Opinion ID: 2223873
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Dilger's Requested Instruction Number 6

Text: Dilger asserts that it was error for the trial court not to give his requested instruction number 6 on the presumption of innocence. The instruction given by the trial court is one that was upheld in State v. Skjonsby, 319 N.W.2d 764, 779 (N.D.1982), and Dilger concedes that the instruction is not erroneous. Dilger contends, however, that when an instruction is offered, which is also correct but more adequately and more fully informs the jury of the presumption, it should be given. While this assertion may be true as an abstract proposition, the trial court's failure to give the requested instruction was not error. The trial court is not required to give instructions in the specific language requested by the defendant. State v. Skjonsby, supra . If the instructions given correctly advise the jury, there is no error, even though the requested instruction which was refused was a correct statement of the law. Armstrong v. Miller, 189 N.W.2d 688 (N.D.1971).