Opinion ID: 2621923
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Statutory Structure of Imperfect Self-Defense Manslaughter and Extreme Emotional Distress Manslaughter

Text: ¶22 Prior to 1999, extreme emotional distress manslaughter and imperfect self-defense manslaughter were listed in Utah's manslaughter statute as types of manslaughter. Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-205(1) (1995). [2] In 1999, extreme emotional distress and imperfect self-defense were removed from the manslaughter statute and inserted into the murder statute as affirmative defenses to murder. Id. § 76-5-203(3) (1999). The current version of the murder statute provides in part: It is an affirmative defense to a charge of murder or attempted murder that the defendant caused the death of another or attempted to cause the death of another: (i) under the influence of extreme emotional distress for which there is a reasonable explanation or excuse; or (ii) under a reasonable belief that the circumstances provided a legal justification or excuse for his conduct although the conduct was not legally justifiable or excusable under the existing circumstances. Id. § 76-5-203(4)(a) (Supp. 2007) (emphasis added). Under the statute, the assertion of a successful affirmative defense of either extreme emotional distress or imperfect self-defense reduces murder to manslaughter or attempted murder to attempted manslaughter. Id. § 76-5-203(4)(d). The manslaughter statute now reads: Criminal homicide constitutes manslaughter if the actor . . . commits a homicide which would be murder, but the offense is reduced pursuant to Subsection 76-5-203(4). Id. § 76-5-205(1)(b) (2003). ¶23 Under our rules of statutory construction, we look first to the statute's plain language to determine its meaning. State v. Gallegos, 2007 UT 81, ¶ 12, 171 P.3d 426 (internal quotation marks omitted). We presume that the legislature used each word advisedly and give effect to each term according to its ordinary and accepted meaning. State v. Holm, 2006 UT 31, ¶ 16, 137 P.3d 726. ¶24 Under the plain language of Utah's murder and manslaughter statutes, extreme emotional distress manslaughter and imperfect self-defense manslaughter are affirmative defenses to murder. They are no longer lesser included offenses of murder. For this reason, we do not discuss whether the State was entitled to jury instructions for extreme emotional distress manslaughter and imperfect self-defense manslaughter based upon our prior case law regarding lesser included offenses. Rather, we are bound by the legislature's decision to categorize extreme emotional distress manslaughter and imperfect self-defense manslaughter as affirmative defenses to murder. We now address when a court may properly instruct the jury regarding such affirmative defenses.