Court : US Supreme Court
Decided on : Feb-26-1986
Nix v. Whiteside - 475 U.S. 157 (1986) U.S. Supreme Court Nix v. Whiteside, 475 U.S. 157 (1986) Nix v. Whiteside No. 84-1321 Argued November 5, 1985 Decided February 26, 1986 475 U.S. 157 CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT Syllabus In preparing for his Iowa state court trial on a murder charge, respondent consistently told his attorney that, although he had not actually seen a gun in the victim's hand when he stabbed the victim, he was convinced that the victim had a gun. Respondent's companions who were present during the stabbing told counsel that they had not seen a gun, and no gun was found. Counsel advised respondent that the existence of a gun was not necessary to establish a claim of self-defense, and that only a reasonable belief that the victim had a gun nearby was necessary, even though no gun was actually present. However, during preparation for direct examination shortly before trial, respondent for the first time told counse...
Tag this Judgment!