Opinion ID: 356076
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Mental Defect Instruction

Text: 9 Appellant argues that he was entitled to an instruction that evidence of a defendant's mental state, even if insufficient to establish insanity, should be considered in determining whether there was the requisite specific intent to commit the crime charged. His first proffered instruction, the usual insanity instruction, was inappropriate for this purpose; but the second proposed instruction, while inartfully drawn, in substance stated this proposition. 1 A defendant is entitled to an instruction concerning his theory of the case if it is supported by law and has some foundation in the evidence. United States v. Hall, 552 F.2d 273, 275 (9th Cir. 1977); United States v. Noah, 475 F.2d 688, 697 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 414 U.S. 821, 94 S.Ct. 119, 38 L.Ed.2d 54 (1973); Perkins v. United States, 315 F.2d 120, 124 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 375 U.S. 916, 84 S.Ct. 201, 11 L.Ed.2d 155 (1963); Baker v. United States, 310 F.2d 924, 930 (9th Cir. 1962), cert. denied, 372 U.S. 954, 83 S.Ct. 952, 9 L.Ed.2d 978 (1963). If appellant presented sufficient evidence to go to the jury on this point, he was entitled to an instruction relating to this defense, which was not technically a defense of insanity and hence fell outside the scope of rule 12.2(a). 10 No doctors or experts were called to testify concerning the appellant's possible defective mental state, and the competency report was not introduced. The only possible question of appellant's mental condition arose as a result of the testimony given by Gregory Lorenz and Dennis McDaniels, owners of a nightclub who fired appellant from his position there as a photographer because he just didn't get the work done. Lorenz stated that Winn drank constantly, starting at 6 A.M., continuing throughout the day, and at night on the job at the nightclub. Lorenz concluded that a normal person wouldn't do things he does. McDaniels testified that the main problem with Winn was that he wasn't showing up . . .. He was drinking heavily, and we finally just had to 86 him from the bar. According to McDaniels, Winn's drinking earned him the nickname Crazy George at one particular bar. The trial judge ruled, at the same time he denied the requested instruction for failure to comply with Fed.R.Crim.P. 12.2(a), that there was insufficient evidence to give an instruction based on either insanity or lack of specific intent by reason of mental defect. 11 We agree. The evidence at trial concerned appellant's irresponsibility and drinking not mental disease or defect. The testimony of Lorenz and McDaniels in no way indicated that Winn was mentally incapable of committing the offense charged. Thus, the trial court's refusal to give an instruction relating mental defect short of insanity to specific intent was not error. 2