United States v. Peterson
In the case of the United States v. Peterson, the issue of self-defense is addressed. Bennie L. Peterson was convicted of manslaughter for the killing of Charles Keitt by a jury. In this case, Keitt and a couple of his friends drove to Peterson’s house to remove windshield wipers from Peterson’s wrecked car. Peterson was not pleased and told Keitt to leave. Keitt had already returned to his car to leave when, Peterson returned from inside his house with an unloaded pistol (U.S. v Peterson, n.d).
Upon Peterson’s reemergence to the yard, he began to load his pistol. Keitt and his friends were already attempting to leave when Peterson stopped and threatened Keitt. Keitt then got out of the car and approached Peterson before realizing Peterson had a gun, Keitt, in turn, returned to …show more content…
State
In the case of Brown v. State, Elijah Brown shot and injured E.M. Miller, a close friend he had known for approximately 30 years. On November 4, 1982, a confrontation ensued after Brown went to his estranged wife’s house to drop off mail to his daughter and noticed that Miller was in the home. Brown leaves his wife’s residence, but later that evening he runs into Miller at a club. Prior, to Brown going to the club, he had returned to his wife’s home and continued to argue with her until she requested that he leave, which he did (Justification Defenses, 2010).
Brown feeling like he needed to talk to Miller again went home and retrieved his .22 rifle and then caught a cab to the club where he knew Miller would be. Once Brown arrived at the club, he entered armed with his rifle and confronted Miller who had been at the bar. Brown and Miller argued before Brown shot Miller in the chest. Miller who was also armed with a .44 magnum fired back at Brown but his gun jammed. Brown, in turn, fired a second shot into the roof of the clubhouse. The once close friends, Miller and Brown began to struggle until they were separated (Justification Defenses,