Slocum

ORDER RE: REQUESTS FOR JURY INSTRUCTIONS ON VARIOUS DEFENSES

I. Introduction

Before the Court are the following matters relating to proposed jury instructions on various defenses asserted by Defendants Houston and Bridgewater: (1) Government’s Motion in Limine to Preclude Duress Defense and Request for Jury Instruction (“Duress Motion”); (2) Defendant Bridgewater’s Proposed Self-Defense Instruction (“Self-Defense Request”); and (3) Defendant Houston’s Motion in Limine Requesting the Jury be Instructed on Self-Defense and Defense of Others (“Self-Defense Motion”). The Duress Motion, filed on April 1, 2007, seeks an order precluding Defendants from arguing a duress defense in this case and requests a jury instruction prohibiting a duress defense. The Self-Defense Request, filed on April 2, 2007, asks that the Court allow jury instructions on self-defense and defense of others as to racketeering acts thirty-eight and thirty-nine of count one, as well as to counts six and seven. The Self-Defense Motion filed on April 3, 2007, asks for jury instructions on self-defense, defense of others, and imperfect self defense. As the motions raise substantially the same issues, the Court rules…