Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Mar 7, 2023
State of Missouri, Respondent, v. Michael Allen Black, Appellant.
Michael Black appealed his conviction for second-degree murder and armed criminal action, arguing the circuit court abused its discretion by excluding evidence of the victim's past violent acts against third parties. Black claimed this evidence was admissible to support his self-defense claim by showing he had a reasonable fear of bodily harm or death. The Eastern District affirmed the conviction, holding that the circuit court properly excluded the evidence because Black's knowledge of the alleged acts was based on unreliable allegations and lacked sufficient detail.