Opinion ID: 880254
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Was the jury properly instructed on accomplice testimony?

Text: Larson argues that the jury was not adequately instructed on what corroboration is and what is required for corroboration of an accomplice's testimony. The jury was given the following instruction regarding the testimony of the accomplice, Larson's stepson: Testimony has been presented that witness, Travis McLaughlin, may be an accomplice in this case. In this respect, you are to be guided by the following rules of law: 1) An accomplice is one who knowingly and voluntarily, with common intent with the principal offender, unites in the commission of a crime. One may become an accomplice by being present and joining the criminal act, by aiding and abetting, with criminal intent, another in its commission or in being present by advising and encouraging its commission, but knowledge and voluntary action are essential in order to impute guilt. 2) It is a question of fact for the jury to determine from the evidence and from the law as given you by the Court, whether or not, in this particular case, witness, Travis McLaughlin, was or was not an accomplice within the meaning of the law. 3) The testimony of an accomplice ought to be viewed with distrust. 4) A conviction cannot be had on the testimony of an accomplice unless he is corroborated by other evidence which in itself, and without the aid of the testimony of the accomplice, tends to connect the Defendant with the commission of the offense, and the corroboration is not sufficient if it merely shows the commission of the offense or the circumstances thereof. This instruction is virtually identical to Instruction No. 1-012, Montana Criminal Jury Instructions. Paragraph 4 addresses the definition of corroboration. It accurately reflects the law as summarized in State v. Case (1980), 190 Mont. 450, 455-56, 621 P.2d 1066, 1070. We hold that the jury was adequately instructed on accomplice testimony. Affirmed. HARRISON, HUNT, McDONOUGH and WEBER, JJ., concur.