Opinion
24SC212
10-08-2024
Heather Palmer Jones, Petitioner v. The People of the State of Colorado. Petitioner
Court of Appeals Case No. 20CA1568
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED.
JUSTICE HOOD would grant as to the following issue:
Whether the division erred when it held that the petitioner wasn't entitled to jury instructions on self-defense as defined in sections 18-1-704(2)(b) and (2)(c), C.R.S. (2024), where the division's reasoning ignored and contravened the well-established principles that: the evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the defendant; the totality of the circumstances must be considered, including the defendant's perceptions; reasonable belief rather than absolute certainty is the touchstone of self-defense; self-defense can be based on reasonable appearances that later prove to have been deceptive; and reasonableness is generally a question for the jury to resolve.