Opinion ID: 1423118
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: iiithe instruction as to defendant's credibility

Text: The defendant testified in his own behalf, and now assigns as error the giving of Instruction No. 7, relating to defendant's credibility, which reads: When the defendant testified as a witness in this case he became the same as any other witness, and his credibility is to be subjected to the same tests as are legally applied to other witnesses. In determining the degree of credibility that shall be accorded to his testimony you have a right to take into consideration his demeanor and conduct on the witness stand, and also the fact that he is interested in the result of the prosecution. It is defendant's contention that this instruction singles out and over-emphasizes the defendant's interest in the case; that it also prejudices the defendant by imposing a standard of credibility upon the defendant different than that of other witnesses testifying in the case. We do not agree. Even without being told, members of the jury are fully aware of a defendant's interest in the case. This instruction merely tells the jury that they may do the very thing which common experience and common observation teach that the human mind will do inevitably. Instruction No. 7 is consonant with long-established precedent in Colorado, and is virtually identical to the instruction given and first approved in Boykin v. People, 22 Colo. 496, 45 P. 419. The more modern and better practice is to give one instruction on the credibility of witnesses, including a defendant who testifies in a criminal trial. However, as pointed out above, the giving of this instruction does not constitute reversible error.