Opinion ID: 2116540
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 36

Heading: 2.3. Temporal and Spatial Relationship

Text: Lotter also contends that the trial court failed to properly instruct the jury on the required temporal and spatial relationship between the underlying felony and the act of killing in felony murder. It is true that there must be some causal connection between the underlying felony and the homicide to support a conviction for felony murder. State v. Dixon, 222 Neb. 787, 387 N.W.2d 682 (1986). It is also true that NJI2d Crim. 3.5 recommends that the jury be instructed concerning this causal relationship. However, in the context of lesser-included offense instructions, we have held that it is not prejudicial error not to instruct upon a lesser-included offense when the evidence entirely fails to show an offense of a lesser degree than that charged in the information. State v. Cebuhar, 252 Neb. 796, 567 N.W.2d 129 (1997). In other words, the evidence must produce a rational basis for acquitting the defendant of the greater offense and convicting the defendant of the lesser offense before a lesser-included offense is required. State v. Parks, 253 Neb. 939, 573 N.W.2d 453 (1998). In the instant case, assuming the jury found that Lotter had indeed committed the underlying felony, no evidence was produced that could lead a rational trier of fact to find that there was no causal connection between the underlying felony and the homicides. Because the evidence entirely failed to show any basis for finding that there was no causal connection, no causal instruction was required.