State of Connecticut v. Latroy Johnson

Hartford, Connecticut criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with murder.



In the early morning hours of September 23, 2017, the defendant, Latroy Johnson, shot and killed two victims, Joshua Taylor and Jovan Wooten, and seriously injured a third, Kiwan Smith. At trial, the defendant testified on his own behalf, admitting that he intentionally shot and killed Taylor and Wooten, but claiming that the killings were justified on the grounds of self-defense and defense of others. The jury rejected the defendant's justification defenses and found him guilty of the crimes of murder, assault in the first degree, criminal use of a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, and carrying a pistol without a permit. In this direct appeal, the defendant contends that (1) the evidence was insufficient to defeat his claims of self-defense and defense of others with respect to Wooten, and (2) the trial court improperly excluded evidence of Taylor's violent character under § 4-4 (a) (2) of the Connecticut Code of Evidence.



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CRIMINAL LAW. SELF-DEFENSE CLAIM. The court addressed whether the evidence was sufficient to defeat the defendant's claims of self-defense and defense of others; the state was required to disprove these defenses beyond a reasonable doubt by showing the defendant's failure to retreat during the incident.





CRIMINAL LAW. EXCLUSION OF CHARACTER EVIDENCE. The trial court's exclusion of evidence regarding the victim's violent character under § 4-4 (a) (2) of the Connecticut Code of Evidence was evaluated, focusing on whether exclusion of such evidence was harmless given its potential impact on the verdict.



Key Phrases Criminal possession of a firearm. Insufficient evidence. Justification defenses. Violent character evidence. Self-defense claim.

Affirmed