Opinion ID: 2519814
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Other Elements

Text: ¶ 55 Although felony murder predicated upon child abuse and third degree felony child abuse homicide under subsection 76-5-208(1)(c) have the same requisite mens rea, the two crimes are completely dissimilar because a conviction of felony murder based upon the predicate felony of child abuse under subsection 76-5-109(2)(a) requires the prosecutor to prove that the victim suffered serious physical injury, whereas a conviction of child abuse homicide based upon intentional and knowing child abuse under subsection 76-5-109(3)(a) requires that the prosecutor prove that the victim suffered physical injury only. ¶ 56 The child abuse statute clearly differentiates between serious physical injury and physical injury. Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-109(1)(c), (d). Indeed, section 76-5-109(1) explicitly defines both physical injury [2] and serious physical injury, [3] and those definitions are mutually exclusive. Accordingly, a prosecutor must prove serious physical injury as an additional element of the underlying predicate offense of child abuse to procure a conviction of felony murder. ¶ 57 In the instant case, the trial court instructed the jury that it could convict Fedorowicz of felony murder only if it concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Fedorowicz committed child abuse in that he intentionally or knowingly inflict[ed upon Rebecca] serious physical injury or, having the care or custody of such child, intentionally or knowingly cause[ed] or permit[ted] another to inflict serious physical injury  upon her. (Emphasis added.) The trial court further instructed the jury with respect to the definition of serious physical injury contained in section 76-5-109(d). Thus, the trial court impliedly instructed the jury that it could convict Fedorowicz of only child abuse homicide if the prosecution failed to prove that Rebecca's injuries were serious as defined by statute. ¶ 58 Therefore, the elements of felony murder and child abuse homicide are not wholly duplicative and the trial court appropriately instructed the jury with respect to both felony murder and child abuse homicide.