Opinion ID: 585565
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Jury Instructions Were Adequate

Text: 9 Sigler contends that the state trial court violated his due process rights by failing to instruct the jury on the issue of specific intent, thereby creating juror confusion. A federal court may overturn a conviction on a writ of habeas corpus where the petitioner alleges a faulty jury instruction, but only when the instruction so infect[s] the entire trial that the resulting conviction violates due process. Willard v. California, 812 F.2d 461, 463 (9th Cir.1987). 10 The instructions in this case did not violate due process. Specific intent is not an element of deliberate homicide under Montana law. State v. Sigler, 688 P.2d 749, 757 (Mont.1984). Thus, a failure to instruct on the issue does not violate due process. See Willard v. California, 812 F.2d 461, 463 (9th Cir.1987) (federal due process does not require that specific intent be an element of all criminal offenses). Furthermore, the jury instructions properly informed the jury that in order to convict Sigler of deliberate homicide, the state had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he acted purposely in hitting the child and that he was aware that that action could result in serious injury. The instructions pertaining to the requisite intent were adequate under Montana law. State v. Sigler, 688 P.2d 749, 757 (Mont.1984). 11 Sigler claims that the confusion with respect to intent resulted in the jury failing to consider the lesser included offense of negligent homicide. This claim is without merit. First, negligent homicide is not a lesser included offense of deliberate homicide. Mont.Code Ann. § 45-5-104(2) (1991). Second, the jury was instructed on the elements of negligent homicide. Lastly, the jury was not required to consider lesser included offenses if it found that the state had proved the charge of deliberate homicide. The crux of Sigler's complaint is that specific intent is not a required element of deliberate homicide. However, the jury only had to find that Sigler intended to hit the child and knew that such a blow could seriously injure the child. The jury so found. Thus, no consideration of negligent homicide was necessary. 12 The judgment of the district court is hereby AFFIRMED.