Opinion ID: 1249344
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Lesser Included Offenses of First Degree Murder

Text: Defendant argues that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on second degree murder. Defendant fails, however, to demonstrate how the evidence supports such an instruction. The state proceeded on dual theories of premeditated and felony murder. Defendant concedes there are no lesser included offenses of felony murder. See State v. LaGrand, 153 Ariz. 21, 30, 734 P.2d 563, 572 (It is well established that no lesser included offense to felony murder exists because the mens rea necessary to satisfy the premeditation element of first degree murder is supplied by the specific intent required for the felony.), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 872, 108 S.Ct. 207, 98 L.Ed.2d 158 (1987). At trial, defendant claimed, both in testimony and in argument, that he was not in any way responsible for the victim's death. He never claimed that he had killed her but lacked premeditation, nor will the record support such a finding. Because defendant's theory of the case denies all involvement in the killing, and no evidence provides a basis for a second degree murder conviction, the instruction was properly refused. When the record is such that defendant is either guilty of the crime charged or not guilty, the trial court should refuse a lesser included instruction. State v. Schroeder, 95 Ariz. 255, 259, 389 P.2d 255, 257-58, cert. denied, 379 U.S. 939, 85 S.Ct. 347, 13 L.Ed.2d 350 (1964). Had the jury here accepted defendant's version of events, it should have acquitted, not convicted of second degree murder.