The Fourth Appellate District reversed a judgment with directions. The court held that there was a reasonable probability that a defendant convicted of second-degree murder would have received a more favorable result if the jury had been instructed on the Garcia theory of voluntary manslaughter.
Amalia Bryant and Robert Golden were living together. Golden told several people that he was unhappy in the relationship and that he wanted to leave Bryant. Later, several neighbors heard Bryant screaming for help. They found Golden lying face down. Bryant was next to Golden. She was screaming that she thought she had stabbed him. A neighbor called 911.