Opinion ID: 2621923
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Retrial for Manslaughter and Lesser Offenses

Text: ¶59 Although double jeopardy bars the State from retrying Low for murder and the Utah Criminal Code bars the State from charging Low with extreme emotional distress manslaughter and imperfect self-defense manslaughter, nothing prohibits the State from filing an amended information containing charges for other forms of manslaughter or other lesser offenses that the State believes are supported by the facts of the case. [C]ourts have held that the Double Jeopardy Clause does not bar retrial of defendants on new indictments after their original convictions were reversed on appeal. United States v. Newman, 6 F.3d 623, 627 (9th Cir. 1993); see also United States v. Poll, 538 F.2d 845, 847 (9th Cir. 1976) ([W]hen the first conviction has been reversed and the matter remanded, the slate has been wiped clean and the Government is free to prosecute the defendant on a different statutory violation regardless if it is considered the same or a separate offense.); Thomas v. State, 473 So. 2d 627, 629 (Ala. Crim. App. 1985) (finding no double jeopardy violation when the defendant was indicted and convicted of intentional murder and robbery, the conviction was reversed on appeal because of an erroneous jury instruction, and the defendant was reindicted for felony murder and reckless murder). ¶60 To allow Low to escape trial for offenses that may be supported by the facts because of our reversal of his manslaughter conviction would provide him with an unjustified windfall. Jones v. Thomas, 491 U.S. 376, 387 (1989) ([N]either the Double Jeopardy Clause nor any other constitutional provision exists to provide unjustified windfalls.). The Supreme Court has noted that [c]orresponding to the right of an accused to be given a fair trial is the societal interest in punishing one whose guilt is clear after he has obtained such a trial. It would be a high price indeed for society to pay were every accused granted immunity from punishment because of any defect sufficient to constitute reversible error in the proceedings leading to conviction. . . . [T]he practice of retrial serves defendants' rights as well as society's interest. United States v. Tateo, 377 U.S. 463, 466 (1964). Permitting the State to retry Low for manslaughter and/or lesser offenses that the State believes are supported by the facts correctly balances Low's right to be free from double jeopardy with the State's interest in punishing those who have committed crimes against society. ¶61 We therefore conclude that although the State cannot retry Low for murder, extreme emotional distress manslaughter, or imperfect self-defense manslaughter, the State may file an amended information and retry Low for other forms of manslaughter or lesser offenses.