Cutting Edge Litigation on Self-Defense

The defendant — accused of shooting the unarmed victim five times — faced homicide charges for shooting his brother after his brother had gone on a rampage in the family home, destroying property, bullying their mother and threatening to kill not only his family, but any police officers that might try to intervene.The trial judge in Sullivan County Superior Court refused to allow the defendant to claim he acted in self-defense, however, because when he shot his brother five times, his brother was unarmed.The Court reversed the conviction for Manslaughter!Right Vindicated: The right to defend oneself and one’s family with deadly force when terrorized in one’s own home.Read NH appeal attorney Ted Lothstein’s Brief on AppealRead the Court’s Decision Overturning the Conviction. State v. Ethan Vassar,154 N.H. 370 (2006). Read More