Opinion ID: 2051955
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Defense of others and mistake of fact instructions.

Text: The trial court denied Frey's proposed instructions on defense of others and mistake of fact. [A] defendant in a criminal case is entitled to an instruction on his theory of the case if there is evidence to support it and a proper request is made. United States ex rel. Means v. Solem, 646 F.2d 322, 328 (8th Cir.1980). If instructions on self-defense or defense of others are supported by the evidence, they are necessary and it is error not to give them. State v. Huber, 356 N.W.2d 468, 474 (S.D.1984). Defense of his brother and mistake of fact was relied upon by Frey and he made a proper request for the instructions. Although Frey was not entitled to a self-defense instruction because of insufficient evidence, there was sufficient evidence to support defense of others and mistake of fact instructions. Frey testified that he grabbed his shotgun before leaving the house because he believed his brother was in danger. This testimony is supported as both parties testified that a great deal of arguing, cursing, and shouting took place between Roland and the officers. The record indicates that it was dark which supports Frey's claim that he was unable to identify the other persons as law enforcement officers. This evidence also supports Frey's instruction on mistake of fact. While there was some testimony that Frey went beyond the reasonable force necessary to protect his brother, this determination should have been made by a jury upon proper instructions and not by the court. The mistake made by the trial court and the majority is in accepting the version of the evidence most favorable to the State, rather than to the defendant. This is error when considering whether there is sufficient evidence to support jury instructions. State v. Moffett, 147 Wis.2d 343, 433 N.W.2d 572 (1989); State v. Clayburn, 223 Neb. 333, 389 N.W.2d 314 (1986); Van Zee v. Assam, 336 N.W.2d 162 (S.D.1983); State v. Oien, 302 N.W.2d 807 (S.D.1981). The State claims that any alleged error in refusing Frey's proposed instructions was not reversible as prejudicial error. State v. Stapleton, 387 N.W.2d 28 (S.D.1986); State v. Grey Owl, 295 N.W.2d 748 (S.D.1980). In Grey Owl this court stated: Hence, the jury should have been properly instructed thereon. The requested jury instruction was vital in properly directing the jury's attention to a matter extremely material to the case. If the requested jury instruction ... had been given, a different light could have been placed on the victim's testimony potentially strengthening the chances for appellant's acquittal. Id. at 751. The instructions on defense of others, mistake of fact, and trespass were vital in directing the jury's attention to possible justifications for Frey's actions. These instructions were necessary to enable the jury to consider all the evidence in a proper light. It was reversible error not to instruct on these possible justifications. The majority presents an elaborate and detailed factual presentation of this case. In doing so, the majority fails to appreciate that this is exactly why the instructions on trespass, defense of others, and mistake of fact were necessary. As Marshall McLuhan states the medium is the message. The message sent by the majority is that this is a factual case and these questions should have been given to the proper fact finder, the jury, and not the court. I would reverse and remand for a fair trial on proper instructions in accordance with this writing.