Opinion ID: 1791986
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: did the trial court err in refusing proposed instructions d-5, d-6, d-7, d-8?

Text: Hicks requested through his proposed instructions that the jury be instructed that in order to find him guilty, the State must prove that he had dominion and control over the cocaine sufficient to establish a possessory interest. The State objected to these instructions as dealing with constructive possession. The trial court refused the instructions as they were not supported by evidence. Trial courts are required to instruct juries regarding issues of fact only where there appears in the record credible evidence upon which the jury might reasonably find the fact in favor of the requesting party. Ashley v. State, 538 So.2d 1181, 1184 (Miss. 1989). The general rule is that all instructions must be supported by the evidence. Where an instruction is not supported by evidence then it should not be given. Dennis v. State, 555 So.2d 679, 683 (Miss. 1989); Moffett v. State, 540 So.2d 1313 (Miss. 1989); Nicolaou v. State, 534 So.2d 168 (Miss. 1988). Granting instructions not supported by evidence is error. Lancaster v. State, 472 So.2d 363, 365 (Miss. 1985). The instructions proposed by Hicks and refused by the trial court dealt with constructive possession. Such instructions would only be appropriate if there were no evidence establishing actual possession of the contraband. However, there is clear evidence establishing actual possession by Hicks from the testimony of the detective, who actually saw Hicks with the canister of cocaine packets. The instructions proposed by Hicks were not supported by evidence and were properly refused by the trial court. This assignment is without merit. CONVICTION FOR POSSESSION OF THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE OF COCAINE WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE REVERSED AS TO THE INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE; AFFIRMED FOR MERE POSSESSION OF COCAINE AND REMANDED FOR PROPER SENTENCING. ROY NOBLE LEE, C.J., HAWKINS and DAN M. LEE, P.JJ., and ROBERTSON, SULLIVAN, PITTMAN, BANKS and McRAE, JJ., concur.