State v. Schaffer, 135 Wash. 2d 355 (Wash. 1998). · Go Syfert
State v. Schaffer, 135 Wash. 2d 355 (Wash. 1998). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
44 citation events (43 in the last 25 years) across 2 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: State v. Condon (wash, 2015-01-08)
Treatment trajectory · 1998 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1998 2012 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 5 distinct citers.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Condon (2×) also: Cited "see"
Wash. · 2015 · confidence medium
As explained above, Berlin offense nor an inferior degree crime with respect to felony murder), with Schaffer, 135 Wn.2d at 358-59 (remanding for retrial on sole charge of felony murder, recognizing that the evidence supported an inference that only manslaughter occurred, and holding that the defendant would be entitled to a "lesser offense" instruction on manslaughter even though manslaughter is not a lesser included offense to felony murder under Workman's legal prong). 8 In In re Pers.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Condon (2×) also: Cited "see"
Wash. · 2015 · confidence medium
As explained above, Berlin offense nor an inferior degree crime with respect to felony murder), with Schaffer, 135 Wn.2d at 358-59 (remanding for retrial on sole charge of felony murder, recognizing that the evidence supported an inference that only manslaughter occurred, and holding that the defendant would be entitled to a "lesser offense" instruction on manslaughter even though manslaughter is not a lesser included offense to felony murder under Workman's legal prong). 8 In In re Pers.
cited Cited as authority (rule) State v. Grier
Wash. Ct. App. · 2009 · confidence medium
Schaffer, 135 Wn.2d at 358 (emphasis added) (last alteration in original).
discussed Cited "see" State v. Condon (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
Wash. · 2015 · signal: accord · confidence high
E.g., Berlin, 133 Wn.2d at 551-52 (concluding that Workman's factual prong was satisfied because the evidence supported an inference that the defendant had no ability to form the “requisite intent to kill” — an intent necessary for conviction of charged second degree murder, but not for charged felony murder); Warden, 133 Wn.2d at 564 (same); accord State v. Schaffer, 135 Wn.2d 355, 357 , 957 P.2d 214 (1998); State v. Grier, 171 Wn.2d 17, 25 , 246 P.3d 1260 (2011).
discussed Cited "see" State of Washington v. Joel Cameron Condon
Wash. Ct. App. · 2013 · signal: see · confidence high
See State v. Schaffer, 135 Wn.2d 355 , 957 P.2d 214 (1998) (defendant was entitled to instruction on manslaughter as a lesser degree charge to first degree premeditated murder even though it would not have been a lesser degree charge of second degree felony murder, which was also charged). 11 No. 2971O-1-II1 State v. Condon discretion standard applies to number of instructions and specific wording), aff'd, 174 Wn.2d 851 , 281 P.3d 289 (2012).
The State of Washington
v.
Sean Schaffer
No. 66012-3.
Washington Supreme Court.
Jun 11, 1998.
135 Wash. 2d 355
Lenell R. Nussbaum, for petitioner., Norm Maleng, Prosecuting Attorney, and Lee D. Yates, Deputy, for respondent.
Cited by 20 opinions  |  Published
Per Curiam

Sean Schaffer was convicted of second degree murder and two counts of second degree assault. On appeal, he argued, among other things, that the trial court should have instructed the jury on manslaughter as a lesser included offense to the murder charge. The Court of Appeals rejected that contention based on State v. Lucky, 128 Wn.2d 727, 912 P.2d 483 (1996). This court subsequently overruled Lucky and held that manslaughter is a lesser included offense to intentional murder. State v. Berlin, 133 Wn.2d 541, 947 P.2d 700 (1997) and State v. Warden, 133[*357] Wn.2d 559, 947 P.2d 708 (1997). Schaffer contends that these cases require reversal of his murder conviction. The State on the other hand contends that reversal is unwarranted because there is insufficient evidence to support a manslaughter instruction in any event.

FACTS

The charges arise from an incident that occurred one night outside Celebrity’s Club in Seattle. While dancing that evening, Schaffer had words with another patron, John Magee. When they left the club, Schaffer approached Ma-gee, who shook his fist, swore at Schaffer, and threatened to kill him. When Magee moved his arm toward his back, Schaffer thought he was reaching for a gun. Schaffer drew his own gun and fired several shots. Two bullets struck Magee in the back and three in the legs. One bullet struck Magee’s girlfriend in her little finger, and another struck a passerby in the foot. Magee died at the scene. He was not armed. Schaffer fled, but turned himself in to the police two days later. He told police he thought Magee was armed, and he acted in self-defense.

The King County prosecutor charged Schaffer with premeditated murder and second degree felony murder for killing Magee and two counts of second degree assault for injuring the other two victims. The trial court instructed the jury on self-defense, but declined to give Schaffer’s proposed instructions on manslaughter. The jury found Schaffer guilty on both counts of assault and also on the felony murder charge.

ISSUE

Whether the trial court should have instructed the jury on manslaughter as a lesser included offense or inferior degree of crime to premeditated, intentional murder.

ANALYSIS

The State now concedes manslaughter is a lesser[*358] included offense to the premeditated murder charge, and Schaffer was therefore entitled to an instruction on the lesser crime if there is sufficient evidence to support such an instruction. Schaffer sought the instruction based on the theory we approved in State v. Hughes, 106 Wn.2d 176, 721 P.2d 902 (1986) and State v. Jones, 95.Wn.2d 616, 628 P.2d 472 (1981). Under that theory, a defendant who reasonably believes he is in imminent danger and needs to act in self-defense, “but recklessly or negligently used more force than was necessary to repel the attack,” is entitled to an instruction on manslaughter. State v. Jones, 95 Wn.2d at 623; see State v. Hughes, 106 Wn.2d at 190. In its brief on appeal, the State said “the evidence presented by the defense [showed] that for Schaffer, given his upbringing and his background, deadly force would be a reasonable act for someone in his position.” Br. of Resp’t at 53. The State thereby conceded there was sufficient evidence to permit the jury to find Schaffer acted in the reasonable belief he was in imminent danger. The additional evidence—that Schaffer shot the victim five times including twice in the back—was sufficient to support a finding that he recklessly or negligently used excessive force to repel the danger he perceived. The jury should therefore have been instructed on manslaughter as a lesser included offense to the first degree murder alternative.

The jury’s verdict precludes Schaffer from being retried on the first degree murder charge. Hudson v. Louisiana, 450 U.S. 40, 101 S. Ct. 970, 67 L. Ed. 2d 30 (1981); Burks v. United States, 437 U.S. 1, 98 S. Ct. 2141, 57 L. Ed. 2d 1 (1978). Though he can be retried on the felony murder alternative for which the jury convicted him, manslaughter is not a lesser or inferior degree of crime to felony murder. State v. Tamalini, 134 Wn.2d 725, 953 P.2d 450 (1998). Nevertheless, Schaffer was tried for a crime to which manslaughter is an included offense, and he was entitled to have the jury consider that alternative. Thus, if the State elects to retry him on the felony murder charge, and he again presents evidence supporting an instruction[*359] on manslaughter, the jury should be instructed on that offense as well. Since manslaughter will be a lesser included offense to the original charge, but not to felony murder, the instructions should refer to it simply as a lesser offense.

CONCLUSION

The trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on manslaughter as a lesser included offense to premeditated murder. Schaffer’s murder conviction is therefore reversed, and the case is remanded to superior court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Reconsideration denied July 10, 1998.