Vang's primary defense attorneys -- Steven Kohn and Jonathan Smith -- ruled out a mental illness defense and a plea bargain because there was "no middle ground" in the case. They otherwise have declined to discuss trial strategies.

In a motion filed in Sawyer County Court, they asked Judge Norman Yackel to give the jury detailed instructions on the legal definition of self-defense, which legal experts said shows their likely course of courtroom action.

They asked that jurors be told: "The defendant is not guilty of any homicide offense if the defendant reasonably believed that he was preventing or terminating an unlawful interference with his person and reasonably believed the force used was necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself."

More current news and analysis on the case and Mr. Vang is here