Opinion ID: 1711877
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: use of weapon instruction

Text: Bao argues he was entitled to an instruction that use of a weapon to commit the felony of first degree murder requires proof that the actor used the weapon with the purpose of causing the death of another person and not merely with the result of causing the death of that person. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 28-1205(1) (Reissue 1995) provides: Any person who uses a firearm, a knife, brass or iron knuckles, or any other deadly weapon to commit any felony which may be prosecuted in a court of this state or who unlawfully possesses a firearm, a knife, brass or iron knuckles, or any other deadly weapon during the commission of any felony which may be prosecuted in a court of this state commits the offense of using a deadly weapon to commit a felony. In State v. Ring, 233 Neb. 720, 447 N.W.2d 908 (1989), the appellant was convicted of felony motor vehicle homicide and using a motor vehicle as a weapon to commit a felony. After an examination of § 28-1205, we held that a person could not be convicted of use of a weapon to commit an unintentional crime. We then stated that in order to convict the appellant of use of a weapon to commit a felony, the State was required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he used his vehicle for the purpose of committing a felony. See, also, State v. Pruett, 263 Neb. 99, 638 N.W.2d 809 (2002) (discussing State v. Ring, supra ). Here, Bao was convicted of use of a weapon to commit the felony of first degree murder, which is an intentional crime. The jury was instructed that to find Bao guilty of first degree murder, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Bao killed Vu La and that he did so purposely, with deliberate malice, and with premeditated malice. Thus, by finding Bao guilty of both first degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony, the jury necessarily found that Bao used the gun for the purpose of committing the felony. Any additional instruction regarding the purpose for which a weapon is used is unnecessary when the felony which serves as the basis for the use of a weapon charge is an intentional crime. Accordingly, we determine that this assignment of error lacks merit.