State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Appellant and Cross-Respondent v. Wilberto Rodriguez, Defendant-Respondent and…

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey affirmed the Appellate Division’s reversal of the reckless manslaughter conviction, holding that a valid self‑defense claim bars a reckless manslaughter finding and that the trial court erred by refusing to give a proper self‑defense instruction, including an instruction that the defendant had no duty to retreat.