Whether sufficient evidence existed to reject the defense of self-defense where the defendant was violently attacked and the court provided a self-defense instruction despite state agreement
1. Whether sufficient evidence existed to reject the defense of self defense where the defendant was violently attacked, beaten, and through the a mirror in his own home, the state agreed that an . instruction on self-defense, involving deadly force, was appropriate, the court provided the instruction, and the evidence established that the defendant was not at fault in causing the affray and possessed a subjective belief that he was in danger of death or great bodily harm? 2. Whether a defendant charged with aggravated murder is denied a fair trial when self-defense is asserted and, over objection df defense counsel, the trial court instructs the jury on the inferior degree offense of voluntary manslaughter absent sufficient evidence that he was acting out of rage or sudden passion or under sufficient provocation? 3. Whether the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments are violated when a state court treats a defendant ’s lay descriptions of fear arid survival (“heat of the moment, ” “enraged ”) as technical admissions of statutory elements of “sudden passion or rage,” thereby converting a self-defense case into voluntary manslaughter? ... . ■ 2 | P a g e OPINIONS BELOW The opinion of the Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth Appellate District, affirming Petitioner ’s conviction was issued on November 27, 2024, and is unpublished but reproduced in the