Opinion ID: 1922618
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Affirmative Defense of Adequate Provocation

Text: [¶ 40] Lockhart contends that although defense counsel did not seek an instruction as to the affirmative defense of adequate provocation, it was obvious error for the court to fail to sua sponte give such an instruction because adequate provocation was a reasonable hypothesis for the jury to consider. Lockhart states that there was ample evidence in the record to support a jury conclusion that his actions were taken under the influence of extreme anger brought on by adequate provocation. The State responds that because Lockhart waived the instruction and did not establish the affirmative defense of adequate provocation beyond a preponderance of the evidence, he is barred from raising the issue on appeal. [¶ 41] It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under [the murder subsection] that the person causes the death while under the influence of extreme anger or extreme fear brought about by adequate provocation. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 201(3) (Supp.2002). Section 201(4) provides that: [P]rovocation is adequate if: A. It is not induced by the person; and B. It is reasonable for the person to react to the provocation with extreme anger or extreme fear, provided that evidence demonstrating only that the person has a tendency towards extreme anger or extreme fear is not sufficient, in and of itself, to establish the reasonableness of the person's reaction. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 201(4) (Supp.2002); see also State v. Haque, 1999 ME 30, ¶¶ 19-20, 726 A.2d 205, 209 (listing the following examples of conduct as being insufficient to give rise to the defense of adequate provocation: the hearing of mere words regardless of how hurtful or inflammatory, the finding of a note that suggests an exspouse is in a new relationship, or the discovery of an ex-spouse slow dancing with someone else). [¶ 42] The court stated that it understood that Lockhart was not requesting a jury instruction on the affirmative defense of adequate provocation. Defense counsel agreed, consulted with his client, and informed the court that they indeed did waive the instruction as to adequate provocation. Because Lockhart affirmatively waived an instruction on the affirmative defense of adequate provocation, our review is limited to obvious error. See 17-A M.R.S.A. § 101(1) (Supp.2002). Even if Lockhart had not affirmatively waived this issue, the issue is not generated by the trial evidence because Lockhart's testimony about the heated argument, slapping, and hitting is insufficient to establish that the provocation was adequate. First, Lockhart failed to produce evidence demonstrating that he did not induce the provocation. Second, he did not demonstrate that it was reasonable for him to react to Andrea's conduct with extreme anger. The trial court did not commit error, and certainly not obvious error, when it did not instruct the jury regarding the affirmative defense of adequate provocation.