Sanchez V. People

The defendant, Harold Sanchez, was convicted in Denver District Court of heat of passion manslaughter, in violation of section 18-3-104(c), 8B C.R.S. (1986). In affirming that conviction on appeal, the Court of Appeals held that the trial court's failure to specifically answer questions asked by the jury regarding the relationship of the defense of self-defense to the offense of heat of passion manslaughter did not constitute error. People v. Sanchez, No. 87CA1501 (Colo. App. Mar. 8, 1990) (not selected for official publication). Having granted certiorari to review the Court of Appeals judgment with respect  to that issue, we affirm. However, we disapprove of that portion of the Court of Appeals opinion holding that a person may not assert the affirmative defense of self-defense to a charge of heat of passion manslaughter.