Opinion ID: 2518358
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Should the Jury Have Been Instructed on Lesser Included Offenses?

Text: Next, Kesselring argues that the trial court should have instructed the jury on the lesser included offenses of kidnapping, criminal restraint, and second-degree murder. The record reflects that the jury instructions originally contained lesser included offense instructions for kidnapping and criminal restraint, but the parties agreed to delete those instructions, and the trial court found they would be inconsistent with each party's theory of the case. Defense counsel did not request an instruction on second-degree murder, nor did he object that no such instruction was given. In cases where there is some evidence which would reasonably justify a conviction of some lesser included crime . . . the judge shall instruct the jury as to the crime charged and any lesser included crime. . . . . No party may assign as error the giving or failure to give an instruction, including the lesser included crime instruction, unless the party objects thereto before the jury retires to consider its verdict, stating distinctly the matter to which the party objects and the grounds of the objection unless the instruction or the failure to give an instruction is clearly erroneous. K.S.A. 2004 Supp. 22-3414(3). The failure to give a lesser included offense instruction is clearly erroneous 'only if the reviewing court is firmly convinced that there is a real possibility the jury would have rendered a different verdict if the trial error had not occurred.' [Citation omitted.] State v. Drennan, 278 Kan. 704, 712, 101 P.3d 1218 (2004). In support of his argument that the trial court should have instructed the jury on the lesser included offenses of kidnapping and criminal restraint, Kesselring contends there was conflicting evidence about whether weapons or threats were used to take Miller from his friend's house. Kesselring also points out that Holmes admitted he was the one who located Miller and returned him to the car at gunpoint after Miller tried to escape. For purposes of this case, kidnapping is defined as the taking or confining of any person, accomplished by force or threat, with the intent to hold such person to inflict bodily injury or terrorize him or her. K.S.A. 21-3420. Aggravated kidnapping includes the additional element that bodily harm was inflicted on the victim. K.S.A. 21-3421. Criminal restraint is defined as knowingly and without legal authority restraining another person so as to interfere substantially with such person's liberty. K.S.A. 21-3424. The State's evidence established that Kesselring and Holmes forced Miller into their car, that both men threatened Miller with guns, and that Kesselring verbally threatened Miller before killing him. Kesselring maintained that he was not present and did not participate in any of this conduct. Based on the evidence, the jury could have either convicted Kesselring of aggravated kidnapping or acquitted him. It could not reasonably have convicted Kesselring of mere kidnapping or criminal restraint. Thus, the trial court did not err in failing to instruct on those lesser included offenses. Next, we must consider whether the trial court's failure to instruct the jury on the lesser included offense of second-degree murder was clearly erroneous. When, as in this case, the jury does not unanimously agree on the underlying theory for first-degree murder, the question of whether lesser included instructions should have been given is analyzed under both the felony-murder theory and the premeditation theory. State v. Hoge, 276 Kan. at 805. Under the felony-murder theory, lesser included offense instructions are unnecessary unless the evidence of the underlying felony is weak, inconclusive, or conflicting. [Citation omitted.] Hoge, 276 Kan. at 805. Under the premeditation theory, the usual rules for lesser included offense instructions apply. Hoge, 276 Kan. at 805. Kesselring argues that the evidence of his guilt on the underlying felony of aggravated kidnapping was weak, inconclusive, and conflicting, but that was simply not the case. The evidence was sufficient to establish Kesselring killed Miller during the commission of an aggravated kidnapping. While it is true that the State's witnesses were less than ideal, and there were some conflicts between the testimony of the various witnesses and also between their testimony and previous statements to police, on the key points, all of the witnesses told the same story  that Kesselring was present and participated in the kidnapping of Miller and that he shot and killed Miller. Although Holmes was the only eyewitness to the murder, other witnesses placed Kesselring in the company of Holmes, Callarman, and Reece on the night of the murder. Further, several witnesses placed the .22 caliber gun in his possession; Holmes had a Tek 9. The bullets recovered from the body were .22 caliber. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in failing to instruct the jury on second-degree murder as a lesser included offense of felony murder. As to whether the trial court should have instructed on second-degree murder as a lesser included offense of premeditated first-degree murder, the court must examine whether there was any evidence to support a conviction of second-degree murder. Second-degree murder is defined as the killing of a human being committed intentionally or unintentionally but recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life. K.S.A. 2004 Supp. 21-3402. Kesselring does not specify whether he believes the jury should have been instructed on both of these theories of second-degree murder or only one. In support of his argument on this point, Kesselring relies on the prosecutor's argument that Kesselring and Holmes might have kidnapped Miller and taken him out to the country, but that Holmes might actually have been the triggerman. The prosecutor made this argument to the jury in explaining the purpose of the aiding and abetting instruction. The prosecutor told the jury that if it concluded that Holmes was actually the triggerman, Kesselring would still be guilty as an aider and abettor if it was reasonably foreseeable that Miller would be killed during the aggravated kidnapping. However, even under this scenario, Kesselring still would not be entitled to a jury instruction on second-degree murder. Kesselring would still be guilty of premeditated first-degree murder, only as an aider and abettor. Kesselring's argument on this point fails. There was no evidence to support a conviction for second-degree murder; thus, the trial court's failure to give a lesser included instruction on that offense was not clearly erroneous. In his reply brief, Kesselring also complains of the prosecutor's statement that if Defendant was present, he was good for all of it. The prosecutor's actual statement was, If he admits to participation on any level under the aiding and abetting principles of felony murder, he's good for all of it. So it should not have surprised you that he denies any participation whatsoever in the commission of his crime. He can't admit to any of it. According to Kesselring, but for this statement by the prosecutor, the jury could have convicted him of either of the lesser included crimes of kidnapping or criminal restraint if the jury believed his version of events  that he saw Reece, Callarman, and Holmes on the night in question and knew they were going to talk to Miller but then left. This argument simply makes no sense. If the jury believed Kesselring's version of the events, it would have acquitted him of all the charges. The jury could not possibly have convicted Kesselring of kidnapping or criminal restraint based on Kesselring's mere knowledge that others were going to talk to Miller about the missing drugs. We find no error arising from the trial court's failure to give the lesser included offense instructions.