Opinion ID: 2187643
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: First and Second Degree Manslaughter Instructions

Text: As stated above, defendant was found guilty of second-degree manslaughter as well as of the two counts of conspiracy to commit murder. We note that when the trial court proposed the instructions on first and second degree manslaughter the State objected, arguing that the evidence supported, if anything at all, only a conviction of first-degree murder. Defense counsel, however, not only did not object to the proposed instructions but stated, [M]y client would prefer to leave those lesser included offenses in the lawsuit. Accordingly, defendant failed to preserve any error for appeal. See, e.g., State v. White Mountain, 332 N.W.2d 726 (S.D.1983). Likewise, if the court erred in giving the lesser included offense instructions it was error that was invited by defendant and thus not subject to appeal. State v. Johnson, 272 N.W.2d 304 (S.D.1978); State v. Parker, 263 N.W.2d 679 (S.D.1978).