Opinion ID: 1060912
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Presumption of Second Degree Murder

Text: The appellant contends that the trial court should have instructed the jury that the law presumes a homicide to be a second degree murder, and the State must prove the premeditation and deliberation necessary to elevate the crime to first degree murder. See Brown, 836 S.W.2d at 543. The State argues that the trial court properly instructed the jury according to the law. See State v. Haynes, 720 S.W.2d 76, 85 (Tenn. Crim. App.), perm. to appeal denied, (Tenn. 1986). Specifically, the State notes, and we agree, that the court correctly instructed the jury on the lesser included offense of second degree murder. [8a] Previously, faced with an argument identical to the appellant's, we held that [w]hen jury instructions given are full, fair, and accurately state the law, there is no requirement that special instructions be given. State v. Kelley, 683 S.W.2d 1, 6 (Tenn. Crim. App.), perm. to appeal denied, (Tenn. 1984) ( citing State v. Chestnut, 643 S.W.2d 343, 352 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1982)). [9a] Accordingly, this issue is without merit.