense argument was barred. The evidence supported defendant's convictions that he acted with prior calculation and design because he knew the victim, their relationship was strained, he chose the murder site and weapon, and the murder was arguably drawn out. Defendant's actions prior, during, and following the murder demonstrated that the jury did not lose its way in finding him guilty of aggravated murder.