Opinion ID: 1913318
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 51

Heading: d-30-reasonable doubt instruction.

Text: ¶ 218. Holland asserts that denial of his reasonable doubt instruction was error. Holland asserts that this instruction is a standard instruction. This Court has expressly disapproved Holland's language in this instruction as argumentative and abstract. Giles v. State, 501 So.2d 406, 409 (Miss. 1987); Hunter v. State, 489 So.2d 1086, 1089 (Miss. 1986); see also Edwards v. State, 594 So.2d 587, 592-93 (Miss. 1992) (holding defendant not entitled to instruction asserting defendant is not guilty if jury cannot find elements beyond a reasonable doubt, where jury is otherwise properly instructed on reasonable doubt). ¶ 219. Holland asserts in his reply brief that the trial court nevertheless had a duty to correct his instruction. Rainer v. State, 473 So.2d 172, 174 (Miss. 1985). However, in light of the fact that this Court has repeatedly approved of the striking of this instruction altogether, there is no problem in not reforming this instruction. There is no merit to this issue.