Opinion ID: 1757749
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: the trial court erred in rfusing defendant's requested instruction concerning burden of proof.

Text: This point involves the instructions given by the court to the jury. There is no question raised as to the instruction given regarding murder in the first degree. The court clearly stated that the state must prove every element of the offense of murder in the first degree beyond a reasonable doubt. However, the instructions beyond a reasonable doubt relating to each element of murder in the second degree and manslaughter were not given. We have dealt with this question in the case of Dillard v. State, 260 Ark. 743, 543 S.W.2d 925 (1976). The same type of objection was raised in Dillard as is raised by appellant in this case and we quote from Dillard : We find reversible error in the trial judge's refusal to give appellant's requested instructions Nos. 6, 7 and 8. Each of these instructions would have advised the jury of the elements of one of the three offenses with which appellant was charged and that it would have to find appellant guilty of each element of that offense, beyond a reasonable doubt, before it could find him guilty of that offense. Appellant objected to the court's failure to give these instructions because the jury had not otherwise been instructed that each of the elements of the offense covered must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt before appellant could be found guilty of that offense. The jury was only instructed that (t)he defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty, and if upon the whole case you have a reasonable doubt of the defendant's guilt, you will acquit him and (t)he burden of proof, as you have been instructed, is on the State to make out or establish its case to your satisfaction, beyond a reasonable doubt. Those instructions are correct, as far as they go. Even though the court had defined the elements of each of the offenses, nothing in the instructions given could possibly be construed as requiring that each element of each such offense must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. In this respect the proffered instructions were proper even though it is not necessary that the state prove each fact or circumstance beyond a reasonable doubt, but it is required that the state so prove each material element of each crime charged. State v. Green, 126 Vt. 311, 228 A.2d 792 (1967); Spear v. U. S., 228 F. 485, 143 CCA 67 (8 Cir. [E.D.Ark.], 1915) cert. den. 246 U.S. 667, 38 S.Ct. 335, 62 L.Ed. 929; State v. Ottley, 147 Iowa 329, 126 N.W. 334 (1910); State v. Kimes, 145 Iowa 346, 124 N.W. 164 (1910). See also, Heard v. U. S., 228 F. 503, 143 CCA 85 (8 Cir. [E.D.Ark.], 1915); State v. Long, 7 Boyce 397, 30 Del. 397, 108 A. 36 (1919). Cf. Ferrell v. State, 165 Ark. 541, 265 S.W. 62. The failure to give instructions similar to those requested by appellant is reversible error unless the matter is fully covered by other instructions. McAfee v. U. S., 70 App.D.C. 143, 105 F.2d 21 (1939).. . . In this case the appellant had requested the following instruction: No person may be convicted of an offense unless each element of the offense is proved beyond a reasonable doubt. This was a proper instruction and should have been given. The model criminal instructions have now been published and should greatly assist in clarifying the confusion which has existed in the past concerning this type of instruction. We do not agree with the state that by giving all the required instructions on first degree murder it would cause the jury to automatically consider the same instruction as applied to each of the lesser included offenses. Therefore, we hold the failure to give an instruction stating the duty is upon the state to prove each element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt was prejudicial and the case must be reversed.