Nature of the Case
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Facts
Leidholm (D) stabbed her husband while he slept and killed him. D claimed that she committed the act in self-defense; that she had battered spouse syndrome. The facts showed that the marriage was one filled with alcohol abuse and violence marked by kindness in reconciliation. The facts showed that on the night of the homicide both had consumed large amounts of alcohol and they began a verbal argument that continued when they arrived home. The argument apparently consisted of shouting, hitting, and pushing D to the ground. Eventually, the hostilities ceased, and when her husband went to sleep, D stabbed him, and he died from shock and loss of blood. D claimed that she had been abused for years. The jury was instructed that they must judge self-defense on the basis of what a reasonable person would have believed to be imminent danger, ignoring subjective perceptions. D was convicted for manslaughter and appealed. She was sentenced to five years, with three suspended and she appealed.
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