Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Nov 26, 2024
State of Missouri, Respondent vs. Robert Brefford, Appellant.
Robert Brefford appealed his convictions for first-degree assault, attempted first-degree assault, and armed criminal action. He challenged the self-defense jury instructions, arguing the burglary language was unsupported by evidence and that "unlawfully entering/remaining" should have been defined. He also contended the trial court erred by not striking a victim's testimony. The appellate court affirmed, finding substantial evidence supported the burglary instruction, the definitions were not mandatory, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion in handling the witness.