[1] Specifically, in the case where a man reasonably believed his wife was committing adultery and kills her alleged paramour, even where that belief was mistaken, the provocation would be enough to reduce the charge from murder to manslaughter.
[10] That afternoon, the jury found Yanz guilty of second degree murder after two hours of deliberation, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Second, the court applied State v. Johnson, 41 Conn. 584 (1874), holding that malice cannot be implied where "the fatal act was the sudden result of what the law deems either a sufficient provocation or an uncontrollable passion naturally excited by the circumstances of the occasion".
Finally, even if Yanz had believed Goering was his wife's paramour, but been reasonably mistaken in that belief, the charge of second degree murder would still be reduced to manslaughter.
[14] After his conviction was vacated and a new trial ordered, Yanz entered a plea of guilty to manslaughter on October 16, 1901.