State v. Williams

Summary

The Court affirmed that Williams was entitled to a castle-doctrine jury instruction because he was inside his vehicle when the attack began, exited in response to the attack, and used deadly force while the assault continued. It held that a lawful occupant does not lose statutory protection merely by leaving the vehicle because of an unlawful and forceful intrusion, and that the instructional error was prejudicial because the jury could not properly assess the statutory presumption or convict for excessive force if the presumption was unrebutted. The judgment was modified to clarify that the statute is clear and unambiguous in its application here.