Opinion ID: 1431933
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: election of murder theories

Text: Defendant next contends that the trial court erred when it refused to force the state to elect between premeditated and felony murder in trying him for first degree murder. The defense contends that the jury might have been confused by two theories, and defense counsel states that he encountered difficulty in preparing cross-examination strategy. Initially we note that in State v. Encinas, 132 Ariz. 493, 647 P.2d 624 (1982), we held that first degree murder is a single crime whether it is tried on the ground of felony murder, premeditation, or both. Id., 132 Ariz. at 496, 647 P.2d at 627. Therefore, the state was not required to elect between the two methods of committing first degree murder. We turn to the defendant's specific complaints. First, speculation about  potential confusion among jurors is insufficient to establish actual jury confusion. Second, the defense counsel has not provided us with any legal authority that supports his proposition that due process should relieve him of the burden of complex trial strategies. Counsel cannot complain that preparing for felony murder as well as premeditated murder placed an undue burden on him when he had to prepare a defense against the felony charges alleged in the indictment, two of which were underlying felonies for the murder charge. He was not forced to choose between theories either, rather than simply prepare to defend against several theories. We therefore hold that the trial court did not err when it refused to order the state to elect to try the case on only one theory for first degree murder.