Opinion ID: 1589788
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Refusal to Grant a Circumstantial Evidence (Two-Theory) Instruction

Text: ¶ 148. Goff asserts that the trial court erred by refusing to grant a properly submitted circumstantial evidence (two-theory) instruction citing Parker v. State, 606 So.2d 1132, 1140-41 (Miss.1992). Goff contends that, because this was a purely circumstantial evidence case, he was entitled to the instruction, and the court's denial of the instruction resulted in the jury not being fully and fairly instructed on the law, thus mandating reversal. ¶ 149. Goff sought to invoke the so-called two-theory circumstantial evidence instruction by submitted instruction D-14, which reads: The Court instructs the jury that if there may be a fact or circumstance in this cause susceptible of two interpretations, one favorable and the other unfavorable to the Defendant, and when the jury has considered such fact or circumstance with all other evidence, there is a reasonable doubt as to the correct interpretation, then you, the jury, must resolve such doubt in favor of the Defendant, and place upon such fact or circumstance the interpretation most favorable to the Defendant. ¶ 150. The trial court refused the instruction on the basis that Goff was not entitled to both it and the typical circumstantial-evidence instruction (to the exclusion of every reasonable hypothesis consistent with innocence), and because the necessary burden of proof was included in the elements instruction. ¶ 151. This Court has held in matters where the case is based on purely circumstantial evidence, that the defendant is entitled to a two-theory instruction, as well as the general circumstantial-evidence instruction. Parker, 606 So.2d at 1140-41 (quoting Henderson v. State, 453 So.2d 708, 710 (Miss.1984)). However, despite Goff's contention to the contrary, Parker is distinguishable from the case sub judice. As we explained, a circumstantial-evidence case (for the purposes of granting a two-theory instruction) is one in which there is neither an eyewitness nor a confession to the crime. State v. Rogers, 847 So.2d 858, 863 (Miss.2003) (citing Mangum v. State, 762 So.2d 337, 344 (Miss.2000)); Stringfellow v. State, 595 So.2d 1320, 1322 (Miss.1992); see also Randolph v. State, 852 So.2d 547, 567 (Miss.2002) (Carlson, J., concurring). ¶ 152. In Goff's statement to investigators, he admitted setting fire to the motel room. This constituted a confession to one of the crimes set forth in the indictment. Instruction D-14 sought to cover, in toto, all the evidence submitted in the State's case. Thus, based on Rogers, the trial court's decision to deny a two-theory instruction in this matter ultimately was correct. Rogers, 847 So.2d at 863. Therefore, this assignment of error is without merit. ¶ 153. Since its inception in Mississippi jurisprudence at the turn of the twentieth century in Thompson v. State, 83 Miss. 287, 35 So. 689 (1904), the two-theory circumstantial-evidence rule (in its different forms) has been condemned repeatedly by this Court, and for diverse reasons. [29] Six years after Thompson, we noted the problem behind this type of instruction: It rarely happens on the trial of a criminal case that two reasonable theories, one favorable to the state and the other favorable to the defendant, do not arise out of and to some extent find support in the evidence. If acted upon literally by juries, this instruction in most cases would amount to a peremptory instruction to find the defendant not guilty. Runnels v. State, 96 Miss. 92, 96, 50 So. 499 (1909). [30] Yet, without either deciding the rule's legal validity, or denouncing Thompson, supra, Runnels simply held that when a criminal defendant is given the necessary instructions that guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, refusal of this instruction will not constitute reversible error. Id.; see also (in chronological order) Roux v. City of Gulfport, 97 Miss. 559, 52 So. 485 (1910) (holding same, but reading Runnels as condemning the substance of the Thompson instruction); cf. Saucier v. State, 102 Miss. 647, 59 So. 858 (1912) (affirming, without comment, the trial court's refusal to allow the instruction in Thompson phraseology) (citing Runnels and Roux ); Wiley v. State, 129 Miss. 196, 91 So. 906 (1922) (same) (citing Runnels, Roux, and Saucier ); Brady v. State, 128 Miss. 575, 91 So. 277 (1922) (same) (citing same). ¶ 154. Later, we expressly denounced Thompson, stating as follows: The principle sought to be invoked in this instruction was never applicable to testimony, except that of circumstantial evidence alone, and was improperly applied in Thompson v. State, 83 Miss. 287, 35 So. 689, to the testimony of eyewitnesses; and, as stated above, has since been disapproved many times. Its effect has been to mislead the jury and to prevent it from exercising its discretion in settling questions of veracity under proper instructions by the court. Fisher v. State, 150 Miss. 206, 227-28, 116 So. 746, 750-51 (1928) (emphasis added)(citing Runnels, Roux, Saucier, Wiley, and Brady ); cf. Williams v. State, 163 Miss. 475, 482, 142 So. 471, 472 (1932) (without commenting on Thompson, holding that our trial courts are not required to give a two-theory instruction when its substance is covered by other instructions). ¶ 155. In Micker v. State, 168 Miss. 692, 152 So. 286 (1934), we expressly held the two-theory instruction as phrased in Thompson (even though the hypothesis of guilt be the more probable) to be an inaccurate statement of law in any case. Id. at 698-99, 152 So. 286 (emphasis added). We added that, even if correctly drawn, it would not be applicable where the conviction was based principally on eyewitness testimony. Id. (citing Williams, 163 Miss. 475, 142 So. 471). See also Jones v. State, 183 Miss. 408, 184 So. 810 (1938) (determining that the two-theory instruction, when correctly drawn, is not applicable to cases resting on direct testimony). ¶ 156. In Yarbrough v. State, this Court opined that the two-theory instruction, whether correctly drawn or not, should not be given in any case. Yarbrough, 202 Miss. 820, 830, 32 So.2d 436, 440 (1947) (emphasis added). Yarbrough reached this conclusion, first, because there are always two theories, that of the State of guilt and that of the defendant of innocence,... the instruction, in effect, is a peremptory for the defendant. Id. Second, it places upon the trial judge the burden and danger of saying the case is purely one of circumstantial evidence, whereas, in many cases, this is a very difficult question. Id. Yarbrough nevertheless left the two-theory instruction (if drawn correctly) in place and affirmed the trial court's denial of the instruction on the basis that the case did not rest entirely upon circumstantial evidence and that the defendant had been granted the general circumstantial-evidence instruction, to the exclusion of every reasonable hypothesis. Id.; see also Lott v. State, 204 Miss. 610, 37 So.2d 782 (1948) (affirming the trial court's denial of a requested two-theory instruction in Thompson phraseology). ¶ 157. In Simmons v. State, 208 Miss. 523, 44 So.2d 857, 858-59 (1950), we affirmed the trial court's denial of the two-theory instruction, on a finding that the case was not circumstantial. Notably, Simmons construes Runnels, as condemning a two-theory instruction, no matter how phrased. Id. ¶ 158. Five years later, in Coward v. State, 223 Miss. 538, 78 So.2d 605 (1955), we held that the refused two-theory instruction, identical to one proffered in the case sub judice, is never proper except where the case rests entirely upon circumstantial evidence. Coward, 78 So.2d at 610. [31] Coward added, even in a case based entirely on circumstantial evidence, if an instruction is allowed that the evidence must exclude every reasonable theory other than that of guilt, that is held to embody the essentials of the two-theory instruction, ... refusal of the [two-theory instruction] is not reversible error. Id. (citing Yarbrough, 32 So.2d at 440). ¶ 159. Then came Nester v. State, 254 Miss. 25, 179 So.2d 565 (1965). In this case, we held that, because the evidence presented was so circumstantial, the two-theory instruction should have been granted along with the general circumstantial-evidence instruction, which had been given. Id. at 566 (emphasis added). Nester cited no case law for authority; rather the Court relied solely on Alexander, Mississippi Jury Instructions, (1953) Section 172, for its decision. Id. ¶ 160. In Kitchens, 300 So.2d at 926, we affirmed the trial court's refusal to grant a two-theory instruction, both because the evidence was not entirely circumstantial and the general circumstantial-evidence instruction had been granted. Following in line with Coward, the Kitchens Court added, even in a case based entirely on circumstantial evidence, if an instruction is allowed that the evidence must exclude every reasonable theory other than that of guilt, that is held to embody the essentials of the two-theory instruction, ... refusal of the latter is not reversible error. Id. (quoting Coward, 78 So.2d at 610). ¶ 161. Yet we changed course in Henderson v. State, 453 So.2d 708 (Miss. 1984), and held the trial court in error for refusing to give both the general circumstantial-evidence instruction and the two-theory instruction. Id. at 710. Ignoring Kitchens, Henderson stated: Where all the evidence tending to prove the guilt of the defendant is circumstantial, the trial court must grant a jury instruction that every reasonable hypothesis other than that of guilt must be excluded in order to convict. Sanders v. State, 286 So.2d 825, 828 (Miss.1973); Matula v. State, 220 So.2d 833, 836 (Miss.1969). Also where the evidence is purely circumstantial, the trial court must grant a two-theory instruction. Johnson v. State, 347 So.2d 358, 360 (Miss.1977); Nester v. State, 254 Miss. 25, 29, 179 So.2d 565, 566 (1965). Id. Johnson, cited by Henderson for authority, affirmed the trial court's decision denying the requested two-theory instruction both because the requested instruction did not contain the language reasonable doubt and the case was not entirely circumstantial. Johnson, 347 So.2d at 360. Johnson, in addressing the appellant's argument, merely opined that [t]he two-theory instruction may be given only in an entirely circumstantial evidence case. Id. ¶ 162. We hold today that Kitchens provides the better rule: In a case based entirely on circumstantial evidence, if an instruction is allowed that the evidence must exclude every reasonable theory other than that of guilt, that is held to embody the essentials of the two-theory instruction, ... refusal of the latter is not reversible error. Kitchens, 300 So.2d at 926 (quoting Coward v. State, 223 Miss. 538, 78 So.2d 605 (1955)). To the extent that Parker, Henderson, and other cases suggest otherwise, they are hereby overruled.