Opinion ID: 1637248
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Capital-Murder Jury Instruction

Text: Grillot argues that the model jury instruction for capital murder (AMI Crim. 2d 1001) erroneously states the law. Yet, Grillot was acquitted of capital murder when the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder as a lesser-include offense. This court has repeatedly held that it will not reverse and remand for a new trial in the absence of prejudice. Hill v. State, 318 Ark. 408, 887 S.W.2d 275 (1994). Indeed, a verdict renders an instructional error harmless when the jury finds against appellees on the issue involved in the instruction. Cates v. Brown, 278 Ark. 242, 645 S.W.2d 658 (1983). An erroneous instruction is harmless when the jury rejects the theory of the instruction. Sasser v. State, 338 Ark. 375, 993 S.W.2d 901 (1999) (citing Hall v. State, 326 Ark. 318, 933 S.W.2d 363 (1996)). Here, the jury rejected the charge of capital murder. Thus, any error resulting from that instruction is harmless.