Opinion ID: 584586
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Aiding and Abetting Instructions

Text: 24 Atkinson also argues the trial court's instructions failed to inform the jury that they could convict Atkinson of aiding and abetting only if they first found he assisted in the commission of a crime. 25 When reviewing a claim of error relating to jury instructions, the instructions must be viewed as a whole. United States v. Marabelles, 724 F.2d 1374, 1382 (9th Cir.1984). Here, the court gave the jury a number of instructions outlining the elements necessary to convict Atkinson of aiding and abetting. When read together, these instructions clearly informed the jury they could convict Atkinson only if they found he took some affirmative step to assist in the commission of a crime. This was sufficient.