People v. Castillo

Summary

The New York Court of Appeals reversed Jairo Castillo’s convictions for second‑degree murder and second‑degree criminal weapon possession, holding that the trial court erred by failing to give a justification instruction on the murder count and that the error warranted reversal of both convictions. The court explained that justification requires both a subjective belief and an objective reasonableness, and that a jury could reasonably find the defendant justified throughout the confrontation. Accordingly, a new trial was ordered.