Vasquez was tried on a charge of murder. At trial his attorney argued that Vasquez shot Walker in self-defense. Vasquez himself did not testify at trial. Although I have no knowledge of Vasquez criminal history, it is common for defendants with such a history to avoid taking the witness stand because doing so allows that history into evidence and before the jury.
At the close of trial Vasquez’ lawyer requested a jury instruction on self-defense, but the trial judge declined this request. The reason for declining the request was that there had been no evidence at trial that Vasquez’ possessed a fear of deadly force harm from Walker. Such a fear would be required in order to justify Vasquez use of deadly force as lawful self-defense, and so evidence of such a fear would be required before the jury could reasonably be instructed on self-defense as a path to acquittal.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2018/12/l ... ore-268483
