Opinion ID: 2614969
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: with premeditation.

Text: Felony Murder Rule: If the death of a human ensues in the perpetration or attempt to perpetrate a felony dangerous to human life, then Murder in the First Degree is committed even though the death of a human being is not intended. Aggravated Robbery and Robbery, and attempt to commit same, are felonies dangerous to human life. Thomas objected to this instruction as being confusing and not in conformity with the Pattern Instructions for Kansas (PIK). Thomas' counsel stated that the felony-murder instruction should not be included with the premeditated murder instruction. Thomas observes that the instruction did not specify the felony that the jury needed to determine had been committed in order to satisfy the felony-murder elements. Thomas' counsel made a general objection to the trial court's failure to follow PIK. However, he did not assert that the failure to specify the felony was error. Thomas declares that [t]o one unschooled in the law, the killing itself could be considered a felony. Thomas emphasizes that PIK requires the relevant element to be instructed on as follows: 2. That such killing was done while (in the commission of) (attempting to commit) [the felony is to be specified here], a felony. PIK Crim.2d 56.02 (1992 Supp.). The trial court defined aggravated robbery, robbery, and attempt. `Aggravated Robbery' is a robbery committed by a person who is armed with a dangerous weapon or who inflicts bodily harm upon any person in the course of such robbery. `Robbery' is the taking of property from the person or presence of another by threat of bodily harm to that person or another person or by force. An `attempt' is any overt act toward the perpetration of a crime done by a person who intends to commit such crime but fails in the perpetration thereof or is prevented or intercepted in executing such crime. It shall not be a defense to a charge of attempt that the circumstances under which the act was performed or the means employed or the act itself were such that the commission of the crime was not possible. According to Thomas, these instructions failed to limit the jury to a consideration of specific felonies. Thomas also alleges that the last paragraph of the instruction was confusing and unnecessary. Thomas argues that the most significant flaw in the murder instruction was the failure to include all of the essential elements of the offenses of robbery and aggravated robbery. The instructions for robbery and aggravated robbery omitted the element of intent. Thomas reasons that in State v. Clingerman, 213 Kan. 525, 516 P.2d 1022 (1973), we granted a new trial based upon the failure of the trial court to include one of the necessary elements of robbery in its elements instruction on felonious intent. Thomas states that his counsel objected to the elements instruction and that he need not show that the error was clear, only that it existed. However, Thomas does not provide a citation to the record. We find no specific objection to the robbery and aggravated robbery instructions. Thomas contends that in a felony-murder case: (1) Where there can be a reasonable doubt as to what underlying felony a defendant might be guilty of, a trial court must instruct on each of those felonies; (2) where certain of those felonies are not inherently dangerous, the jury must be so informed; and (3) the jury must be informed that it cannot convict on felony murder if it finds that the underlying felony was not inherently dangerous. Thomas indicates that he was not separately charged with aggravated robbery and robbery and that there was no direct evidence of exactly what happened. Thomas advances a hypothetical scenario in support of his claim that the evidence could have easily justified an instruction on possession of cocaine or on theft as a lesser crime of robbery. Thomas concludes that just as there was evidence to support the instruction upon aggravated robbery and robbery as inherently dangerous underlying felonies, there was arguably evidence to support the instruction upon the not inherently dangerous felonies of possession of cocaine and theft. According to Thomas, it was clear error to select only the inherently dangerous felonies for inclusion as underlying felonies. The State responds by explaining that it is well established that instructions are to be considered together and read as a whole, without isolating any one instruction. [Citation omitted.] If the instructions properly and fairly state the law as applied to the facts in the case, and if the jury could not reasonably have been misled by them, then the instructions do not constitute reversible error although they may be in some small way erroneous. State v. Morris, 244 Kan. 22, 23, 765 P.2d 1120 (1988). According to the State, sections A and B of the instruction on first-degree murder were patterned after K.S.A. 1990 Supp. 21-3401(a) and (b). The State also believes that when all of the instructions are read together it is clear that robbery, aggravated robbery, or the attempt to commit those crimes were the pertinent felonies. The State next insists that the last paragraph following the attempt instruction properly mirrors the law in K.S.A. 1992 Supp. 21-3301(b) and, therefore, should not serve as a basis for setting the conviction aside. The State explains that the proper standard of review on the omission of the element of intent is stated in State v. Redford, 242 Kan. 658, Syl. ¶ 4, 750 P.2d 1013 (1988): When a trial court errs in omitting from its instruction an element of the crime charged, the omission is reversible error if the appellate court is firmly convinced there is a real possibility the jury would have returned a different verdict had the error not be made. The State addresses Thomas' theft and possession of cocaine claims by contending that there was evidence produced at trial about what happened. Thomas told Eddie he shot the victim in the legs, the victim fell to the ground, and Thomas took the cocaine from him. The only contradictory evidence was that the victim was shot in the head, not the legs. The State asserts that there was no evidence that the taking of cocaine was anything but intentional. We agree. Thomas' argument does not provide a basis for setting aside his conviction. The standard of review applied to jury instruction error requires an objection before the jury retires, stating distinctly the matter objected to and the grounds for the objection, unless the instruction or the failure to give the instruction is clearly erroneous. K.S.A. 22-3414(3). State v. Crabtree, 248 Kan. 33, 39, 805 P.2d 1 (1991). Thomas asserted specific errors when he objected to the first-degree murder instruction. However, he failed to object to the lack of the intent element. A general objection to the failure to use PIK should not mean that counsel also objected to the failure to specify the underlying felony. We apply the clear error standard of Crabtree to Thomas' argument concerning the absence of the intent element. Counsel should have specified this alleged error. Otherwise, trial counsel would be able to generally object to the failure to use a PIK instruction and new arguments advancing specific objections arising from an analysis of PIK notes and comments could be used by appellate counsel for the first time on appeal. With respect to the failure to include the intent element in the aggravated robbery and robbery instructions, State v. Lucas, 221 Kan. 88, 557 P.2d 1296 (1976), controls the case at bar. In Lucas, clear proof of intent was established by defendant's use of a deadly weapon. Intent was never made an issue in Lucas. Lucas failed to lodge an objection to the instructions given. We held it was not reversible error to fail to instruct on intent. 221 Kan. at 90-91. We observed in Lucas that it would be better practice to include the element of intent as suggested in PIK Crim.2d 56.30, 56.31 (1975 Supp.). 221 Kan. at 91. Thomas, like Lucas, used a deadly weapon. Thomas failed to specifically object to the absence of the intent element in the instruction. Jury instructions are to be considered together and read as a whole without isolating any one instruction. Crabtree, 248 Kan. at 39. The trial court did give an instruction on the State's burden to prove the required criminal intent. We analyzed a jury instruction challenge in State v. Morris, 244 Kan. at 23, and reasoned that if the instructions properly and fairly state the law as applied to the facts in the case and if the jury could not reasonably have been misled by them, then the instructions do not constitute reversible error although they may be, in some small way, erroneous. We have previously addressed the merits of using PIK instructions. State v. Macomber, 244 Kan. 396, Syl. ¶ 5, 769 P.2d 621 (1989). In Macomber, we concluded that the failure to give the PIK instruction did not prejudice the defendant's substantial rights. 244 Kan. at 406. Combining the premeditated murder and felony-murder instructions in the case at bar did not prejudice Thomas' substantial rights. The felonies of robbery, aggravated robbery, and attempt of same were the focus of the total set of jury instructions. The evidence did not support the hypothetical facts regarding the possession of cocaine and theft advanced by Thomas' appellate counsel. We find no prejudical error in the instructions on premeditated murder and felony murder. Lesser Included Offenses Thomas objected to the trial court's failure to give second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter instructions. According to Thomas, the evidence indicated that the firing of the rifle could have resulted from anger arising from a fight with Richmond. The State contends Thomas was either guilty of first-degree murder or he was not guilty. We agree. His defense at trial was that someone else committed the crime. Lesser included offense instructions are not required in felony-murder cases unless the evidence of the underlying felony is weak or inconclusive. State v. Bailey, 247 Kan. 330, 338-39, 799 P.2d 977 (1990), cert. denied 114 L.Ed.2d 108 (1991). We recently discussed the rules regarding lesser included instructions in State v. Deavers, 252 Kan. 149, 843 P.2d 695 (1992), a premeditated murder case. Instructions on lesser included offenses must be given even though the evidence is weak and inconclusive and consists solely of the testimony of the defendant. An instruction on a lesser included offense is not required, however, if the evidence at trial excludes a theory of guilt on the lesser offense. In the case at bar, the evidence indicated that Richmond's murder was committed in the course of an aggravated robbery. Therefore, under the Bailey and Deavers analyses, lesser included offense instructions were not required. The evidence does not support Thomas' theories regarding second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. In Deavers, we noted that [s]talking someone, firing a shot, pausing, and shooting again is evidence of premeditation. 252 Kan. at 153. A similar scenario, in the case at bar, was described by both Eddie and Earl. Thomas went to the north side in Wichita with the intent to locate Richmond. He borrowed a rifle, got out of the car with the rifle, and shot Richmond. The facts support a finding of premeditation. An Accomplice Instruction Thomas asserts that an accomplice instruction is proper in all circumstances where an accomplice testifies, citing State v. Anthony, 242 Kan. 493, 501, 749 P.2d 37 (1988). Thomas argues that the testimony of Eddie and Earl is suspect because both men went with Thomas to Wichita's north side. Thomas believes that both men could be deemed aiders and abettors because there was some evidence that Earl and Eddie were enlisted with knowledge that their mission was to seek out the seller of bad drugs. The State reminds us that Thomas did not request an instruction on accomplice testimony. The standard of review is limited to determining whether the failure to give the instruction was clearly erroneous. K.S.A. 60-251(b). The evidence suggested the trip to the north side was either unexpected or a detour taken because Thomas had been sold bad drugs. Thomas is not entitled to an accomplice instruction. See State v. Young, 14 Kan. App.2d 21, 37, 784 P.2d 366, rev. denied 245 Kan. 788 (1989). Thomas has not demonstrated clear error. He was not prejudiced by the trial court's failure to give an accomplice instruction.