Is evidence of a violent character of the victim admissible in a prosecution for a homicide where self-defense is raised?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from The People v. Garcia, B217706, No. KA080073 (Cal. App. 2010):

"[I]n a prosecution for a homicide or an assaultive crime where self-defense is raised, evidence of the violent character of the victim is admissible to show that the victim was the aggressor." (People v. Shoemaker (1982) 135 Cal.App.3d 442, 446, fn. omitted.) Evidence of specific instances of conduct, opinion, or reputation may be introduced for this purpose. (Evid. Code, 1103, subd. (a)(1).)

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