Opinion ID: 1812730
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Did the trial court err in refusing defendant's Instruction D-10?

Text: The Instruction D-10 follows: The Court instructs the jury that the defendant is not required to prove that he shot the deceased in self-defense, but the State is required to prove beyond all reasonable doubt and to a moral certainty that the defendant did not shoot the deceased in self-defense, real or apparent, and unless the State has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant did not shoot the deceased in self-defense, then you will find the defendant not guilty. The burden of proof in a criminal case never shifts from the State to the defendant. The State is required to prove every material element of the indictment beyond reasonable doubt. Likewise, the defendant is not required to prove that he acted in self-defense, and, if a reasonable doubt of his guilt arises from the evidence, including evidence of self-defense, he must be acquitted. Scott v. State, 203 Miss. 349, 34 So.2d 718 (1948); Haley v. State, 106 Miss. 358, 63 So. 670 (1913). In Pierce v. State, 289 So.2d 901 (Miss. 1974), this Court held that failure of a trial court to instruct the jury that the burden of proof rested upon the State to prove the defendant did not act in self-defense, when so requested by the defendant, constituted reversible error. Appellant Sloan testified that he shot over McLendon's head into the ceiling to frighten him because McLendon put his hand in his pocket; that McLendon went outside, walked around a car and turned like he was coming towards the store; that McLendon still had his hand in his pocket as if he was trying to get something out, and that appellant fired two additional shots. Even though such testimony does not indicate that, at any time during the entire episode, McLendon pulled a weapon or removed his hand from his pocket (incredible as that may seem), the trial court should have given Instruction D-10. Instruction C-3 charged the jury that the defendant was presumed to be innocent and the burden of proving the defendant guilty beyond reasonable doubt was upon the State. Further, the defendant was not required to prove his innocence. Instruction S-1 told the jury that, if it believed beyond reasonable doubt Sloan shot and killed McLendon without authority of law and not in necessary self-defense, the defendant was guilty of murder as charged, and if it believed beyond reasonable doubt that appellant shot McLendon without authority of law and not in necessary self-defense, without malice aforethought and in the heat of passion, it should find the defendant guilty of manslaughter. Instruction S-5 to some extent defined self-defense, although it did not tell the jury that the burden was on the State to prove appellant did not act in self-defense. Instruction S-7 told the jury that, if it believed beyond reasonable doubt Sloan wilfully, unlawfully, and feloniously and of his malice aforethought killed and murdered McLendon, then appellant was guilty of murder. Instruction D-7 detailed elements and facts of self-defense and told the jury that, if it had a reasonable doubt as to whether or not the appellant shot the deceased at a time when he believed it was necessary in order to avoid loss of his life or to prevent great bodily harm to him, then the jury should find appellant not guilty. Instruction D-8 was similar to D-7 and detailed the elements of self-defense as to an overt act being any gesture, motion, conduct or demonstration that would indicate a design on the part of the deceased to take appellant's life or to do him some great bodily harm. Under the particular facts of this case and reading all the instructions as a whole, we are of the opinion that the jury was fully instructed as to the State's burden of proof, that the appellant was not prejudiced by refusal of Instruction D-10, and that such refusal did not constitute reversible error. The judgment of the lower court, therefore, is affirmed. AFFIRMED. PATTERSON, C.J., SMITH and ROBERTSON, P. JJ., and SUGG, WALKER, BROOM, BOWLING and COFER, JJ., concur.