Opinion ID: 853543
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Withdrawn Jury Instruction

Text: The trial court considered an instruction that would have informed the jury that it had the right to reject the uncorroborated testimony of witnesses whose credibility had been impeached by prior inconsistent statements. [1] The proposed instruction read: The credibility of any witness may be impeached by proof that he has made statements out of court contrary to and inconsistent with what he testifies to in the trial concerning matters material and relevant to the issues joined. And in this case, if any witness has been thus impeached about material matters relevant to the issues in the case, then you have a right to reject all of his testimony except insofar as he has been corroborated by other credible evidence in this case. If you should believe from the testimony in this case that any witness or witnesses have willfully and intentionally testified falsely to any material fact in the case, intending by such false testimony to mislead and deceive you as to the truth in this case, you may under such belief, disregard the whole or any part of the testimony of such witness or witnesses, if in your opinion, you are justified, under your belief, in so doing. The State objected to the instruction, opining: I think that's an incorrect statement of law. The trial court expressed concern that the instruction was no longer valid after this Court's 1991 decision to overrule the so-called  Patterson Rule, which permitted the use of prior statements as substantive evidence. See Patterson v. State, 263 Ind. 55, 57-58, 324 N.E.2d 482, 484-85 (1975), overruled by Modesitt v. State, 578 N.E.2d 649, 654 (Ind.1991). The trial court stated it was uncomfortable with the instruction because it was not a post- Modesitt  pattern instruction, and the court was unsure whether the instruction reflected current law. Modesitt anticipated the adoption of Indiana Evidence Rule 801(d)(1) and precluded the use of prior statements of a witness as substantive evidence except under the circumstances set forth in the Rule. That holding did not affect the right of a jury to disregard the uncorroborated testimony of a witness impeached by prior inconsistent statements and had no impact on the validity of the proposed jury instruction. Although the trial court's reason for concern may be incorrect, its decision not to give the instruction was not an abuse of discretion if the instructions, considered as a whole and in reference to each other, did not mislead the jury as to the applicable law. Young v. State, 696 N.E.2d 386, 389-90 (Ind.1998). That is the case here. In reviewing a trial court's decision to give or refuse tendered jury instructions, this Court considers: (1) whether the instruction correctly states the law; (2) whether there is evidence in the record to support the giving of the instruction; and (3) whether the substance of the tendered instruction is covered by other instructions that are given. Wooley v. State, 716 N.E.2d 919, 926 (Ind.1999). Whether the proposed instruction is desirable or not, it is a correct statement of the law. See Norton v. State, 273 Ind. 635, 664-65, 408 N.E.2d 514, 533 (1980); Liechty v. State, 202 Ind. 66, 71, 169 N.E. 466, 468 (1930). Also, because three key witnesses, including Cruz and Chambers, were impeached during trial by prior inconsistent statements, the giving of the instruction was plainly supported by the evidence. The issue then turns on whether the substance of the tendered instruction was covered by other instructions that were given and whether the instructions as a whole were adequate. The trial court gave the jury the following preliminary and final instruction with regard to the credibility of witnesses. You are the exclusive judges of the evidence, the credibility of the witnesses, and of the weight to be given to the testimony of each of them. In considering the testimony of any witness, you may take into account his or her ability and opportunity to observe; the manner and conduct of the witness while testifying; any interest, bias, or prejudice the witness may have; any relationship with the other witnesses or interested parties; and the reasonableness of the testimony of the witness considered in the light of all the evidence in this case. You should attempt to fit the evidence to the presumption that the Defendant is innocent and the theory that every witness is telling the truth. You should not disregard the testimony of any witness without a reason and without careful consideration. If you find conflicting testimony, you must determine which of the witnesses you will believe and which of them you will disbelieve. In weighing the testimony to determine what or whom you will believe, you should use your own knowledge, experience and common sense gained from day to day living. The number of witnesses who testify to a particular fact, or the quantity of evidence on a particular point, need not control your determination of the truth. You should give the greatest weight to that evidence which convinces you most strongly of its truthfulness. Chambers argues that this instruction was not sufficient to inform the jury that it had the expansive right to disregard the uncorroborated testimony of a witness who had been impeached by prior inconsistent statements. Although it did not do so in the explicit terms of the proposed instruction, the foregoing instruction told the jury that it was the exclusive judge of witness credibility, and could disregard the testimony of a witness if it had reason to do so. This is sufficient discussion of the subject. It is certainly within the jury's knowledge, experience, and common sense to choose to believe or disbelieve a witness who gave inconsistent statements and who may have therefore testified untruthfully. Common experience, shared by us all, includes listening to a stranger and concluding that nothing he or she has to say is believable. The trial court must use some judgment in determining the length, detail, and complexity of instructions. The trial court did not abuse its discretion by refusing to dwell on the point raised by the proposed instruction.