Opinion ID: 1967354
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: refusal to give a proffered supplemental instruction to the jury

Text: The defense assigned reversible error to the refusal by the trial court to adopt a proposed charge to the jury with regard to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act, G.L. 1956 (1981 Reenactment) chapter 25 of title 12. The defense wished to have the court instruct the jury that [i]f it is determined that the victim contributed to his [ sic ] injury or death and that the person causing such injuring or death acted excusably, for example, acted in self-defense then the claim will not be allowed. The defense further requested that the court instruct the jury that it may take into consideration any bias that [Mr. Pires] may have due to his interest to sue the State. The charge submitted by the defense contained material misstatements of the applicable law. The proposed instruction erroneously stated that the witness had a pecuniary interest in a contemplated suit to be filed by the victim's family. Counsel for the defense conceded that the victim's parents would recover in the event the suit was successful, not the witness. The proposed instruction also erroneously stated that in the event defendant was found to have acted excusably, that is in self-defense, the claim would be disallowed. The statute allows the court to consider the behavior of the victim in determining whether to award compensation, § 12-25-3(d), but it does not act as a complete bar in cases involving self-defense. The instruction actually given allowed the jury to consider whether or not a witness has an interest in the final outcome of this case. [T]here has been testimony here regarding the witness, Mr. Pires, and his possible indications or his intentions about suing the State or something of that nature; and you may take that into account depending upon how you view and evaluate all of the evidence. Arguably, the court could have further underscored Mr. Pires' possible motivation to lie. However, the charge as given, was an accurate statement of the law. The court properly declined to read the jury an inaccurate charge. Fox v. Allstate Insurance Co., 425 A.2d 903, 906 (R.I. 1981) (trial justice properly refused charge to jury where instruction related to point of law inapplicable to facts in evidence). Thus we decline to hold that the trial justice's failure to submit to the jury the proffered supplemental instruction constituted reversible error. The defendant asserts that the trial justice, by his conduct, invaded the province of the jury and denied the defendant a fair trial. We have carefully examined the record and find that the defendant has not preserved this issue for review by the court. We hold that a matter may not be raised on appeal which was not initially presented and articulated in the trial court. State v. McMaugh, 512 A.2d 824, 829 (R.I. 1986) (quoting State v. Fogarty, 433 A.2d 972, 974 (R.I. 1981)). We have considered the defendant's other objections and find them to be without merit. The defendant's appeal is denied and dismissed, and the judgment of conviction entered in the Superior Court is affirmed.