Opinion ID: 883492
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Defense counsel failed to request an instruction on negligent homicide as a lesser offense.

Text: Bruce argues that the evidence supported offering an instruction on the lesser offense of negligent homicide. Bruce claims that his trial counsel's failure to request an instruction on negligent homicide amounts to ineffective assistance of counsel. As previously stated, offering jury instructions is generally considered to be a discretionary trial tactic. Bradley, 864 P.2d at 790. At trial, the jury was instructed on the elements of deliberate homicide and mitigated deliberate homicide as well as the defense of justifiable use of force. Bruce's trial counsel did not request instructions on negligent homicide. Under the circumstances, not requesting an instruction on negligent homicide can easily be viewed as a legitimate trial tactic. Arguing negligent homicide at trial may have jeopardized defense counsel's contention that Bruce acted knowingly in self-defense. While not deciding that a negligent homicide instruction is inconsistent with the defendant's case, it was a reasonable tactic to avoid arguing negligent homicide in fear of undermining Bruce's self-defense claim. Because we conclude that defense counsel's failure to request instructions on negligent homicide falls under the realm of counsel's trial tactics, we hold that defense counsel's performance was not deficient and thus the first prong of the Strickland test is not satisfied.