Opinion ID: 2276112
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Reasonable doubt pertaining to EED.

Text: Appellant asserts error in the trial court's failure to include in the generic presumption of innocence/reasonable doubt instruction an admonition to the jury that if it would otherwise have found him guilty of murder, but had a reasonable doubt as to whether he was acting under EED, he could be convicted only of first-degree manslaughter. Contrary to the Commonwealth's argument, such an instruction is required if requested and if warranted by the evidence. Commonwealth v. Hager, Ky., 41 S.W.3d 828, 831-32 (2001); Holbrook v. Commonwealth, Ky., 813 S.W.2d 811, 815 (1991) (jury should be given separate instruction and definition for EED), overruled on other grounds by Elliott v. Commonwealth, Ky., 976 S.W.2d 416 (1998); Edmonds v. Commonwealth, Ky., 586 S.W.2d 24, 27 (1979), overruled on other grounds by Wellman, supra, at 697; 1 William S. Cooper, Kentucky Instructions to Juries § 2.03, cmt. (4th ed.1999) (case law requires giving the instruction upon request even though not required by RCr 9.56). However, this issue was not preserved for appeal because Appellant did not object to the instructions on these grounds, make an appropriate motion, or tender such an instruction. RCr 9.54(2). Since the murder instructions directed the jurors not to convict Appellant of murder unless they believed beyond a reasonable doubt that he was not acting under EED, the failure to include the additional admonition in the presumption of innocence/reasonable doubt instruction did not adversely affect Appellant's substantial rights. RCr 10.26.