Opinion ID: 1693833
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 24

Heading: Requested Theory of Defense Instruction

Text: [21] It is not error for a trial court to refuse to give a party's requested instruction where the substance of the requested instruction was covered in the instructions given. State v. Mason, 271 Neb. 16, 709 N.W.2d 638 (2006); State v. Gales, 269 Neb. 443, 694 N.W.2d 124 (2005). If there is evidence to support it, a defendant is entitled to have an instruction given on his theory of the case. See State v. Reeves, 216 Neb. 206, 344 N.W.2d 433 (1984). However, such an instruction is not needed where other instructions adequately cover the defense theory. State v. Fitzgerald, 1 Neb. App. 315, 493 N.W.2d 357 (1992). The instructions given by the court in this case included an instruction on manslaughter as a lesser-included offense of second degree murder and repeatedly informed the jury of the State's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. We conclude that the instructions given by the court adequately covered all pertinent matters included in Iromuanya's proposed theory of defense instruction. Based on People v Lester, 406 Mich. 252, 277 N.W.2d 633 (1979), Iromuanya argues that he was nevertheless entitled to a separate instruction on his theory of defense. In Lester, the Michigan Supreme Court held that a separate instruction on accidental homicide was mandated whenever the defense requested an instruction on the theory and there was evidence to support it, arguably even if the jury instructions given implicitly covered the theory. Notably, however, Lester has been overruled, and Michigan now applies a harmless error analysis when reviewing a failure to give an accidental homicide instruction. People v. Hawthorne, 474 Mich. 174, 713 N.W.2d 724 (2006). We have taken a similar approach. In State v. Brown, 220 Neb. 849, 374 N.W.2d 28 (1985), we stated that a separate accidental homicide instruction was not necessary when the intent instruction given to the jury adequately covered the issue. Thus, even if the proposed theory of the case instruction offered by Iromuanya was an attempt to help the jury distinguish between intent and accident, in this case, the jury was clearly instructed that [i]ntentionally meant willfully or purposely, not accidentally or involuntarily. For these reasons, we conclude that the district court did not err in refusing to give Iromuanya's proposed instruction stating his theory of defense.