Opinion ID: 1796621
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Whether the Trial Court Erred in Granting Instruction S-2 and Denying Instruction D-14.

Text: The Court granted Instructions S-2 and D-9 which read: INSTRUCTION S-2 The Court instructs the Jury that in a case involving rape, physical force on the part of the assailant, or physical resistance on the part of the victim, is not necessary; that the act is said to be forceful if the proof shows beyond a reasonable doubt that the female surrendered because of fear arising out of a reasonable apprehension of great bodily harm. If the female fails to resist the attack of her assailant because she is put in such apprehension and fear, the act of the assailant may be rape under the law. If you believe from the evidence in this case beyond a reasonable doubt that on the date testified about the Defendant, Jackie Lee Hull, did unlawfully, wilfully, feloniously and forcibly have sexual intercourse with Yolanda Butler, a female person over the age of fourteen years, against her will and without her consent, and that Yolanda Butler surrendered to said sexual act because of fear arising out of a reasonable apprehension of great bodily harm then it is your sworn duty to find the Defendant, Jackie Lee Hull, guilty as charged. INSTRUCTION NO. D-9 The Court instructs the Jury that if after a consideration of all the evidence in this case you believe, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Jackie Hull had sexual relations with [the victim]; nevertheless, you must still find him not guilty of raping [the victim] unless you also find, beyond a reasonable doubt: 1. That [the victim] did not consent to such sexual intercourse, but that she instead used all reasonable physical resistance available to her under the circumstances then and there existing to prevent the sexual intercourse, or 2. That [the victim] submitted to such sexual intercourse because she reasonably feared that if she did not submit, she would suffer great bodily harm, If the evidence falls to convince you, beyond a reasonable doubt in this regard, then it is your sworn duty to find the Defendant, Jackie Hull, not guilty. The trial court refused instruction D-14, which reads: INSTRUCTION D-14 You are instructed that the victim of an alleged rape is under a duty to use all reasonable physical resistance available to her, under the circumstances then and there existing, to prevent the rape unless the proof also shows, beyond a reasonable doubt, that she surrendered because she reasonably feared that if she did not, she would suffer death or great bodily harm. A mere tactical surrender by an alleged rape victim in the face of assumed superior force is not enough. In other words, the complaining witness must resist with all physical resources reasonably available to her under the existing circumstances. Consequently, you are instructed that even if you find beyond a reasonable doubt that Jackie Hull engaged in sexual intercourse with [the victim] on May 6, 1990, you may still not convict him of rape unless you also find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that such act was done forcefully and against the will of [the victim]. In this regard, if after a consideration of all the evidence in this case, you still have a reasonable doubt as to whether or not [the victim] resisted with all physical resources reasonably available to her under the circumstances, then it is your duty to find the Defendant not guilty.